I'm not getting all my HD channels...ARGH!

bigdog5142

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Feb 12, 2007
51
0
Orion, MI
Hey guys. I really need some help. I can't remember the satellite number that the HD channels were on about six months back or so...but here's my story. (I don't know how to do most of the stuff with a satellite, but I am a techie...so I'll do the best I can.)

I upgraded to HD programming and the VIP622 in late January 2007 after we got our HDTV for Christmas. I had all of the HD channels that were listed and I was happy. THEN...Dish moved the HD channels (most of them) to the 129 satellite. I lost EVERYTHING but ESPN, TNT, Disc Theater and my local HD channels. I had a tech come out and try to re-point the dish and he couldn't get the signal. Around the time the channels moved over, my system told me to do a check switch and so I did it...after that, the channels went "poof." I have no line of site to the 63.5 satellite as it's in the total opposite direction of my house and I have a line of trees there. I will say that I had an aluminum antenna (which I have now removed) on my roof and the system was installed in the winter when there was no leaves on the trees. My neighbor has a tree in his yard that has a SMALL branch with some leaves in the line of sight to the sky...I was told that could be it...but that's just ridiculous if that's true!

Losing most of the VOOM networks just don't bother me...it's the sports stuff and some of the cable network HD's that really frustrates me.

Does ANYONE have any suggestions? I'm going to call Dish tonight and see if they can walk me through another check switch or something. I really don't want to get rid of my HD's as I LOVE HDTV! I also don't want to pay $20 for around 5-10 HD channels when I should be getting 40 or more! I also love Dish's DVR and how it also controls my other TV in the master bedroom. However, if this continues, I may have to go to another company...either DirectTV (they're more expensive in my area)...or even Comcast (I really don't want to go there, but I'd get what I'm paying for and it would be cheaper with the Triple Play).

So...any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated! Thanks for letting me vent/ramble. :)
 
Hey guys. I really need some help. I can't remember the satellite number that the HD channels were on about six months back or so...but here's my story. (I don't know how to do most of the stuff with a satellite, but I am a techie...so I'll do the best I can.)

I upgraded to HD programming and the VIP622 in late January 2007 after we got our HDTV for Christmas. I had all of the HD channels that were listed and I was happy. THEN...Dish moved the HD channels (most of them) to the 129 satellite. I lost EVERYTHING but ESPN, TNT, Disc Theater and my local HD channels. I had a tech come out and try to re-point the dish and he couldn't get the signal. Around the time the channels moved over, my system told me to do a check switch and so I did it...after that, the channels went "poof." I have no line of site to the 63.5 satellite as it's in the total opposite direction of my house and I have a line of trees there. I will say that I had an aluminum antenna (which I have now removed) on my roof and the system was installed in the winter when there was no leaves on the trees. My neighbor has a tree in his yard that has a SMALL branch with some leaves in the line of sight to the sky...I was told that could be it...but that's just ridiculous if that's true!

Losing most of the VOOM networks just don't bother me...it's the sports stuff and some of the cable network HD's that really frustrates me.

Does ANYONE have any suggestions? I'm going to call Dish tonight and see if they can walk me through another check switch or something. I really don't want to get rid of my HD's as I LOVE HDTV! I also don't want to pay $20 for around 5-10 HD channels when I should be getting 40 or more! I also love Dish's DVR and how it also controls my other TV in the master bedroom. However, if this continues, I may have to go to another company...either DirectTV (they're more expensive in my area)...or even Comcast (I really don't want to go there, but I'd get what I'm paying for and it would be cheaper with the Triple Play).

So...any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated! Thanks for letting me vent/ramble. :)

The HD channels that are not on 110 are on either 61.5 (not 63.5) or 129. I don't know where you are so I can't help more than that except to say 61.5 is towards the south east and 129 the south west. Further west than 119.

In your case I wouldn't think about Direct either. As their new HD comes on, I am sure they will be shuffling channels around but I don't know much about Direct. With lots of trees around, you probably will only be able to receive cable to any kind of satisfaction. Sorry. Unless, of course, that neighbor, if he is friendly, removes that suspect branch. That could very much be the reason.
 
Hey bigdog,

Give us some more information:

(1) where do you live approximately

(2) what dish(es) do you have aimed at 110/119 in the sky ? Is it an elliptical big 1000 dish or a circular medium 500 dish or a circular smaller 300 dish ?

(3) Is there room to put two dishes on your lawn in different locations so you can aim one at 110/119 while aiming the other one so your neighbor's tree is not blocking LOS(line of sight) to 129 ?
 
I live in the Detroit Metro area in Michigan...40 miles north. I could put another dish somewhere else, but we live in an OLD neighborhood with LOTS of old, big trees. I have the 1000+ with the eye-looking thing in the middle...enormous thing. A branch can really effect it that much, eh? Any ideas on getting Dish to do the install for free? This has been a frustration for me for awhile now...:) I truly do appreciate the responses!
 
