Lost half of Sat B!

[LoopinFool]

I recently got a satellite meter and went up on the roof and re-aligned our triple-lnb dish. I was never happy with the signal strength and finally did something about it. After that, we're getting 80's and 90's on most xponders! I'm very happy.

Not long after that, we did some electrical work and had the power shut off for a while in the room where the HR10-250 lives. It's on a UPS but at some point, it must have run out of juice.

When the unit started up again, it complained that it couldn't acquire all the info from the satellite. I didn't check into it further and things seemed fine.

Tonight I noticed that a few of the HD channels weren't working (ESPN2, DSHD, HDNet). So I did a reboot and this time let it go through the satellite setup screens. It showed that it couldn't get to the "right side" of Sat B! The first time it claimed the Sat1 input was OK, but not Sat2. The next time they both had errors.

So, how should we proceed and what do you think the problem is? I no longer have the ladder, but can try to get back up there and fiddle with the multiswitch/lnb unit. I could try the other two connections, but we've always had it on these two. Would DirecTV send us a new lnb/multiswitch unit or send out an installer? If it's the receiver (hope not) I guess they'd probably send us a new HR20 and might insist on a 5lnb dish install (we have MPEG4 locals here). I'd rather that not happen now. Just got done with a big remodel and we're just settling in. Could probably live w/o the HD channels (as long as we'd still get HBO) for a while and we'd save money since I'd drop the HD package.

Any ideas guys?
- LoopinFool

[rminsk]

The first thing to try is to swap the inputs on back of the HR10-250. If it follows the input it could be a bad cable or a bad multiswitch. If it does not follow the input it could be a bad multiswitch or a bad tuner on the HR10-250.

[JimSpence]

Losing the right side means that the LNB assembly isn't getting the 18v switching signal. Usually caused by a bad connection somewhere. However, you'd lose the even TPs on 101 as well. Swapping inputs as suggested is your first step. Then do a signal check and write down all readings from all sats.

When you get back on the roof, why not run the other two lines? Especially if the LNB has to be replaced.

[LoopinFool]

The even TPs on 101 are fine.

I'll try swapping the inputs, but I can't get those HD channels to come in on either tuner currently.

I can write down all the signal readings if that will help.

The more I think about it, the more I think something blew on the multiswitch. After the input swap, I'll probably try moving to the other two inputs and see if that fixes it. I don't think anything could have messed up the connections.

Don't have any coax left over, don't need the other two inputs, so thought I'd wait for a 5lnb dish install and have the installer do the cable runs. I did run two more QS cables out to the sat box with the grounding block during the remodel.

I sure hope it's not the receiver, as it's got 500GB and I'm planning to finally hack it now that I've got the house wired for networking.

Thanks for the help,
- LoopinFool

[LoopinFool]

Switching cables to my HR10 didn't do anything. The sat dish detection still complains about no right side on the 119 lnb.

Here are my signal strength readings. I don't see any even transponders coming in on 119. They're all fine on the other two lnbs and I don't know which TPS I'm supposed to get on that sat.

101 (1-32)
----------
83 85 84 0 81 95 83 95 81 86 85 0 81 95 81 95 78 100 82 0 80 95 85 95 78 98 84 80 82 95 81 96

119 (22-32)
-----------
0 72 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 0 0

110 (8,10,12)
-------------
60 55 60
It seems if something was blown, it would be worse than this. Perhaps there's a loose connection in the lnb assembly. If I can open it up perhaps I can fix it.

- LoopinFool

[bigpuma]

Switching cables to my HR10 didn't do anything. The sat dish detection still complains about no right side on the 119 lnb.

Here are my signal strength readings. I don't see any even transponders coming in on 119. They're all fine on the other two lnbs and I don't know which TPS I'm supposed to get on that sat.

101 (1-32)
----------
83 85 84 0 81 95 83 95 81 86 85 0 81 95 81 95 78 100 82 0 80 95 85 95 78 98 84 80 82 95 81 96

119 (22-32)
-----------
0 72 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 0 0

110 (8,10,12)
-------------
60 55 60
It seems if something was blown, it would be worse than this. Perhaps there's a loose connection in the lnb assembly. If I can open it up perhaps I can fix it.

- LoopinFool

I had the same thing happen to me. It turned out to be a bad LNB. They swapped the 119 LNB and it began working again.

[JimSpence]

I agree that you have a failed 119 LNB.

Don't forget to run the other two lines from the dish.

[LoopinFool]

I agree that you have a failed 119 LNB.
Don't forget to run the other two lines from the dish.
Thanks for the help, everyone! :up:

Time to call DirecTV...hope they won't charge too much for a repair and ~40' run of twin coax outside...
- LoopinFool

[bigpuma]

Thanks for the help, everyone! :up:

Time to call DirecTV...hope they won't charge too much for a repair and ~40' run of twin coax outside...
- LoopinFool

They charge a $70 fee for service calls no matter what the problem is, unless you pay for the protection plan. As for running the coax I imagine there is an additional charge unless you are adding receivers then they should cover it.