This is not intended as a criticism of DirecTV. I've been a happy customer of theirs for more than 10 years. I'm posting this in case it helps anyone else who runs into similar problems.
I have two HD sets, a smaller 720i set and a larger 1080i (both Samsungs). We've been getting the HD channels in the 70's since May, and installed the 5-LNB dish last month in anticipation of the new HD channels. At that time we asked the installer whether we needed two b-band converters installed on each HR-20. We were told no, that only one was needed on the newer machines.
When they lit up the new channels on Wednesday, the smaller set got all the HD channels fine. The larger one received only some of them. The others gave an error message: "Looking for signal on satellite in 1."
I called customer service and after getting through to tech support, they asked me to switch the two input cables. When I did, the error message changed to "Looking for signal on satellite in 2." Again, we received some of the new HD channels, but not all of them.
They sent a tech out Thursday (yesterday). Very quick service. However, he was unable to help us, because the Samsung started to display a "not supported mode" error message. The tech was unable to get any kind of picture. Just before he left (and he spent the better part of three hours there) he did suggest that we unplug the Samsung for half an hour to reset it.
We did that, and reset the HR-20, and things were back to Wednesday status--receiving all the old HD channels, and some of the new ones.
Called D* again, finally got through to tech support, and this time got the question "do you have two b-band convertors installed on that HR-20." Told them no, we had been told we only needed one. Installed the other b-band, reset the HR-20, and voila, we're getting all channels now.
I still do not understand why the smaller TV, attached to an HR-20 with only one b-band convertor, gets all the channels. The only difference between the two setups is the resolution of the TVs. I don't know if there actually is an internal b-band convertor in the HR-20's, and it failed on the problem unit. That's the only thing I can think of.
But for what it's worth, if you are having similar issues, try installing the second b-band convertor.
I hope this helps someone.
I have two HD sets, a smaller 720i set and a larger 1080i (both Samsungs). We've been getting the HD channels in the 70's since May, and installed the 5-LNB dish last month in anticipation of the new HD channels. At that time we asked the installer whether we needed two b-band converters installed on each HR-20. We were told no, that only one was needed on the newer machines.
When they lit up the new channels on Wednesday, the smaller set got all the HD channels fine. The larger one received only some of them. The others gave an error message: "Looking for signal on satellite in 1."
I called customer service and after getting through to tech support, they asked me to switch the two input cables. When I did, the error message changed to "Looking for signal on satellite in 2." Again, we received some of the new HD channels, but not all of them.
They sent a tech out Thursday (yesterday). Very quick service. However, he was unable to help us, because the Samsung started to display a "not supported mode" error message. The tech was unable to get any kind of picture. Just before he left (and he spent the better part of three hours there) he did suggest that we unplug the Samsung for half an hour to reset it.
We did that, and reset the HR-20, and things were back to Wednesday status--receiving all the old HD channels, and some of the new ones.
Called D* again, finally got through to tech support, and this time got the question "do you have two b-band convertors installed on that HR-20." Told them no, we had been told we only needed one. Installed the other b-band, reset the HR-20, and voila, we're getting all channels now.
I still do not understand why the smaller TV, attached to an HR-20 with only one b-band convertor, gets all the channels. The only difference between the two setups is the resolution of the TVs. I don't know if there actually is an internal b-band convertor in the HR-20's, and it failed on the problem unit. That's the only thing I can think of.
But for what it's worth, if you are having similar issues, try installing the second b-band convertor.
I hope this helps someone.
