Searching for Sat 771 service call

2172 Views 26 Replies 10 Participants Last post by fanglemeister, Oct 7, 2008

DrZ

Discussion Starter · Sep 10, 2008

I've been plagued with the old 'searching for Sat 771' message on ESPN-HD (ch # 207) and HBO-HD (ch # 501). I called D* and after looking at some test channel and switching around my B-Band converters the tech on the phone said that it wasn't that my dish was misaligned but they will need to send out a tech to take a look. If it's not the dish or the BBC's what can it be?

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

K4SMX

· #2 · Sep 10, 2008

Why don't you post your signal strengths, so we can confirm that it "wasn't that my dish was misaligned.":

Menu Button > Parental, Fav's & Setup > System Setup > Satellite (& Ant) > View Signal Strength

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c)/(a))
[New national HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(c)/(b))
[Most national HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
17-24 0 NA NA NA NA 0 NA NA

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DrZ

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 10, 2008

K4SMX said:
Why don't you post your signal strengths, so we can confirm that it "wasn't that my dish was misaligned.":

Menu Button > Parental, Fav's & Setup > System Setup > Satellite (& Ant) > View Signal Strength

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c)/(a))
[New national HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(c)/(b))
[Most national HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
17-24 0 NA NA NA NA 0 NA NA

I'll post these when I get home.

breevesdc

· #4 · Sep 10, 2008

DrZ said:
I've been plagued with the old 'searching for Sat 771' message on ESPN-HD (ch # 207) and HBO-HD (ch # 501). I called D* and after looking at some test channel and switching around my B-Band converters the tech on the phone said that it wasn't that my dish was misaligned but they will need to send out a tech to take a look. If it's not the dish or the BBC's what can it be?

I can't help but think that I'm going to jinx myself by saying this. But I had the dreaded 771 message until I checked my Coax connections a couple of weeks ago. I found a loose one going from the BBC to the wall. I replaced it with a new connector and I have not had this message since. You might want to check all of your connections (inside and outside) to confirm that you don't have a loose one.

I'm not talking about it not being tightly screwed into the wall or into the BBC. I'm talking about a connector that was literally about to come off of the coax cable. I gave it a slight tug and it came right off.

Brian

DrZ

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 10, 2008

I've checked all the coax both inside and outside the house and found nothing amiss. I'll probably check again when I get home, but I don't think that's the issue.

demonstimpy

· #6 · Sep 10, 2008

I actually went with the cooling issue.
I added a small fan created from a USB cable and power supply fan.
The unit dropped to 97 degrees constant.
I did this when I started getting the error.
Guide appears to move quicker with the lower temp.

DrZ said:
I've checked all the coax both inside and outside the house and found nothing amiss. I'll probably check again when I get home, but I don't think that's the issue.

K4SMX

· #7 · Sep 10, 2008

Please both the signals from both tuners unless they are substantially the same. Don't worry about possible "winking zeroes" on some tp's, just wait until you get a number for each. That's a non-problem software issue.

cody21

· #8 · Sep 10, 2008

I have been plagued by the "Searching 771" Issue now for nearly a week. All channels - at least the ones I tend to watch most: CNNHD, LIL's, etc. trying to watch the US Open sucked big time with all the drop outs. WHAT CHANGED? It was very strong and solid for over a year.

Is there a list of which Satellite has with HD channels? I could then monitor the signal strength on those specific ones.. Like I said, this issue just recently started. I've checked all Coax connectons. Happens on BOTH my H20 and HR20.

K4SMX

· #9 · Sep 10, 2008

Please see this post. It doesn't cover LiL's.

cody21

· #10 · Sep 10, 2008

Thank you !

DrZ

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 10, 2008

OK....Here are my numbers

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c))
[New national HD channels]
1-8: 15 52 14 51 15 50 123 51
9-16: 12 51 13 15 17 51 NA NA

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(c))
[Most national HD channels]
1-8: 67 69 61 65 63 66 59 63
9-16: 65 66 59 63 63 69 NA NA
17-24 0 NA NA NA NA 0 NA NA

The numbers are the same on both tuners and all the other sat numbers are at or above 95

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Phil21

· #12 · Sep 10, 2008

DirecTV said that your dish was fine with numbers like that?

103 is unacceptable, and 99 is in the "wow, you actually get reception sometimes?" category

Fix that signal level issue, and you should see most of your problems clear up.

There are other smarter folks than I around here though, see what they have to say!

DrZ

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 10, 2008

The D* tech never actually ask me to look at the signal levels. She just asked me to tune to some test channels. When I asked if the Dish was out of alignment she said 'no'

OK....its a few hrs latter and now the signal strength hasn't changed but the channels are back?!

K4SMX

· #14 · Sep 11, 2008

All the transponder signal strengths on both of the national HD satellites are below DirecTV's minimum installation standards of 70, which really should be 80.

If your dish has been installed less than 90 days, re-alignment is covered under your installation warranty. Otherwise you can sign up for the Protection Plan for a year, wait the obligatory 30 days, and ask for a service call. For an additional $20 they'll waive the 30 days. Otherwise, it's an $80 service call.

Alternatively, if you have safe access to your dish, are physically able, and have a helper, you can probably fix this yourself with a half-inch wrench in about a half-hour.

DrZ

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 11, 2008

There is no way that I'm getting up on the roof and messing with the dish, that alone would be well worth the service call. The dish has been up since May of 2007 so It's a bit odd that it would have problems now but I guess anything can happen. The big issue for me is how in the world did all those channels that would not come in the last few day suddenly come back when the signal levels have not changed? It doesn't seem possible that I had no ESPN-HD for two days and suddenly it's back and working fine when I did nothing to effect that change. Could this be a software thing? I wondering if I should cancel my service call?

Ps as unlikely as it seems could this have anything to do with the free HBO weekend? The problem started about the same time they started that and it ended about the same time too.

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K4SMX

· #16 · Sep 11, 2008

DrZ said:
.....The big issue for me is how in the world did all those channels that would not come in the last few day suddenly come back when the signal levels have not changed? It doesn't seem possible that I had no ESPN-HD for two days and suddenly it's back and working fine when I did nothing to effect that change. Could this be a software thing? I wondering if I should cancel my service call?

Ps as unlikely as it seems could this have anything to do with the free HBO weekend? The problem started about the same time they started that and it ended about the same time too.

Your HBOHD is on 99(c), tp 7, which your previous post reported has a signal strength of "123". I assume you mean 23. If it fades up and down around 30, it will come and go. It's right on the ragged edge. Your ESNHD is on 103(c), tp 8, which you reported at 63. I'm not sure what's going on there, but 63 is not good.

You should NOT cancel your service call. Your HD signals are seriously deficient. If you look around this list, you'll probably finds lots of HD signals you pay for, but don't receive.

DrZ

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 11, 2008

Perhaps it may be time for me to call D* directly and ask them what gives with my signal strength.

talbain

· #18 · Sep 11, 2008

i had 771 problems last night. first time in a few months. if you dont normally get this message, i'd say last night was a problem on their end

G

· #19 · Sep 11, 2008

talbain said:
i had 771 problems last night. first time in a few months. if you dont normally get this message, i'd say last night was a problem on their end

what channels were affected, talbain?

cody21

· #20 · Sep 11, 2008

I have to agree here... There is something "fishy" going on recently with signals. One day, I get no dropouts whatsoever -- clear and sunny. The next day, it is abysmal. FOX (LIL) was horrible last night for like 15 mins. Then suddenly was perfect. CNNHD was suffering for over 3 hours yesteday - perfect today. Something is going on - wish DTV would fess up. IMHO ...

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