[lilstone87]

Well I am wondering after having to have the tech out yesterday out again tomorrow, because I can't get my one box back online due to failing the satellite test. Which comes back saying "errors found on tuner 1, and showing a red x under 103(13v) odd". So anyone have an ideal what exactly is the most likely cause for this problem?

Since the tech was out yesterday regarding signal issue's, and he talked about replacing the LNB's. But I told him I was pretty sure over 6 months ago, a tech replaced the LNB's. So he just did some adjustments to the dish, and replaced a couple connectors up on the roof. I am sure he would of seen the problem I posted above, but he wasn't able to run his test due to the box he needed to run it on was in a room he couldn't access yesterday.

 

[Stuart Sweet]

If only one sat feed fails verification, it's very likely an LNB problem. Do you have four lines to the dish or only one? If there are four, it's possible one of them is a problem.

 

[lilstone87]

If only one sat feed fails verification, it's very likely an LNB problem. Do you have four lines to the dish or only one? If there are four, it's possible one of them is a problem.

Well its storming pretty good outside atm, so I will check that a little later. I know we are on a slimline 5 swm dish setup. We have 3 HD boxes, and 2 HD DVR's. Also know there is a like a grounding block(?), which looks like it has 8 ports on it, and also a multiswitch on side of house. I notice that yesterday when outside with tech. I can check how many lines running from the dish a little later though.

 

[lilstone87]

Well I just looked up at the dish, and looked like I seen 4 coax lines running from the dish.

 

[fleckrj]

You should be able to get the box back on-line while you wait. There is usually a "continue" option when one of the satellites fails. You might be missing some channels, but the red "X" might just be indicating that the signal is below 70, and the channels still come in. I lived with that for years until I had my LNB-5 replaced with an LNB-3

Unless you want the foreign language packages, you do not really need an LNB-5 in Virginia. If they replace your LNB, you might consider going with the LNB-3.

 

[lilstone87]

You should be able to get the box back on-line while you wait. There is usually a "continue" option when one of the satellites fails. You might be missing some channels, but the red "X" might just be indicating that the signal is below 70, and the channels still come in. I lived with that for years until I had my LNB-5 replaced with an LNB-3

Unless you want the foreign language packages, you do not really need an LNB-5 in Virginia. If they replace your LNB, you might consider going with the LNB-3.

Trust me I tried, when the box loss power due to surge protector reset being hit. It oddly set the box back in like a brand new state, in which it requires it to re-activate, and everything. Which I called other night had the box re-activated by a phone rep. Then it ran that test, and kept failing the 103(13v) odd. Where the continue button is on the standard satellite test, mine only shows re-test, two other options I think relating to signal levels, and bottom option is "Get A Waiver".

I then talked to a rep from activation ivt, and the error code on my box showed "0010". Which she couldn't find any info. So she open a ticket with case management, and they called me yesterday to have the same tech come back out today. Which he just called to see if he could come a little early, which I am fine with. I just hope he figures out whats causing this problem, if there is any bad cabling or equipment that may need replacing.

 

[lilstone87]

Well the tech came, and he simply just called in, and had the box re-activated. Which it failed the test again with 103(13v)odd having red x again. He said its nothing to worry about as my signal levels are good. He did look over signal level on the box. But once the test failed, he had the option to hit continue at the bottom. Which I only had "Get A Waiver" option. He left me some info, where I can get in contact with him for up to a week, if any problem's occur. I am just happy the one box is back up, and working again.

 

[Stuart Sweet]

Let's hope that everything works well for you. If the signal levels inside the box are good and the IV fails, a likely cause is a loose or broken connector that causes the signal strength to drop below acceptable levels. Often times this won't cause a problem... I recently tested a receiver by intentionally cutting the signal strength down to 20dB below acceptable levels (in other words, the signal was only 1% of the minimum acceptable level. The signal meter inside the receiver still said my signal strength was over 90 and I still had a picture. Of course I don't know how long it would have lasted.

 

[veryoldschool]

Let's hope that everything works well for you. If the signal levels inside the box are good and the IV fails, a likely cause is a loose or broken connector that causes the signal strength to drop below acceptable levels. Often times this won't cause a problem... I recently tested a receiver by intentionally cutting the signal strength down to 20dB below acceptable levels (in other words, the signal was only 1% of the minimum acceptable level. The signal meter inside the receiver still said my signal strength was over 90 and I still had a picture. Of course I don't know how long it would have lasted.

