SL5 system signal issues

[Bigjash]

Hey there! Long-time listener, first-time caller.

For about a year, I have been struggling with signal issues on my system. Since I mostly use it for NFL Ticket, I haven’t spent much time troubleshooting it. But now, I am “ready for some football”. Well, not really.

System Deets
*SL5 dish with 4 port LNB.
*4 wires from dish to multi port.
*Two HR24/500 dual-tuner receivers hooked up to the outputs using B-band converters.

A year ago, I lost HD version of my locals. At that point, I gave up until a couple weeks ago.

My first step was to replace my multi-switch. Nope.
Re-peaked dish. Nope.
LOS is good. Actually cut down an adjacent tree that was kinda in the way. It was dead anyhow. Nope.

On receiver #1, I have good signal on all transponders, except 101 which is ZERO.
On receiver #2, I have no signal on any transponders. If I remove the b-band converters, I only get 99a, 119 and 103.

Next step I am thinking is a new LNB, but wondered if there were any other steps I could try.

Is it possible that I am not centered on 101?

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys Bigjash!
It could be a bad lnb or you could be out of alignment.

 

[Bigjash]

to Satelliteguys Bigjash!
It could be a bad lnb or you could be out of alignment.

Thanks for the welcome Raoul!

Using the old FaceTime trick, I swung that bad boy all over the sky azimuth-wise and got bupkis, except for the position it has been in. Given the elevation difference between 101 and 119 (roughly 10 degrees), I feel positive I’m on 101. If I weren’t on 101, I wouldn’t expect to see all other satellites this well.

I also switched the 99/101 and 103/119 inputs to the multi-switch, still had the same status.

Gonna keep troubleshooting…

 

[raoul5788]

I would swap out the old lnb for a swm type, and get the 3swm, not 5swm. Also get a power inserter and swm splitter. It will allow for a cleaner install.

 

[Bigjash]

I borrowed this from a friend as my next step. In order to feed 4 outputs, do I need an 8-way splitter or can I place the power inserter in between an IRD and the splitter?

 

[raoul5788]

That's a swm lnb, so you need a swm splitter and power inserter. A 4 way is enough, one cable to each receiver/dvr. No b-band converter is needed. The power inserter must be on the leg of the splitter with the power passing port and it can be inline.

 

[Bigjash]

That's a swm lnb, so you need a swm splitter and power inserter. A 4 way is enough, one cable to each receiver/dvr. No b-band converter is needed. The power inserter must be on the leg of the splitter with the power passing port and it can be inline.

Cheers Raoul! Some google-fu could have got me that so I appreciate the input from the experts

Once I get a splitter and PI, I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Fingers crossed before NFL Week 1.

 

[raoul5788]

Cheers Raoul! Some google-fu could have got me that so I appreciate the input from the experts

Once I get a splitter and PI, I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Fingers crossed before NFL Week 1.

Glad to be of assistance. BTW, my name is Chip.

 

[Bigjash]

So as to not ghost this thread, here is an update.

After not monkeying with this for a week, I finally got all the bits (3SWM LNB, splitter and PI) to troubleshoot some more. Surprisingly, when I turned on my TV to start working on it, one receiver now had all the satellites and was working perfectly. The other one was still kaput.

Bottom line: the 3SWM LNB, Splitter and PI did the trick. The SWM5 LNB must have given up the ghost after 10+ years.

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions, especially Chip.

Here is a pic of the new install. Now I have 3 spare runs to my antenna.

 

[raoul5788]

So as to not ghost this thread, here is an update.

After not monkeying with this for a week, I finally got all the bits (3SWM LNB, splitter and PI) to troubleshoot some more. Surprisingly, when I turned on my TV to start working on it, one receiver now had all the satellites and was working perfectly. The other one was still kaput.

Bottom line: the 3SWM LNB, Splitter and PI did the trick. The SWM5 LNB must have given up the ghost after 10+ years.

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions, especially Chip.

Here is a pic of the new install. Now I have 3 spare runs to my antenna.View attachment 153636

Glad to help, that's what we are here for.

 

[prop]

hey chip maybe you can help me also.i`m trying to install new dish for a friend and having a hell of a time.let me explain.it`s a new dish and swm 3 lnb from solid signal and i`m using a tarcker lite meter.i can`t get a signal no matter what i try ,different lnbs different location and many hours of searching. i even took the dish to my house and tried it on my mount with my receiver and still can`t get it . i have a slimline dish at my house with 3lnb swm, i swapped out the dish and used my lnb ,nothing.i then noticed that the lnb arm is about 3/4 of an inch longer then the arm on my dish and the dish itself is slightly bigger in width and height, i`m thinking this is the problem and the focal point has to be different.my dish has slimline printed on it the new one does not.got any ideas?thanks for any help