Portable EA 1000.4 2019 issues.

[Jakester3]

Hello. I have a 1000.4 dish tripod mounted which has been used for about 9 years when we are in our RV. I use a VIP 211K. Up until this year in the same location I never had a problem at a campground near our house. (30 miles) away. I would set up and peak to the EA birds, all was well, would get the Pittsburgh locals.

Now this year despite peaking and running check switch, which shows good signal on all 3 birds, on the lower channels including locals I get total or partial loss of signal errors. I call Dish who changes the service address which gets me Altoona PA / Johnstown locals but even then certain channels still throw the signal loss, or they won't come in with HD and get switched to the SD equivalent. Either Dish made some changes or something else. LNB going bad? Receiver? Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[TheKrell]

That's a tough one. Does this setup work properly at home? Are there any storm clouds to the south? If you have to start replacing things, I would guess that the 1000.4 LNB would be the cheapest.

 

[Jakester3]

That's a tough one. Does this setup work properly at home? Are there any storm clouds to the south? If you have to start replacing things, I would guess that the 1000.4 LNB would be the cheapest.

No storms.

Works fine at home but that's on a Western Arc 1000.2 permanent mount dish. I have a western arc LNB with me that will go on the 1000.4 but no way am I hitting those from this campsite due to woods. That has me thinking its not the receiver.

Always worked fine here in the same exact spot. Only have 125' of cable run. Signals are all between 50 and 60 except for 77 in the upper 60s depending on transponder which were the same numbers I always had for years. Has me stumped. Might have to start throwing parts at it.

 

[JSheridan]

Have trees grown in the way?

 

[TheKrell]

Have trees grown in the way?

My first Dish dish installation was many years ago when international channels were on 61.5. That was 2 D500's and the old SW21's to make it all work. I was very proud of myself that winter. And then the trees leafed out!

 

[Jakester3]

I used to disconnect the cable at home and run c

Have trees grown in the way?

No. Clear as a bell. As said earlier plenty of signal on all 3 sats, and nothing but clear sky.

 

[NYDutch]

A few years ago I was helping a fellow RV'er sort out a similar sounding issue, coincidentally also with the eastern arc sats on a 1K4, but with an H2 receiver. To check the LNB, I swapped in my spare and the problem immediately cleared up. Then as I picked up his LNB, I could see some water in the 72.7 cover. I couldn't see any cracks in the cover, but it did seem to be slightly loose. I drilled a small hole in the bottom to drain the water out, and let it sit in the sun the rest of the day. The next day I sealed the cover to the housing with silicone sealer, and reinstalled it. It worked ok the rest of the time the fellow was there, but I did recommend he source a new one when he got home. I don't know if that's your problem of course, but worth checking anyway. It may just be an electronically failing LNB too.

 

[Jakester3]

Thanks Dutch....

I was thinking LNB also as when I get home and connect to the 1000.2 WA dish all is good. Sort of eliminates the receiver as the culprit.

This morning I lost the Altoona/Johnstown locals again. I went in the install pages and could not get any signal on 61.5

I am at a campground with iffy in and out internet on my phone. Does anyone have a link to a current chart that lists what channels are on what birds or know what spotbeam and bird the Altoona/Johnstown PA locals are on?

New 1000.4 lnb just ordered.

Thanks

 

[Bobby]

Thanks Dutch....

I was thinking LNB also as when I get home and connect to the 1000.2 WA dish all is good. Sort of eliminates the receiver as the culprit.

This morning I lost the Altoona/Johnstown locals again. I went in the install pages and could not get any signal on 61.5

I am at a campground with iffy in and out internet on my phone. Does anyone have a link to a current chart that lists what channels are on what birds or know what spotbeam and bird the Altoona/Johnstown PA locals are on?

New 1000.4 lnb just ordered.

Thanks

Thanks to James Long...

 

[Jakester3]

Thanks for that. I just spent 2 hours in the beating sun playing with this damn thing which involved stretching 125' of extension cord down through the woods to set the 211K up beside the Dish. Now no matter what I do I can not get 61.5 to show in check switch.

My procedure.

Disconnect the receiver and run checkswitch to clear it.

Checked tripod / mast, 100% plumb.

Double checked with app for obstruction. No chance of any blockage and a fairly clear day to boot.

Connect 211 K to dish 1000.4, port #2 for the 72.7 lnb.

Set / check skew, 83 degrees zipcode 15557.

Peak to 72.7 getting close to 60.

Run checkswitch, it flies through test 1 and 2 of 4, hangs for awhile on 3, 61.5 not detected and shows up as Conn.

