Need help with a SWM install

[fgruner]

I have a slimline dish with SWM lnb. I pointed the dish using the ASL, but I got a strength of 53 for 101, and 65 for 119 through the meter. I connected this directly through the PI to a hr20-700, which shows 0 signal strength for every satellite. I verified again with the ASL inside that I have signal strength.

I did not install the BBCs. I'm stumped and about to order a non-SWM LNB so that I can get my stuff working.

Not sure if my signal is too weak. Any help is appeciated. This is driving me crazy.

All the cables are rg6-quad shield with compression fittings.​

 

[Hutch1814]

To start your dish is way too low. You need to make sure your mast is level and plumb. Then you need to make sure that you have a direct line with no splitters in the line.

 

[raoul5788]

I have a slimline dish with SWM lnb. I pointed the dish using the ASL, but I got a strength of 53 for 101, and 65 for 119 through the meter. I connected this directly through the PI to a hr20-700, which shows 0 signal strength for every satellite. I verified again with the ASL inside that I have signal strength.

I did not install the BBCs. I'm stumped and about to order a non-SWM LNB so that I can get my stuff working.

Not sure if my signal is too weak. Any help is appeciated. This is driving me crazy.

All the cables are rg6-quad shield with compression fittings.​

to Satelliteguys!

You don't bbcs with a swm setup. Like Hutch said, you must have a plumb mast, so be sure it is. Check to be sure you have the elevation and skew set to what the menu says it should be, then point the dish like the menu says. Don't tighten the dish to the mast, just enough to keep it from moving easily. While checking the signal strengths, push slightly on each edge of the dish and see which way increases the numbers. That will tell you which way you need to move the dish to get better numbers. When you are adjusting the dish, give it a few seconds to register the changes. You should be able to get them to at least the mid 90s on 101. Once you do, then check 119 and repeat the same procedure. Once you get those two, the 99 and 103 should have some signal that you can make better by using the small adjuster knobs. That's called dithering and there are videos on the net that can explain better than I can how to do it. Good luck and don't give up!

 

[fgruner]

to Satelliteguys!

You don't bbcs with a swm setup. Like Hutch said, you must have a plumb mast, so be sure it is. Check to be sure you have the elevation and skew set to what the menu says it should be, then point the dish like the menu says. Don't tighten the dish to the mast, just enough to keep it from moving easily. While checking the signal strengths, push slightly on each edge of the dish and see which way increases the numbers. That will tell you which way you need to move the dish to get better numbers. When you are adjusting the dish, give it a few seconds to register the changes. You should be able to get them to at least the mid 90s on 101. Once you do, then check 119 and repeat the same procedure. Once you get those two, the 99 and 103 should have some signal that you can make better by using the small adjuster knobs. That's called dithering and there are videos on the net that can explain better than I can how to do it. Good luck and don't give up!

I didn't install the BBCs so that's not an issue. I have an Accutrak 22 MKII Pro. How high should I be able to get on that meter in Southern California?

 

[raoul5788]

I didn't install the BBCs so that's not an issue. I have an Accutrak 22 MKII Pro. How high should I be able to get on that meter in Southern California?

I have no idea. I have only used the built in meters in the receivers/dvrs. You should be able to get most of the readings in the 90s.

 

[dtro77]

Did you set your HR20 to accept LNB Swim?

 

[Hutch1814]

Did you set your HR20 to accept LNB Swim?

The receivers will automatically detect SWM when you rerun satellite setup. If it don't detect it then it's not hooked up correctly

 

[fgruner]

Did you set your HR20 to accept LNB Swim?

Yes.

 

[mag1999]

does it not give u an error code or message? have u tried using a different coax on the PI and receiver? i spent an extra hour on a job last week with the same problem only to realize i should have just changed out the customers existing coax coming from the wall.. i didn't at first because they were telling me it was just working a few hours ago and they had spent good money on it lol.
if it comes to it even try resetting the receiver and repeating the satellite setup.. we dont even install those HR20's anymore where i work so are u even sure if they would automatically detect swm? also do u have the coax into port 1? these may seem like stupid questions.. but have u also made sure you toned the right line assuming theres more than one? even so, ive toned lines before and still ended up with 0 signal across them, so its possible sometimes electrical apprentices could run coax and staple them too hard etc... but even then u should still get some type of signal id think.

 

[Hutch1814]

does it not give u an error code or message? have u tried using a different coax on the PI and receiver? i spent an extra hour on a job last week with the same problem only to realize i should have just changed out the customers existing coax coming from the wall.. i didn't at first because they were telling me it was just working a few hours ago and they had spent good money on it lol.
if it comes to it even try resetting the receiver and repeating the satellite setup.. we dont even install those HR20's anymore where i work so are u even sure if they would automatically detect swm? also do u have the coax into port 1? these may seem like stupid questions.. but have u also made sure you toned the right line assuming theres more than one? even so, ive toned lines before and still ended up with 0 signal across them, so its possible sometimes electrical apprentices could run coax and staple them too hard etc... but even then u should still get some type of signal id think.

Yes, HR20's will detect SWM automatically if you rerun satellite setup