 Installer Notes
Heat Failure
Tips and Help Troubleshooting
Installer Notes
When loss of signal is described as happening a certain time every day, it is likely the LNB
failing.
An easy way to operate a dual receiver using the UHF TV2 remote is to operate it in "Single" mode.
ALWAYS ask the customer about the problem, and always take it with a grain of salt. Customers sometimes have the problem "pegged" and, other times they will give you wrong information. Don't take their word that it only happens on one TV. Check all receivers in the home! Everything depends on a plumb mast. (But when using a dual analog meter, you can compensate even for skew!)
NEVER use a wrench on a receiver or TV! ONLY finger-tight!
Put a piece of velcro (the hook part) on your cable stripper. Use it to "brush" or "comb" the braid away from the copper center wire on RG6, etc.
Remember that the elevation, azimuth, and skew are NOT exact. For example, in the zip codes that I've worked in, the elevation as provided by the receiver is stated at 38 degrees for a Dish 500. In practice, the elevation is just a hair shy of 40. So, I always start there and rarely have to change the elevation. Your results will be the similar, in that, the "true" values are where you get the best signal. Find the best elevation and azimuth for signal and make note of them. Use them when you install.
A splitter can be used as a combiner. Running multiple signals (coax) into a splitter, backwards, combines the signals. Tips and Help Troubleshooting
Whining noise and searching for signal - check for bad coaxial connection at the satellite in connection.
Constant re-booting can be a result of electrical problems such as a poor surge protector, hot/neutral reversed wiring, and some Monster power products. It can be related to software downloads, as well, and a failing receiver. Check power outlets by using an AC Power Tester. At about $5, this little tester can quickly identify the outlet's wiring.
If the problem affects all receivers it is somewhere from LNB to switch. If it seems to only affect one receiver, put a known good receiver in it's place to see if it is the line or receiver.
Using a dual analog meter, signal will read much lower, inside the home. What looked like great signal at the dish, looks pretty wimpy inside, but this is normal. What is important here is checking an interior line for signal.
When performing "Check Switch" and you come up with
only Odd transponders or Even transponders, run the check again. If it then comes up opposite your previous results (first time was Odd, second time was Even or vice versa), it is VERY likely that a splitter is in the line somewhere and it is beginning to fail. Some splitters will pass signal, without problem, for approximately 12 to 18 months.
Sometimes when doing an auto-search of digital OTA signal on a 622, the receiver won't find any. I have found that when you check the actual broadcast channel for the digital signal, one at a time, the 622 will then recognize them and they can be added.
Always remember to do a smart-card reset after re-connection, and before "check switch" when a smartcard is present!
NOTE: An "unplug" reset and a "front-panel" or "hard" reset are both suggested as early "de-buggers", BUT, concerning receivers with smart cards, you NEED a to do a smart-card reset before they will recognize a new satellite - and sometimes even the usual ones.
Front panel and unplug resets DO NOT replace a smartcard reset.
Heat failure
Dish Pro Plus Twins
(DPP Twin) have been known to fail at first "high"
heat of summer and will continue to fail in heat. It seems this
failure begins with loss of signal on low transponders. Specifically, in St. Louis, transponder 4 on satellite 119, which carries (carried?) Cardinals games, and Food Network.
Dish Pro 44
(DPP44) switches are prone to heat failure.
Superdish 121 LNB's are also higher in heat failure than other LNB's. | 
