HR250 loosing HD signal

[Maurice]

I have a 3 month old HR250. Sometimes it heavily pixelates the HD channels 70-90 at other times the receiver is looking for signal in all HD channels - it used to be OK 90% of the time but now it fails every day.

The Dish is on the roof completely unobstructed and appears to be perfectly aligned (5LNB) in Los Angeles. When it works, the reception of the transponders for all satellites is in the 90's. When it fails the 110 and 119 satellites drop to Zero.

By doing a test Satellite signal and passing by 101 - (this one never fails and all DirecTV channels other than HD come in clear all the time) - it fixes the signal for a while.

The Over the Air channels always come in and record crystal clear in HD.

I suspect the box or the transponder. Twice the installer - who I have a good relationship with has tested the connectors and alignment and of course it never fails when he is here.

I only have the one HD receiver connected to this dish - no switches.

Any idea or suggestions? Should I get a new box from Direct TV? Should I first change the LNB? Msybe a clear and delete (I am runnig 6.3a). Thanks

[litzdog911]

I would suspect the connections between the "side-arm" LNB assembly and the main LNB assembly. That "side-arm" LNB receives the 110 and 119-deg satellites. Check those cables between the two .... make sure they're snug, dry and corrosion-free.

[Maurice]

I had the dish changed from the 5 LNB to the 3 LNB Oval for now. No more problems. The installer believes it is the receiver that was miss-communicating with the 5 LNB dish. I saved the dish in case I eventually switch to the new DirecTV receiver, but I am more and more inclined to get a Series 3 and switch to Time Warner.

[wmschultz]

It is probably a bad 101 head that has the multiswitch in it.

[litzdog911]

Almost certainly not a "receiver" problem. You should insist on a replacement 5-LNB dish, perhaps the new Slimline model.