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The Pansat 3500 that I have been using for the family setup connected to the Pinnacle dish started whacking out Friday night. My wife turned it on and was preparing for a couple of hours of Matlock and Hawaii 50 when she told me the channels wouldn't come on.
It was already dark, so I went through some quick checks and found there was a problem, but couldn't check the dish until morning. I checked the dish yesterday morning, nothing moved, disconnected, or any other visible problems.
Went back inside, and took the Ecoda switch out of the loop, no improvement. Put on a brand new diseqc switch, no improvement. Ran the coax direct from the C-Band LNB to the receiver, and same symptoms and tried the Ku direct. And yes, I have factory reset it, and no improvement.
Here is what it does:
The signal comes in for a bit at about the right SQ, but then bounces to nothing then up and down like a yo-yo, then steady for a bit. All this will take place in a 10 second time frame. The picture will be fine then pixelate and garbled audio etc. Ku will do the same, but takes forever for the signal to come in, then it is very low with the same characteristics as above with C-Band except much lower signal. The remote also acts very spasmodic. Even standing within 3 feet of the receiver, you have to push the button several times for each action, then the action might not be the correct one for what you pushed. For instance up arrow might produce left or right or up three steps. Tried new batteries, and my other remote from the one in my study, no difference.
This is the same receiver that I had problems with the polarotor controller right after I bought it new. I sent it to Panarex in April for warranty repair. They said they got it fixed it by "re-calibrating it with new software".
I may be wrong, but I think they "recalibrated" it by just simply performing an operation that we don't talk about here.
I will have to contact Panarex tomorrow and see if I have to pay another $40.00 plus shipping costs required by their warranty to get it fixed again or not. If I do have to pay again, that will mean that I have an extra $100.00 in this receiver which includes my shipping it twice, besides what I initially paid for it.
Meanwhile, how do you "recalibrate" this receiver?
I know we don't talk about things like that here, but I want to fix this thing, not alter it for illegal use. Can someone email me or PM me with detailed instructions or a link with instructions. I don't frequent sites that do these kinds of things so I am kind of in the dark here.
The other alternative is to buy a different receiver and go with a voltage controlled feed-horn/lnbf for this dish.
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Fred
It was already dark, so I went through some quick checks and found there was a problem, but couldn't check the dish until morning. I checked the dish yesterday morning, nothing moved, disconnected, or any other visible problems.
Went back inside, and took the Ecoda switch out of the loop, no improvement. Put on a brand new diseqc switch, no improvement. Ran the coax direct from the C-Band LNB to the receiver, and same symptoms and tried the Ku direct. And yes, I have factory reset it, and no improvement.
Here is what it does:
The signal comes in for a bit at about the right SQ, but then bounces to nothing then up and down like a yo-yo, then steady for a bit. All this will take place in a 10 second time frame. The picture will be fine then pixelate and garbled audio etc. Ku will do the same, but takes forever for the signal to come in, then it is very low with the same characteristics as above with C-Band except much lower signal. The remote also acts very spasmodic. Even standing within 3 feet of the receiver, you have to push the button several times for each action, then the action might not be the correct one for what you pushed. For instance up arrow might produce left or right or up three steps. Tried new batteries, and my other remote from the one in my study, no difference.
This is the same receiver that I had problems with the polarotor controller right after I bought it new. I sent it to Panarex in April for warranty repair. They said they got it fixed it by "re-calibrating it with new software".
I may be wrong, but I think they "recalibrated" it by just simply performing an operation that we don't talk about here.
I will have to contact Panarex tomorrow and see if I have to pay another $40.00 plus shipping costs required by their warranty to get it fixed again or not. If I do have to pay again, that will mean that I have an extra $100.00 in this receiver which includes my shipping it twice, besides what I initially paid for it.
Meanwhile, how do you "recalibrate" this receiver?
I know we don't talk about things like that here, but I want to fix this thing, not alter it for illegal use. Can someone email me or PM me with detailed instructions or a link with instructions. I don't frequent sites that do these kinds of things so I am kind of in the dark here.
The other alternative is to buy a different receiver and go with a voltage controlled feed-horn/lnbf for this dish.
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Fred
52 Replies
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10862 views
Congrats on the fix! It's always a morale-lifter to be able to fix something like that.
As for the bad capacitor issue in newer electronics, the broadcast industry is full of equipment that routinely has capacitor-related issues. I'm sure any broadcast engineer here can attest to that. Extremely expensive (we're talking new luxury car expensive) broadcast VCRs by Sony and Panasonic exhibit these problems on a regular basis, to the point that entire boards must be rebuilt. Check for a rotten fish odor. That's the tip-off for capacitor troubles
Unfortunately, in most cases, the caps are the small, surface-mount type that are a REAL bugger to replace...
As for the bad capacitor issue in newer electronics, the broadcast industry is full of equipment that routinely has capacitor-related issues. I'm sure any broadcast engineer here can attest to that. Extremely expensive (we're talking new luxury car expensive) broadcast VCRs by Sony and Panasonic exhibit these problems on a regular basis, to the point that entire boards must be rebuilt. Check for a rotten fish odor. That's the tip-off for capacitor troubles
Unfortunately, in most cases, the caps are the small, surface-mount type that are a REAL bugger to replace...
Congrats on the fix! It's always a morale-lifter to be able to fix something like that.
