[nitz369]

Just called to try to get a tech out since my 129 always sits at about 12-14 for signal strength. Over the phone they had me run check switch and magically my reception is 20-25 now.

What does check switch do?

 

[Ken Green]

Just called to try to get a tech out since my 129 always sits at about 12-14 for signal strength. Over the phone they had me run check switch and magically my reception is 20-25 now.

What does check switch do?

Running a check switch, should not have increased your signal strength.
For the most part, check switch tests and confirms the configuration (cabling routing/connections) between your dish antenna and receiver, is properly connected.
As you saw, after a successful switch check is run, the receiver reboots.
It is possible the switch check found some sort of error, which it corrected, or something else was corrected during the reboot phase, which may explain the increase in signal.

KIM, when checking signal strengths, each transponder on a particular satellite will differ. You may have looked at the signal strength of one transponder the first time, and another the second time. In order to correctly determine the signal strength of a particular satellite, you should check several transponders on that satellite, and the average the sum.

 

[phrelin]

In order to correctly determine the signal strength of a particular satellite, you should check several transponders on that satellite, and the average the sum.

Good advice but 129 can be more problematic. For instance, on a calm clear day on 129 I get a meter of 28 on Tr 6 where TBS HD comes from and a 52 on TR 31 where UniversalHD comes from. I have a tree problem and when the wind blows TBS can become unwatchable while UniversalHD may only have an occasional pixelation problem.

Here's my entire list from 129:

TR Meter
1 29
2 32
3 34
4 40
5 36
6 28
7 34
8 36
9 41
10 45
11 32
12 43
13 43
16 42
17 40
18 31
19 34
21 39
22 34
23 35
27 37
30 48
31 52
32 38

Avg 37.625

In my situation a moderate wind through the trees can drop these number 50% or more.

 

[P Smith]

"after a successful switch check is run, the receiver reboots" - nope, it's just load new EPG, no reboots happens.
"and the average the sum" - that's meaningless calculation, better have full table of tpn/SS for future checks.

 

[Ken Green]

"after a successful switch check is run, the receiver reboots" - nope, it's just load new EPG, no reboots happens.
"and the average the sum" - that's meaningless calculation, better have full table of tpn/SS for future checks.

Opps, thanks PS, that's what I meant to say. I haven't run one, in some time, doesn't it also run another 015/Acquiring?