Power inserter needed?

[jreding]

Hi,

Hope someone can help me out there with this "minor" issue, but all my channels seem to work although sometimes a 'light' rain will cause some satellite searching.

I have a H23-600 receiver with a sl5s4nr5-01 SWM LNB (5 satellite LNB), there is just this one receiver connected directly to the LNB- nothing in between the receiver and the LNB but RG-6 coax.

Do I require a b band converter or a power inserter on this setup, everything seems to work fine but on the receiver test menu I get a "dish alignment error" I peaked or dithered the dish with a Satlook lite meter and I am getting signal strength numbers in the high 80's and 90's on 99 and 103, 101,119 but 110 is weak.

but on the receiver test I get diagnostic code 43-72-980

101W Signals on all transponders 86+

110W Signals on transponder (8) is 55 transponder (10) is 28 transponder (12) is 43

119W signals on all transponders are 95+ expect for the ones that are N/A

99W ca Signals on (9-16) 62 73 61 73 53 74 50 72
(17-24) 48 72 46 73 47 72 42 72
The rest read "N/A"


99W cb (1-8) 74 82 69 76 73 79 71 76
(9-16) 73 82 71 77 81 82 N/A N/A
the rest are "N/A"

99W s (1-8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(9-16) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 86 97
(17-24) 0 0 98 97 0 0 89 93
(25-32) all N/A

103 s (1-8) 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a
(9-16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 57
(17-24) 0 0 36 61 0 0 0 0
(25-32) ALL N/A

103 ca (1-8) all N/A
(9-16) 72 79 71 73 68 77 68 75
(17-24) 63 78 61 76 60 77 59 74
(25-32) ALL N/A

103 cb (1-8) 73 81 72 77 69 79 71 77
(9-16) 71 80 71 80 72 80 N/A N/A
(17-24) All N/A
(25-32) ALL N/A

 

[Jimbo]

A quick look, it looks like your dish needs alignment ...
Everything should be at least 85 to 100 ... with a few transponders not, like maybe 2 of them.
I would look to adjust the dish and go from there.

 

[texasbrit]

But for SWM you need a power inserter, Your dish is not getting enough power.

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys jreding!
The H23 and HR23 don't need a b band converter. As noted you need a power inserter. The receiver supplies 18 volts, but the lnb needs 21 at least. The 110 satellite is used for Puerto Rico so your signal strength numbers will be low there. Don't worry about them. It will be interesting to see if the numbers on the other satellites go up when you add the power inserter. I don't think they will and therefore you will need to realign the dish a bit.

 

[texasbrit]

The LNB has amplifieers that create standard signal levels from your dish. I don't knowwhat effect a low voltage will have. However, the SWM dish definitely needs a PI.
Get a PI first and then check the levels again. As Chip says, the dish will probably need realigning anyway.

 

[Jimbo]

The LNB has amplifieers that create standard signal levels from your dish. I don't knowwhat effect a low voltage will have. However, the SWM dish definitely needs a PI.
Get a PI first and then check the levels again. As Chip says, the dish will probably need realigning anyway.

I see what your saying, hes currently getting the 18 volts from the recvr and thats not enough to power the SWM LNB ....
That makes sense, I was originally thinking he wouldn't have any signal strength without the PI, but he must be getting enough to do some with the recvr.

 

[Claude Greiner]

It’s likely not a SWM lnb if there is no power inserter now.

Easiest way to check Is to look at the lnb.

If you see 1 cable connection it’s SWM. IF it’s 4 it’s now swm.

If it’s not SWM, likely he is missing the b band converter

 

[raoul5788]

It’s likely not a SWM lnb if there is no power inserter now.

Easiest way to check Is to look at the lnb.

If you see 1 cable connection it’s SWM. IF it’s 4 it’s now swm.

If it’s not SWM, likely he is missing the b band converter

He gave the exact model number of the lnb. It's a swm. He also said he has an H23. No b band converter needed. The information is all in the first post.

 

[slice1900]

The voltage doesn't matter for powering a SWM LNB so long as it can get enough watts, the lower the voltage the more amperage it will draw to make up for it. Probably isn't good for the H23's power supply since it isn't designed to supply enough to power the LNB and the SWM - especially the more power hungry analog SWM.

I agree with raoul that the low readings are probably a misaligned dish, but you need a PI bring the system into spec. I'd call Directv out and have them take a look, they'll get the dish aligned, supply you with a PI, and you could probably get them to swap out that H23 for an H25 if he's got one on the truck. The power supply in that thing might not last long after being made to work so hard...

 

[jreding]

Hey Everyone and Thanks for welcoming me to the forum!

Thanks for all the input, I did order a directv power injector and plan to realign the dish tomorrow (Tuesday 10/30) It was raining here and didn't want to stand outside aligning a dish.

I have a signal meter (Satlook lite) it has a SWM 5 setting on it...I was just wondering what is the best way to peak the dish? I know that the 101* is strong but should I dial one of the HD birds in and peak off that signal?

 

[raoul5788]

I believe you align off of the 101 sat, but I'll leave it to one of the installers to give you the definitive answer.

 

[Jimbo]

Hey Everyone and Thanks for welcoming me to the forum!

Thanks for all the input, I did order a directv power injector and plan to realign the dish tomorrow (Tuesday 10/30) It was raining here and didn't want to stand outside aligning a dish.

I have a signal meter (Satlook lite) it has a SWM 5 setting on it...I was just wondering what is the best way to peak the dish? I know that the 101* is strong but should I dial one of the HD birds in and peak off that signal?

If your 101 is peaked and your skew is accurate, the 99 and 103 should fall into place ... dither from there ...
And Yes, you work off the 101 Sat.

Do you actually watch anything on the 110, 119 Sats ?
The majority of installs these days are the SWM 3 variety.

 

[slice1900]

I know that the 101* is strong but should I dial one of the HD birds in and peak off that signal?

You say your 101 is strong, but it is down as low as 86 that's not strong. Other than the spot beams (4, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28) you should have readings of 99 or 100 on 101 if it is properly aligned.

 

[texasbrit]

You have to get 101 aligned properly (most readings at 99 or 100) before you start looking at 99 and 103. If you search on "dithering" you will find the best way to do it. There are also videos on youtube.

 

[Jimbo]

You have to get 101 aligned properly (most readings at 99 or 100) before you start looking at 99 and 103. If you search on "dithering" you will find the best way to do it. There are also videos on youtube.

Your gonna drive him nuts .... if he expects to get 99 and 100's he'll never get done ...

The majority should be 90 or better.

If I were to look at my SS at any point in time, I would probably have maybe 6 or more at 100, maybe another 5 at 99 but the rest are in the 90's.

 

[slice1900]

I used to have lower readings in the 96-97 range on the odd transponders, but since T15 took over for T8 I've got 99 & 100s across the board except for the spot beams.

 

[Jimbo]

I used to have lower readings in the 96-97 range on the odd transponders, but since T15 took over for T8 I've got 99 & 100s across the board except for the spot beams.

I haven't looked lately .... were talking the 101, right ?

 

[texasbrit]

I have 98-100 on 101

 

[Jimbo]

I have 98-100 on 101

What do you have on 18 and 28 ?

 

[Jimbo]

I have :
5-100's, 3-99's, 6-98's, 8-97's, 5-96's, 4-95's ...

I would say I'm pretty happy with that ...

And, I don't have a working meter ...

I know the guys at work are usually spot on with the AIM meter.
Most of them I have been very happy with... the ones that I have looked at.