As for the bad capacitor issue in newer electronics, the broadcast industry is full of equipment that routinely has capacitor-related issues. I'm sure any broadcast engineer here can attest to that. Extremely expensive (we're talking new luxury car expensive) broadcast VCRs by Sony and Panasonic exhibit these problems on a regular basis, to the point that entire boards must be rebuilt. Check for a rotten fish odor. That's the tip-off for capacitor troubles
Absolutely.........caps are probably the single largest failure even in modern electronics. But look at it from a manufacturer's point of view, if I put in a 16V cap instead of a 25V cap, I'll save $0.005 on each cap, times say 4 caps in each unit for a savings per unit of 2 cents.........not a whole lot to you and I but consider that savings over say 100,000 units. You've just saved $2000! Consider that they will do that with say 40 different components in one unit and you can see why they do it. Yes, they could make them more reliable by putting in beefier parts but for one, they'd never break therefore they'd sell fewer new units and two, all the money they save by cheaping out on some parts. That is why some units (apparently the pansat 3500) problems are common across the board. I'm also glad this thread came up as I have one of those receivers and now I'll know exactly where to look if I have problems.
Thanks Al, Tron, and Tvropro for the encouragement.
I'm actually glad that I had the problem with the unit. It gave me some invaluable experience about CAPS and soldering. It also opened my eyes as to the cost of CAPS. Virtually nothing for us as individuals, but for manufacturers .002 cents over a million units is a lot of money.
I think it might be a good idea to take the cover off these receivers from time to time to blow them out and look over the components with a magnifying glass and replace anything that looks like it might be "growing" in size.
You could also install a small quiet fan on the back of them to keep the air moving and cooler inside.
Course we are talking about units that retail between $100.00 - $150.00. Do we want them to live forever? The next step in technology is just around the corner. Sometimes a failed unit will push the consumer into buying the next step up.
Edit: After re-reading the above paragraph, I had some additional thoughts.
None of us like to be down and not able to view FTA TV. I think that is the single biggest draw-back of the so-called warranty provided with these receivers is the down time.
The next thing is the "strings" attached to most of the warranties. You have to pay in this case for the warranty to be in effect.
The final thought after editing is that WE want to choose when we want to discontinue use of one receiver and buy a different one and we all think that the old receiver should still have some value left in for resale or give-away.
The fact is, most of these receivers are made very inexpensively, and as part of the hobby, we should expect them to not have a terribly long life span. What I just said grates on every thing I have ever believed about a consumer product, but this is the way it is.
Just my thoughts.
Fred
I'm actually glad that I had the problem with the unit. It gave me some invaluable experience about CAPS and soldering. It also opened my eyes as to the cost of CAPS. Virtually nothing for us as individuals, but for manufacturers .002 cents over a million units is a lot of money.
I think it might be a good idea to take the cover off these receivers from time to time to blow them out and look over the components with a magnifying glass and replace anything that looks like it might be "growing" in size.
You could also install a small quiet fan on the back of them to keep the air moving and cooler inside.
Course we are talking about units that retail between $100.00 - $150.00. Do we want them to live forever? The next step in technology is just around the corner. Sometimes a failed unit will push the consumer into buying the next step up.
Edit: After re-reading the above paragraph, I had some additional thoughts.
None of us like to be down and not able to view FTA TV. I think that is the single biggest draw-back of the so-called warranty provided with these receivers is the down time.
The next thing is the "strings" attached to most of the warranties. You have to pay in this case for the warranty to be in effect.
The final thought after editing is that WE want to choose when we want to discontinue use of one receiver and buy a different one and we all think that the old receiver should still have some value left in for resale or give-away.
The fact is, most of these receivers are made very inexpensively, and as part of the hobby, we should expect them to not have a terribly long life span. What I just said grates on every thing I have ever believed about a consumer product, but this is the way it is.
Just my thoughts.
Fred
Does someone still have the diagram showing how to connect two Hopper 3s again?
I currently have one H3 and one 4K Joey, set up through a 1000.2 eastern arc hybrid lnb and solo hub.
The plan is to replace the Joey with the second H3. Already purchased a duo hub and I have three coax cables coming in from outside, from back when I used to have the older 1000.4 dish and the hopper 2. I don't fully remember, but I think the other two coax cables are just tied up next to the dish outside; will have to check again.
I currently have one H3 and one 4K Joey, set up through a 1000.2 eastern arc hybrid lnb and solo hub.
The plan is to replace the Joey with the second H3. Already purchased a duo hub and I have three coax cables coming in from outside, from back when I used to have the older 1000.4 dish and the hopper 2. I don't fully remember, but I think the other two coax cables are just tied up next to the dish outside; will have to check again.
23 Replies
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5623 views
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?
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14 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68649 Replies
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2679776 views
Lifetime Supporter
I know HipKat said that they were working on conversions but we got the official news yesterday right from Dish that starting next month all DMA's will be on the western arc, and all customers will be assigned to that. That's gonna mean a lot of customers around here aren't gonna get Dish unless there are exceptions. Too many mountains and trees.
176 Replies
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5244 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
5 Replies
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111 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
173 Replies
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2613 views
Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.
www.tvtechnology.com
Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York
Group has secured lower pricing from key tech players to make less costly boxes available
www.tvtechnology.com
12 Replies
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665 views
It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.
There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.
S
WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET PART OF IT. NO ONE WANTS A BOX CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET EITHER.
It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.
There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.
That would be handy. Download the latest RNA snippets that can be updated over 5G and no more shots! You're a Genius!Cough, cough. COVID vaccine implants.
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
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86 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Susan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Star of ‘Kate & Allie’ and ‘McMillan & Wife,’ Dies at 80
Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress who starred in "Kate & Allie," died Monday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 80.
variety.com
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102 views
. can we say over priced garbage!!!
