Receiver doesn't auto-update

[Natey]

Help! I'm having a rather frustrating problem with my setup. I tried doing a search, but couldn't find any posts detailing a similar problem.

I have a VIP222k set up to provide signal for two TV's, the "main" TV is connected to the box downstairs, and the secondary TV is upstairs. I've obviously called Dish Network support, and they replaced our first box in the hopes that this problem would be fixed, but obviously it wasn't.

The problem, I suppose, is that my receiver doesn't update automatically at night. It's set to update at 3am I believe, but it doesn't. Whenever I want to watch TV, I need to wait 5 minutes for it to acquire the signal (5 out of 5) and then download the guide info.

That's not all:

I think a related problem is that the Dish Network box simply does not turn on unless my "main" TV is on first.

So, for example, if I want to watch TV upstairs, I have to turn on the downstairs (main) TV first, power-on the Dish box, wait 5 minutes for the Dish Network receiver to update, hit SELECT using the upstairs (secondary) TV's remote, then turn off the "main" TV monitor (I obviously don't want to have both TV's on at the same time).

Sometimes, during that last step, turning off the main TV causes the picture on the upstairs TV to freeze or cut out altogether, forcing me to re-start the entire process, including signal acquisition and download.

It might be a problem with the way the box is connected to my TV or something, but the Dish Network tech installed it, so I have to assume everything is connected properly.

I honestly have no idea what to do. I've tried playing around with the update time to no avail. I've tried powering off the box before I go to sleep. I've tried leaving it on. I've tried unplugging it, replacing it, resetting, etc., etc. I have a Samsung TV and Sound System, if that helps.

Has anyone encountered/solved this problem before? Any help would be extremely appreciated!

 

[KAB]

To what/where is the receiver connected to AC? It sound as if it is being unplugged, or switched off from power. Is it by any chance plugged into a receiver with a switched AC power plug? Or an outlet controlled by a light switch?

 

[Natey]

It's plugged into a surge protector along with the TV and other peripherals, so I'd assume they'd all turn off. The outlet itself isn't associated with a switch (as far as I'm aware) because it's located within an alcove that was designed to accommodate home theater systems. I'd assume that the TV and other things would turn off as well if a particular switch was flipped, but sadly that's not the case.

 

[KAB]

Well for grins, try plugging it in directly to an outlet away from the surge protector. Also, how is receiver connected to TV? HDMI direct?

 

[skyviewmark]

KAB has got the right idea.. What you are describing is a receiver that is being powered down during the night.. You need to find the source of this.. Like KAB said. Hook it to a regular outlet plug instead of where it is now.. If you have to run an extension cord to it to do this, then do.. Continually cutting power to the receiver is first, aggrevating, but second will cause your receiver to fail quicker.

 

[KKlare]

There are surge protectors that key off the "principal" outlet. They shut off all the other outlets when that one is not in use. Could that be your case? We assume that the Dish equipment including any switch power supply is not plugged into the receiver although few TVs have outlets. Run an extension cord for a night.
-Ken

 

[Natey]

Thank you for the suggestions! I'll definitely run it through an extension cord for a few days and let you know how it goes.

Some additional info that might be relevant:

This morning, after going through the same "start up" process described in my first post, I left the TV on for a few hours while doing work around the house. When I was finished, I turned off the TV/Sound system as usual. I left the Dish Network box on.

The TV was off for 2 hours maximum, during which time the Dish Network box turned off on its own. Keep in mind that this was in the middle of the day. Needless to say, I had to go through the 5-minute start up process again. I didn't flip any switches or tamper with the electricity during those two hours.

Anyway, I was told by the people at Dish Network that it doesn't matter if I hit the power button to turn off the Dish box or if I just leave it on the whole night/day; it shouldn't be going through this rigmarole each time.

I should mention that had I left the TV on during that time, the Dish box would have remained operational.

I'm not sure if that changes anything, but I thought I'd mention it!

Thanks again for the suggestions

 

[Natey]

Update:

I removed the Dish Network box from the power strip and ran it through an extension cord into a completely different outlet for the past few days. Sadly, this has had zero effect.

The Dish box still "powers down," sometimes just minutes after I've turned off the TV/sound system, requiring another update upon startup.

The box seems to be linked to the on/off state of my "main" TV. It's obvious that there's some kind of exchange there, but I have no idea where it's coming from or how to stop it.

The box itself is connected to the TV via HDMI cable if that makes a difference. I believe I tried switching to component cables at one point to no avail, but I'm certainly not against trying again.

Also, the TV is a Samsung and I've always had the HDMI CEC feature disabled.

Thanks again for listening to my (lengthy) problem!

 

[3HaloODST]

Only things I can think of, were pretty much already said, which is try switching power outlets, and my other suggestion would be try component.

If all else fails I would call DISH and get them to replace it.

 

[Natey]

Well, I don't want to get my hopes up yet, but I think completely doing away with HDMI might've fixed it. Maybe I just didn't give it a proper chance the last time around.

For whatever reason, I suspect there was some two-way communication going on via HDMI... I can't imagine why, since those settings on my TV were disabled.

In any case,I won't know for sure whether or not it's fixed until I leave it to its own devices overnight.

Either way, thank you all so much for your help! You're a bunch of pros.

 

[whatchel1]

The sat cable

Only things I can think of, were pretty much already said, which is try switching power outlets, and my other suggestion would be try component.

If all else fails I would call DISH and get them to replace it.

Does the cable for the sats go thru the power strip or does the switch on the dish have a power inserter that is on the power strip. If it does & the power strip powers down those devices it will do the same as unplugging the power to the sat receiver. Plain and simply it sounds like the sat receiver is getting disconnected from the sat signal somehow.

 

[3HaloODST]

Well, I don't want to get my hopes up yet, but I think completely doing away with HDMI might've fixed it. Maybe I just didn't give it a proper chance the last time around.

For whatever reason, I suspect there was some two-way communication going on via HDMI... I can't imagine why, since those settings on my TV were disabled.

In any case,I won't know for sure whether or not it's fixed until I leave it to its own devices overnight.

Either way, thank you all so much for your help! You're a bunch of pros.

Yeah HDMI has been known to cause problems for lots of TV/STB combos. I wish they would have left it simple like component video, or at least made sure there would be no bugs.

 

[whosemarie]

Same problem here, except.....

Does the cable for the sats go thru the power strip or does the switch on the dish have a power inserter that is on the power strip. If it does & the power strip powers down those devices it will do the same as unplugging the power to the sat receiver. Plain and simply it sounds like the sat receiver is getting disconnected from the sat signal somehow.

Same problem here, except, we have had this box for a few years with zero problems. Then this morning, with a golf tournamenet my husband wanted to see, and his also wanting to check in and out on the Daytona race, and our wanting to see Oscars tonight (all one-time stuff) we have problems. It's been on a HD TV since we got it, using HDMI. Obviously we got this BECAUSE we require High Def. Nothing has changed here - room temp and location are the same, power source is the same.

We talked to Dish support and a tech ran through the steps. It's good for a while then it goes out again. This thing has rebooted probably a dozen times in the past 5 hours.

So, did anyone ever determine a fix for this? I hate to have Dish come out because they use sub-contractors here and the last was a truly dangerous freak, who's company was fired when their tech was found to be destroying equipment rather than sending it back, and when he then started sending us hate-e-mail for getting his company fired. SO...if we can fix ourselves, we'd prefer it.