Swapping Out Receivers - Getting No Signal on Replacement Receiver

[eacalhoun]

I have had DISH for 4 years and have had a DVR 625 and a 322. To save a few bucks -- per the Feb 1 price increase -- I picked up a 311 off Ebay to replace the 322. As a quick question HERE, I can determine if my "new" 311 works because even if it's not activated and lacking an access card I should be able to view ch 101, right? Continuing...I have removed the incoming sat cable from the separator at the rear of the 322 and connected it to the sat input of the 311. I am getting no signal and once the program guide loads I was get a warning message about my multi-switch. Of course, I'm getting nothing on channel 101. Does my problem have anything to do with going from a dual tuner to a single tuner receiver? I hope this is something that's simple for me to fix myself.

Thanks in advance for you help.

Eric

 

[Mr Tony]

If you removed the separator and redid the check switch you should get a signal on the 311

The 311 had an internal card so its possible the card in it is a yellow one. The S # will show S00 if yellow and S19 if purple. If its the old card you probably would get a "you need a smartcard to view this channel" (even on 101)

 

[eacalhoun]

If you removed the separator and redid the check switch you should get a signal on the 311

The 311 had an internal card so its possible the card in it is a yellow one. The S # will show S00 if yellow and S19 if purple. If its the old card you probably would get a "you need a smartcard to view this channel" (even on 101)

Thanks, iceberg...

I did exclude the separator when connecting the sat cable to "sat in" on the 311. However, I did not run a check switch -- this is where I go to...

- Menu
- System Setup
- Installation
- Point Dish
- Check Switch

...right? This should be all I need to do?

I may not get to try this for a few hours -- we're back to watching TV on the 322. I'll try this after those affected in my family go to bed.

 

[Stargazer]

Menu, 6 (system setup), 1 (installation), 1 (point dish), check switch, test. You should still be able to see channel 101 even if it has the built in yellow card.

If you have an issue with the receiver then add DHPP warranty for $5.99/month (before Feb 1st as they will charge you $25 to drop it if you wait that long to do it). You drop the $5.99 once you get the replacement receiver. The replacement receiver will also have a new card in it.

If Dish tries to charge you for the new card then add the DHPP warranty to avoid the cost of the card.

 

[peano]

If the 311 has the old internal smart "card", once it downloads the latest firmware it won't show any channels. Sys Info will show S000000000 for the smart card.

 

[Mr Tony]

If the 311 has the old internal smart "card", once it downloads the latest firmware it won't show any channels. Sys Info will show S000000000 for the smart card.

I dont think they do. They just show "you need a new smartcard"

my 811 has a yellow card and still shows the S00 # as the card number, not 0000

 

[Mr Tony]

Thanks, iceberg...

I did exclude the separator when connecting the sat cable to "sat in" on the 311. However, I did not run a check switch -- this is where I go to...

- Menu
- System Setup
- Installation
- Point Dish
- Check Switch

...right? This should be all I need to do?

I may not get to try this for a few hours -- we're back to watching TV on the 322. I'll try this after those affected in my family go to bed.

yep thats all you need to do

Menu, 6 (system setup), 1 (installation), 1 (point dish), check switch, test. You should still be able to see channel 101 even if it has the built in yellow card.

true. I added a 311 for my grandma and it had the purple card (yellow built in) and the software hadnt been updated to take the purple card so all I had was 101, 213 & 262

 

[Stargazer]

The receiver shouldn't show S0000000000 even if the smart card was taken out because it would show the one that was taken out previously if I recall correctly. If it is a 311 the card was built in so it should NEVER read S0000000000 under any circumstances.

 

[peano]

I dont think they do. They just show "you need a new smartcard"

my 811 has a yellow card and still shows the S00 # as the card number, not 0000

Ok, I know the 301s and 2700s show all zeros with a yellow card and latest firmware.

Edit: I think it may be the blue card that shows zeros. Nevermind.

 

[Stargazer]

I have seen S0000000000 before though but it has been a little while.

 

[eacalhoun]

I'm having no luck with my 311 -- I've run the check switch in TWO locations in my home (if that would make any difference). The first location I tried is where I wish to permanently place the 311 -- in place of my current 322. Today, I tried the 311 at my DVR 625's location. In both locations I get no sat signal on the 311, and when I run the check switch I get an "x" in each column of the satellite input ports' screen. FYI - I have a Dish 500, if that makes any difference. Not claiming to be an expert on sat installations here, but what aggravates and puzzles me the most is that everything is fine on my existing 625 and 322, even when I run the check switch. This is one thing I miss from when I had DirecTV several years ago. I bought several D* receivers off Ebay and they were all "plug n' play". Unless you guys have any other suggestions, I'm thinking about taking my receiver to one of my local DISH retailers, seeing if they will let me hook up to their Dish antenna and they can tell me if I need to change something in my setup or if I simply have a bad receiver.

 

[Stargazer]

The local Dish Network retailer may ask you where you got your receiver from. If you did not buy from him then he may not want to give you support for something that did not come from there or want to charge you a fee.

You already tried putting the receiver where one of the other ones that you have does work so it is pretty well verified that something is wrong with that receiver. Best thing to do is to make sure it is active on the account then get the DHPP warranty so you can get a replacement. That is the easiest way to do it.