Searching for SAT on certain HD channels on all HD units

[CMOS]

Hi all,

A couple of weeks ago, I started to notice that I was getting the "Searching for signal on SAT 2" message on my HR21. I assumed it was a weather issue because other HD channels came in fine. It's been two weeks later and I'm still getting that message on all 3 of my HD units and only on certain channels. Like 501HD comes in fine but 502HD is always searching for signal. 248HD comes in fine but 299HD is always searching for signal. I've checked the alignment and it looks fine. I ran a system test and it came up with 42-983.

Signal strength as so :


Satellite transponders (32 total at 101º)
1-8 97 96 95 100 94 100 96 100
9-16 95 97 95 100 95 100 95 99
17-24 95 100 96 100 97 100 97 100
25-32 97 99 97 100 98 100 97 100

Satellite transponders (3 total at 110º)
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 95
9-16 NA 96 NA 97 NA NA NA NA


Satellite transponders (11 total at 119º)
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA 95 97 91
25-32 96 91 96 87 97 91 94 95

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c or a))
1-8 91 91 86 88 89 86 85 86
9-16 88 86 86 86 94 88 NA NA

Satellite transponders (6 total at 99º(s or b))
1-8 21 0 0 0 0 0 NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 98 95
17-24 97 97 0 97 69 57 97 96

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(s or b))
1-8 0 0 0 76 0 0 NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 0 0
17-24 0 95 0 0 0 24 0 80

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(ca))
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9-16 0 80 0 82 0 79 0 82
17-24 0 80 0 82 0 80 0 80

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(cb))
1-8 0 89 0 82 0 86 0 82
9-16 0 83 0 83 0 82 0 NA
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
25-32 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA


Any kind soul have any idea why this might be happening?

Thanks.

 

[Hutch1814]

Dish is out of alignment. Your HD is coming from the 99 and 103. Is it a pole mount?

 

[Daddy Dithers]

Alignment not what it should be as Hutch says, but those 0s on every other transponder on 103c indicate a cabeling or connector problem. Likely that those channels that you are seeing SFS on are on those transponders.

 

[Hutch1814]

This is true but he has a lost most of odds and evens on 103. Cabling could be an issue but alignment is out as well

 

[CMOS]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

It is a pole mount.

Interestingly enough, now one of the receivers is getting no HD channels(except locals, system test shows 42-089) while the other two are getting some and missing some.

I'll check the alignment and report back.

 

[CMOS]

Just checked the dish... elevation and tilt are set to what DTV suggests. I'm not sure how to read Azimuth on the dish so I don't know how to check that or adjust it.

 

[raoul5788]

Just checked the dish... elevation and tilt are set to what DTV suggests. I'm not sure how to read Azimuth on the dish so I don't know how to check that or adjust it.

The settings on the dish are merely "suggestions". The azimuth is set using a compass. They all need to be tweaked when you are dialing in the dish.

 

[harshness]

Given that the signals from 101W and 119W are excellent, I'm betting that it isn't an azimuth or slant issue. I'm thinking it is more likely an elevation issue.

Is the pole absolutely plumb (vertical)?

 

[JerseyMatt]

Agree, it sounds like the pole got twanged and it's out of plumb.

 

[CMOS]

It is vertical, yes. I'd have to grab a level to confirm absolute, but to the naked eye, yes.

 

[harshness]

It is vertical, yes. I'd have to grab a level to confirm absolute, but to the naked eye, yes.

Naked eye isn't good enough. You need to employ at least a torpedo level with two readings 90 degrees apart.

Remember that you're aiming to hit something roughly the size of a bus that is 22,000 miles away so eyeballing isn't really close enough.

While you're at it, inspect the dish itself for signs of damage (creases, missing paint) or condensation in the largest translucent horn cover.

 

[CMOS]

I'll try and get out there to check it with the level(s).

The Satellites that shows as 0 in my testing; are there any that should be zeros or should I have high numbers for all transponders on all satellites?

 

[raoul5788]

99s and 103s are spot beam satellites and should have many 0s.

 

[JerseyMatt]

99s and 103s are spot beam satellites and should have many 0s.

... But you shouldn't have ANY zeroes in 99º(c), 103º(ca), or 103º(cb). You have a lot. And now that I look again, the zeroes are all odd transponders. Your 103º LNB is shot. Either that or there's a big pile of left polarized bird s#!t exactly over that eye..

 

[harshness]

And now that I look again, the zeroes are all odd transponders. Your 103º LNB is shot.

That would have been my first thought had I not been shown that this can happen if the aim isn't just right. I'm betting an elevation tweak will fix this but the plumb of the post needs to be verified with instrumentation.

 

[JerseyMatt]

Not saying he shouldn't verify plumb, but given that it's seeing every single other transponder on all the other birds properly (and with excellent strength), I'm gonna say it's not likely. Especially given this is a circular polarized signal we're talking about, not H/V. You're not going to have issues of that magnitude on just the odd transponders of the middle bird without the one in left field (119) going out first.

 

[harshness]

Not saying he shouldn't verify plumb, but given that it's seeing every single other transponder on all the other birds properly, I'm gonna say it's not likely. You're not going to have issues of that magnitude on the middle bird without the one in left field (119) going out first.

With Ka, many weaknesses are possible. Accurate peaking is critical and the problem can and does manifest itself as one or the other polarity of transponders missing. Ku signals (like those from 101W and 119W) can come blasting through where much more confined Ka beams won't.

Checking plumb on the post will establish a frame of reference for when this happens again.

 

[JerseyMatt]

With Ka, many weaknesses are possible. Accurate peaking is critical and the problem can and does manifest itself as one or the other polarity of transponders missing. Ku signals (like those from 101W and 119W) can come blasting through where much more confined Ka beams won't.

Yeah but we're talking about exactly one half of a signal missing when the other half is coming through loud and clear. Both parts radiate from the same antenna, so if it's getting one half, it should be getting the other half. And I fail to understand how such a tiny misalignment (one that doesn't disturb any of the other birds) can cause loss of half a circular polarized signal. Linear, absolutely. But circular? No.

 

[CMOS]

A service technician is scheduled to be on site tomorrow. Is there anything I should specifically mention to him regarding this or just let him do his own thing after I tell him I'm simply missing some HD channels?

 

[raoul5788]

I'd tell him the symptoms and let him do the diagnostics.