Local Channel Problems

[rclarksworld]

Hey guys!

I have an interesting situation that is further complicated by several things I have observed that make me wonder where the problem truly lies. I am leaning toward a bad LNB at this point, but I still wanted some consensus on this.

It is my mother's system (D11-300) in the zip code 72044. Based on the zip, for a 3-LNB 18'x20", it calls for 205° azimuth, 45° elevation, and 68° tilt. I completely reassembled the dish based on these measurements and no dice.

What happens is that all the local channels (Little Rock KETS 2, KARK 4, KATV 7, KTHV 11, KLRT 16, KASN 38, KARZ 42, and KLRA 49) either give me a Searching for Signal (771), Access Card has Expired (763), or they will try to come in. When they try to come in, it may be merely audible chirps and colored blocks, or it may be most of a picture with only trouble where there is a lot of motion or transition, with unbroken audio. All other channels, starting with 70, QVC, work just fine.

The only visible thing that I found with her system that could potentially be a problem is that her access card appears to be browned, like it has gotten very hot. Most of this is around the contacts, but only the part of it that sticks out of slot is still completely white.

Now I have been informed that our locals are served from the 119° sat. I compared her measurements with mine (I have DirecTV also). I am not sure if it would make any difference, but I have a Slimline 5S with a SWM and my primary receiver is an HR34-700. Here are the results of the strength tests on 119° on both our systems (I phoned her for these so these were gathered at the same time):

Mother's:
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
9-16 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 25 N/A
25-32 23 97 0 97 0 98 0 97

Mine:
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
9-16 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 94 31 92
25-32 73 95 89 93 0 92 84 89

Thank you for any input!

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys rclarksworld!

Have you checked all of the cabling and connections? My best guess would be the lnb. It could be the alignment though. The local sd channels are on 119 transponder 25 where she has only a 23 for signal strength. What are the signal strength numbers for 101?

 

[Jimbo]

Is this SD only or is HD involved as well ?

What recvrs are you and your mother using ?

 

[raoul5788]

It's in his post Jimbo. She has a D11, he has an HR34.

 

[Jimbo]

It's in his post Jimbo. She has a D11, he has an HR34.

Sorry, I read it and forgot ...

Tired tonight, hope to make it thru the game.

 

[raoul5788]

Me too. I was digging for a couple of hours, moved and spread 2 yards of dirt.

 

[rclarksworld]

The cabling and connections all seem good. It is a solid copper RG-6 wire all the way from the lnb, along the house, through the wall and connected to the box. No splices anywhere between. Yesterday I actually took the whole thing down, ensured the elevation and tilt were spot on and that the mounting pole was level, then set the azimuth using a compass and listening to the signal beeps. One interesting thing is that her local channels are working somewhat at this time (8:45pm central). The reception seems to pick up after dark. Here are all her current readings:

101°:
1-8 96 97 96 98 96 98 96 98
9-16 96 97 96 0 96 97 96 97
17-24 96 0 95 94 94 97 96 95
25-32 96 0 96 0 94 98 94 98

110°:
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 93
9-16 N/A 96 N/A 94 N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
25-32 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

119°:
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
9-16 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 29 N/A
25-32 33 97 53 97 0 98 0 97

?Thanks again!

 

[texasbrit]

The cabling and connections all seem good. It is a solid copper RG-6 wire all the way from the lnb, along the house, through the wall and connected to the box. No splices anywhere between. Yesterday I actually took the whole thing down, ensured the elevation and tilt were spot on and that the mounting pole was level, then set the azimuth using a compass and listening to the signal beeps. One interesting thing is that her local channels are working somewhat at this time (8:45pm central). The reception seems to pick up after dark. Here are all her current readings:

101°:
1-8 96 97 96 98 96 98 96 98
9-16 96 97 96 0 96 97 96 97
17-24 96 0 95 94 94 97 96 95
25-32 96 0 96 0 94 98 94 98

110°:
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 93
9-16 N/A 96 N/A 94 N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
25-32 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

119°:
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
9-16 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 29 N/A
25-32 33 97 53 97 0 98 0 97

?Thanks again!

This has all the signs of a receiver that is located somewhere else. Where exactly is the receiver located?

 

[rclarksworld]

This has all the signs of a receiver that is located somewhere else. Where exactly is the receiver located?

Are you asking if the equipment is being used at an address other that where the account specifies? If so, that is not the case. The dish is mounted on the roof of the home where the service is set up for and the receiver is connected to it through about 20 ft. of RG-6 cable. It has not moved since installed years ago.

If you actually want to know the exact location for any diagnostic purposes, Google pinpoints her dish at 35° 36' 26.43"N, -92° 07' 11.56"W.

 

[texasbrit]

Are you asking if the equipment is being used at an address other that where the account specifies? If so, that is not the case. The dish is mounted on the roof of the home where the service is set up for and the receiver is connected to it through about 20 ft. of RG-6 cable. It has not moved since installed years ago.

If you actually want to know the exact location for any diagnostic purposes, Google pinpoints her dish at 35° 36' 26.43"N, -92° 07' 11.56"W.

Then it looks like an LNB problem...

 

[raoul5788]

I'm definitely thinking it's the lnb. You can get one cheap from eBay I'm sure. Just swap the new one for the old. It's easy.