Moved to Western ARC now DC locals in HD are gone

[monroef]

In order to fix my signal issues with all of the channels recently moved to 61.5, Dish came out today and switched me to Western ARC. After this was done, all of my Washington DC HD locals were gone. This was not a surprise since I knew the HD channels for DC are only on 61.5. However, the tech switched it anyway because he thought they were also on 129. Now he is gone and I am without Washington DC HD locals. The funniest part of this is the transponders containing DC locals were the only ones I had good signal on. At any rate, what are my options here? Distant networks are no an option anymore, correct? What about a different service address? If so, what nearby city will give me the major networks and PTAT?

Thanks
Frank

 

[JSheridan]

In order to fix my signal issues with all of the channels recently moved to 61.5, Dish came out today and switched me to Western ARC. After this was done, all of my Washington DC HD locals were gone. This was not a surprise since I knew the HD channels for DC are only on 61.5. However, the tech switched it anyway because he thought they were also on 129. Now he is gone and I am without Washington DC HD locals. The funniest part of this is the transponders containing DC locals were the only ones I had good signal on. At any rate, what are my options here? Distant networks are no an option anymore, correct? What about a different service address? If so, what nearby city will give me the major networks and PTAT?

Thanks
Frank

Another DISH tech who knows all the answers.

You could add a wing dish for 61.5.

 

[monroef]

Another DISH tech who knows all the answers.

You could add a wing dish for 61.5.

Well I suggested that to him since I have no signal issues with just those transponders. But I also have two Hopper 3's and a DPH42. According to him, you cannot have four satellites with that configuration.

 

[JSheridan]

Well I suggested that to him since I have no signal issues with just those transponders. But I also have two Hopper 3's and a DPH42. According to him, you cannot have four satellites with that configuration.

And he was wrong again.

That's what the 4 in DPH42 means. 4 satellite orbital locations and 2 outputs for Hoppers.

 

[HipKat]

Well I suggested that to him since I have no signal issues with just those transponders. But I also have two Hopper 3's and a DPH42. According to him, you cannot have four satellites with that configuration.

That is an interesting thought. It may be different with the 77 and the 61 but of course if you're using a DPP 500+ international, that's four satellites connected to a 42 switch. I don't know for sure but I don't see why you cannot add the 61 to the western arc with the 42 switch

 

[monroef]

That is an interesting thought. It may be different with the 77 and the 61 but of course if you're using a DPP 500+ international, that's four satellites connected to a 42 switch. I don't know for sure but I don't see why you cannot add the 61 to the western arc with the 42 switch

Thats my thought. There will be duplicate channels. I wonder which satellite will take priority.

 

[dweber]

Well I suggested that to him since I have no signal issues with just those transponders. But I also have two Hopper 3's and a DPH42. According to him, you cannot have four satellites with that configuration.

That is totally wrong. I have 61.5, 110, 119, and 129 hooked up to a DPH 42 switch which powers 2 Hopper 3 receivers.

 

[HipKat]

Thats my thought. There will be duplicate channels. I wonder which satellite will take priority.

I have set up a western arc in an area where the HD locals are on eastern arc and added a 61 wing dish. The HD locals took precedence. This happened when I was working out of market and didn't realize that the HD locals were on the 61 and I had no line of sight for the 72 anyway but once I added the wing dish, The customer had locals in HD

 

[monroef]

I have set up a western arc in an area where the HD locals are on eastern arc and added a 61 wing dish. The HD locals took precedence. This happened when I was working out of market and didn't realize that the HD locals were on the 61 and I had no line of sight for the 72 anyway but once I added the wing dish, The customer had locals in HD

So you are saying the HD locals only are being services from 61.5 and none of the other channels that are duplicated on 61.5?

 

[HipKat]

So you are saying the HD locals only are being services from 61.5 and none of the other channels that are duplicated on 61.5?

I can't say for sure how it works but I would imagine that one satellite is just taking precedence over another because I didn't see duplicates in the guide and all those other channels were working fine. But it's a good question I'd like to find the answer to

 

[monroef]

That is totally wrong. I have 61.5, 110, 119, and 129 hooked up to a DPH 42 switch which powers 2 Hopper 3 receivers.

I understand why I am trying to have this setup. But if you have good line of site to 61.5 and I assume to 72 as well, why would you need 110, 119 and 129?

 

[HipKat]

I understand why I am trying to have this setup. But if you have good line of site to 61.5 and I assume to 72 as well, why would you need 110, 119 and 129?

You wouldn't. The root of this whole thing it seems like is you had a tech who didn't really know what he was doing.

Sitting here thinking about it, I wonder if in the check switch the receiver sees the DPP LNBF is A .2 triple Western arc and uses that as the priority by default and adds the HD locals from the 61 because it doesn't have them from the 129

 

[dweber]

I understand why I am trying to have this setup. But if you have good line of site to 61.5 and I assume to 72 as well, why would you need 110, 119 and 129?

My Columbus locals are on 129 so I could get by with only western arc. But I have a strong signal from 61.5. All of the content on 61.5 is MPEG 4 while the SD content on eastern arc is MPEG 2.

MPEG 4 takes up less Hard Drive storage since it uses better compression. Before the carbon interface you were able to display which satellite was being used. My old Hopper with Sling receivers used 61.5 for SD content instead of 110. I believe that 61.5 had a stronger signal than 110 but I can't confirm that. It definitely did not populate duplicate channels from both satellites. Perhaps somebody can comment what criteria the receiver uses to decide which satellite is used.

My 129 spot beam that has my HD locals does not have a great signal. Whenever I have a heavy rain, I will lose my HD locals and the receiver will automatically switch to the SD locals on the satellite 119. So it may be related to signal strength.

