SonicView SV-4000 Freezing, unable to get EPG, normal?

[Pianoman]

I have bringing up more than one issue here, but they are all about SV-4000
I got an SV4000,90cm dish and a STAB HH-90 motor about 6 weeks ago and now that I have the entire system working nicely with new feeds and channels to daily, I Have a problem.

My receiver has never been able to download or show the program schedule (EPG) information as promised in the manual. Also, I have recently been able to catch Galaxy 10R (123W) with kinda weak quality (20-35%), and whenever I try to scan the transponder 11720 or 11800, it starts scanning and then returns to the dish setup menu almost immediately. If I try to blind scan that satellite or one other, it freezes when it gets near those transponders and I have to shut it off from the back switch and restart it. Has this happened to anyone else?

I called the support number at SonicviewUSA two days ago and they guys there said that it should show EPG information, and the freezing (requiring a hard-boot) means the receiver is defective and recommended that I send it to them for replacement (I will have to pay for shipping and be without TV for 2 weeks). I only have official sonicview software (version 1 and 1.05 loader).

Does anyone know of a trick to fix the otherwise working receiver or will I have to find something to keep me busy for 2 weeks while I send the receiver for replacement?

 

[wshillington]

Hi:

Sorry but I have no quick fixes for you. One thing I can tell you is that the satellite you pick up your stations from also sends the information for your guide (EPG). In the case of FTA there is almost never EPG information sent so if you have no information in your guide that, unfortunately, is normal.

cheers
Bryce

 

[Othea]

Getting no EPG is unfortunately normal for FTA. I suspect the station owners are just too LAZY to provide this much appreciated service; but there may be some technical impediments that I am unaware of when various stations share a satellite...

As for the 20-35% quality reading -- that's usually not enough for a stable picture and may keep you from being able to scan those transponders. Your dish is probably not properly oriented; perhaps your mount is not plumb, or your latitude/longitude settings are just a tad off. It sounds to me like you need to get your satellite tracking on target.

 

[Tron]

EPG is not available on 90 percent of FTA channels because these channels were never meant for consumers. They are usually meant for broadcasters or CATV headends, neither of whom would have a use for an EPG.

The only channels that might have an EPG are the ones meant for direct-to-home viewing, such as some religious channels or educational channels.

 

[bruin95]

Honestly, I don't think you're receiver is defective. Your dish is out of alignment and your signals are weak. Because of this, when trying to scan, the receiver gives up quickly thinking nothing is there. I am in the process of helping a friend, with this same receiver, set up his system. We had a weak signal on one bird and I tried to scan it anyway and it did the same exact thing your receiver did. After we peaked the signal levels it scanned normally.

 

[Pianoman]

Thx for the insight as usual. I thought that since the failed scanning was only happening with two satellites, it must somehow be related to the satellite and not the receiver. My setup is good as it is and I am only getting weak signal and quality from G10R because it is in the extreme west end of my visible area and I must be getting some obstruction or bad weather issues. I will try and scan again.

Apart from G10R, I am able to get good quality on birds such as 61.5W, 101W, and a bunch of echostar test channels (the commercial signals are always strong anyway).

I will spend some time fine-tuning the G10R position tomorrow and then I will bypass blind-scanning and create the channels manually by entering the transponder frequency, VPID, APID etc.