[mcbeevee]

I've got a strange problem where the 2 transponders with my SD locals (Sat 119, tp 24/25) drop from 95-100 to 0 between 4pm and 6pm almost every day. I know it can't be the HD-DVR, since it happens on all 3 of my HR20's (both tuners). I have a Slimline dish and a Zinwell WB68 using 6 outputs. I do have HD locals, so it is not a major problem, just annoying. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

 

[EMoMoney]

Sunspots?

 

[DogLover]

There was a problem like this several months back (maybe more than several). Some of the theories were that a so/so wiring connection was heating up and losing connection. Don't remember if that was the eventual outcome, but if you do some searching you might find it. I'll search and see what I can come up with.

 

[Greg Alsobrook]

How long has it been doing this?

 

[curt8403]

I've got a strange problem where the 2 transponders with my SD locals (Sat 119, tp 24/25) drop from 95-100 to 0 between 4pm and 6pm almost every day. I know it can't be the HD-DVR, since it happens on all 3 of my HR20's (both tuners). I have a Slimline dish and a Zinwell WB68 using 6 outputs. I do have HD locals, so it is not a major problem, just annoying. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

what else happens in your area at this time? delivery trucks?? planes flying around?

maybe a change of shift at the local nuc plant? (I am serious, and looking for what might be causing a drop each day at the same time)

 

[curt8403]

I've got a strange problem where the 2 transponders with my SD locals (Sat 119, tp 24/25) drop from 95-100 to 0 between 4pm and 6pm almost every day. I know it can't be the HD-DVR, since it happens on all 3 of my HR20's (both tuners). I have a Slimline dish and a Zinwell WB68 using 6 outputs. I do have HD locals, so it is not a major problem, just annoying. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

another idea
\
NEWS time/ call all the local stations and see if any of them use a satellite relay truck each day at that time.

 

[DogLover]

Here's one thread. I'm not sure it's the one that I was thinking about, but there are some good ideas of where to look.

 

[DogLover]

Here's another one. This one seemed to be power related.

 

[mcbeevee]

How long has it been doing this?

It has been happening for the last few months. Seems kind of strange that it does not affect the other transponders on the 119 sat. My theory was it has something to do with the angle of the sun that time of day and/or heat. It is supposed to be cloudy today, so I will check it again.

 

[hdtvfan0001]

I wonder if its an early sign that an LNB or tuner is beginning to go...

Otherwise...happening that regularly is hard to explain.

 

[Doug Brott]

mcbeevee,

Can you take a picture looking out the direction that the dish is facing?

 

[mcbeevee]

I think I've solved the mystery. My sat 119/tp 25 signal dropped to -0- around 3pm today under partly cloudy skies. I decided to bypass the Zinwell WB68 to see if that made a difference, and tp 25 jumped back to 100! :righton: Now I need to see if Directv will mail me a replacement WB68, or make me take a half day off from work for a 15 minute fix.

:flag:

 

[hdtvfan0001]

I think I've solved the mystery. My sat 119/tp 25 signal dropped to -0- around 3pm today under partly cloudy skies. I decided to bypass the Zinwell WB68 to see if that made a difference, and tp 25 jumped back to 100! :righton: Now I need to see if Directv will mail me a replacement WB68, or make me take a half day off from work for a 15 minute fix.

:flag:

Argh....yes....some multiwitches have been known to fail...I shoulda thought of that one...

 

[CJTE]

I think I've solved the mystery. My sat 119/tp 25 signal dropped to -0- around 3pm today under partly cloudy skies. I decided to bypass the Zinwell WB68 to see if that made a difference, and tp 25 jumped back to 100! :righton: Now I need to see if Directv will mail me a replacement WB68, or make me take a half day off from work for a 15 minute fix.

:flag:

The latter. DirecTV has absolutely no way of shipping out multiswitches. The CSRs dont even see them in the ordering system.

 

[Rabushka]

The latter. DirecTV has absolutely no way of shipping out multiswitches. The CSRs dont even see them in the ordering system.

Still doesn't make any sense. Why would a multi switch go bad only between the hours of 3 and 6 PM day after day?

 

[hdtvfan0001]

Still doesn't make any sense. Why would a multi switch go bad only between the hours of 3 and 6 PM day after day?

Agreed, but in order to know that this would be the ONLY time it is foundering, you'd have to monitor all transponders 24/7. In any case....when this things happen with sporadic intervals, and perhaps even in some measure of regularity...it may be a sign that things are in the process of breaking, not just broken. Hard drives have these same kinds of symptoms - they rarely just die - they first make noises, have eooro messages appear, or other hiccups before the darn thing croaks.

 

[curt8403]

I think I've solved the mystery. My sat 119/tp 25 signal dropped to -0- around 3pm today under partly cloudy skies. I decided to bypass the Zinwell WB68 to see if that made a difference, and tp 25 jumped back to 100! :righton: Now I need to see if Directv will mail me a replacement WB68, or make me take a half day off from work for a 15 minute fix.

:flag:

multiswitch can be obtained from Solidsignal.com
maybe worth the cost to avoid 1/2 day off work.

 

[mcbeevee]

multiswitch can be obtained from Solidsignal.com
maybe worth the cost to avoid 1/2 day off work.

Agreed. I went on E-bay and ordered a new WB68 for $20 (including s&h). That is a much better deal for me than missing 1/2 day at work.

 

[ironwood]

You have to finish the test. Hook it back to the switch and see if signal drops. If signal still stays at 100 then your test failed.

 

[mcbeevee]

Sorry to dig up an old post, but I thought I should report that the mystery of my failing transponders has been solved! My 119 signals have been good since late last summer, so I thought everything was ok. Last week, a couple of my 119 transponders started getting low (or 0) numbers. This started happening just when we were experiencing some hot days (highs in the mid-80's). I normally don't watch anything from the 119 sat, so it was not a big deal.

Then last Saturday, I noticed a couple of my 103(c) transponders were dropping into 20-30 range. Since I had an extra (regular) 5-lnb for the Slimline, I decided to install it and see what happened. Now my signals are staying in the 90-100 range on all sats! Apparently, the issue was the late afternoon heat was causing the lnb to have trouble with some of the transponders.