[lucky13]

So I was getting rain fade and low 99/103 readings (60 - 80s in bright sunshine. with 101 sat 99-100).

Tech came out to peak the dish, but said his meter only peaks from the 101 to the 119, and after that I should get perfect readings on the 99/103, because they're in a straight line. He said he couldn't peak the dish, because 119 was blocked. (The signal meter on the dvr showed 0 on odd TPs, 90s on even.)

I took the tech inside and showed him a perfect picture on all the channels in the 70s, so he admitted the 119 wasn't getting blocked. He said I was getting a false reading from the dish, and since it was a first-generation 5LNB (installed Dec 05 for the H20), he's swapping it now for a new SWMline.

Before that, he tried peaking the old dish--got the 103 up to the 80s, and the 99 up to high 70s--but only on odd TPs. Even ones were 50s or lower. He said this wouldn't matter, which sounds very wrong, but I couldn't find a station that's not coming in.

He also said I could be having problems because I was running an SWM 8 with a power inserter in parallel with a powered Zinwell 8/16. He said the could be competing for voltage. However, he seemed never to have seen an SWM8 before.

He's still here, installing the dish.

1. Are the 99c readings acceptable? If not, what channels are coming off the even TPs, so I can show that it's wrong?

2. Is he right about the powered SWM fighting with the powered Zinwell 8/16?

 

[lucky13]

And now that I'm getting a SWMline, how do I hook up tuners 9+?
I have 5 HR2x, 1 HR20, and 1 legacy box.
Can I split this for the Zinwell 8x16, or will I need a second dish?

 

[Mertzen]

He still here, installing the dish.
1. Are the 99c readings acceptable? If not, what channels are coming off the even TPs, so I can show that it's wrong?

If all evens are gone also check to see if evens on 110 and 103 are there. Don't let him leave with 99c under 85s

2. Is he right about the powered SWM fighting with the powered Zinwell 8/16?

A pic of your setup with splitters and all would be helpful.

 

[Mertzen]

And now that I'm getting a SWMline, how do I hook up tuners 9+?
I have 5 HR2x, 1 HR20, and 1 legacy box.
Can I split this for the Zinwell 8x16, or will I need a second dish?

You can't. no legacy support of the SWMLine. And only 8 tuners. You're better of splitting a regular 5LNB.
And it is a zinwell 6x16 right ?

 

[lucky13]

You can't. no legacy support of the SWMLine. And only 8 tuners. You're better of splitting a regular 5LNB.
And it is a zinwell 6x16 right ?

Right-- a Zinwell 6x16.
Can't take a picture now, but the four lines enter the utility closet, are split parallel through power-passing splitters, four lines go to the Zinwell 6x16 and 4 to the SWM8.

 

[lucky13]

OK--even though he said he was giving me a SWMLine, he actually put up the older Slimline. He said he realized he couldn't use the SWM LNB with my setup.

103c is now all in the 80s.

99 lower; he's still peaking the dish.

What about running the powered Zinwell and SWM together causing a problem--any truth to that? I've had that for about 6 months with no noticeable trouble.

 

[Mertzen]

What about running the powered Zinwell and SWM together causing a problem--any truth to that? I've had that for about 6 months with no noticeable trouble.

Shouldn't give troubles so let him peak the dish and then check all signals.

 

[lucky13]

Shouldn't give troubles so let him peak the dish and then check all signals.

Thanks, Mertzen.

I'll let you know how this works out.

 

[lucky13]

Success:
New Slimline

99c 82 - 95
99s 58 -98 (don't believe 99s is for the DC area)
103c 88-94
103s 8 TPs 88-98; rest 0 (not consistently odd or even)
101 85-100
110 85-91
119 92-97 (even TPs only)

Above is for a tuner connected to the SWM.
Readings from the Zinwell 8x16 are similar, a few points lower is some cases.

 

[Grentz]

Congrats! Glad you got things sorted.

A tiny bit of loss through a multi-switch or any type of break in the line is normal and might show up as just a point or two off.