Bad Multi-Dish Switch??

[Tripper918]

Hello,
I am looking for a little help.
Here’s what I have. Dish 500 which gets satellites 119 and 110 and a dish for local programming.
I have a new receiver that runs two televisions and an old ( maybe 8 or 10 years old) receiver that I keep in the basement. The new receiver is hooked up to both dishes and works fine. The old receiver is just hooked up to one dish, the one that gets satellites 110 and 119.
Now for the problem. The older receiver only picks up channels from satellite 119. If I put it on a channel that normally comes over 110, I get an error message #004 “A problem has been detected with your multi-dish switch”. This problem started about two weeks after I had to put in the new card. Mind you it is only hooked up to one dish. The reception off 119 has always been sketchy at best. When it rains, without 110, I have no TV. (It’s been raining here for over a week!) And the kids are out of school on Friday!!!!
I called DISH Tech support and they told me it was a problem with the switch between the receiver and the dish. They would gladly come out and have a look for a minimum charge of $49.00 plus any parts and additional labor.
I looked at the switches online and figured it would be easy to change. The problem is I checked from the box to the dish and found no switch. On the dish are the two eyes and (I guess you would call it a splitter) for the two satellites. One side says 119 and the other 110.
The cable comes out of there and runs along the ground. When they installed it they just stuck it in the basement window. I drilled a hole and ran it through the outside wall about 4 years ago.
So, is the switch inside the case that says 110 and 119? Why would one receiver work and not the other?
I really don’t want to pay to have someone look at it just so I can keep paying to watch tv. If it comes to that I’ll go back to digital cable.
Thanks so much for your time

 

[jwolf]

Sign up for the Dish home Protection Plan(DHPP). DHPP is $5.99/month and you can add it when you need it, and cancel it when everything is fixed. Call today and add it, then call tomorrow and tell them about your error. Whatever the tech needs to get you up and running again is covered.

 

[Tripper918]

That's good advice but I think I may be too late. I should have done that before I made the call to tech suport. I think I'm on my own, so any help would be great!

 

[jwolf]

Nope, you are not too late. Add DHPP, then call with the error number in your post.

I've done it, as have many others. It works, but you can do what you want................

 

[boba]

Service call under DHPP is $29.99 but parts are free. Even your old receiver if defective can be replaced free under DHPP. Don't knock the system use it to your advantage.

 

[Tripper918]

Good advice. Thanks!
Any other ideas on doing it myself?
It does concern me a bit when they say it's the Multi-Dish Switch when I only have one dish on that receiver.

 

[jwolf]

Service call under DHPP is $29.99 but parts are free. Even your old receiver if defective can be replaced free under DHPP. Don't knock the system use it to your advantage.

I have yet to pay anything under DHPP for a service call. I have heard that they charge even under DHPP, but they haven't charged me yet. I shouldn't say that too loud, as they will nail me next time.

Tripper918, the switch is now built into the LNB(the two eye's, as you call them), and the entire unit would need to be replaced for a bad switch.

 

[Tripper918]

Would there be two sitches in the LNB, one for each reciever? It that's the case it may explain why one receiver is fine and the other is not.

 

[Tripper918]

I was reading about the LNB (with built in switch) this weekend. One article I read said that they don't work with older receivers. Could it be that when I put my new card in, the updated info is not compatable with my old receiver?

 

[j8.]

hi well more info would be helpful like whats model of recivers u have and what type lnbs your using how many tvs??? problem can be older reivers are legacy and will not work with dp dp means dish pro what i would sugest guessing what u have is upgrade your lnbs or eyes is what u calling them.. the newer lnbs will work with all recivers also save on wiring.. get yourself 2 dpp twin lnbs... im sure sove all problems and should pick up both sats on the older reciver dpp means dish pro plus im guessing ebay about 30 each actaty u could get 1 and use sepaeators and get rid of 1 dish this way also rerun wires ity be much easer to help if had more info what u have..

 

[j8.]

with the older reciver did u do a check switch also seams very weird u only get 1 sat u should get all that reciver may reqiuer a dp adaptor u also should make sure your software is up 2 date.. for locals is your locals on 110 or 119 if u get dpps it will elimnate most proplems

 

[Tripper918]

Maybe this will help. The Dish says Dish 500.
lNBF PLUS is on the LNB. One side says 119 and the other says 110.
DP301T is the model number of the receiver.

Local stations are on a seperate dish in another area of the yard. Only the new reveiver is hooked up to both of the dishes.

I did a switch test several times. The first time it went through 38(?) tests and the result was... WARNING-only one satelite connected.
Sometimes I do it and it says... You have fewer satelites than before.. Save new results?
When I do a switch check now it does only 1 of 1 tests with the WARNING as a result.
There is no program guide at all. If I push the GUIDE button I get the message RETRIEVING PROGRAM INFO but nothing happens. All the blocks say "No Info".

If I go to a station off satelite 110, error 004 comes up saying there is a problem with multi-dish switch.

 

[dak32]

It is most likely the receiver. switch receivers and run a check switch. If you get the same error it is the lnb or the cabling.

 

[j8.]

Maybe this will help. The Dish says Dish 500.
lNBF PLUS is on the LNB. One side says 119 and the other says 110.
DP301T is the model number of the receiver.