 

[dishcomm]

Well I suggested that to him since I have no signal issues with just those transponders. But I also have two Hopper 3's and a DPH42. According to him, you cannot have four satellites with that configuration.

What an idiot...One of two scenarios apply...A) tech did not want to install wing dish...B) was not paying attention in training class.
This is Dish 101....

 

[JSheridan]

My Columbus locals are on 129 so I could get by with only western arc. But I have a strong signal from 61.5. All of the content on 61.5 is MPEG 4 while the SD content on eastern arc is MPEG 2.

MPEG 4 takes up less Hard Drive storage since it uses better compression. Before the carbon interface you were able to display which satellite was being used. My old Hopper with Sling receivers used 61.5 for SD content instead of 110. I believe that 61.5 had a stronger signal than 110 but I can't confirm that. It definitely did not populate duplicate channels from both satellites. Perhaps somebody can comment what criteria the receiver uses to decide which satellite is used.

My 129 spot beam that has my HD locals does not have a great signal. Whenever I have a heavy rain, I will lose my HD locals and the receiver will automatically switch to the SD locals on the other satellite. So it may be related to signal strength.

To see which satellite the signal is coming from press Info \ Recall.

 

[dishcomm]

That is an interesting thought. It may be different with the 77 and the 61 but of course if you're using a DPP 500+ international, that's four satellites connected to a 42 switch. I don't know for sure but I don't see why you cannot add the 61 to the western arc with the 42 switch

The OP did not mention international services.
As to why you would mention them..Head scratcher.

 

[Tampa8]

I can't say for how it works but I would imagine that one satellite is just taking precedence over another because I didn't see duplicates in the guide and all those other channels were working fine. But it's a good question I'd like to find the answer to

I don't think there is a full way to know what channel will come from what satellite in a mixed ARC system when the channels are duplicated. That said generally they did come from 61.5 first, 72, 110, 119, in that order. I do not know if how your system is provisioned makes a difference. I tried many different experiments and this topic has been discussed over the years here. What I found is what I said here but I also found;

I had 61.5/72.7/110/119 (OR replaced 119 with 118 at times but not relevant for the testing.) While most channels came from the EA no matter how I connected to the DP44 there were a few that always came from the WA. HD channels HBO -300, USA, DIY Comedy Central Home and Garden are examples that always came from 110 or 119 and not from the EA. Never were there duplicates from different satellites. I don't think any SD channels that were on both ARCs came from the WA. Of the HD channels I got if they were on both 110 and 119 I always got them from 110. At that time USA was on both as an example and it always came from 110 not 119.

 

[dweber]

To see which satellite the signal is coming from press Info \ Recall.

Thank you JSheridan. Good information. I did a quick inspection and it appears that my receiver is using 61.5, 119, and 129. The only channels that I found using 110 were channel 103 preview, channel 123 Mall, the ESPN SD alternate channels, channel 9598 which is a check for orbital 119.

Checking my signal strengths
61.5 transponder 13 = 57
110 transponder 13 = 52
119 transponder 13 = 51
129 spot beam 2 = 29
129 transponder 17 = 34

With a signal strength of 29 can you see why I lose my Columbus HD locals when it rains.
You can also see why I receive most of my non-local HD using 61.5. I only found a few non-local HD channels using 129.

Yet the Dish tech peaked the Eastern Ark Dish for 129. He told me that the 129 satellite has a lower signal. I question whether one of my trees is interfering with 129. Fortunately I also receive Columbus and Dayton locals OTA.

 

[monroef]

What an idiot...One of two scenarios apply...A) tech did not want to install wing dish...B) was not paying attention in training class.
This is Dish 101....

Well, what is going on here, as you may be able to see from another thread I am in, the contractors working for Dish do not always want to put the time and effort in to fix the problem They keep pushing your appointment back to the last hour in their day. When they arrive they look for a quick solution or forget to bring the proper ladder. If they would come earlier in the day and bring the proper equipment, they would be able to move my dish to another location that has good signal. Instead, they moved me to western arc all why I warning them that I will lose my locals. When they finish the move and see that I have lost my locals, then they don't even have enough time to put my setup back the way it was not to mention not having time to move the dish to a better solution.

Its a shame I cannot simply get another locations locals from 110,119 or 129. That work for me.

I had three appointments scheduled to fix this issue. When they finally arrived today late, they left me worse than what I was and told me I have to make another appointment to have any further work done. I'm about done with dish. This is ridiculous.

 

[HipKat]

The OP did not mention international services.
As to why you would mention them..Head scratcher.

Because the tech told him the 42 switch wouldn't support 4 sats. I'm pointing out that a DPP 500+, for example, is 4 sats (With the 129) and works with a 42 switch.

Well, what is going on here, as you may be able to see from another thread I am in, the contractors working for Dish do not always want to put the time and effort in to fix the problem They keep pushing your appointment back to the last hour in their day. When they arrive they look for a quick solution or forget to bring the proper ladder. If they would come earlier in the day and bring the proper equipment, they would be able to move my dish to another location that has good signal. Instead, they moved me to western arc all why I warning them that I will lose my locals. When they finish the move and see that I have lost my locals, then they don't even have enough time to put my setup back the way it was not to mention not having time to move the dish to a better solution.

Its a shame I cannot simply get another locations locals from 110,119 or 129. That work for me.

I had three appointments scheduled to fix this issue. When they finally arrived today late, they left me worse than what I was and told me I have to make another appointment to have any further work done. I'm about done with dish. This is ridiculous.

I work for a sub, one of the largest subs Dish has, btw, not Dish In House, so it's not all contractors, although you nay have a bad one in that area. Here's a Hopper 3 job in a market for WA HD locals where I only had LOS for the 129 so I had to wing dish that in with an EA Hybrid