Tried over and over, even moved skew a degree or two each way, never could get 61.5.

I had 61.5 the other day, strong too. Now nothing. This morning I had nothing at all. Overnight I lost it all. At least I have 72.7 @ 60 signal on trans 5, 66 signal on 77. I am convinced the lnb or it's switch crapped the bed.
I give up until the new lnb gets here.

Thanks again

 

[NYDutch]

Yes, with a clear view and 72.7 and 77 showing up where they belong, it does sound like the LNB is definitely the issue. Leave it peaked on 72.7 and let us know what happens when you swap in the new LNB.

 

[HipKat]

Thanks for that. I just spent 2 hours in the beating sun playing with this damn thing which involved stretching 125' of extension cord down through the woods to set the 211K up beside the Dish. Now no matter what I do I can not get 61.5 to show in check switch.

My procedure.

Disconnect the receiver and run checkswitch to clear it.

Checked tripod / mast, 100% plumb.

Double checked with app for obstruction. No chance of any blockage and a fairly clear day to boot.

Connect 211 K to dish 1000.4, port #2 for the 72.7 lnb.

Set / check skew, 83 degrees zipcode 15557.

Peak to 72.7 getting close to 60.

Run checkswitch, it flies through test 1 and 2 of 4, hangs for awhile on 3, 61.5 not detected and shows up as Conn.

Tried over and over, even moved skew a degree or two each way, never could get 61.5.

I had 61.5 the other day, strong too. Now nothing. This morning I had nothing at all. Overnight I lost it all. At least I have 72.7 @ 60 signal on trans 5, 66 signal on 77. I am convinced the lnb or it's switch crapped the bed.
I give up until the new lnb gets here.

Thanks again

One problem is a check switch on a true 1000.2 Eastern Arc is only 2 steps

 

[rvvaquero]

Rotate dish 5 or 6 degrees to the east. May have to tweak elevation a bit. Leave skew alone.

He's using a 1000.4

 

[NYDutch]

Rotate dish 5 or 6 degrees to the east. May have to tweak elevation a bit. Leave skew alone.

He's using a 1000.4

He seems to be getting 72.7 and 77 correctly, so 61.5 should be ok as well, but it isn't.

 

[HipKat]

Rotate dish 5 or 6 degrees to the east. May have to tweak elevation a bit. Leave skew alone.

He's using a 1000.4

Oh yeah, duhhhh lol. Like I said, it's been a long day.....

 

[Jakester3]

I appreciate all the comments / help.


Yes I have 72.7 and 77 dialed in solid, at least as solid as I have ever had at this particular place, which I have set up at least 8 times a year for the last 5 years or more and never had this kind of crap to deal with. At least I can get something and the Sirius channels, a small victory. I've used this setup from NC to VT. Frustration compounded because I am approaching official geezer status.

I wish I could hit the WA sats as I have a WA LNB in the storage compartment that will go on the 0.4, but no way am I gonna ever hit those here. 100' oaks in that direction.

I will post back once I lay my hands on the new LNB.

I am dish peaked out.

Thanks again.

 

[rvvaquero]

He seems to be getting 72.7 and 77 correctly, so 61.5 should be ok as well, but it isn't.

I've picked up two sats before while being pointed at the wrong one. If he's pointed at the 77 and getting the 72 through skew, rotating east toward the 72 will bring in the 61.

 

[Jakester3]

I've picked up two sats before while being pointed at the wrong one. If he's pointed at the 77 and getting the 72 through skew, rotating east toward the 72 will bring in the 61.

Thanks, but my understanding of the 0.4 EA dish is once checkswitch is cleared and saved, the only LNB active is the 72.7 as long as the coax is connected to port #2?

I had actually thought about looking for 61.5 with the 72 or 77 LNBs just to confirm the 61.5 LNB is dead, never got around to it.

 

[NYDutch]

I've picked up two sats before while being pointed at the wrong one. If he's pointed at the 77 and getting the 72 through skew, rotating east toward the 72 will bring in the 61.

I can't picture it, especially with the uneven spread on the eastern arc. The western arc maybe... He's getting good numbers on 72.7 and 77, so he should at least be getting a sniff of 61.5 even if it's not dead on.

 

[rvvaquero]

I can't picture it, especially with the uneven spread on the eastern arc. The western arc maybe... He's getting good numbers on 72.7 and 77, so he should at least be getting a sniff of 61.5 even if it's not dead on.

If he's pointed at 77, then the 61 is 15.5 degrees off. That would be a significant sniff. You may be right though. Like you, I've been rv'ing with a 1000.4 and both lnb's for several years. Some crazy stuff has happened.