SWMLine problem, any help?

1189 Views 24 Replies 6 Participants Last post by MIAMI1683, Aug 14, 2008

webby_s

Discussion Starter · Aug 14, 2008

Me again with some more SWMLine questions, comments, concerns.

I have a newly installed SWMLine that I have had trouble with on one of my H21 receivers but nothing on my HR21 receiver. I have now all of the sudden been having with my HR receiver. I have had to reset the DVR twice in the last two days and I am worried that this may be a recurring theme. I pretty down right confident that I have installed everything correctly. I was gone for a week and I missed about 3 days of recordings because of the searching for signal/SWM problem.

So I guess I am wondering will this be a continued problem? Should I see about replacing PI, Splitter (SWS4 I can take a pic if you want the exact specific splitter) I have a feeling people will say the splitter may be my problem. Also I have heard people say they have had good luck with the CE program and SWM.

I want this SWMLine to work so bad but I have not had a good run. Please any suggestions.

Edit:
the PI is in a hotter humid climate right now (attic) could that cause something wrong? Cooler dryer area better?

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

Kansas Zephyr

· #2 · Aug 14, 2008

Do you have stable AC?

Unclean power can be a problem.

Is the splitter after the PI? If, so remove it...feed just one IRD and see if you still have the issue. That's one you can quickly eliminate, if the problem persists.

Did you self-install? RG-6...compression connectors...how long is the run from the dish to the PI?

veryoldschool

· #3 · Aug 14, 2008

webby_s said:
Edit: the PI is in a hotter humid climate right now (attic) could that cause something wrong? Cooler dryer area better?

Step number 1, get it out of the attic.
They aren't made to be there.
Move it to next to one of your receivers and make sure it's on the power passing port of the splitter.
I have a SWMLine and am using Shywalker splitters and have no problems.

webby_s

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 14, 2008

Kansas Zephyr said:
Do you have stable AC?

Unclean power can be a problem.

Is the splitter after the PI? If, so remove it...feed just one IRD and see if you still have the issue. That's one you can quickly eliminate, if the problem persists.

Did you self-install? RG-6...compression connectors...how long is the run from the dish to the PI?

Awesome Thanks Kansas Zephyr I will answer your questions:

As far as I know the power is clean but I suppose I could hook up a strength meter. I have a light after the PI's outlet and that seems to work fine.

Yes the splitter is after the PI

Yes it is a self install. It is all RG6 cabling. The only thing is, I have single splitters as I have added to some lines while removing RG5 cable runs from cable co.

I have compression fittings on all cables.

Another issue I have noticed: The single strength meter goes as such when I have the issues, and this is just examples:
92 0 89 0 0 88 0 90
91 86 0 88 0 93 89 0

Like I said this is just an example not exact numbers. I wrote them to represent the number of zero and in the pattern that I am getting them. Like every other one. Or more less speratic so that is why I may believe it to be a power issue but I can go 6 hours without any issues.

See less See more

webby_s

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 14, 2008

veryoldschool said:
Step number 1, get it out of the attic.
They aren't made to be there.
Move it to next to one of your receivers and make sure it's on the power passing port of the splitter.
I have a SWMLine and am using Shywalker splitters and have no problems.

Thanks VOS. I should admit that the PI is in a location with a lot of temp fluctuations and right now humid as it has rain some the last couple of days.

Also I didn't mention that from the LNB ODU cable run is about 6 feet.

Kansas Zephyr

· #6 · Aug 14, 2008

veryoldschool said:
Step number 1, get it out of the attic.
They aren't made to be there.
Move it to next to one of your receivers and make sure it's on the power passing port of the splitter.

+1

Yes...remove the PI and replace it with the splitter. Use the power pass leg to feed one IRD and have the PI near that IRD.

veryoldschool

· #7 · Aug 14, 2008

webby_s said:
Also I didn't mention that from the LNB ODU cable run is about 6 feet.

#2 would be to use at least 15'.
The SWM8 to PI should have 15', and the SWMLine is really just the SWM8 "at the dish", so your 6' seems a bit short.

webby_s

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 14, 2008

2

Thanks all. It is in like a garage area that is not climate controlled. And right now I don't have the air on in the house so there is not much climate difference between the garage and house.

I hope to put up some pics here to show somewhat of my setup.

(SWS4 2-2150mhz)
If you want any more info I can easily get. I have had to reset all three boxes this morning.

See less See more

webby_s

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 14, 2008

veryoldschool said:
#2 would be to use at least 15'. so your 6' seems a bit short.

I guess I just think it's weird that having a 'shorter' run is not recommended. I was always under the impression that the shorter the better so I maxed it out at about 6ft from dish to PI (garage).

veryoldschool

· #10 · Aug 14, 2008

webby_s said:
I guess I just think it's weird that having a 'shorter' run is not recommended. I was always under the impression that the shorter the better so I maxed it out at about 6ft from dish to PI (garage).

