Still nothing better. When I turned it off for the night, I had the following:
Port 1, Sat X, Trans X
Port 2, Sat 61.5, Trans OK
Port 3, Sat X, Trans X
Switch SW64
I reset the dome to defaults through the flash wizard to get this far but still no dice on getting the complete signal.
I was researching more last night and came across someone on another board who just gives direct commands to the dome through the wizard when he crosses the midpoint of the country. Something like "satinstall,trisat,dish_61" east of the Mississippi and "satinstall,trisat,dish" when west.
I tried the dish_61 version before shutting down and all I get is an error that reads:
I think it's time to call KVH...... You seem to have done everything possible and are probably missing something relatively simple that they can help with.
Paul & Sandra
New Bedford, MA
2003 Monaco Executive M43 DS2
CoachDad wrote: Still nothing better. When I turned it off for the night, I had the following:
Port 1, Sat X, Trans X
Port 2, Sat 61.5, Trans OK
Port 3, Sat X, Trans X
Switch SW64
I reset the dome to defaults through the flash wizard to get this far but still no dice on getting the complete signal.
I was researching more last night and came across someone on another board who just gives direct commands to the dome through the wizard when he crosses the midpoint of the country. Something like "satinstall,trisat,dish_61" east of the Mississippi and "satinstall,trisat,dish" when west.
I tried the dish_61 version before shutting down and all I get is an error that reads:
I reset the commands again and turned everything off for the night at 11pm.
Is there a different syntax to the command or maybe the identifier is different now?
Thanks
I think you are missing something and need to step back and start over. The R4SL does NOT need manual commands to work properly with a VIP 211K receiver.
First - disconnect the receiver from the antenna and unplug.
Second - remove all service keys from the antenna -- you do not need them yet
Third - Re-run the flash updates for both the boards AND DO NOT ENTER ANY MANUAL COMMANDS. Once this is done satisfactorily shut the antenna off.
Fourth - Turn tv on and plug in receiver DO NOT CONNECT IT TO THE ANTENNA, run the check switch routine a couple of time to clear out all sat settings from the receiver. You will know when this is done the checkswitch screen will show no sats and no switch routine. unplug receiver.
FIFTH - Reconnect receiver to antenna, plug it in, turn on tv, then receiver, then antenna and go to checkswitch screen (6-1-1), test and run checkswitch. if at the end of the checkswitch run a screen pops up saying "it has found fewer sat than before do you want to update" just cancel out DO NOT UPDATE. You may have to repeat the checkswitch function 3 or 4 times till the test screen shows 110,119,129 sats with a SW64 switch routine.
Once here you will be able to go to "watch live tv" and the receiver will download the channel lineup.
Ok, checked the software version on the Main PCB and found out that when it "updated" the software previously, it did not update it to the correct version. I re-ran the update with the correct file (according to the KVH charts on their site).
Ran the check switch routine a few times and BAM! I have all three Sats showing now - 119, 110 & 129.
Some of the HD channels were not showing on the guide as HD but I think that is because the 129 SAT was showing yellow in the status screen and maybe there was some slight blockage with an approaching storm last night when I ran it.
It appears all channels are there now, just need to verify the ones that should be HD.
Question - Would it be better if I tried to get the 61.5 Sat instead of the 129 Sat? The KVH charts are showing 129 as a western Sat for west of the Mississippi and 61.5 as the eastern one. Is the 61.5 higher in the sky versus the 129 or something?
Thanks all for your patience and help. It was reassuring to have others who have done this guide me through when I was ready to rip the dome from the top and make a salad bowl from it! ;-)
Question - Would it be better if I tried to get the 61.5 Sat instead of the 129 Sat? The KVH charts are showing 129 as a western Sat for west of the Mississippi and 61.5 as the eastern one. Is the 61.5 higher in the sky versus the 129 or something?
Thanks all for your patience and help. It was reassuring to have others who have done this guide me through when I was ready to rip the dome from the top and make a salad bowl from it! ;-)
The 129 sat is "visible" from most of the eastern US except the New England states and the southern half of Florida. That said, the 61.5 sat is higher in elevation in the eastern US and therefore usually easier to aquire. On your R4SL with the updated firmware, simply install the "A" service key and rerun checkswitch a couple of times. DO NOT USE ANY MANUAL COMMANDS, with the service key they are not needed. With a VIP211K receiver you do not ever need to install service key "B".
Not to complicate your situation any further, but if you do try to lock to the 61.5 sat, you may as well switch over to the eastern arc completely --- 61.5/72.7/77 sats.
If nothing else, that would make it a lot easier for you to gain line of sight while in the Eastern USA. Also, SOME local channels for the East are ONLY found on the 61.5 sat. Providence area, where I am, is an example.
Honestly, I wouldn't know how to get this to recognize all those birds as it seems to prefer to look for the western arc and even if I forced a command to look for the Dish_61 set, it still looks for 119, 110 and 61.5
CoachDad wrote: Honestly, I wouldn't know how to get this to recognize all those birds as it seems to prefer to look for the western arc and even if I forced a command to look for the Dish_61 set, it still looks for 119, 110 and 61.5
Is there a special command to throw at it?
Thanks.
A R4SL KVH antenna is not programmed to acquire the DISH eastern arc sats. That's why you install the "A" service key to acquire the 61.5 DISH HD sat. The 110 and 119 are visible throughout the USA. No manual commands that I'm aware of will change the pre-programmed search commands to find the eastern arc.
I too am mired in this mess. New to rv new to satellite geez!! I have a r4sl on a 2008 discovery that was never used. I am working on 61 sat to get the hd channels. BTW I am in Williamsport, PA I have the keys on order, but I got the main board updated with flash update. Not that user friendly is it!! But I cant seem to get the rf board to update. I get a cant find version, then when i pick the 6 update, it says to cycle the dish off and on to reset but then when i do, nothing further happens. I am on dish network. I had 110 and 119 ok and did get a couple hd channels but 61 holds the hd from what i understand. Thanks for any help, Dean
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