Did you perform the proper reboot steps for the SWM and all IRDs?
SWM Troubles
I can't get my SWM 8 working. It was working for about 4 months until we had a storm and lightning hit close to the house. We lost signal during the storm and it never came back so I assumed it got damaged by lightning. So I bought another one and a UPS and plugged the PI into it. I hooked it up and everything was working fine until we had another storm about a month later. There was no lighting this time and during the storm we lost signal again and it never came back. I tried all the troubleshooting steps that are posted here. But I still can't get it to work. Is there a way to tell for sure if the SWM is bad? I reconnected the zinwell and everything works. Just can't get the SWM working. Any help would be greatly appreciated. By the way we have an hr-21, hr20, r15 and a D11.
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Since the Zinwell is working after confirming the reboot steps as Mertzen suggested I'd focus on the UPS and PI. Was the PI replaced after the initial problem? Is the LED through the slits on the PI on? Check cables from PI to SWM, try another maybe.
I did red button reset. I also unplugged the receivers and PI. Then I plugged in the PI and waited about 5 min. and plugged in the receiver. I also switched out the PI and the LED does work on the PI. I have some time tomorrow so I will unplug the receivers overnight and try again.phlevin said:Since the Zinwell is working after confirming the reboot steps as Mertzen suggested I'd focus on the UPS and PI. Was the PI replaced after the initial problem? Is the LED through the slits on the PI on? Check cables from PI to SWM, try another maybe.
Maybe the problem isn't with the SWM but with the LNB and it's built-in multiswitch.
Power Inserterlooney2ns said:What is a PI?
Private Investigatorlooney2ns said:What is a PI?
...or in this case Power Inserter.
when you replaced your swm, did you replace the PIlionheart73 said:I can't get my SWM 8 working. It was working for about 4 months until we had a storm and lightning hit close to the house. We lost signal during the storm and it never came back so I assumed it got damaged by lightning. So I bought another one and a UPS and plugged the PI into it. I hooked it up and everything was working fine until we had another storm about a month later. There was no lighting this time and during the storm we lost signal again and it never came back. I tried all the troubleshooting steps that are posted here. But I still can't get it to work. Is there a way to tell for sure if the SWM is bad? I reconnected the zinwell and everything works. Just can't get the SWM working. Any help would be greatly appreciated. By the way we have an hr-21, hr20, r15 and a D11.
Yes I replaced the PI twice. I tried it with both receivers and in different rooms to eliminate the cable as being the problem. I cant figure out why the zinwell works but SWM wont.dave29 said:when you replaced your swm, did you replace the PI
I've been reading your posts, but haven't had much of an idea to help.lionheart73 said:Yes I replaced the PI twice. I tried it with both receivers and in different rooms to eliminate the cable as being the problem. I cant figure out why the zinwell works but SWM wont.
"I can't figure out why the Zinwell works but SWM won't".
Wondering about this:
The LNBs seem to be fine.
The receivers can send the 13/18 volt, tone/no tone through the Zinwell to the dish.
Add SWM...
"What is different"?
Each receiver needs to communicate with the SWM at 2.3 MHz.
If you had a SWM meter, I'd be using it to see if the 2.3 MHz was working.
One thing that I noticed is that rain fade is less with the zinwell. Sometimes a few clouds was enough to lose signal with the SWM. With this storm coming I will get to see how good the zinwell holds up compared to SWM.veryoldschool said:I've been reading your posts, but haven't had much of an idea to help.
"I can't figure out why the Zinwell works but SWM won't".
Wondering about this:
The LNBs seem to be fine.
The receivers can send the 13/18 volt, tone/no tone through the Zinwell to the dish.
Add SWM...
"What is different"?
Each receiver needs to communicate with the SWM at 2.3 MHz.
If you had a SWM meter, I'd be using it to see if the 2.3 MHz was working.