Probably cannot get for free, but try this:

#1: Sign up for DHPP (if it is not already included in your contract). This will reduce the cost of your service visit.

#2: Wait one week

#3: Call Dish and select the Technical Service choice. Tell them that you can no longer receive HD on 129 sat and request they bring a 500 dish during their service visit.

#4: Maybe Claude, or somebody else here, can confirm that a 500 dish aimed at 129 sat can be fed into the 1000+ without the added cost of a different switch.

#5: MOST IMPORTANT, when the service person arrives, confirm that they brought a 500 dish on their work order BEFORE allowing them to do any service.
 
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Well, I called Dish Network and they are going to send out a tech for free...I will see if they will bring a 500 dish or at least suggest the possibility. Maybe that will get it working. :)
 
I don't know of dish network moving HD channels from 110 to 129.

Something sounds weird to this story. I bet you had 129 before and now you have an equipment problem or LOS problem.
 
After 5 visits from 3 different techs I finally got a seperate dish pointed at 129 today. Wow, what a difference!! I went from a signal strength of 11 to 30 and it would be better if I trim a tree in the line of sight. Keep nagging DISH until they send out a work order to "do whatever it takes to eliminate poor signal on 129." That was actually on the last work order and after the first tech failed to do this the supervisor came out and fiddled with the DISH 1000 and then addes a DISH 500 and pointed it at 129.

Only took 17 months to fix :)
 
After 5 visits from 3 different techs I finally got a seperate dish pointed at 129 today. Wow, what a difference!! I went from a signal strength of 11 to 30 and it would be better if I trim a tree in the line of sight. Keep nagging DISH until they send out a work order to "do whatever it takes to eliminate poor signal on 129." That was actually on the last work order and after the first tech failed to do this the supervisor came out and fiddled with the DISH 1000 and then addes a DISH 500 and pointed it at 129.

Only took 17 months to fix :)

Boy, that's encouraging! I'll have to be more "assertive" this time.
 
Just a quick update...thanks for all your help here BTW...The tech set up a second dish, a 500, and pointed it at 61.5 and POOF, I now have all of my HD channels back! WOOT, WOOT!
 
This is an interesting thread to me. I'm having the exact same problem, except I have no trees anywhere close, but I do have a horrible signal from 129. Wondering if I can go out there and try and adjust it myself, or if I should press them for an additional dish dedicated to 129. I hate to adjust it, as I have perfect signals on 110 and 119. So how could 129 be so bad?
 
This is an interesting thread to me. I'm having the exact same problem, except I have no trees anywhere close, but I do have a horrible signal from 129. Wondering if I can go out there and try and adjust it myself, or if I should press them for an additional dish dedicated to 129. I hate to adjust it, as I have perfect signals on 110 and 119. So how could 129 be so bad?
Depends on where you are in Texas. South of a line from Corpus to Laredo, it's bad. Up here in OKC, it's good.
 
Big, I'm glad your luck turned out. I have not been so lucky. I lost d most of my HD channels less than one month after getting it. They said that since I'm on some program, they can send a technie out for $25. How did you get them to send out a tech for free?? I don't get it. Why should it cost me for their screw-ups? There is absolutely NOTHING in the line of sight with my two dish satelites. (They said it would be better to have two than the onei HD dish.) Then I went on long summer vacation and forgot to pay my bill. Paid my bill, got back home, and found that, now, since they disconnected and reconnected the system, I get NO HD, even though we're definitely still paying for it!
I started looking throughout the internet, and it's full of message boards with people complaining that they aren't getting HD. Dang! They charge WAY too much to not warrant their work at LEAST for a couple months.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
Big, I'm glad your luck turned out. I have not been so lucky. I lost d most of my HD channels less than one month after getting it. They said that since I'm on some program, they can send a technie out for $25. How did you get them to send out a tech for free?? I don't get it. Why should it cost me for their screw-ups? There is absolutely NOTHING in the line of sight with my two dish satelites. (They said it would be better to have two than the onei HD dish.) Then I went on long summer vacation and forgot to pay my bill. Paid my bill, got back home, and found that, now, since they disconnected and reconnected the system, I get NO HD, even though we're definitely still paying for it!
I started looking throughout the internet, and it's full of message boards with people complaining that they aren't getting HD. Dang! They charge WAY too much to not warrant their work at LEAST for a couple months.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

If it has been less than 3 months since your install, your install is under warranty and should be fixed for free. If the problem happened after one month but now it has been over 3 months since the install date $25 might be the best you can do. If it really has been less than 3 months since your install date and you call them back and they still refuse the warranty call email ceo@echostar.com and they should be able to help you.
 
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