Finally some "closure" on my issue of channels disappearing!
A "saga" ongoing problem is solved!
7 feeds, 6 dishes, two receivers which have driven me nuts....My MicroHD was losing voltages and channels, and of late, my newest, the Amiko MiniHD did the same. Noticed "pausing" on Me-TV, then other channels, then a loss of most horizontal feeds to my receiver, and while some would work, some wouldn't.
I'd been using a 22khz switch which then allowed a 4 place diseqc on each side of the 22khz switch to make all dishes respond to one receiver. A combo C and Ku on the main motorized birdview, then fixed C-band on 137 West and a fixed Ku on 103 for Cozi filled up one diseqc. The other side of the 22khz'and its diseqc was for a fixed 125 ku, a 72 west ku, and a 97 west ku, with a free port available. 7 of 8 available feeds.
I Suspected a temperature issue in the C-band portion of LNB on the C/ku caused horizontal failure yesterday, as other horizontal feeds on adjacent dishes were okay. Then, this morning, other channels on other feeds started "freezing" with the "no signal" warning on the screen of the Amiko box. It was a cool morning.
So, it was either the single feedline, or the switching, or the receiver. Pretty much assumed it was not the receiver, nor the feedline because it was newly buried and newly installed. We'd removed LOTS of extra cable which used to make a stop in my RV where the Vbox positioner used to be located. (for the last few years, my FTA fed my RV which was my fulltime home....when I moved to the station apartment, we just added cable and waited for a time to do the move and permanent install.) Anyway, cable was only a remote suspect, not in the front of my mind as the offending component.
The birdview has a fiberglass box holding the multiple switches on it's pole, so I pulled them out. Remembering that the MicroHD which I had did not play nicely with an 8-place diseqc, I had doubts, but checked the Amiko miniHD menu, and instead of having to use the first 8 places of a 16x switch, it had provision on the diseqc 1.1 menu for an 8-place switch. So, I started transferring leads. #1 was first, and it defaulted through and worked even before changing from diseqc protocol 1.0 to 1.1. Then, knowing THAT worked, I transferred the former #3 port from 22khz "off" side to port 3 of the 8 port, walked back in, changed the menu, and THAT dish's feed lit up! I continued through each of them, and when finished, I had restored all of the signals without a 22khz switch. Thus far, no freezing of the pictures, and the switching to and from the fixed dishes seems much quicker.
I've read all the diagrams for switching on the FTA's FAQ section of satelliteguys, and my older setup SHOULD have worked without glitches. Perhaps it's current loss in the cable, (but there's probably no more than 125 total feet) perhaps it's just that the newer receiver appears (from it's manual) to put out less LNB current than the MicroHD. Either way, with one switch instead of 3, the system is steady and reliable again. it also seemed to gain more stability even on the 125 West PBS feeds! I've had OETA and Montana every time I've checked them today.
With one open feed on this 8-way switch, I hope there's a way to expand beyond just the one port which is still available for expansion. With less loss overall, I hope this will not keep me from further growth, since there's plenty of room for more dishes on my property! I'm finding that fixed dishes for Ku are preferable to my motorized one, especially for feeds I frequent.
Along the way, I ordered a replacement c/ku combo LNB from a satellitguys member, and he graciously has included a new 8-way switch. I plan to have those in reserve and am grateful for his help... but...I also now have a couple GREAT possibilities.....
I can finally say that my former receiver, a MicroHD was working, but needed to better "talk" to an 8-way switch. It had displayed similar issues as my new receiver, but it didn't want to communicate well through the 16-port menu required to run an 8-port switch. This may be fixed with a firmware update. I'd been running it on the original firmware. It's been on the shelf for awhile. I'll flash it back to latest factory firmware, and use it as a spare...until.....I get the chance to assemble a new system for a friend of mine whose family just "cut the cord!" He's making GREAT over the air antennas, one of which is on their house, and one of which is on our station RV.( In our location it brings in 30-plus channels!) I have a lead on a Winegard BUD, which is free. We'll move that to my buddy's house, add a V-box, and a combo LNB, and bring a NEW person into the family of FTA enthusiasts! This is another good thing!
I've just enjoyed an hour of uninterrupted reception on a horizontal feed which was not "there" this morning. It's a pleasure to watch, and it's personally rewarding to find the problem.
So, what should we title this "little writeup?"
"Wait and Switch"...
"Save your riches, check those switches!"
"Which switch is which?"