The three Directv satellites, 101, 110 and 119, have 32 transponders. The 101 satellite has all 32 transponders in use. Signals may be low or not there on 4 or 5 of them because they are spot beams. Satellite 110 has 3 transponders in use, 8, 10 and 12. 119 has 11 transponders in use, 22 through 32, 3 or 4 of them are spot beams.
This link is old, but it gives you an idea of what channels are on what transponder. Compare the channels on this list with what you're receiving, and it'll give you an idea of what satellite you're getting. Directv Transponder List
2oldman wrote: In 4 years of setting up a dish I have never concerned myself with setting a transponder. Is this something you always do?
No.
If you are having trouble getting a signal there can be an advantage to using one of the spot beam transponders (if you know which ones they are in the area you are in) because they typically have a stronger output.
Each transponder is basically a transmitter that transmits some number of channels. There are two many channels for one transmitter to effectively transmit all of them. The band width is too wide.
After you get set up it doesn't matter at all which transponder the satellite receiver is set to.
The receiver sets (tunes to) the transponder that carries the channel you want to watch, so it doesn't matter where you set it - the receiver picks the one it needs for the channel you want.
Half of the transponders transmit with one polarization - clockwise - the other half counter-clockwise. The receiver sends a 13 volt dc or a 18 volt dc signal to the LNB on the dish to select which polarity is selected and thus which set of transponders is selected.
The need for the dc signal is why a regular splitter can't be in the coax to the dish - it will block the dc voltage. A special type of splitter (often called a diplexer) that will pass the dc is required.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee,(Wife) Codi, Brandi (Shelties) and Damncat (damn cat)
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Had same kind of problem. My answer was to make sure I set not only the azmuith and elevation but the angle of the dish. I was missing 20 or so channels and not a very good signal on the others. Was reading about 70-80 on the singal meter in setup. Once I got the angle correct it worked fine with mostly 97-100 percent singal strength.
Good luck.
DakotaD wrote: Had same kind of problem. My answer was to make sure I set not only the azmuith and elevation but the angle of the dish.
I'm guessing that you are referring to a larger round dish with more than one LNB unit mounted to the arm.
Brian K7ZRZ
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Hersh what kind of unit are you working with? alot of things can cause half xponders. LNB, Coax, Receiver itself, Depending on your unit some have something called a stacker which can cause it. Pretty much anything between the LNB and the receiver, and if it's a domed unit, LNB's don't go bad often at all. In Fact I would say probably less than 10% of the time. Feel free to send me a PM with more details and I should be able to answer any questions you have.
Using Direct TV? No HD? You should be pointing to the 101 sat. You most likely will not get your locals but you should get everything else. Had you mentioned that you are only getting even or odd transponders, I would of suggested a new LNB. I'm guessing that you are pointed to the wrong sat. I use a DTV R15 receiver. It takes two inputs from the dish. To accomplish that I use a Sonora Stacker / Destacker. When I first re-aim the dish and get a solid signal, I have to do a reset to the R15 to get both tuners to function.
Rick and Julia...Living Life Without Limits...
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I find a lot of these responses good, but I just had a problem arise. I have an RCA receiver (DIRECTV calls it a Dinosaur) with an automatic search KVH and single LNB permanently in the RV, and used every day. It worked fine until monday when I unplugged it do to move to an RV Park. When I tried to find the satellite (automatic search), It hit a satellite with transponder 2, which I have always used, with a signal of 83. Went back to start watching TV and saw searching for satellite. Checked all transponders and got signals of 78 to 87 on all even transponders, but 0 on odd transponders. Did a systems check and everything fine. Sorry if I'm stealing this post but I thought it might be helpful since it is in the same area. I haven't tried transponder 19 as stated above, but I will see if that makes a difference. Any comments to this would be appreciated....
poordevil wrote: I find a lot of these responses good, but I just had a problem arise. I have an RCA receiver (DIRECTV calls it a Dinosaur) with an automatic search KVH and single LNB permanently in the RV, and used every day. It worked fine until monday when I unplugged it do to move to an RV Park. When I tried to find the satellite (automatic search), It hit a satellite with transponder 2, which I have always used, with a signal of 83. Went back to start watching TV and saw searching for satellite. Checked all transponders and got signals of 78 to 87 on all even transponders, but 0 on odd transponders. Did a systems check and everything fine. Sorry if I'm stealing this post but I thought it might be helpful since it is in the same area. I haven't tried transponder 19 as stated above, but I will see if that makes a difference. Any comments to this would be appreciated....
if your getting every other trans at 0, you may have a bad connector on the coax, 9 out of 10 times this is the problem, also may be the box, but i doubt it
Tom, DirecTV Field Tech
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1: Receiver did not communicate properly with antenna.. PUSH the Red button next to the card or navigate the menues to reset the receiver
2: Some home accounts use TWO satellites for SD service,one for things like HBO and Cinamax and so on (national channels) one for locals.. Forget locals
3: Bad LNB, Bad Coax, or other BAD
4: Mis-match between antenna and receiver (IE: Receiver set to OVAL (Multiple satellites) and antenna is Round (one bird only)
5: Attempting to use HD receiver on SD antenna, (NOTE: This only applies to SATELLITE tv and is related to #4, it does not apply to over the air, On OTA an antenna is an antenna, on Sat TV HD and SD are on different satelites, and thus need different antennas)
My guess is #1, Reset the receiver
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Quote: We were told by an installer to always go to the menu where we could see the sat signal, then set the transponder that we were looking at to 19.
If you get a signal on the 19 transponder it means you are on the 101 Satellite. Because the 110 & 119 don't have a working 19 transponder.
After you are getting a signal on the 19 and then non on the even ones then you have another problem.
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