OT: DirecTV

[bruinator]

http://www.tech-faq.com/directv-satellite-dishes.shtml

look at these dishes and tell us which one you have or which one looks closest to what you have.

Just looked out side and it looks like a single LND. It still is snowing pretty well outside too.

 

[Ring 6]

The thing that puzzles me is that all 3 arent doing the same thing.

that why I think it's a covered LNB...if he has the dual LNB system the High Def node sounds like it's covered and the local channels one partly obscured. But still, like Seb said, no way you should have a new dish with old cables...it just doen't make sense.

Why wouldn't he get the same reception for the local chanells on all 3 TVs though? They are picking up the same signal .

 

[sebman2112]

I don't have an HD dish just normal dish.

Doesn't matter. Old cable lines can't handle the signal output new digital sat systems carry. It might sound strange to you, but old cables (especially from the '80s) will break down your signal strength and make it easier for the weather to effect your reception. Techs using old cables during installs has been a problem in the past, which is why most techs won't do this anymore. A lot of times you'll end up having to go back and change the cables out anyway, so it might seem faster at first, but in the long run you'll end up taking 3 hours trying to figure out what's causing the signal loss.

 

[bruinator]

ok my mistake the cable from the dish to the splitter is new but the cables from the splitter to tv's are about 15 to 20 years old. Is that ok?

Either way do you think if I keep on calling and asking for a supervisor will get them here any sooner?

Thanks again for everyone help. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[sebman2112]

ok my mistake the cable from the dish to the splitter is new but the cables from the splitter to tv's are about 15 to 20 years old. Is that ok?

Either way do you think if I keep on calling and asking for a supervisor will get them here any sooner?

No, it should be entirely new, and that might be the reason you're having different issues on different receivers.

 

[bruinator]

No, it should be entirely new, and that might be the reason you're having different issues on different receivers.

So Seb, do you think I should have the re-cable all old cables? Also, do you guys think calling Sups will get there ***s out here any earlier?

 

[pats-blue]

ok my mistake the cable from the dish to the splitter is new but the cables from the splitter to tv's are about 15 to 20 years old. Is that ok?

Either way do you think if I keep on calling and asking for a supervisor will get them here any sooner?

Thanks again for everyone help. I greatly appreciate it.

Is it an HR-20 HD/DVR? If it is not that your cabling is up to par but it is probably a problem with the HR-20 if that is what you have.

Since it appears that you did a reset...try a hard reset...go to the menu system and reset it there rather than pushing the red button.

Tune to a NON HD channel first and see if that works.

My guess is you have a HR-20? If not nevermind....

 

[Joker]

tell the installer you want RG-6 Coaxial cabling installed throughout the entire system...that is what SHOULD have been done at the start. Good luck, bro, and don't be shy or timid about speaking up. That tech who did the work KNEW your old cables were sh!t. I'm betting he had two or three more installs that day and wanted to get home early

 

[sebman2112]

So, you believe it's a single LNB system? And you think there's only one cable coming inside from the Sat, which attaches to a splitter? You've also got differing issues on your three receivers?

While thise still might have something to do with snow, I'd be willing to bet your cables after the splitter are the main cause of the problem, and the splitter itself could have a problem. One thing to make sure of is that your splitter hasn't been effected by water. That can give you some problems.

 

[ClevTrev]

Bruinator, it is unlikely you have an LNB problem. Unless anything has been changed directly on the dish, that's not the problem you're having. It's also unlikely you have a cable problem unless a cable change was made very recently. Coax from years ago is still a CAT 5 equivalent in terms of signal integrity and can still provide an excellent signal medium.

When you get a satellite picture scrambled by weather, it's not actually ice or snow directly affecting your equipment, it's really atmospheric interference causing a break up in the signal well before it gets to your LNBs. A weather disrupted signal will typically show pixelation or tiny squares of distortion on the screen. Then, you can lose the signal altogether for some time period depending on how long the storm screws up the atmosphere through which your signal is traveling.

As others have suggested, as long as no one has messed with any of the cable connections recently (like since you had a good picture), then I'd reset the box. You can call tech support, but if it's due to atmospheric storms, you're going to have to ride it out.

