chasfm11
Dallas/Ft Worth Areas
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Joined: 02/28/2004
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I've been a DirecTV user since 2000 and have installed a bunch these systems for friends and family. I have a puzzling situation that seems to have been compounded by DirecTV.
Symptom:
About two months ago, while in operation, a Sony receiver in our living room started going from delivering 90% signal to "searching for satellite". If we changed channels, it would sometimes go to searching for satellite but for different channels (and, I assume, different transponders). There was no consistent pattern on timing or which channels. It appeared that the longer the receiver operated, the more likely it was to happen. For no reason, the receiver will later display the requested channel and the transponder strength will be 90% again with no one touching anything. I assumed it was the receiver and swapped the one from the MH back into the house last night. It worked instantly and flawlessly for several hours.
I called DirecTV and they agreed to send me a new receiver for shipping costs alone. I'm not happy about replacing a purchased box with a lease box but figured it was the least expensive alternative. The reason that I ended up going this route is that they could not activate a spare receiver that I already had. I bought two RCA receivers originally and later a Sony receiver. When we moved, I de-activated on of the RCAs. The one RCA remains in service today (the one from the MH) but their system would not re-activate its brother from exactly the same vintage because "the card is too old". Hmmmm. The representative could not explain this situation. Along with helping me to try to re-activate the second RCA receiver, I got a really heavy dose of HDTV upgrade sales pitch. I wasn't sure whether I was talking to a technical person or a sales person, based on the content of the discussion. I was supposedly initially routed to technical support.
This morning, the RCA is doing exactly the same thing as the Sony was. In my set-up, I have a satellite distribution box which I used with diplexors to integrate satellite and local antenna TV. My first troubleshooting step will be to remove that distribuion box and go to direct wiring from the LNB. I also have a spare dual LNB dish so if the removal of the distribution box doesn't fix my problem, I'm going to swap the dish. I cannot imagine that the wiring is causing my symptoms but if neither removing the distribution box nor swapping the dish fix the problem, that is all that is left.
My reason for posting this is a nagging concern that my problems have nothing to do with my physical setup and everything to do with the vintage of my receivers. We've never had a glitch anyplace with the RCA receiver from the MH - yet.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Charlie
* This post was
edited 06/13/08 07:15am by chasfm11 *
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36'DP Cummins 5.9, Allison 1000 5sp
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MELM
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Moving to Technology Corner from Tech Issues.
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Corkey05
Washington State
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I have had a similar thing happen to both my home receivers and the receivers in my MH.
Pressing the reset button on the receiver(s) always restores the systems within a couple of minutes. Same for standard or HD receivers.
I don't know if we have had the same conditions, but the reset has restored me so far. I have a new dish at home and on the MH (new Winegard 5 lnb), And still have to reset. Not often, but it happens.
I hope you find the problem, .... it sure would irritate me. 
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fpresto
Maryland
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Check your cable connectors very carefully. A slightly corroded or loose connector will cause your symptoms. Another possibility is that the LNB is failing but I would bet one the connectors especially those at the LNB are either corroded or have a slight water intrusion.
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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I am using a diplexer, have DirectTv and am not having the problem you speak of. My RCA (Ericsson)receiver is at least four years old.
I doubt if it's the wiring scheme. Maybe a bad connector?
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee,(Wife) Codi, Brandi (Shelties) and Damncat (damn cat)
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
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USAFBILL
Alabama
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Joined: 09/20/2002
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Maybe a bad connector - cable
I suspect this is your trouble area/
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jim isham
stevensville, michigan
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Go to either or both of these satellite Tv forums and explain your problem. Be sure to give the model numbers rather than the manufacturer.
DBSTalk.Com
SatelliteGuys
Michigan's Sunset Coast
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DakotaD
Kodak, Tennessee
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Any chance that the dish has come lose and is moving with the wind. Possibly coming in and out of alignment? Just an idea.
Good luck.
...by His grace...
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chasfm11
Dallas/Ft Worth Areas
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Joined: 02/28/2004
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Bingo. It was a bad connection on the distribution box. It was solid with no sign of moisture but unscrewing it and putting it back on fixed the problem. Perhaps there was some oxidation or something creating a poor contact.
Thanks for all of the inputs.
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gatorcq
Apache Junction, Az
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Joined: 03/15/2004
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Due to high thief and identify thief, Direct has gone to leasing only for ALL receivers. They are slowing removing purchase units from system.
So the possibility is the system is catching up.
Trust me on this. Friend of mine works for Direct in the security department.
Dale
Dale, Susan
KoKo & Della
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