Problem Identified - Dimmer on room lights

[viewer1xyz]

OK - I have been ready to throw my DirecTV HD DVR - an HR-20 - into a snow bank.

I am on my second receiver/recorder, and we have had 3 service calls. All signals are strong on the HD, normal and Local channels.

We get constant freezes and drop-outs - and a weird channel swap for a few seconds. I have reported the problem here.

And, now - we found the problem. It is all caused by a dimmer in the wall that controls the overhead living room lights. When the dimmer is set to less than 100% - dimming the lights as you might expect to watch TV - it sends out some kind of RFI that kills the DirecTV receiver. It has taken us many months to find the problem. We only watch TV at night - and it has been Winter with short days.

I have replaced the cheap dimmers with $25 units - but the problem still persists. We can watch with 100% light - or 0% light, but nothing in between. The DVR is on a separate breaker from the lights.

DirecTV was NOT at fault here - and I apologize for having cursed them daily for months.

Any electronic experts out there who can recommend an RFI fix?

[charper1]

How about a manual 3-way lamp or any other manual setup vs these rheostat units?

[Jimbo]

OK - I have been ready to throw my DirecTV HD DVR - an HR-20 - into a snow bank.

I am on my second receiver/recorder, and we have had 3 service calls. All signals are strong on the HD, normal and Local channels.

We get constant freezes and drop-outs - and a weird channel swap for a few seconds. I have reported the problem here.

And, now - we found the problem. It is all caused by a dimmer in the wall that controls the overhead living room lights. When the dimmer is set to less than 100% - dimming the lights as you might expect to watch TV - it sends out some kind of RFI that kills the DirecTV receiver. It has taken us many months to find the problem. We only watch TV at night - and it has been Winter with short days.

I have replaced the cheap dimmers with $25 units - but the problem still persists. We can watch with 100% light - or 0% light, but nothing in between. The DVR is on a separate breaker from the lights.

DirecTV was NOT at fault here - and I apologize for having cursed them daily for months.

Any electronic experts out there who can recommend an RFI fix?

Try Lutron switches, I use to have issues with dimmers as well (not with D* ) but the Lutron switches seem to have cured my issues.

Jimbo

[OCGW]

I have been installing dimmers into home theater locations for years, and the first things that comes to my mind are: is the system (electrical) grounded properly at both ends? Type of lighting (incandesent?) Any large electromagnetic fields near the reciever?

[imthedevil]

I get audio drops when turning lights on or off in my living room.

[chuckg]

Perhaps it is the dimmer switch.

Howstuffworks "How Dimmer Switches Work"

Check the wiring of the HR20 AC wall outlet. The wide blade should be neutral and the narrow should be 120 VAC.

[thomas_d92]

I have Smarthome.com remote control dimmers and they do not interfere with my HR20-700. If you need dimmers that will work with your HR20 these will do the job. You can operate them manually to.

[michaelbudney]

There must be some issue with the wiring. I've got my entertainment system on the same circuit as my overhead lights with dimmers and have no issues.

However, my ceiling fan will cause a brief cutout and pop from my audio receiver.

[charper1]

There must be some issue with the wiring. I've got my entertainment system on the same circuit as my overhead lights with dimmers and have no issues.

I would think that is correct or maybe the quality of the dimmer/rheostat itself.

[Jimbo]

I would think that is correct or maybe the quality of the dimmer/rheostat itself.

Like I mentioned, go to the local electrical house and get some Lutron switches, I use to have audio problems with my rec, buit when I changed to better Lutron switches, trouble went away.

I also think that the ground is also a strong possibility that I would look into.

Jimbo