Using and setting up Ecoda 22K switch on Traxis 3500

[AcWxRadar]

Ok, here's what going on:
When I click on "LIST", I would click on one of the satellite I programmed in the Traxis 3500.
I watched the two dishes to see what happen. Instead of one dish moving to the chosen satellite, BOTH dishes move! I am hoping that one satellite would move.
Reckon I would need to install the DiSeQc switch to control which dish will go where?
I am afraid that with both dish moving, it would hurt my receiver and Ecoda switch.
Where am I messing up?

I am not sure of this all, I am learning along with you at the same time. But, I would have thought that if you set satellite X up for 22 KHz ON and set satellite B with 22 KHz OFF that dish X would move when you selected sat X and dish B would move when you selected sat B.

What you are reporting sounds like the Ecoda switch is passing the DiSEqC 1.2 commands through both ports of the switch, regardless if you have told it to go through one port only.

Very interesting.

Radar

 

[Mr Tony]

Iceberg, on Dish 1 that cover the western satellites, should I have 22k option on "On", and Dish 2 (eastern satellites) would be "OFF"?
And do I have the Diseqc switch setup off, since I am not using the switch?
I was going to change the LNBs out but rain took over today.
I got the Ecoda switch located right behind the receiver. That shouldn't make any difference?

looks like everything is right.
Diseqc off
22k set up properly

location of switch (inside or out) doesnt make a difference

 

[GreatFTA]

I am going to keep trying. I will keep you all posted as I go. Keep the info coming...
And thanks!

 

[AcWxRadar]

I am going to keep trying. I will keep you all posted as I go. Keep the info coming...
And thanks!

I will be here, MrFTAMan. I am just as interested as you are, so I will be "tuning in" every chance I get to follow this.

Thank you very much for bringing this discussion up front.

Gordy

 

[GreatFTA]

I will be here, MrFTAMan. I am just as interested as you are, so I will be "tuning in" every chance I get to follow this.

Thank you very much for bringing this discussion up front.

Gordy

You're welcome!

 

[GreatFTA]

Ok guys, here's the update:
Since I am having a pinched nerve from lower back to my left thigh, I wasn't able to change the universal LNB to the standard LNB. I will when I get better.
Remember I have two satellite dishes, each one having SG2100 HH motor drives. The cables from each dish goes to the Ecoda 22k switch, which is located just behind the Traxis 3500 receiver. No DiSeQc switch is being used.
On Dish 1, using the universal LNB, will track eastern satellites, 72 to 107 degrees west
On Dish 2, using the standard LNB, will track western satelites, 109 to 129 degrees west
Reason for this is the line of sight issues, and at this time this will be a temporary setup.
I am using the Traxis 3500 receiver, best know for the fast blindscanning capabilities.
The problem: when I click on a satellite in the List section, BOTH dishes move at the same time, both getting to the same satellite at the same time!!!
Here is the Antenna Setup settings:
FOR DISH 1
[B]Satellite------ Galaxy 10R 123W
LNB Type-------------Standard
22k--------------------On
DiSEqc----------------DiSEqC1.0
DiSEqC Switch-------Disable
Positioner------------USALS
Polarity----------------H/V
FOR DISH 2
Satellite---------------AMC 4 101W
LNB Type--------------Standard
22k---------------------Off
DiSEqc------------------DiSEqc1.0
DiSEqC Switch--------Disable
Positioner--------------USALS
Polarity-----------------H/V

 

[DJ Rob]

Whoa. It sounds like the magical switch is also passing motor commands and power on both ports?

Are you sure you have a different motor on each port of the Ecoda?

You will probably burn up your receiver if it is trying to move 2 dishes at the same time.

 

[GreatFTA]

Where am I messing up?

 

[GreatFTA]

Whoa. It sounds like the magical switch is also passing motor commands and power on both ports?

Are you sure you have a different motor on each port of the Ecoda?

You will probably burn up your receiver if it is trying to move 2 dishes at the same time.

Both positioners are SG2100. One is the Moteck brand, and the other is a DMS brand, I think. I bought one of them when Sadoun was having a clearance sale on some satellite equipment. Works just as good as the other SG2100.

I am worried that this may burn up my receiver. No one wants to see a grown man with a bad case of pinched nerve cry like a baby if this happens...

 

[GreatFTA]

I wonder if the Traxis 3500 receiver NOT capable of handling this setup? I got six other receivers I could try. (Except my baby, the QualiTV 1080ir).

 

[DJ Rob]

Make sure you have a different motor going to each port on the ecoda. Here's a quick diagram.

______________ >22k Port >Motor 1 >DISH/LNB1
Receiver > ECODA
______________ >0k Port >Motor 2 >DISH/LNB2

You should have the 22k ON in receiver menu for DISH/LNB 1. Set it for 22k OFF for DISH/LNB 2.

 

[GreatFTA]

Thanks DJ. I will do that when I get home after work. I even wonder if the Ecoda switch may be bad.

 

[gillham]

Thanks DJ. I will do that when I get home after work. I even wonder if the Ecoda switch may be bad.

Check it with a multi-meter. I do not believe it should be sending power to both ports if it is working correctly.

You have no other splitters or diplexers or anything inline before or after the ecoda?

 

[GreatFTA]

Check it with a multi-meter. I do not believe it should be sending power to both ports if it is working correctly.

You have no other splitters or diplexers or anything inline before or after the ecoda?

