Problem with finding 105 on a DP-34

[webauctioneer]

I had everything running fine on a new SuperDISH setup with a 322 and 2-811s and a DP-34 Switch. I changed the the 322 out for a 942 which I assumed would just required unhooking the connections from the 322 and connecting to the 942. Evertyhing was obviously pointed correctly as before I was getting the 105, 110, and 119. When I connected the 942 and ran a switch test, the 105 dissappeared. It just shows X X and N.C. I know it's connected and pointed correctly. Do I need to go through the same setup procedure all over that was done originally setting up the 322? When I go to installation and point DISH I am able to get a signal on the 105 on various transponders, but weak. Still, it seems like it should show up on the switch test. The switch test just shows verified on both inputs and has a green signal on 110 and 119 on each and nother for 105. Doesn't even say 105 there.

Any help woul dbe appreciated.

 

[joshschuler]

do you have current software?

 

[KE4EST]

How weak is weak, if it is real weak, it won't show up in the switch test until you have a better signal.

What signal are you getting, off of the 105 on the 2 811's?

 

[SimpleSimon]

Another question:

Which order are the LNBFs connected to the switch.

Many people leave it with the FSS (105/121) connected to port #1. Not good.

Sequence should be 1=119, 2=110, 3=FSS/Wing

 

[webauctioneer]

Thanks for all the input. The original installer did put the 105 on port 1 of the swtich. I went through and just start to finish reinstalled it. Everything is working now and I have about a 58-60 level on the 105. From what I hear that's not too bad. On the the 119 it's about 108 which is WAY higher than the installer had it. He had the skew set several degrees off and I changed that then went to th elevation and AZ settings. That 105 is sensitive though. Barely move that thing and I go from over 50 to 0. I also noticed somewhere it was suggest using the #1 output from the swtich for the #1 tuner on the 942 and the #4 output from the switch to the #2 tuner on the 942. Then I ran #2 and #3 to 811s. Now, I just need to expand because I have bedrooms with regular cable still that I want to replace. Guess I need another DP-34 and some cheap receivers.

 

[joshschuler]

Another question:

Which order are the LNBFs connected to the switch.

Many people leave it with the FSS (105/121) connected to port #1. Not good.

Sequence should be 1=119, 2=110, 3=FSS/Wing

Why 105 on port #3 for a DP34. I was trained (for what it was worth), to put 105 on port #1 because it passes slightly more power to help raise that lower signal.

Shouldn't the signal be better than 60? My superdishes came up around 100. Thought there was a software upgrade a few months ago to help pull in the FSS better.

 

[webauctioneer]

I may try switching it to port 1 for the 105 and see if that helps at all. I also had A LOT of cable. From the dish to my switch alone was about 80 feet. After repointing the dish and getting the best signal I could on 105, I relocated my switc. The installer that came out put the switch where my cable connections were and didn't use water proof connections. I am about 200 yards from the ocean. Our neighborhood requires that a dish go on the back of the house. Our house is 86 feet deep with the cable connections close to the front. I have a home threater with all my electronics 15 feet from the BACK of the house. So, the installer put the switch at the front of the house by the cable connections, ran 80+ feet of cable to the switch, then about 65 feet of cable back to the theater. I just cut the cables he ran and installed my switch inside my house on the back wall of my theater by the electronics. The cables going to the #1 and #2 Receivers on my 942 are now about 18" long each and there's probably 20 feet of cable going to the dish. Now, there's a lot more cable going to the 2 - 811s but they aren't in areas I care as much about except one in my bedroom going to a 42"plasma. The 811s are losing signals now and then. I have a feeling inside this house somewhere they may have some RG59 cable inline. I may have to rerun new RG6. Anyway, what I was getting to is that my 105 jumped up to about 75-78 when I took out a bunch of that cable. I know it's supposed to be able to run 200' but it sure seems to make a big difference the more cable that's there. Oh, and my 110 and 119 are way up over 100. It just seems that everyone is really low on their 105 peaking. I don't know if it's just because there's a much tighter window to tune into or what. I wish I had a meter to use up there with the dish when I'm pointing it. It was literally so sensitive that I'd move it about as much as a gust of wind could move it and it would go from peaking to gone.


So, do any of you installers that read this board know why the Skew would have been off if it was originally installed by a Dish Networks Installer? Isn't the correct way to point the dish to basically set the skew in place right where it says and lock it down. Then set the suggested elevation and azimuth, go back and peak with elevation lock that, then peak with azimuth and lock that? ???

 

[Liquidforce88]

Sounds like you had an installer that did not know what he was doing. He was probably just searching for the best signal he could get on his meter, and just played with the Dish settings.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Why 105 on port #3 for a DP34. I was trained (for what it was worth), to put 105 on port #1 because it passes slightly more power to help raise that lower signal.

Because the manual says that's how it should be done? Too many so-called "experts" only have read the first half of the instructions.

Now, the technical reason is that the switches "boot up" into Port #1 by default, and receivers "like" to see 119 first. It's just a way to avoid problems.

Oh - and I've never heard that LNB port #1 "has more power", OR even if it did, that it would make any difference - because it's very likely that there's a voltage regulator in the LNB that is pobably no ore than 12VDC.

Sounds like you had an installer that did not know what he was doing. He was probably just searching for the best signal he could get on his meter, and just played with the Dish settings.

As for the settings being "off", remember that the numbers are a starting point. For skew to be "off", the typical reason is that the mast is off-plumb - like maybe a bad pole mount. So before we shoot the installer, we'd have to know why it was done.

 

[Liquidforce88]

Well if the installer did not get the mast or pole plumb, that would pretty much tell me he did not know what he was doing to start off. That is like Dish install 101

 

[webauctioneer]

Well...using a level the top of the mast appears to be about as vertical as you can get. And for what it's worth, the installer had been on the job for 2 weeks. Poor guy was out here for 2 solid days straight. In fact, he spent about an hour trying to figure out why he couldn't get a picture on TV2 off of the original dual receiver unit that was installed. I scanned through the setup and saw it was set for channel 60. He was hooking it to a 19" flat panel computer monitor with built-in tv tuner and was convinced it just wasn't compatible. He was switching the channels back and forth from 3 to 4. I punched in 60 and it came right up. He was just a new guy and was going in and out between thunderstorms. But, the mast is vertical. He never got over mid 70 readings on any sat, but, again, there were thunderstorms on and off. However, when I set the skew to what it was supposed to be set for, the elevation and the azimuth were very close to where he had them and the signals improved tremendously.

 

[Dish Dude]

still sad, all installers with no experience should get a minimum of 6 weeks of training in and out of the field. Heck weren't most of the installers here already setting up the RCA's on the old receivers to an agile modulator and feeding the rest of the house already.

 

[Liquidforce88]

Six weeks! Man I wish I got that. One install was the extent of my training. The next day I was out on my own. Things are a little different now but when I started you had to buy all your tools and supplies to start. That was about $2500.00 spent, and I still had three weeks before I would see a check. At that time nobody would train for six weeks then spend $2500, then wait another 3 weeks to get a check. They just could not afford it.

 

[Dish Dude]

yes but imagine what you can actually learn in six weeks. some people can pick up most of it in a couple of weeks, but in this everchanging industry. Now I have read some of your posts and you know what you are talking about Dave, but how many people were put in your position that never should have been in the industry at all? For too long in this industry we have had issues with underqualified and unprofessional people attempting to do our job, giving us all a bad name. Maybe a certification that is actually enforced and adhered to. Don't worry I will keep dreaming

 

[Liquidforce88]

Amen Brother

You are preaching to the choir!