Losing some Hd channels

[beas0536]

I have recently installed a new slimline dish swm at a 2nd home in fl. Has worked fine for a couple months but now I get a 771 every now and then on some hd channels. Espn cnn for example. My dish is supposed to pick up sats 99,101 and 103. If I need to tweak the dish pointing what would be the best way to start that? Start by slow sweep, or change the elevation or the rotation? I am not a professional sat guy so I am a little worried about moving my dish much.

Any tips from you guys would be appreciated...

 

[raoul5788]

You need to do some investigation before adjusting the dish. What are your signal strength numbers on all of the satellites? Have you done a physical inspection of the cabling, connections, etc? Are there any obstructions to the line of sight to the satellites?

 

[Jimbo]

Once you give us the Sat Signal Strengths, well know which way to proceed.

IF you need to tweak the dish and theres No obstructions ...
If you have some one watch the SS meter on the TV, go out to the dish and without loosening any thing, gently put a little pressure on the dish from either side, do both, and up and down as well.
Figure out which helped your SS and THEN I would look to use the dithering bolts to slightly adjust the dish.

Thats provided you actually need to tweak it.

 

[beas0536]

There is a completely clear line of sight, I do not have any signal meters so the numbers from the receiver are;
99c=96
99s= 0
101=98
103s=61
103ce=97
103cb=97
swm=100
Toggling through the signal meter strength these are the numbers.

Thank you for your help!
?

 

[raoul5788]

CNN is on 99 transponder 11 and ESPN is 99 transponder 12. Can you post all of the signal strength numbers? I know it's a pain, but it may be helpful. I'm suspicious of your lnb.

 

[beas0536]

Thanks Chip, there is probably a way to take a pic of this and post it but I will enter the numbers.

99c=1-8. 96 96 94 95 95 94 95 95
9-16= 95 95 94 95 96 96 na na
17-24 = na
25-32= na

99s
1-8= 0 0 0 0 98 0 na na
9-16= na
17-24= 95 96 00 90 88 0 0
25-32= na

103s
1-8= 62 0 53 na na na na na
9-16= na na na na na na 93 94
17-24= 92 88 96 97 61 60 98 97
25-32= na

103ca
1-8= na
9-16= 97 97 96 96 99 95 95 95 97
17-24=95 96 96 96 95 95 97 98
25-32=na

103cb
1-8= 98 96 95 96 95 96 95 95
9-16= 96 95 95 95 95 95 na na
17-24= na
25-32= na

swm
1-8= 100 100 100 98 98 98 98 98
9-16= 98 na,,,,,,,,
17-24= na,,,,,,,,,
25-32= na,,,,,,,,,,

101
1-8= 98 100 90 0 99 100 98 100
9-16= 99 100 99 0 99 100 99 100
17-24=90 0 99 97 100 100 100 100
25-32=99 0 98 100 100 100 99 100

like I said this problem seems to be very random!!
hope this helps!

 

[Jimbo]

Well, signal strength doesn't seem to be the problem ...
Are CNN and ESPN still out ?

Have you tried re authorizing the recvr ?

How many recvrs are you using ?

 

[raoul5788]

Those might be the best numbers I've ever seen. Whoever peaked your dish is good! If you don't find anything wrong with the cabling or connections, it's almost definitely the lnb. Make sure there aren't any tight bends in the cable. You could have a problem with the receiver/dvr, but not as likely as the lnb.

 

[beas0536]

I installed the dish, so it was probably just luck. Jimbo, how do you re authorize the receiver? I only have one receiver here with me in Fl.

 

[beas0536]

Thanks For the help Chip, my house here in fl is new and was pre wired so I would have a hard time inspecting anything inside but my outside cabling dish to house is easy to inspect. If I don't find anything I will look at buying a new lnb. Any suggestions on where to get one. I just don't feel comfortable calling Dtv about this since we are here temporarily.

 

[raoul5788]

eBay is a good source. If the lnb doesn't do the trick, you might want to run a temporary cable from the dish inside. One thing we didn't address is the power inserter. Any chance it's on a power strip? If so, you should move it to a regular outlet or onto a UPS.

 

[beas0536]

The power inserter is on a power strip. I will move it to a wall outlet.

 

[jcrandall]

Nice job on aiming your dish, excellent signal. Most SL3S LNBs on ebay run $20-$30 shipped, so it isn't an expensive part, in fact I keep a spare in my garage.

When you check your cable take a good look at all the fittings, if water gets into any of them it can cause funky things.

 

[Jimbo]

I installed the dish, so it was probably just luck. Jimbo, how do you re authorize the receiver? I only have one receiver here with me in Fl.

https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/login/login.jsp?_requestid=931799

If you have more than one on your account, make sure you re authorize the correct recvr, it takes about 3-5 minutes.

I have a recvr in the motor home that I have to re authorize from time to time due to lack of use or not being connected to the dish.

 

[Jimbo]

If ya don't want to deal with ebay, you can get one from a reputable online dealer like Solid Signal for $39 with 2 day delivery for another $4.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...itch-(SL3SWM)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=8546300073

 

[beas0536]

I ordered 75' cables from solid signal so the cable ends would be installed. I don't have a compression tool. When I ran my cable from the dish to the entry point in the house I had about 10 ' of extra wire length which I folded up and buried in the mulch. From what Chip posted that could also be my issue. I think I will go to lowes and buy a compression tool and cut the cable to length to avoid those kinks. I was not aware you could not make sharp bends. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[raoul5788]

IIRC, the recommended smallest bend is something like 8".

 

[beas0536]

Thanks, I have re-routed the cable, changed the power supply location and still lost channels yesterday. CNN, golf channel, espn hd. I have ordered a new lnb from solid signal. Will let you guys know if this fix works for future ref.
This has been confusing to me because it is random. Watched the nfl game on 212 Nfl channel last night with no issue.
Again, thanks for the help!

 

[raoul5788]

lnbs operate at difference frequencies. If the channels you are losing are at frequencies where your lnb is faulty you won't get them.

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks, I have re-routed the cable, changed the power supply location and still lost channels yesterday. CNN, golf channel, espn hd. I have ordered a new lnb from solid signal. Will let you guys know if this fix works for future ref.
This has been confusing to me because it is random. Watched the nfl game on 212 Nfl channel last night with no issue.
Again, thanks for the help!

The channels are all on various Sats and transponders, they dont go in any kind of order, I'm guessing that the channels may all be onthe same Sat that you are missing.