I have an HR20-700 that stopped working with a SWM8 or SWMline (SWS5) after a few months. But it works great directly connected to a standard 5LNB or WB68.
When it failed it was recording a show off the SWM. Oddly enough while watching the show before it quit on it's recording there was a weather alert (recorded) about severe thunderstorms and lightning in my area. I suspect a nearby lightning hit affecting the RF input from the SWM.
Have confirmed undeniably that its SWM communications have failed. No s/w update or release, reset, threats with a big hammer will make it communicate with a SWM. So such an event is possible.
When it failed it was recording a show off the SWM. Oddly enough while watching the show before it quit on it's recording there was a weather alert (recorded) about severe thunderstorms and lightning in my area. I suspect a nearby lightning hit affecting the RF input from the SWM.
Have confirmed undeniably that its SWM communications have failed. No s/w update or release, reset, threats with a big hammer will make it communicate with a SWM. So such an event is possible.
For the most part I had signal during the storm. Did lose the HD channels for a little while and the picture broke up a few times. What would cause the SWM to lose signal and not the Zinwell?lionheart73 said:One thing that I noticed is that rain fade is less with the zinwell. Sometimes a few clouds was enough to lose signal with the SWM. With this storm coming I will get to see how good the zinwell holds up compared to SWM.
you arent really getting alot of answers because im not sure that anyone really knows the answer to your problem. let me ask you a couple questions........lionheart73 said:For the most part I had signal during the storm. Did lose the HD channels for a little while and the picture broke up a few times. What would cause the SWM to lose signal and not the Zinwell?
1. what is the distance between your swm8 and your PI
2. what type of cable are you using between your swm and PI
3. what type of connectors are you using
4. is your dish grounded
5. are you 4 incoming cables on a grounding block
i may be totally off base....... but the main thing i am thinking of right now is that your dish isnt grounded and maybe static electricity from the storms and wind(both times) fried the swm8 unit. or maybe your 4 cables coming from the dish arent grounded...............
just a thought
I have to ask....do yo have another SWM? also is the PI setup correctly? I know it was working, but. Is the light in the PI on?lionheart73 said:For the most part I had signal during the storm. Did lose the HD channels for a little while and the picture broke up a few times. What would cause the SWM to lose signal and not the Zinwell?
1. about 25-30ftdave29 said:you arent really getting alot of answers because im not sure that anyone really knows the answer to your problem. let me ask you a couple questions........
1. what is the distance between your swm8 and your PI
2. what type of cable are you using between your swm and PI
3. what type of connectors are you using
4. is your dish grounded
5. are you 4 incoming cables on a grounding block
i may be totally off base....... but the main thing i am thinking of right now is that your dish isnt grounded and maybe static electricity from the storms and wind(both times) fried the swm8 unit. or maybe your 4 cables coming from the dish arent grounded...............
just a thought
2. not sure. I am using the same cable that the installer used.
3. same as 3
4. from what I can tell it doesn't appear to be.
5. no. SWM was grounded. I am using the ground from the zinwell.
One other thing that I can remember is that the first SWM started acting up a day or two before the storm. I had to disconnect and reboot everything.
Yes the light in the PI is on and no this is my last SWM. I also tested the new PI on the first SWM. If I can't get the SWM working I am going to try and run another cable to the DVR's.MIAMI1683 said:I have to ask....do yo have another SWM? also is the PI setup correctly? I know it was working, but. Is the light in the PI on?
lionheart73 said:1. about 25-30ft
2. not sure. I am using the same cable that the installer used.
3. same as 3
4. from what I can tell it doesn't appear to be.
5. no. SWM was grounded. I am using the ground from the zinwell.
One other thing that I can remember is that the first SWM started acting up a day or two before the storm. I had to disconnect and reboot everything.[/QUOTE]
well that shoots my theory all to hell then
does your legacy receivers work when hooked to the swm?
What about splitters? Is there one or more used with the SWM and maybe bypassed when using the Zinwell (WB68?)?
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