No, I have no other switches or anything else inline. Just the Ecoda. I will check tomorrow afternoon with the meter and see what is going on. Power from the Traxis shouldn't be going thru both sides of the Ecoda. It's either a bad Ecoda or I ain't got the settings right in the antenna settings. Look like to me that there would be like a port setting for the 22k switch.
Are there different kinds of 22k switches by Ecoda?

 

[Mr Tony]

not that I am aware of. I know of only one 22k switch ecoda makes

 

[gillham]

It's either a bad Ecoda or I ain't got the settings right in the antenna settings. Look like to me that there would be like a port setting for the 22k switch.

There is no port setting as a 22Khz switch functions based on the existence of a 22Khz tone on the wire. So one port is "0Khz" aka tone OFF and the other is "22Khz" aka tone ON. If you have tone OFF in the menu, then the "0Khz" port should be active and the "22Khz" port should not have voltage. Or at least voltage should be nominal (< 1V), not 8-12V like it probably has since it is moving a motor.

So all satellites on dish A are "tone off" (aka 0Khz port) and all satellites on dish B are "tone on" (aka 22Khz port) and it should just work. Sounds like that is how you have it based on previous posts. Since the "tone" setting is binary, either on or off, but not both, it should not be possible for both motors to be moving unless the switch is passing voltage to both ports which it should not do.

 

[GreatFTA]

Gillham, that is what I thought, too. Sunday I am going to try to swap out receivers (like my Pansat 2700) and see what happens. I will be going to Birmingham, Alabama to see my daughter and my new grandson (my fourth!!!) Saturday.
I really believe the switch may be bad. I got it cheap a few months ago on Ebay.
I will let you all know Sunday about that experiment.

 

[gillham]

Gillham, that is what I thought, too. Sunday I am going to try to swap out receivers (like my Pansat 2700) and see what happens. I will be going to Birmingham, Alabama to see my daughter and my new grandson (my fourth!!!) Saturday.
I really believe the switch may be bad. I got it cheap a few months ago on Ebay.
I will let you all know Sunday about that experiment.

I just tested my ECODA 22Khz against a DMSI 22Khz with a multi-meter. My ECODA is passing power on both ports simultaneously and the DMSI is not.

A simple continuity test of the ECODA with the ohm-meter confirms both 0Khz and 22Khz are connected to the receiver port, even with no power applied. The DMSI doesn't have continuity on either port with an ohm-meter.

This might explain the magical properties of the ECODA since it would be passing the 22Khz signal all the time along with the power.

I need to verify my ECODA is actually working correctly as a switch as well, but it certainly appears to pass power on both sides. Obviously that is going to defeat using a motor on both ports since they both get power and the DiSEqC commands.

A side note, my ECODA is tiny. I've seen photos online that appear to show there are two different sizes of switches. Any chance there are clone ECODA switches out there? I bought mine locally and it says "0/22KHz CONTROLEED SWITCH" (typo included) on the front. The printing on the box agrees with that typo and lists the model as "EC-2111" along with some specs.

As printed on the box:
Frequency range: 950-2150 Mhz
Insertion Loss: 1.5dB
Isolation dB
Input to output
Otput to output 20TYP(16min)
In put to output
Power passing 300mA

Which leads me to believe it is expected to pass power on both ports which comes as a surprise.

 

[SatPhreak]

My Ecoda is the same a gillham's, but I only have one motor. I do remember reading awhile ago that somebody else was trying to control 2 dishes through a Ecoda and both dishes would move at the same time. Since I can't test this I just have to go by my memory. If you only have one receiver this shouldn't cause a problem, but if you have two receivers or more, it could be a problem.

If your box can control dishnet switches you coudld try a SW-21 instead of the Ecodo, I'm not sure if it will work but it may be an option.

 

[GreatFTA]

I just tested my ECODA 22Khz against a DMSI 22Khz with a multi-meter. My ECODA is passing power on both ports simultaneously and the DMSI is not.

A simple continuity test of the ECODA with the ohm-meter confirms both 0Khz and 22Khz are connected to the receiver port, even with no power applied. The DMSI doesn't have continuity on either port with an ohm-meter.

This might explain the magical properties of the ECODA since it would be passing the 22Khz signal all the time along with the power.

I need to verify my ECODA is actually working correctly as a switch as well, but it certainly appears to pass power on both sides. Obviously that is going to defeat using a motor on both ports since they both get power and the DiSEqC commands.

A side note, my ECODA is tiny. I've seen photos online that appear to show there are two different sizes of switches. Any chance there are clone ECODA switches out there? I bought mine locally and it says "0/22KHz CONTROLEED SWITCH" (typo included) on the front. The printing on the box agrees with that typo and lists the model as "EC-2111" along with some specs.

As printed on the box:
Frequency range: 950-2150 Mhz
Insertion Loss: 1.5dB
Isolation dB
Input to output
Otput to output 20TYP(16min)
In put to output
Power passing 300mA

Which leads me to believe it is expected to pass power on both ports which comes as a surprise.

Dang.
Look like it is gonna be a downhill getgo on this issue. It sounds like that the 22k switch is really designed for something like the DishPro LNBs that require the use of this switch as far as receiving the satellite signals and NOT for use for motor drives of dishes.
I am gonna close out this (for now...) in fear of burning out my satellite receiver(s).
IF any one does find a way to run two motorized dish systems from one receiver using the Ecoda 22K switch, or any switch, please let us know.
I have yet to see anyone in any posts that successfully did this.
Thank you all for your responses and keep up the great work!!! :up