942 Separator Help

[kresston]

I have a 942 (won here @ SatGuys when the 942 first came out) that's having channel drops. I keep it in single mode for the most part. I noticed here in the past few days that if I put both tuners on say 176 that one will show the channel and the other won't, giving me the can't find signal box. But if I keep changing channels back and forth between it and another it will load, but more often than not it won't. Is this a sign of a faulty separator?

 

[Pepper]

I had the exact same issue last week, at first I thought it was the separator but apparently one of the two short cables from the separator to the satellite tuner was flaky. Replacing both of them fixed it for me.

When I would run check switch, tuner 1 would show 119 110 61.5 129 (correct) and tuner 2 would show 61.5 119 129 110 (incorrect order) - go figure.

 

[kresston]

I'll try what you suggested when my recordings stop later this afternoon. I hope that's all it will take to fix it. It's on its last legs. The coax for the 2nd room has broken off (hence it stays in single mode all the time), the phone line was hit by lightning so its not worked in over a year. But it still is going.

 

[webbydude]

It's goofy, but bad fittings and/or loose connections usually affect the 119 before the 110 (hence your channel 176 woes). I'm completely with Pepper on this one. Verify all connections at the receiver are hand tight. Another thing to look for...bad barrel connectors. Especially at the wallplate. During the initial install it may work, but the white-centered connectors can and will eventually burn out. Once again, taking 119 1st, and then the 110 channels.

 

[kresston]

I had the exact same issue last week, at first I thought it was the separator but apparently one of the two short cables from the separator to the satellite tuner was flaky. Replacing both of them fixed it for me.

Pepper, I plan on doing this tonight. I hope that this will correct the problem.

When I would run check switch, tuner 1 would show 119 110 61.5 129 (correct) and tuner 2 would show 61.5 119 129 110 (incorrect order) - go figure.

I'm not having this issue, but even when I do the check switch (I've not replaced the cables yet) they are in the correct order and they show as connected. (119 110 61.5)

EDIT: Seems to be working like it should, so I guess replacing the cables is what needed to be done. Thanks guys!

 

[kresston]

Well I thought I had it fixed, it seems to have cropped back up again. I have checked the cable @ the LNB and it is fine. I have done numerous matrix clearings and check switches. It seems to only occur during the day, at night it does happen, but rarely. My setup is a DPPTwin with a DPDual fed into the twin with one cable coming from the #1 port of the DPPTwin to a Dish Separator. Any ideas?

 

[webbydude]

I'll add to my prior post by suggesting your LNB may be going bad. Regardless, I'd check all connections and barrel connectors (if any). The fact it happens during the day (and when its warmer out) adds credence that it may be a LNB issue.

 

[kresston]

When I checked the connections last night (7:30 or so eastern time) the barrel connector @ the LNB was rather warm, almost to warm to touch. I just passed it off as it being warm because its was so hot out. The cable looks fine (inside of the barrel it's still white) its RG6 but I noticed the labeling says 3000mhz whereas the separator suggests a lower range input (950 - 2150).

 

[Pepper]

Well I tend to agree with webbydude at this point. I remember last summer, there seemed to be a LOT of the DPPTwins that died in the heat. Symptoms worse during the day than at night implies that might be what's going on.

Have you tried using the other output of the DPPtwin?

 

[kresston]

Well I tend to agree with webbydude at this point. I remember last summer, there seemed to be a LOT of the DPPTwins that died in the heat. Symptoms worse during the day than at night implies that might be what's going on.

Have you tried using the other output of the DPPtwin?

I hadn't heard of that, I will do a search on here to see if mine might have been affected, this summer has been hotter than last. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to replace the LNB but I may have to.

EDIT: Found this http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=72186&highlight=dpptwin+heat so I'm gonna try this out and see, but I know that I will have to replace it eventually.