The problem has been solved with the expert help of friendly SatelliteGuys, who in the course of 2 weeks have taught me more than I care to know about Shaw Direct. Thanks again Catamount, Frenchophile, Iceberg, Jim, Josuals, Peano, QCK and Stecle. Am I forgetting anyone?
As everyone suspected (some sooner, some later), my old-school quad-a-like was set up with Shaw Direct as a new xKu system.
Signal quality on both satellites is solid - close to 95% / Ecb 9.5 on some HD channels - probably much lower on others, but I'm really not in the mood for examining system data right now!
Thanks guys.
History.
Equipment used at one point or another (alternatively)
* one Shaw Direct 600 HD receiver
* one WSI 99cm dish; one WSI 99cm dish + 80cm hot dish
* 2 old ASC321 lnbf’s by DMS International; 2 new JSC321S lnbf's by DMS International.
* 2 new Chieta 22k tone switches
* R6 cable in good condition, about 75-95ft, R6 compression fittings w/ 2 barrel connectors at junction points. Previously used with fully functional ku & c-band FTA w/ diseqc switch in-line; R6 cable in near-new condition, about 65-75ft, compression fittings
I. Phase one. Installation with 2 lnbf's, 22k switch and 1 dish fails.
* Lnbf-1 for F1R in focal position; lnbf-2 for F2 slightly off center.
* Set up F1R; signal acquired (97% quality; Ebn 8.0-10.0 depending on channel); log fire on 299; basic channel list downloads; only channels on F1R available on first day; channels in the 700 range belonging to F2 show 0% signal at this point; software version 05.02, target version 00.00; clock inaccurate.
* Software automatically downloads overnight; new channel list appears; signal on F1R drops to 0%; channels on F2 come in fine (80-90% signal quality; Ebn 7-8+); software version 05.02, target version 06.22; clock shows correct time.
* A "forced download" of software 06.22 fails, because there is no signal on F1R.
* The only way to reacquire signal on F1R again is to perform a "factory reset," whereupon signal returns to 97% (more or less).
* To correct the situation: I swap out existing 22k switch and lnbf's for new 22k switch and new lnbf's - problem persists.
II. Phase two. Installation with 1 lnbf and no 22k switch (direct connection on F1R) fails.
* Fine tune F1R signal at 98% quality and Ecb 10.0; log fire on 299; basic channel list downloads; only channels on F1R available on first day; software version 05.02, target version 00.00; clock inaccurate.
* Software automatically downloads overnight; signal on F1R drops to 0% on most channels; software version 05.02, target version 06.22; clock shows correct time.
* Last four digits on line F in the System Status screen (after the nighttime download) are 4323.
* ONLY 2 channels on F1R are available: (a) Travel & Escape, and (b) The Accessible Channel, and these channels are numbered wrong and misidentified in the channel list.
* Other channels are not available for various reasons: ch.299 - red light "lost signal"; ch. 300 "Attn: You are not currently subscribed"; ch. 407 green light - blank screen w/ no message; ch. 701 green light "Attn: You are not currently subscribed"; 702 green light - blank screen w/ no message; 704 red light "lost signal" - etc.
* Signal on channels that show a green light & blank screen or messages is at 90-98%, Ecb 7.4-10.01, or similar.
III. Phase three. Installation with 2 lnbf’s, 22k switch and 2 separate dishes (which tech support said was the only way to acquire both satellites).
* Before performing a factory reset, I unplugged the receiver and added the 22k switch, 2nd lnbf and a second dish to the installation. - The system then performed exactly as it did at the end of Phase one: F2 channels come in fine; 0% signal on channel 299 of F1R, etc.
* Factory reset restores signal on F1R, resets software to version 05.22, etc.
* Last four digits on line F in the System Status screen (after the factory reset) are 4352.
* I didn't make it to the next nighttime download, because tech support made the change from xKu to unstacked quad -- and that solved the problem.
The last four digits in line F are now 4322 and both satellites are go.
The 99cm size is more than adequate to guarantee superior signal quality. I don't expect to have any problems whatsoever with rain fade.
Happy holidays to everyone!