I would definitely NOT attempt to clean off the dish or LNBs. That's not your problem and the satellite system functions even when these parts are wet or have snow accumulated on them.

 

[bruinator]

So, you believe it's a single LNB system? And you think there's only one cable coming inside from the Sat, which attaches to a splitter? You've also got differing issues on your three receivers?

While thise still might have something to do with snow, I'd be willing to bet your cables after the splitter are the main cause of the problem, and the splitter itself could have a problem. One thing to make sure of is that your splitter hasn't been effected by water. That can give you some problems.

I have a new dual line cable coming from the dish connected to 2 input spouts on the splitter and then the techie used the 3 old cables connected to the tv's and he connected them to the output of the splitter, hence saving some time.

 

[sebman2112]

So Seb, do you think I should have the re-cable all old cables? Also, do you guys think calling Sups will get there ***s out here any earlier?

You should be able to get them out within a few days anyways.

Oh, and I'd change those cables out no matter what. Don't let anyone tell you those old cables should be fine, because they aren't I've personally had that problem. I'd have to get into how the signal is broken down, the difference between cable and sat signals, and cable capacity for you to fully understand, and I'm not about to do that right now.

Also, if you're having problems on different receivers, than I doubt you've got a bad receiver, because it's not very likely the digital processor's in multiple receivers would die at once, especially if the tech grounded your system correctly.

 

[Joker]

he can do this himself, Seb. Just go to Radio Shack, get a splitter, buy the cabling needed with male ends and swap all the lines to the TV's out....it can't take long and he won't have to wait for the "Mollasses Response" from Directv

 

[bruinator]

Is it an HR-20 HD/DVR? If it is not that your cabling is up to par but it is probably a problem with the HR-20 if that is what you have.

Since it appears that you did a reset...try a hard reset...go to the menu system and reset it there rather than pushing the red button.

Tune to a NON HD channel first and see if that works.

My guess is you have a HR-20? If not nevermind....

Not sure what HR 20 is but I just have a normal dish with no hd or dvr. So I assume nevermind is the correct option?.?.

 

[ClevTrev]

I have a new dual line cable coming from the dish connected to 2 input spouts on the splitter and then the techie used the 3 old cables connected to the tv's and he connected them to the output of the splitter, hence saving some time.

After this work was done, did you get a good picture? If so, I'm betting that the interference you are currently experiencing is weather related. I've had DirecTV for 8 years, and this very rarely happens, however, last summer I lost all TVs for a whole evening because of violent thunderstorms in the region and it wasn't raining at my home.

 

[bruinator]

he can do this himself, Seb. Just go to Radio Shack, get a splitter, buy the cabling needed with male ends and swap all the lines to the TV's out....it can't take long and he won't have to wait for the "Mollasses Response" from Directv

I'll let them do the work. It maybe faster for me to do it but why should I pay for the cables and do the work when they should have done it the right way to begin with.

 

[ClevTrev]

I'll let them do the work. It maybe faster for me to do it but why should I pay for the cables and do the work when they should have done it the right way to begin with.

So, you're saying that the picture hasn't worked since the cabling was done?

 

[bruinator]

After this work was done, did you get a good picture? If so, I'm betting that the interference you are currently experiencing is weather related. I've had DirecTV for 8 years, and this very rarely happens, however, last summer I lost all TVs for a whole evening because of violent thunderstorms in the region and it wasn't raining at my home.

Picture was perfect after a second techie put dish in the right place instead of where the 1st idiot put it. First guy drilled holes in different places before finally deciding where he wanted to put and he didn't even fill in the holes he left on my roof previously. The 2nd guy did. Idiots.

 

[bruinator]

So, you're saying that the picture hasn't worked since the cabling was done?

no, picture was perfect until issues this evening. My guess it is weather related.

 

[Joker]

Clev makes the point about atmospheric interference and that is usually the case.I've personally experienced the snow covered LNB problem with my three LNB rig-up but in your case I would definitely take Seb's advice and install all new cabling from the splitter to your TV's. Any retail outlet can help you with this for little cash outlay...or you can wait with no TV reception until DIRECTV sends out a tech and get it all done the way it should have been for free.

I've had DIRECTV since the mid 90's and they can be infuriating at the install end. I'd definitely play the squeaky wheel and get them to grease me for the bubble.