Dish Winegard Traveler System Issue

[JYarber18]

Hello everybody! Just purchased a 2017 Grand Design RV Unit. It is equipped with the Dish Winegard Traveler setup. Unfortunately it is not working 100% correctly and was hoping some of you could assist me in figuring out the issue and repair. Upon powering it up everything works as it should on the winegard box and satellite. The winegard box lists *110, *119, *129 when it is completed doing its search etc. However where the issue begins is when I turn the receivers on to watch tv I get a partial signal lost error code on all the boxes. I do the point dish test and it has extremely low signal of 20-25 on satellite 129 and the other 2 show strength of 0 and 5. I talked to dish tech service and they believe the dish is picking the satellites up individually when searching however not all 3 at once as it should and thinking something on the dish is misaligned or not positioned correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Also there are no obstructions blocking it. I am in West Tx currently and the sky is open as could be. The previous owner of the RV did however tell me he had some parts on the dish replaced prior and it hasn't worked correctly since. Thanks in advance!

 

[Brussam]

Winegard Trav'lers do not have parts changed, except for the LNBF head. Winegard wants the units returned for repair/overhaul. So if the previous owner replaced some parts, you need to know what they were.

I am assuming you ran a Switch Check in the receiver.

 

[JYarber18]

Winegard Trav'lers do not have parts changed, except for the LNBF head. Winegard wants the units returned for repair/overhaul. So if the previous owner replaced some parts, you need to know what they were.

I am assuming you ran a Switch Check in the receiver.

I spoke with the previous owner and he said the reflector was the only part changed. I did run a check switch and I am getting terrible signal strength (20-25) on 1 of the SATs and barely anything or nothing at all on the other 2. However my winegard box says *110, *119, *129 after searching each SAT individually when powering up.

 

[JYarber18]

Ill take some pics tonight of everything. I got on the roof last night and all connections are tight on the dish. When I spoke to tech service at dish he things something on the dish isn’t working correctly due to the weak signals.

 

[Brussam]

Just for the record, the Trav'ler uses the same LNBF head to seek the satellites. Assuming a DPP WA LNBF head, the first two coax cables form the LNBF go down to the base, Ports A & B. The third coax cable goes to the Trav'ler electronics and then to Port C. That is the signal the dish seeking is done with.

Why was the reflector changed? Was it hit? Perhaps the arm got bent too?

You don't say what receiver you are using, i.e. how many coax cables are you using? Have you tried using cables from different Ports?

 

[JYarber18]

Just for the record, the Trav'ler uses the same LNBF head to seek the satellites. Assuming a DPP WA LNBF head, the first two coax cables form the LNBF go down to the base, Ports A & B. The third coax cable goes to the Trav'ler electronics and then to Port C. That is the signal the dish seeking is done with.

Why was the reflector changed? Was it hit? Perhaps the arm got bent too?

You don't say what receiver you are using, i.e. how many coax cables are you using? Have you tried using cables from different Ports?

The receivers are Dish VIP211z. I have 4 tv’s in my coach and they all have their own separate receiver. Every TV in the unit is having the same issue. I am not sure why he swapped out the reflector but I will ask to confirm. Nothing on the dish unit looks damaged or bent to the naked eye but who knows. I just know he said he had it changed out and hasnt worked right since. Was hoping for a simple solution but it doesnt seem like anything pertaining to a satellite is simple. However I got on the roof to check all connections, everything was tight. The 3 LNBs wires are in a wire loom so I cant determine which ones going to which terminal but they are on terminals A,B and C. See pic for reference. I attached pics also of the check switch, winegard box etc in hopes to help. Thanks!

 

[Brussam]

Next obvious question is how are the four receivers attached? There has to be a electronic switch between the Trav'ler and the receiver. Is there one?

 

[JYarber18]

Next obvious question is how are the four receivers attached? There has to be a electronic switch between the Trav'ler and the receiver. Is there one?

Okay, So I ran a switch test on 2 TVs and here is what I came up with. Tv in my bedroom picks up 129, 119 but not 110. Another tv in my coach picks up 129 only. This must explain the partial signal lost error messages. What step is next in diagnosing this? Praying its not bad cables in the walls! The winegard box still says *110, *119 and *129 as it should though. Confused here.

 

[Brussam]

You ignored the question, how are the four TVs connected to the Trav'ler?

 

[Brussam]

I guess the question was too hard.