Probably as long as it would without the added attenuation. The CNR was the same before and after you added the attenuation, which is why you were still over 90. You'd have needed to attenuate it to the point that the receiver could no longer maintain/receive the min CNR.
The IV test is quite strict as to what CNR/SNR is required to pass. I believe this is done to ensure the whole system meets DirecTV's standards. "Personally" I would have some concerns if my receiver failed IV and required a wavier. The wavier [to me] is acceptable for when weather conditions cause a failure during installation.

 

[lilstone87]

So you guys still think its possible a loose or broken connector on the dish? As there are 4 lines that run from it, and when the IV test completes. The only one with a red x is under 103(13v)odd, the other 103(18v)even reports a check.

 

[dielray]

So you guys still think its possible a loose or broken connector on the dish? As there are 4 lines that run from it, and when the IV test completes. The only one with a red x is under 103(13v)odd, the other 103(18v)even reports a check.

If you post your 103 signal levels we can let you know if you will have any problems. Odds are the tech wanted to swap the LNB because you were below values at the dish, and not because of any inline components.

 

[lilstone87]

If you post your 103 signal levels we can let you know if you will have any problems. Odds are the tech wanted to swap the LNB because you were below values at the dish, and not because of any inline components.

Well here are the numbers currently on 103(cb)/(ca).

103(cb)
1-8: 95-95-91-93-93-94-91-93
9-16: 95-94-91-94-94-95-NA-NA

103(ca)
9-16: 92-92-90-94-89-91-87-95
17-24: 87-87-91-93-88-86-94-95

 

[dielray]

Well here are the numbers currently on 103(cb)/(ca).

103(cb)
1-8: 95-95-91-93-93-94-91-93
9-16: 95-94-91-94-94-95-NA-NA

103(ca)
9-16: 92-92-90-94-89-91-87-95
17-24: 87-87-91-93-88-86-94-95

Those aren't bad. You're a little low on the Ka-hi transponders, which is why it's failing the test, but you're not much below the level.

 

[funnyfarm299]

Those aren't bad. You're a little low on the Ka-hi transponders, which is why it's failing the test, but you're not much below the level.

What are "the levels"? 99 and 103 always give me trouble when aiming.

 

[banditt76]

Those aren't bad. You're a little low on the Ka-hi transponders, which is why it's failing the test, but you're not much below the level.

Those are excellent numbers. They are certainly not why it is failing the test.

 

[dielray]

Those are excellent numbers. They are certainly not why it is failing the test.

That is the ONLY thing the IRD IV test checks. It varies by zipcode, but it likely failed due to the numbers in the 80s.

 

[fleckrj]

Those are excellent numbers. They are certainly not why it is failing the test.

Not necessarily. Those numbers are only an indication of bit error rate. The initial fail is because the signal is weak. The signal can be week and still have high numbers on this test because the signal is clean.

Without a signal strength meter, it is not possible to say why the initial test failed. It could be a bad LNB, but it could also be a bad connection anywhere along the line. All we know for certain is that the receiver can decode the signal without many errors. If there is a significant signal loss, but the signal is clean, it will work fine until a storm comes along. Then, with an already weak signal, rain fade will be a bigger issue than it should be.

 

[banditt76]

That is the ONLY thing the IRD IV test checks. It varies by zipcode, but it likely failed due to the numbers in the 80s.

Ok fair enough. Just the way you stated it made it seem like it was definitive as to why it is failing the test. I have some numbers lower than those and my receiver pasts the tests just fine.

 

[lilstone87]

Well hopefully signal isn't an issue for a while, but if for some reason I start having signal issue's again in the near future. I will request to the tech who comes out, to check connections up on the dish, and discuss maybe a LNB issue.

I do know like a day after the tech adjusted the dish, we had some severe storms, with a good amount of lightening striking not to far off. The dish held up pretty good for about 10-15 minutes, then loss complete signal for about 5 minutes, and everything was back. Which I understand losing signal when things get bad like that. Anyways I will continue to monitor a couple of my boxes, and see if I notice any more random dropout's of signal when it's clear sky's outside.

 

[fleckrj]

Well hopefully signal isn't an issue for a while, but if for some reason I start having signal issue's again in the near future. I will request to the tech who comes out, to check connections up on the dish, and discuss maybe a LNB issue.

I do know like a day after the tech adjusted the dish, we had some severe storms, with a good amount of lightening striking not to far off. The dish held up pretty good for about 10-15 minutes, then loss complete signal for about 5 minutes, and everything was back. Which I understand losing signal when things get bad like that. Anyways I will continue to monitor a couple of my boxes, and see if I notice any more random dropout's of signal when it's clear sky's outside.

What matters is the cloud cover between the satellite and your dish. You can have severe storms directly overhead with no loss of signal if the storm is primarily to the north or east. If a storm is coming from the southwest, though, you can have loss of signal with no rain at your house.