LNB problem

[tangodelta]

I am posting this on the D* forum because that is my provider. If it should go under the general area I'm sure you will move it.

I am quite sure the problem is the dual LNB because I swapped the cables and the problem switched to the other receiver/tv. It is a legacy Sony SAN-18D2 dish. Intermittantly, some channels go out and I get a searching for satellite message. Other channels still work fine. Some TPs have a good signal and others none. Then all channels will come back and it will work fine for hours or days.

Since I need a new LNB or possibly a dish (it's riveted to the dish) I was wondering if it would be wise to get something with two or more LNBs. I will eventually be upgrading this old (bought in 98) system and may want to get in to the FTA hobby later.

Any suggestions on which way to go and where to buy would be appreciated. Or if anyone has one around that works they want to sell.

As I started looking in to how the system is set up, I noticed I am pointed a lot further east that most of my neighbors. Most of them have twin or more LNBs. I think I am on the 101 bird.

Thanks in advance for you inputs.

 

[boba]

Your LNB is not riveted on there are two phillips head screws(look right below LNB) that hold it in place but that really dosen't help you Sony hasn't made that LNB for years you must replace the whole dish. For 101 which you should be aimed at you need to add a multiswitch for the number of tuners you plan on using 3X 4/8/12 are common multiswitches.

 

[jdspencer]

...
As I started looking in to how the system is set up, I noticed I am pointed a lot further east that most of my neighbors. Most of them have twin or more LNBs. I think I am on the 101 bird....

That dish is aimed at the 101 satellite. If your neighbors have the 2 or 3 LNB dish then they are pointed at the 110 satellite. So yours is pointed further eastward.

That Sony dish is quite old, so it probably is the LNB. If you plan to stay with DirecTV, I'd suggest you upgrade the dish to the latest 5LNB version.

 

[tangodelta]

rivets/schmivets

After I posted I was sitting on the patio having an adult malted beverage when I looked at the dish and saw that boba is, as usual, right.

I am just old and confused sometimes. When I started looking at the whole system again, I either couldn't remember or never knew what bird I aimed at nine years ago. I did some math based on the az and where I am and was almost convinced I was looking at Galaxy 3C (95w) which made no sense because the D* is not circular polarization and too low in frequencyon that satellite. Then it finally occurred to me - tha az is a magnetic compass heading! DOH! Now 101 makes perfect sense.

jd - thanks for the input on the 5 LNB dish but we won't be ready to upgrade for a year or so and it all usually comes as a system when you upgrade receivers. I found it on line for $99. I doubt me owning the antenna is going to significantly effect the bottom line. And I wonder if the old receivers I have can tell the built in switch to go to 1010 and stay there. I don't know how all that works.

So I looked around at some replacemant LNB and it looks like mounting it to the old support would be a real pain in the neck or somewhere. For under 50 bucks I can buy a new dual LNB dish.

Thanks again for your inputs and help. Even based on the new dish, the Sony receivers I bought in '98 have cost about $4.50 per month so far. The D* service has been great. So in answer to your question about staying, yes I think so.

 

[boba]

After I posted I was sitting on the patio having an adult malted beverage when I looked at the dish and saw that boba is, as usual, right.

I am just old and confused sometimes. When I started looking at the whole system again, I either couldn't remember or never knew what bird I aimed at nine years ago. I did some math based on the az and where I am and was almost convinced I was looking at Galaxy 3C (95w) which made no sense because the D* is not circular polarization and too low in frequencyon that satellite. Then it finally occurred to me - tha az is a magnetic compass heading! DOH! Now 101 makes perfect sense.

jd - thanks for the input on the 5 LNB dish but we won't be ready to upgrade for a year or so and it all usually comes as a system when you upgrade receivers. I found it on line for $99. I doubt me owning the antenna is going to significantly effect the bottom line. And I wonder if the old receivers I have can tell the built in switch to go to 1010 and stay there. I don't know how all that works.

So I looked around at some replacemant LNB and it looks like mounting it to the old support would be a real pain in the neck or somewhere. For under 50 bucks I can buy a new dual LNB dish.

Thanks again for your inputs and help. Even based on the new dish, the Sony receivers I bought in '98 have cost about $4.50 per month so far. The D* service has been great. So in answer to your question about staying, yes I think so.

Think again you can lease an H20 receiver from D* for $99 and get a 5LNB dish installed Free. The 5 LNB comes with a 4 way multiswitch so you can run upto 4 tuners off the dish. Even if you don't have a HDTV you can still run the "S" video or the composite (red white and yellow RCAs) to a standard TV and watch the programming. From the dish you probably have A2 or B2 Sony receivers that weren't multi satellite compatible so you would be upgrading for $50 more than just replacing the dish. Yes your old Sony's can still be used with the AU9 Slimline they just won't see the other satellites.

 

[tangodelta]

think again

Think again you can lease an H20 receiver from D* for $99 and get a 5LNB dish installed Free. The 5 LNB comes with a 4 way multiswitch so you can run upto 4 tuners off the dish. Even if you don't have a HDTV you can still run the "S" video or the composite (red white and yellow RCAs) to a standard TV and watch the programming. From the dish you probably have A2 or B2 Sony receivers that weren't multi satellite compatible so you would be upgrading for $50 more than just replacing the dish. Yes your old Sony's can still be used with the AU9 Slimline they just won't see the other satellites.

Thanks. This is the kind of info I need. So I can "lease" a H20 for $99 and use the B2 for the second TV and if I want for $4.99 keep the other B2 active for another TV. Plus if I am ever allowed to buy a HD TV I will be ready. Am I understanding this correctly?

Does this "lease" include a monthly charge? Right now for the two B2 receivers I am paying 56.98 per month for total choice plus. I haven't called D* yet but was just now discussing it with the B&C. Oops, I mean lovely wife.

 

[ONUOsFan]

Thanks. This is the kind of info I need. So I can "lease" a H20 for $99 and use the B2 for the second TV and if I want for $4.99 keep the other B2 active for another TV. Plus if I am ever allowed to buy a HD TV I will be ready. Am I understanding this correctly?

Does this "lease" include a monthly charge? Right now for the two B2 receivers I am paying 56.98 per month for total choice plus. I haven't called D* yet but was just now discussing it with the B&C. Oops, I mean lovely wife.

Yes, you can get the new receiver (and dish) as part of your package charge and then an additional $4.99 (each) if you want to keep another receiver active.

You'd probably have to look at the new packages and switch to one of them, along with signing a new contract for two years, but you might also be able to get the H20 - or even an HR20 if you want one - for free rather than $99/$199 if you get a hold of retention when you call (say "cancel service" at the voice prompt).

The one thing I have seen here that might be a problem is that D* doesn't want to lease HD boxes to customers without HD sets. If you don't tell the D* person that you don't have one when you call, it's just a question of whether the installer will care or not - some of them may actually refuse to install the HD box on an SD TV, while others won't care at all... D* will sign you up for the HD access charge if they give you an HD box, but you can cancel that later, assuming the tech goes ahead with the install.

 

[tangodelta]

Thanks again for your advice. I upgraded one receiver to a H20 digital and had the install done today. A much more cost effective way to solve my problem and the HD channels SEEM to look better through the S-video conection to my 27" JVC SD TV. Plus I can get OTA HD through a set top loop. (you know, round rabbit ears) I will post my install experience in another thread.