SD-DVR40 and 95W

[rhesus]

I just had a semi-complete installation for the refurbished directivo unit (SD-DVR40) I bought from ebay.
I'm primarily interested in the international channels on the 95 location.
When I'm trying to setup the receiver I'm able to detect the 101 satellite.
I can' find the 95W as an option on the menu of the SD-DVR40. (only options are for the 95, 110, 119 satellites) and it doesn't autodetect it either.

My installer tested signal from the 95w lnb and tells me I should have a signal (4x4 switch, 95 is on the 22Hz, 18V switch input).
How can I tune into the 95 satellite? Am I missing something?

My receiver is listed as being compatible with worlddirect service but I can't find the option for that satellite anywhere on the DVR menu. The software on the DVR is version 6.2.

I didn't want to call directv before the satellite setup is complete in case they want to force me to get the directv brand DVR. I prefer the TIVO software.

Thanks in advance

 

[dishrich]

I can' find the 95W as an option on the menu of the SD-DVR40. (only options are for the 95, 110, 119 satellites) and it doesn't autodetect it either.

I think you meant to say 101, NOT 95 - this is the way it normally on all receivers, including your Tivo.

The ONLY way for these receivers (actually any of the D* receivers are like this) to get 95 prog, is that it has to successfully find 95. (& 72.5, if you are in one of those markets) Have you tried rebooting the Tivo & trying auto-detect again? Sometimes, I've had to do this a couple times on these before they would find our 72.5 dishes.

If this doesn't work, sounds like the installer did NOT get the dish aim properly. And, until your Tivo finds the 95 signal, (either from YOUR dish or somewhere else) there's no other way to get it added in setup. Or, maybe your switch is bad. (unlikely, but could happen)

 

[rhesus]

The guy that did the dish install said that he was getting about 50% signal on his meter which should be enough to lock onto the signal from 95W. ( this was the case years ago when I had the original international directv satellite programming before the company went bankrupt).

I ran the auto setup. It always asks me what kind of dish I have ( i have tried all three options at least twice each) and then it starts running a bunch of tests for about 5 mins only to tell me that all the channels couldn't be found and that I would be missing some programming or I can try again.
What is peculiar is that even when I selected a single lnb as the installation type it was telling me that all of the channels could not be found and it listed 110 as a satellite it could get a signal. (even though I told the receiver I only had a single LNB). So I guess it's detecting something from the switch but can't lock onto the signal?

Any other suggestions? Should I just call directv and tell them to come out and look at it again. I don't want to lose the tivo for a directv dvr.... Heard stories that they were refusing to activate the directivo's and were promoting the in-house directv version of the DVRs. Does the receiver (Sd-DVR40) have to be activated before it can see the 95w satellite location?

 

[dishrich]

The guy that did the dish install said that he was getting about 50% signal on his meter which should be enough to lock onto the signal from 95W.

Well, 50% on HIS meter doesn't tell me much, since different meters AND different receivers will responded with different signal percentages for the SAME amount of signal from the same bird. But, if he did NOT get it peaked to what it really should be, it could very well be the cause for your problems. (truthfully, sounds kind of fishy to me)

I ran the auto setup. It always asks me what kind of dish I have

If you mean like when you are initially setting up a "virgin" box, just use round. You STILL must then go back AFTER this & do the auto-detect. (yes, you have to go through 2 steps to set up 95 or 72.5 dishes)

What is peculiar is that even when I selected a single lnb from the switch but can't lock onto the signal?

Are you saying you have NOT tried dual LNB - that is really the one you should be using. (yes, I know you only have a single LNB on that dish, but the way it goes through the switch makes it into a dual) IIRC, the Tivo's will NOT work properly on 95/72.5 installations with only a single LNB input anyway - BTW, you ARE using 2 feeds from the switch, right?

Does the receiver (Sd-DVR40) have to be activated before it can see the 95w satellite location?

Nope, should find it either way...

 

[martincva]

RE: will they take my TiVO

I recently upgraded from an SD to an HD system. I previously had a TiVO SD DVR80. I wanted to keep a 2nd unit, and told the Sales Rep that I wanted to use my TiVO as my 2nd unit for an SD tv. He had no problem with it, and in fact said that he was going to recommend that, if I had not suggested it.

So, I am not sure that I would be worried about losing your TiVO, since you already have it. No guarantees, but I did not experience any strong-arming to get rid of mine.

 

[rhesus]

Thanks to all for the replies. The 101 is a dual LNB with two inputs into the 4x4 switch. There is only 1 input from the 95w LNB into the 18v/22Hz input.

I will try the setup again.

Hmmm, I only have one input at this time. That may be another reason I'm running into problems. Will try it again with both satellites hooked up. Would that really matter thought if I have the direcTIVO setup to only have one satellite hooked up?


If I can't figure it out I guess and I'll just call directv to let them know of the problem and have them send a service guy to look at it again.
It's reassuring to know they are not forcing receiver upgrades.


Thanks again to all for your help.

 

[Smith P.]

I did installs DTV for international programs 7 or more years ago; what I recall:
- used HIRD-C2
- used 22 KHz switch
- one cable from each LNBF
- selected round dish from menu
- you must have good signal from 101W first ( all system tables for main AND international channels coming from 101W)
- that dishes was HUGE ! And had heavy mount .

 

[dishrich]

Thanks to all for the replies. The 101 is a dual LNB with two inputs into the 4x4 switch. There is only 1 input from the 95w LNB into the 18v/22Hz input.

This IS all correct the way it should be from the dishes to the SWITCH.

Hmmm, I only have one input at this time. That may be another reason I'm running into problems. Will try it again with both satellites hooked up. Would that really matter thought if I have the direcTIVO setup to only have one satellite hooked up?

If you mean only 1 input FROM THE SWITCH TO THE TIVO, then YES, that's why I'm saying it will NOT work with this setup. As I already said earlier, I believe the Tivo's will NOT work with only ONE feed from the switch when you are using 95 or 72.5 dishes w/101 - EVEN if you change it in setup to ONE feed; it STILL won't work properly.

If it's an issue with getting a 2nd coax to your Tivo, why don't you just run a 2nd temp coax to it & see for yourself.

 

[rhesus]

Just thought I should post follow-up. I did get the problem resolved.

I realized I was doing the guided setup instead of the auto-detect setup.

Once I did that I both satellites were recognized without any further issues. It did seem to recognize the satellite correctly with only once cable from the switch to the TIVO. I know I'll have to add the second input to utilize the dual tuner feature.

Thanks to all for their help, esp dishrich.


If it's an issue with getting a 2nd coax to your Tivo, why don't you just run a 2nd temp coax to it & see for yourself. [/quote]

That was my thought exactly if I couldn't get it to read the satellite correctly.