"While shorter IS better", with the SWM5/8, they found a bad RF match off the PI, and this is where the 15' minimum came from.
Do you think the PI is getting over 110 degrees?

teebeebee1

· #11 · Aug 14, 2008

webby_s said:
Me again with some more SWMLine questions, comments, concerns.

I have a newly installed SWMLine that I have had trouble with on one of my H21 receivers but nothing on my HR21 receiver. I have now all of the sudden been having with my HR receiver. I have had to reset the DVR twice in the last two days and I am worried that this may be a recurring theme. I pretty down right confident that I have installed everything correctly. I was gone for a week and I missed about 3 days of recordings because of the searching for signal/SWM problem.

So I guess I am wondering will this be a continued problem? Should I see about replacing PI, Splitter (SWS4 I can take a pic if you want the exact specific splitter) I have a feeling people will say the splitter may be my problem. Also I have heard people say they have had good luck with the CE program and SWM.

I want this SWMLine to work so bad but I have not had a good run. Please any suggestions.

Edit:
the PI is in a hotter humid climate right now (attic) could that cause something wrong? Cooler dryer area better?

I've had to rest my HDDVR 3 times in the last couple days, keeps getting stuck on the 750/olympic channels, i'm sure it's not your swm just the transition of channels

When you turn on the dvr is it all black ? that's what mine has been doing

webby_s

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 14, 2008

veryoldschool said:
Do you think the PI is getting over 110 degrees?

No not at all. 90degrees max and today probably 75 right now.

I have bi-passed my splitter right now. I have my IRD out of the PI right to my HR 21. I will keep the DVR and TV on while working around the house and see if I have any issues. While passing through the living room I will turn the channel as much as possible and do things that have caused the problem in the past two days.:grin:

Thanks all again for helping.

veryoldschool

· #13 · Aug 14, 2008

webby_s said:
No not at all. 90degrees max and today probably 75 right now.

I have bi-passed my splitter right now. I have my IRD out of the PI right to my HR 21. I will keep the DVR and TV on while working around the house and see if I have any issues. While passing through the living room I will turn the channel as much as possible and do things that have caused the problem in the past two days.:grin:

Thanks all again for helping.

Attics can get much hotter than either the room/house or the outside temp.
This is the concern with having the PI up there.

webby_s

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 14, 2008

Thanks VOS. I should have not said Attic as it isn't really an attic. It is in the garage that is obviously well ventilated but not climate controlled. I said attic because it is right below the garage ceiling and there is no insulation as you can tell from the pics.

Now on to what I have done; Like I said I bi-passed my splitter and I have not had any issues what-so-ever with my HR. I must have to get a different splitter as this one must not work in my setup. I will look into approved splitters and go and get one from my local Radio Shack. Any recommendations?

veryoldschool

· #15 · Aug 14, 2008

webby_s said:
Thanks VOS. I should have not said Attic as it isn't really an attic. It is in the garage that is obviously well ventilated but not climate controlled. I said attic because it is right below the garage ceiling and there is no insulation as you can tell from the pics.

Now on to what I have done; Like I said I bi-passed my splitter and I have not had any issues what-so-ever with my HR. I must have to get a different splitter as this one must not work in my setup. I will look into approved splitters and go and get one from my local Radio Shack. Any recommendations?

I and many others have had ZERO problems with Skywalker splitters. I use a 2-way before the PI and a 4-way after.
I should have bought stock in here :lol: : http://www.a1components.com/searchn.aspx?search=steered

RobertE

· #16 · Aug 14, 2008

These guys have the full line of approved splitters at what seems like a reasonable cost. Also the SWM8 for $139

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/

MIAMI1683

· #17 · Aug 14, 2008

veryoldschool said:
I and many others have had ZERO problems with Skywalker splitters. I use a 2-way before the PI and a 4-way after.
I should have bought stock in here :lol: : http://www.a1components.com/searchn.aspx?search=steered

I am using skywalkers also. For what its worth. My H21 had problems remember? I moved the PI on front of the H21 and it works perfectly now.

veryoldschool

· #18 · Aug 14, 2008

MIAMI1683 said:
I am using skywalkers also. For what its worth. My H21 had problems remember? I moved the PI on front of the H21 and it works perfectly now.

Didn't you also have some hardware changed/swapped/replaced?

RobertE

· #19 · Aug 14, 2008

veryoldschool said:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
SWM9
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Proud graduate of the HDTVSportsfan schol of speeling adn tiping. :lol:

veryoldschool

· #20 · Aug 14, 2008

RobertE said:
Proud graduate of the HDTVSportsfan schol of speeling adn tiping. :lol:

And knowing this my post count is now down by one.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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