Hopper 3 local HD channels missing

[paulbot]

Since the Nexstar local channel dispute was settled, I haven't been able to get our local channels to show up in the guide in the accustomed spot of 2-70. They do show up in SD in the 8042 channel range, instead of the normal 2-70 number range. Since a few months before the dispute I've been using a new AirTV usb OTA adapter for one local channel that has been in dispute with Dish since this summer. When the Nexstar dispute started, I went in and added most all of our local channels to show up in the guide.

When the dispute was settled, I tried several times to change the OTA channels shown but nothing worked seamlessly like before. In disgust, I added all the channels shown on OTA channel scan. So none of Dish's local channels were being shown, I tried deleting some of the channels then finally unplugged the OTA adapter, did software reset then an unplugging reset.

Now I'm stuck with nothing but Dish's locals in SD in 8040 range, all of our shows don't seem to be picked up to be recorded. I have checked to make sure All Subscribed is selected in Guide. Wondering what I could check on my end to get the Hopper back to showing locals in the 2-70 range in Guide again.

 

[pattykay]

Your locals start at channel 8042. So, you are in the Baton Rouge, LA market I am assuming. I found the uplink report from December that may help explain this issue:

Uplink Activity Updates » Blog Archive » 12/16/20 at 3:14pm ET (v21) – 174 changes seen

Other Changes
...
8042 WBRZ BATON ROUGE, LA (ABC) 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 2 Local)
8043 WAFB BATON ROUGE, LA (CBS) 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 9 Local)
8044 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 33 Local)
8048 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 21 Local)
8045 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 44 Local)
8046 WLPB BATON ROUGE, LA (PBS) 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 27 Local)
8047 WBXH BATON ROUGE, LA 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 39 Local)

So, for whatever reason, Dish is no longer mapping these channels down to their local channel numbers. This explains why they only show up in the four-digit range. This is not the only market where Dish did this. The same thing happened in Lafayette, LA and Great Falls, MT in that same section of the same uplink report.

Now, here is where things start to get weird. For Baton Rouge, LA the local channels chart posted by James Long does not show those SD channels at all. Instead, it only shows the HD channels as being available, from both the 129 satellite and 61.5 satellite:

Local Channels on DISH Network (Unofficial Listing)

Baton Rouge, LA
2-00​	WBRZ	BATON ROUGE, LA (ABC) -	5250 HD 129° 9s42 A (abc)	5250 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (abc)
9-00​	WAFB	BATON ROUGE, LA (CBS) -	5251 HD 129° 9s42 A (cbs)	5251 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (cbs)
21-00​	WBRL	[LOCAL STATION] (***) -	5255 HD 129° 11s42 A	5255 HD 61.5° 27s43 A
27-00​	WLPB	BATON ROUGE, LA (PBS) -	5254 HD 129° 11s42 A ()	5254 HD 61.5° 27s43 A ()
33-00​	LOCAL	CARRIAGE DISPUTE -	5252 HD 129° 9s42 A (nbc)	5252 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (nbc)
39-00​	WBXH	BATON ROUGE, LA -	5256 HD 129° 11s42 A	5256 HD 61.5° 27s43 A
44-00​	WGMB	BATON ROUGE, LA (FOX) -	5253 HD 129° 9s42 A (fox)	5253 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (fox)

Ideally, these channels should show up on their regular local channel numbers, as long as you have either of those satellites. However, you can set the guide for All Channels and check those 5250 through 5256 channel numbers, to see if they show up there. Good luck!

 

[paulbot]

Thanks, that certainly clears things up for me. I'll go in and see about those channels. Any way to pressure Dish into looking into this?

 

[pattykay]

Any way to pressure Dish into looking into this?

First, make sure that you are still subscribed to those local channels, and are actually being charged for them. Then, just call Dish and complain that you are not getting them. Using the Loyalty Department phone number (1-888-496-1260) should get you directly through to a competent agent who can look into this for you.

 

[paulbot]

Got it. I really appreciate your time on this, thanks!

I went in to check the HD locals starting at 5250 as you suggested, and I see none of them. I am still subscribed and am being charged for local channels. Will get on the phone with Dish see if they can do something.

 

[pattykay]

Will get on the phone with Dish see if they can do something.