Local stations are on a seperate dish in another area of the yard. Only the new reveiver is hooked up to both of the dishes.

I did a switch test several times. The first time it went through 38(?) tests and the result was... WARNING-only one satelite connected.
Sometimes I do it and it says... You have fewer satelites than before.. Save new results?
When I do a switch check now it does only 1 of 1 tests with the WARNING as a result.
There is no program guide at all. If I push the GUIDE button I get the message RETRIEVING PROGRAM INFO but nothing happens. All the blocks say "No Info".

If I go to a station off satelite 110, error 004 comes up saying there is a problem with multi-dish switch.

sounds like you have the updated lnb sence you say plus which is good, but im a bit confused in why u have 2 dishes a dish 500 plus lnb can run both of your recivers no proplem less u need 2nd dish for another satalite for locals or internationals these no need 2 have 2nd dish.. for now id look at all wires and conections take apart make sure no water or broken.. look at switch what is model of switch and model of the newer reciver your older 1 i think is a 301 which is dp and still in use with dish

 

[j8.]

sounds like you have the updated lnb sence you say plus which is good, but im a bit confused in why u have 2 dishes a dish 500 plus lnb can run both of your recivers no proplem less u need 2nd dish for another satalite for locals or internationals these no need 2 have 2nd dish.. for now id look at all wires and conections take apart make sure no water or broken.. look at switch what is model of switch and model of the newer reciver your older 1 i think is a 301 which is dp and still in use with dish

ops ok now i reread u have 2nd dish for locals so even your newer reciver should have or see three sats 110 119 and 1 other maybe 61.5 start with doing ck switch on newer reciver see what u get.. if all ok go 2 2nd reciver do ck switch iof u still have proplems ck all wires/ conections.. also if u have another reciver around by chance try it it dont need be subed threw dish its just to ck signal or take newer 1 and put were older 1 is see if u get chanels that way if all falls thgen it be switch.. 1 other way you can tesy is get barrel conections unhook that reciver from the switch replace with barel conection see if u get signal u will only get 1 sat this way its only see if signal is there u bu passing switch to ck signal only hopfuly u understand what im saying hope i helped good luck

 

[Tripper918]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will have time to mess around with it on Saturday.
J8, I'll check out the other thing you told me about as well. Thanks for the help.

 

[j8.]

your very welcome hope you get it

 

[Tripper918]

Well I thought I would give a little update.
After weeks of just having a few channels, no program guide, many switch tests and a lot of frustration... this is where I stand.
Last night the 119 satellite went out as well. (Weather).
This morning I went to see if I had a signal after the weather had cleared up. I got the message about acquiring signal. It locked on this screen and did nothing for 10 mins. I turned receiver off and tried again. Same message but this time it says its getting signal from 110 rather than 119.
For giggles I did another switch test. I have both satellites and it did not find any problems.
Satellite 119 is getting about 19 strength which is normal. 110 is getting 74 strength.
I cleared all that and it went back to acquiring signal. It goes up to 5 and stops… still no TV.
I shut it off again and have another go. This time it goes to downloading program guide.
Now, I have a guide and all the channels that I have not had in weeks. Go figure!
While I had no TV last night, I spent my time looking into FIOS. Maybe it sensed my frustration

 

[j8.]

Well I thought I would give a little update.
After weeks of just having a few channels, no program guide, many switch tests and a lot of frustration... this is where I stand.
Last night the 119 satellite went out as well. (Weather).
This morning I went to see if I had a signal after the weather had cleared up. I got the message about acquiring signal. It locked on this screen and did nothing for 10 mins. I turned receiver off and tried again. Same message but this time it says its getting signal from 110 rather than 119.
For giggles I did another switch test. I have both satellites and it did not find any problems.
Satellite 119 is getting about 19 strength which is normal. 110 is getting 74 strength.
I cleared all that and it went back to acquiring signal. It goes up to 5 and stops… still no TV.
I shut it off again and have another go. This time it goes to downloading program guide.
Now, I have a guide and all the channels that I have not had in weeks. Go figure!
While I had no TV last night, I spent my time looking into FIOS. Maybe it sensed my frustration

Well i doubt its recivers. Is this a typo ? {Satellite 119 is getting about 19 strength which is normal] If not here is your proplem 19 is not good.. Actaly 74 is not good my opion.. There for it still can a few things.. Could your dish of moved? Anything in way trees etc?? It could be week lnb or switch or even loose or broken or wet , rusted conectionsor wires .. if were me like i stated before is disconect switch, conecet, replace with barel conection 1 wire at a time, you will need to look at lnb, see what wires go to what sats, like 1 will be for 119, 110 and what ever your 3rd one is on separte dish.. do 110, 119 1st,, set reciver to which [sat ] wire your using [110 etc ] go to system set up set reciver to sat you have hooked see if signal increases ths will tell u if its a bad switch your saying 119 is weekest id start with 119

 

[jwolf]

While I had no TV last night, I spent my time looking into FIOS. Maybe it sensed my frustration

Then cancel dish and get service from someone else. I offered the suggestion of DHPP for $5.99 which would allow dish to come out and FIX the issue. There have been other offers of help as well, take it or leave it. Dish cannot help you if you don't let them.

Just cancel and get service from someone else already...........................:rant: