[andunn27]

So we had an electrical storm last Friday and our Directv went out. Both our receivers boot up but no signals can be found. My dish looks fine outside. I call Directv and tell them we are getting no t.v. at all. The soonest they can get someone out to look at it is July 9th!!

So I look at our multiswitch outside only to find out that there is no ground wire and I am assuming the switch is bad now. I remember when they installed it they said they really didn't want to install the dish because the meter where they usually attach the ground wire to is over 25' away. However, they said since the original smaller dish was installed over 25' away they would do this as well.

When I lived in my apartment the installers brought a 2'-3' copper rod and drove it into the ground and attached the ground wire to the rod because the meter was also 25' away.

Anyways, I told them I was not going to pay for not getting serive for 12 days and they said that after our Directv was up and running to give them a call back and they would credit our account back the difference. Is this normal practice to not ground it like they did when I was living at my apartment if the meter box o\is over 25' away and is it normal to take this long for someone to come out and troubleshoot a setup?

 

[curt8403]

So we had an electrical storm last Friday and our Directv went out. Both our receivers boot up but no signals can be found. My dish looks fine outside. I call Directv and tell them we are getting no t.v. at all. The soonest they can get someone out to look at it is July 9th!!

So I look at our multiswitch outside only to find out that there is no ground wire and I am assuming the switch is bad now. I remember when they installed it they said they really didn't want to install the dish because the meter where they usually attach the ground wire to is over 25' away. However, they said since the original smaller dish was installed over 25' away they would do this as well.

When I lived in my apartment the installers brought a 2'-3' copper rod and drove it into the ground and attached the ground wire to the rod because the meter was also 25' away.

Anyways, I told them I was not going to pay for not getting serive for 12 days and they said that after our Directv was up and running to give them a call back and they would credit our account back the difference. Is this normal practice to not ground it like they did when I was living at my apartment if the meter box o\is over 25' away and is it normal to take this long for someone to come out and troubleshoot a setup?

It is not normal to install and not ground the dish or cable. that would be a quality fail if quality was to check the install. I would suggest running a line from the dish direct to one rcvr to check and see if the dish is working or if it is damaged

 

[houskamp]

or try a barrel connector (connect an input to switch to line to DVR) to see if you can get one reciever to work.. at least you could get a couple tuners back..

 

[curt8403]

or try a barrel connector (connect an input to switch to line to DVR) to see if you can get one reciever to work.. at least you could get a couple tuners back..

indeed, Barrel connectors are good, Not at all like a barrel rider, (Unless Barrel happened to be the name of your pony)

 

[mjones73]

I'd bet there's a better chance the dish moved then your equipment got fried, it doesn't have to move far at all to be off. If the multiswitch bypass doesn't work and you can get to the dish, loosen up the bolts and slowly move it back and forth on the mast to see if you can get your signal back.

 

[Nick]

indeed, Barrel connectors are good, Not at all like a barrel rider, (Unless Barrel happened to be the name of your pony)

...or, the name of your S.O. :grin:

 

[andunn27]

I'd bet there's a better chance the dish moved then your equipment got fried, it doesn't have to move far at all to be off. If the multiswitch bypass doesn't work and you can get to the dish, loosen up the bolts and slowly move it back and forth on the mast to see if you can get your signal back.

Well both my HR20-700 and Directivo power up fine it just can't locate any signals. I can even watch all my recorded shows on my Directivo so I think the receivers are fine. I belive it is a multiswitch problem or like you said possibly a dish alignment issue.

 

[Mertzen]

Or fried LNB. It does happen.

 

[Talos4]

Or fried LNB. It does happen.

It certainly does.

A tree about 25' from my garage where the dish is mounted was struck by lightning in early June.

After the appropriate clothing change and the power returned All of my boxes were searching for signal. :eek2:

I checked everything from the box to the dish. I found fried connectors at the dish (LNB Output) and the input of the multiswitch.

Service call the next day found the LNB was basically slag, he took the plastic covers off and looked inside what a mess and it stunk. Because I had the AT-9 he changed the dish out, the cables to the switch and the switch.

Everything is fine now. Oh, everything is grounded properly. But afterall it is lightning.

And go figure, the tree apeears to have survived.

 

[joe diamond]

It certainly does.

A tree about 25' from my garage where the dish is mounted was struck by lightning in early June.

After the appropriate clothing change and the power returned All of my boxes were searching for signal. :eek2:

I checked everything from the box to the dish. I found fried connectors at the dish (LNB Output) and the input of the multiswitch.

Service call the next day found the LNB was basically slag, he took the plastic covers off and looked inside what a mess and it stunk. Because I had the AT-9 he changed the dish out, the cables to the switch and the switch.

Everything is fine now. Oh, everything is grounded properly. But after all it is lightning.

And go figure, the tree apears to have survived.

Check the base of the tree all the way around. IF lightning used the tree to ground the tree will gradually die over a period of years. Look for a burned strip running up the tree.

Also, nobody ever says the grounding system is any kind of lightning protection. I have heard of attempts to ding installers because lightning hit an ungrounded dish but they don't go far. Lightning will blow open any wire you could ground with.

Joe

 

[whitepelican]

Not at all like a barrel rider, (Unless Barrel happened to be the name of your pony)

Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks.