Problem with getting Showtime HD (543)

[rgc101]

Let me first say that I am no expert by any means. I have looked here for a solution and have tried a few things, but have not been able to solve the problem I have an RCA F38310 HDTV which has a built in DTC-100 receiver from what I've read. I installed the elliptical dish with the new built in 5x4 switch. I purchased the Eagle aspen sat C kit. I assumed that everything that was needed to get all the HD channels was built into the 5x4 switch. There is no where to put the combiner. The LNBs plug right into it. I did select elliptical dish with 3 LNBs in the menus. I get a signal strength in the 80s for 101 and 119/110. I think I have the 119/110 on transponder 23.

I get 199 and 509 but no 543 or 90. They do show up on the guide, but I get "searching for satellite". I read here that transponders 8, 10, and 12 are the transponders for the sat that has 543 on it and I get no signal from those. I have tried unplugging the tv for 5 to reset, and that does nothing. As far as I've read, the problem could be:

1. Dish alignment, but why would I get these channels on the guide?

2. Wrong transponder setting.

3. Defective Sat C kit.

4. Defective or incompatible 5x4 switch

5. Defective DTC-100.

Any thoughts on what could be an easy fix?

Thanks for your help.

[golfman68]

Did you plug in the the sat c cable into the provided combiner,along with the correct cable off the 119 sat, I forget which of the 2 it is, but you must combine the 2 correctly.If you can't use the combiner you may need a different multi/switch not sure about the built in one that you have.

[rgc101]

I did not. From what I have read here, the 5x4 switch has all of that built in. This is a self-contained unit. You cannot get into it. Maybe I am mistaken. This unit is discussed in another post:

http://www.dsschat.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=139337&highlight=5x4

Maybe I do need another switch.

[guest 0999]

on most sat systems i have seen you cannot "set" the transponders, it does that automatically when you choose a channel. you can check all the transponders, 1-32 on Sat A, 22-32 on Sat b and the few like 8, 10, and 12 on Sat C, and see what signal strenght you are getting. Sat c only has a few transponders, what signal are you getting on them?

[rgc101]

I am getting no signal on 8 10 and 12. Could it be an alignment issue? Thanks for your reply.

[golfman68]

How are 5 cables that are coming out of your 3 lnb's hooked up.

[rgc101]

The lnbs plug directly into this self contained unit that has the 5x4 multiswitch built in. I hope it has the combiner built in as well. The unit then has 4 cables with female ends coming out of it and you connect your ird cable right to it. I believe the unit I have is the Terk TRK-S23.

[golfman68]

Looks like your Terk TRK-s23 with built in 5*4 multi/switch can handle all 3 sats without the combiner, SHOWTIME HD can be a little finicky, loosen the bolt that holds the 110 lnb and wiggle the lnb to some different spots, this worked for me.

[rgc101]

Thanks. I'll give it a shot.

[rgc101]

Still no success. Even installed a new 5x4 switch. Also tried moving around the 3rd LNB. Nothing. Still searching for Sat. Could it be a bad LNB? Any other suggesstions? Thanks for your help.

[xxrayho]

try running a jumper line from the multi switch right to the tv and by passing the cables in the walls i had the same problem and that is what worked for me.. good luck

[urlybird]

You might want to check out the wiring diagrams at www.18inch.com to see if you are cabled up correctly.

The combiner with the Sat C kit combines the signals from 110 and 119 together. You have to make sure you connect the cable to the correct side of the combiner. Both connections are marked with either a 110 or 119.

You have the combiner built in, but somewhere you must have to connect to the builtin combiner with feeds from one feed from 110 and one feed from 119. Are you cables marked in some way as to what LNB they should be connected to ? You will have 5 cables going out the dish arm to the LNB's - is the cable marked for 110 connected properly ?

[rgc101]

According to Terk, the combiner is built in to the unit. All LNBs plug directly into the unit. There are no wires except the 4 that come out of it to plug into the receivers.

[urlybird]

rgc101

Are you getting ShowtimeHD yet ?

[rgc101]

No, actually I'm not. I have read a little bit more, and I'm going to try to rotate the dish (I guess that's the skew). I am figuring that the skew is off considering that the pitch was so far off from the reciever guide. I just haven't been able to get to it yet. Thanks for asking! I'll let you know how I make out.

[golfman68]

If you are getting 101 and 119, 110 lines itself up. You have a lnb or multiswitch problem if you are getting 101 and 119 and not 110. What is your zip code again.

[wagner]

With the same setup as yours. it turned out that the ground contacts in the 110 spot on the dish arm were too loose to make good contact with the Eagle Aspen Sat C LNB, (E-A makes the Terk units). You can tell if this is the problem if the LNB fits in and out with very little resistance. Just take a pair of needle-nose pliars and GENTLY bend the outer,(ground), portions of the connectors inward 'til you get some resistance when inserting the LNB. The Sat C kit will currently only pick up SHOH as far as I know, (read of another here), but that will be the only indicator if it is not making a good connection.

wagner

[dss12345]

.

[rgc101]

I will also try the ground connectors. I that does not work I will try adjusting the skew. I do get 101 and 119. I read somewhere else here that it is possible to get 119 if the skew is off because of how the dish is curved. I don't know if this is true or not. I don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but I have read a lot about the DTC-100 having this problem...

[Big Bri]

I have hooked up 543shoHD on two setups so far. The first one was simple. It was a 18X20 dish with the triple lmb with built-in multiswitch. The only connections are for four wires from the four irds. Too easy. instant triple sat installation.

Now for the second dish, little more difficult. It was a 18X24 dish. It originally had been set for two sats. So, just install the sat c kit and that's it right?? WRONG!!! I got no signal at all on transponder #12 and no 543 or 90. This dish was up, oh about 30 feet. Had to have my 24 footer fully extended for this one and having to go up more than once was kiling me.

After looking at the directions, of course I read them afterwards!!
I did notice one thing I did wrong. I did have the correct wire (satc) coming from the new lmb going into the sat c sat b combiner. I made sure the sat c was on the correct sat c terminal and then had the small wire coming out the other combined end. I removed the sat b wire from the multiswitch and connected it to the sat b input of the combiner. Then the last wire left was from the combiner to the satb input to the multiswitch.

Well my mistake was right there and I missed it totally. On the multiswitch each dual lmb sat a and sat b has two diff voltage inputs on the mutiswitch This a 5x4 switch. It is for sat a, sat b, and the terrestial ant. I hooked up the combiner to the wrong sat b input. I believe it was the 13v. You need to put it on the higher voltage input which is 18v. So make sure you have the combiner coneected to the satb input that says B18v.


God Luck,

BRI

PS as soon as I had it hooked up the 18v in, then I got ch90 and ch543

[dss12345]

.

[Big Bri]

Ground has nuthin to do with it. You justed tightened it up all the way. Critical adjustments are serious for the trip sat install. I don't have on mine.

Bri

[rgc101]

Well I'm getting it now (I think). After playing around with the skew and elevation, I got the same results, so I tried closing the recepticle with needle nose pliers to get a more snug fit for the Sat C LNB into the 5x4 multiswitch. I also tightened it up pretty good like dss12345 suggested and I started getting 543 intermittently. It was dropping out a lot, and I would also lose it all together for a while. This was yesterday while the weather was horrendous. We got a noreaster here over the weekend, so I don't know if that had anything to do with the poor reception. I wasn't having any problems with the other channels though. I also got 90 a little better than 543, but it was also dropping out or disappearing occasionally. BTW what is supposed to be on 90? I am getting Chinese or oriental programming with oriental subtitles??? Is that right? Anyway I tried it this morning, (the storm cleared) and it seemed to be working fine. Stay tuned. Thanks for all your suggestions and posts. You are why this forum is so great!

[chelso]

I'm not getting a signal for 543 & 90. What recepticle
exactly needs tightening? I have a 4 x 4 multi switch
is this ok?, or is a 5 x 4 multi switch needed?

[golfman68]

What dish? How many lnb's, sat C kit? Multiswitch? which one, built in? came with the dish? you bought? are you trying to use one on top of another? Who installed it? What are your signal strengths for the 101 sat A, 119 sat B, and more importantly, 110 sat c. What ird "sat box" are you using?

[chelso]

Thnx,
I've figured out what the SAT C KIT problem is:
Its the COMBINER, the OUT THREAD to the multi switch
only on Eagle Aspens. You must tighten all the way to
the end with pliers. The Terk combiner is ok. It sure
is odd how a dozen people have had the no 543 & 90 problem.
OTHER PROBLEMS I've encountered that the directions
don't tell, Probably because they want installers to
only have the edge are:
MOUNTING DISH - getting 101 signal & zero 119 signal:
I mounted an oval dish in the same spot as an old 101
dish. Nothing blocking perfect clear vision, would't work.
This dish is very tricky. Dont mess with your Tilt &
Elevation. You need to try a NEW LOCATION. I moved it
3 times until I found the ideal location. A freind also
took 3 shots also. The clear path is disceaving. You also
must get a reading of over 70 on 119 on all transponders
or you'll get picture break-up.
MULTI-SWITCH picture & Transponder reading Break-up:
This will only happen in area's of extreme heat, over
90 degree's and happens approximently between 4 and 8 pm.
It is a switching problem between going back forth between
101 and 119 channels. Nothing can be done except reboot and
stay on a channel, while not going back between 101,119 or 110.
Channel Master knows about this problem.