22khz distance limit or something else?

[SatinKzo]

I setup my spare 90cm dish for a 99/105 setup with 2 lnb's and I planned on using a 22khz switch on the dish which was run off port 2 of my diseqc. But after getting everything setup, testing the 22khz out at the dish during aiming, I come back in to the house and niether my azbox, pansat 9200, or cs5k seem to be working with the 22khz switch. For reference it's a 22khz sadoun branded switch.

I removed the switch and tested each lnb from in the house and all the receivers seem fine, but as soon as I put the 22khz back in line, no signals. I changed the 22khz out with the same results.

Any ideas on why this isn't working? Is there a distance limit for switching? if so, shouldn't it still work on at least 1 lnb for whatever state it is in even if I can't get it to switch?

My only other option is to use an ecoda switch closer in the setup and use 2 diseqc's which is fine, but I am perplexed on what is happening with the current setup.

 

[brentb636]

It's not clear whether you tried the 22khz without the Diseqc switch between. Possibly the problem is with the Diseqc switch. Your setup should be a classic case of the 22khz and Diseqc switch in tandem and it should work.

 

[SatinKzo]

It got late last night so now I am not sure if I tried just the 22khz switch or not. I know it worked fine when I was out at the dish doing my repoint (dish used to be at 123, but now I'm getting prepped for the fall sports season and with 123 becoming slim pickings, it's not warranting a stationary dish for me any longer). I'll have to confirm here shortly as soon as I get motivated

I originally thought I fried the switch or something since everything works fine without the switch, but the replacement isn't working either.

*edit:
went out and had the wife change the receiver between the 2 sats and I can hear the switch click. Normally I would think the 2 short runs from the switch to the lnb's would be the problem here, but I tested those last night individually and they worked fine.

 

[Mr Tony]

how far of a cable run are we talking?

 

[SatinKzo]

From receiver to diseqc, about 150 feet, from diseqc to 22khz, about another 40 feet.

 

[brentb636]

My inclination is to take a receiver and TV out to the Diseqc switch and test all the switches together. Then all that is left is the main cable run, to be the culprit. Possibly a different brand Diseqc switch might also be in order as a test.

 

[Mr Tony]

you're getting out there in cable length so its possible there isnt enough power to switch the 22k but you should be able to view what is on the 0k side

 

[SatinKzo]

you're getting out there in cable length so its possible there isnt enough power to switch the 22k but you should be able to view what is on the 0k side

Yeah, that's what is perplexing me.

My next step is what brent suggests, just gotta get the yard work done first I don't believe it's in the main cable run as I also have a dish at 74w and the 2nd output from my motorized setup hooked in and they work fine. The run between the 99/105 dish should be fine as it was the one I used for 123w, the only thing I have added is a 22khz. The fact I can hear it clicking when switching sats is confusing also, could it be just enough voltage to start the switch and then not enough to complete for some reason?

 

[SatinKzo]

I got it working. I went back out, took my "Dish pointing kit" out to the yard, got everything hooked up and signal was nill at the diseqc from the new dish setup.

Disconnected the diseqc and just plugged the line directly into the receiver, still nill from the 22khz switch.

Went over to the dish, hooked directly to the 22khz, still dead, but I could hear it clicking when I would try to switch between lnbs. Put a cheapie diseqc in place of the 22khz to verify the cables and lnb's were still good, yep, all was fine. Went back to the other 2 dishes and hooked back up (this is where the original diseqc is), everything was good. Put another new 22khz on, nothing again.

Alright, I can't have 3 bad 22khz switches, wtf is going on....

Started inspecting the existing cable I was using and started checking for anything. FINALLY, I noticed some stray stranded shielding coming up into the F connector. Ok... possibly that's the problem. Cut the end off, cleaned it up, re-terminated the end, hooked up the 22khz switch again. Went back to the tv and receiver over by the diseqc and hot damn, I had signal, switched to the other lnb, signal again! YAH!

Went back into the house and all the receivers were working! So lesson learned... even 4 stray pieces of shielding can throw off the switch apparently. Can't be sure if they were touching the conductor when the connections were made, but I did go back out and test with a multimeter to see if I had another issue with stray voltage, but nothing registered. I'll just chalk this up as a learning experience and to not do re-wires and re-points after sundown.

Now to add 91 to the 99/105 dish and eliminate the 22khz on the dish (after all my hard work getting it going)

 

[hd fan]

I had the same problem with the big 3 4x4 multiswitch install I did for a friend. I could not get 1 receiver to switch to the 22 khz side LNB properly, yet quality levels were find for every other LNB. It was a staple that went through the outer jacket, just at the edge. I had run 3 extra cables for power inserters (2 sw44 that i realized later i could not use together with the SATB motors) so I just end up switching the cable and using 1 of the spares.

 

[brentb636]

Congratulations. I've been "boned" by tiny metal leftovers myself. Good that you're not going crazy anymore ( or is it "going any crazier?" , can't decide .)

 

[Sadoun]

I am glad you found the problem and solved it.

Many problems can be solved with checking the connector and cable for shorts, stray wires, etc. Switches, Motors, and dual LNBFs are sensitive to problems with connectors.

 

[Mr Tony]

Had the same issue yesterday while peaking a dish. Couldn't figure out why it wasnt working even thought I was in the right area.

Cable end (old crimp end) had been pushed back a little bit so the center was pusing through and the ground wires were shorting it out. Whoops