Be sure to let us know what they say. I am sure there must be other subscribers, in those other markets that I mentioned, who are also affected by this issue, and would like to know what is going on.

 

[paulbot]

Update after finally calling Dish. They transferred me to the tech support and some foreign girl went through the whole spiel of rebooting it, remoting in and checking channels. Finally got to the checking Status in Settings, turns out I'm not getting the 3rd satellite that she says carries the locals. They scheduled a tech to come out in a few days to see what's going on. I'm inclined to check things myself, did minor adjustments many times when we had DTV for years. But thought I'd check in here for advice.

 

[paulbot]

A little more info. I went to check the dish, the installer a year ago used an existing pole from an old DTV install, pretty tacky install.

I do have LNB drift detected, 0x49, 0x164, 119 (e0) (o0) and same for 110. My Dish angles according to Dish should be Elev 48 Skew 58 Azimuth 140

 

[Howard Simmons]

That looks more like a pipe bomb!

 

[pattykay]

I do have LNB drift detected, 0x49, 0x164, 119 (e0) (o0) and same for 110.

That LNB Drift could be a software bug. Many people have been reporting seeing that, even if there is no actual LNB Drift. What is your signal strength on the 129 satellite? (Assuming you see that satellite at all when you do a Check Switch.)

 

[Tampa8]

Your locals start at channel 8042. So, you are in the Baton Rouge, LA market I am assuming. I found the uplink report from December that may help explain this issue:

Uplink Activity Updates » Blog Archive » 12/16/20 at 3:14pm ET (v21) – 174 changes seen

Other Changes
...
8042 WBRZ BATON ROUGE, LA (ABC) 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 2 Local)
8043 WAFB BATON ROUGE, LA (CBS) 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 9 Local)
8044 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 33 Local)
8048 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 21 Local)
8045 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 44 Local)
8046 WLPB BATON ROUGE, LA (PBS) 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 27 Local)
8047 WBXH BATON ROUGE, LA 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) SD Hidden – Market Removed Mapdown Removed (was 39 Local)

So, for whatever reason, Dish is no longer mapping these channels down to their local channel numbers. This explains why they only show up in the four-digit range. This is not the only market where Dish did this. The same thing happened in Lafayette, LA and Great Falls, MT in that same section of the same uplink report.

Now, here is where things start to get weird. For Baton Rouge, LA the local channels chart posted by James Long does not show those SD channels at all. Instead, it only shows the HD channels as being available, from both the 129 satellite and 61.5 satellite:

Local Channels on DISH Network (Unofficial Listing)

Baton Rouge, LA
2-00​	WBRZ	BATON ROUGE, LA (ABC) -	5250 HD 129° 9s42 A (abc)	5250 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (abc)
9-00​	WAFB	BATON ROUGE, LA (CBS) -	5251 HD 129° 9s42 A (cbs)	5251 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (cbs)
21-00​	WBRL	[LOCAL STATION] (***) -	5255 HD 129° 11s42 A	5255 HD 61.5° 27s43 A
27-00​	WLPB	BATON ROUGE, LA (PBS) -	5254 HD 129° 11s42 A ()	5254 HD 61.5° 27s43 A ()
33-00​	LOCAL	CARRIAGE DISPUTE -	5252 HD 129° 9s42 A (nbc)	5252 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (nbc)
39-00​	WBXH	BATON ROUGE, LA -	5256 HD 129° 11s42 A	5256 HD 61.5° 27s43 A
44-00​	WGMB	BATON ROUGE, LA (FOX) -	5253 HD 129° 9s42 A (fox)	5253 HD 61.5° 27s43 A (fox)

Ideally, these channels should show up on their regular local channel numbers, as long as you have either of those satellites. However, you can set the guide for All Channels and check those 5250 through 5256 channel numbers, to see if they show up there. Good luck!

Terrific reply.

 

[pattykay]

Now I'm stuck with nothing but Dish's locals in SD in 8040 range...

Well, now it looks like you really need to get this issue fixed. In today's uplink, those SD feeds were completely removed.

Uplink Activity Updates » Blog Archive » 1/13/21 at 3:14pm ET (v25) – 47 changes seen

Uplinks Removed
...
8042 WBRZ BATON ROUGE, LA (ABC) removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)
8043 WAFB BATON ROUGE, LA (CBS) removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)
8044 LOCAL CARRIAGE DISPUTE removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)
8045 WGMB BATON ROUGE, LA (FOX) removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)
8046 WLPB BATON ROUGE, LA (PBS) removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)
8047 WBXH BATON ROUGE, LA removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)
8048 WBRL [LOCAL STATION] (***) removed from 110° 25s12 (SE Louisiana) (SD Hidden)

 

[paulbot]

What is your signal strength on the 129 satellite? (Assuming you see that satellite at all when you do a Check Switch.)

In the Dish signal strength, I get 78 on 129, 78 on 119 and 75 on 110. In the switch status on the right see pic. I've gone out to the pole, pulled the carriage bolt and self tapping screws, put a 5/16 bolt through it and tightened it down until it didn't twist. I did minor adjustment to the azimuth since it went off a bit. The current signal strength of 77ish is better than it was, IIRC it was 50ish.

Now since I've done the adjustments and restarted I've lost the SD channels in the 804x range and still don't see any HD channels in the 524x range. So no locals at all from Dish, I've reinstalled the AirTV adapter, then added our locals. At least I'm getting true HD signal from those. Tech is coming Friday if I can't get this resolved by myself.

The subs they use (both DTV and Dish) don't seem to want to fool much with good solid mounting options. When we moved out here 10 years, we got a free new install from DTV. Maybe a year later I went through the same thing as now, losing signal a bit. I pulled his pole out and mounted it in concrete. Now Dish comes over and uses my old pole but rigs it so it lasts 1 year.

And reused the cable from the DTV install, cut and spliced into my cable run I had run for a nice Channels Direct antenna with our 1 year experiment with an Amazon Recast. We'd probably still be using it but don't have much net options out here in the sticks, just rural dsl.

 

[Bobby]

Looking at your picture, you are not receiving 129 at all and that is why you are not getting your HD local channels which reside on 129 or 61.5 if you had an Eastern arc dish.

 

[pattykay]

In the Dish signal strength, I get 78 on 129, 78 on 119 and 75 on 110. In the switch status on the right see pic.

That strength of 78 on 129 is a false reading. It is picking up the signal from 119 instead, when it is looking for 129. (The signal strength from 129 always tends to be quite a bit lower than the other satellites. A signal strength of around 50 from the 129 satellite would be quite good and usable.)

On the screen in your picture, select that Test Installation button. Since you have readjusted the dish, you need to do the Test Installation, to get your receiver to actually update properly with the satellites you are actually aimed at. I am guessing that the last time the Test Installation was done, you had completely lost signal from 129. (Or possibly, the signal was there, but the strength was so low that the Test Installation did not find it.) Now that you have peaked the dish, the Test Installation should find 129 again. If it does not find 129 after doing the Test Installation, then it is possible that you moved the dish too far, and you are picking up the 110 and 119 satellites from the wrong individual LNB's (eyes) on your Hybrid LNB.

 

[paulbot]

Well I ran the Test Installation and there doesn't seem to be much difference save for a bit better strength. Also restarted the H3. As it's evening prime time, wife gets perturbed if I keep this up. I'll fiddle with it more tomorrow. I did see a screen where maybe it showed which satellite was on which LNB's, maybe I can look again later.

View attachment 149800

 

[paulbot]

Here's the screen I mentioned-

 

[Jim5506]

Standing behind the dish, cover the left lnb with foil or a tin can. If you lose 119 that means you are about 10 degrees too far east with your azimuth setting.

 

[pbroussard]

Standing behind the dish, cover the left lnb with foil or a tin can. If you lose 119 that means you are about 10 degrees too far east with your azimuth setting.

That's the tip I needed. But the tech is scheduled to be here any time now, and I got stuck drilling through both pipes to add another bolt to the bottom, I dulled my last 5/16 bit, have to root around for another.

 

[Bobby]

That's the tip I needed. But the tech is scheduled to be here any time now, and I got stuck drilling through both pipes to add another bolt to the bottom, I dulled my last 5/16 bit, have to root around for another.

Why not let the tech take care of that?