*choice dish/receiver

[duropar1]

We bought a one-year old *choice elliptical dual LNB dish and matching receiver. We got the extra package for the cottage, to add on to the new *choce package at home. We had the second receiver activated with our home system, with the intention of installing the dish and receiver at the cottage.

When we went to do so, we only get half the channels (eg. We get Weather channel but not TSN, we get CBC west but not east.) It shows satellite as being A-4. No matter how we adjust it, we can't find the second satellite. We get a signal of 85-92 on Sat "A" LNB but only 19 on Sat "B". We've double-checked the cables and tried with and without the splitter. No luck, same results either way.

Is this a pointing issue or an authorzation issue? How do we fix?

Thanks in advance.

[golfman68]

Originally posted by duropar1
We bought a one-year old *choice elliptical dual LNB dish and matching receiver. We got the extra package for the cottage, to add on to the new *choce package at home. We had the second receiver activated with our home system, with the intention of installing the dish and receiver at the cottage.

When we went to do so, we only get half the channels (eg. We get Weather channel but not TSN, we get CBC west but not east.) It shows satellite as being A-4. No matter how we adjust it, we can't find the second satellite. We get a signal of 85-92 on Sat "A" LNB but only 19 on Sat "B". We've double-checked the cables and tried with and without the splitter. No luck, same results either way.

Is this a pointing issue or an authorzation issue? How do we fix?

Thanks in advance. Sound like you have multiple issues, Everything worked at home so we know the new box works? With a signal strength of 85-92 on sat A 101, and if everything is hooked up right you should get 99% of all channels, just a few channels are on sat B 119. I bet you have the cables from the lnb's hooked up incorrectly to the multi switch,if you are even using it, both cables 2 from each lnb"sat A, sat B" must be hooked up to the multi switch exactly right. So we need to know how and where your cables are going. An Easy fix if you do not need the limited channels on sat B 119 is take one of the cables that runs from sat A 101 lnb and run it directly to your Sat box, by passing the multi switch, if your signal strength is still good on sat A 101 it should work. If that does not work it could be a bad cable or lnb.

[duropar1]

Thanks Golfman:

We thought it could be the cables as well. We switched the cables and still got only the Sat A signal. In addition, we tried the cables directly from the dish to the receiver (not through the splitter), only getting the signal on the Sat A cable. It seems that it is a cable/splitter problem but I don't know what else to try. The receiver worked well on the other system but it was a different dish (dual round LNB but not the "pronged" LNB's of mine). That's why I thought it could be an authorization problem.

How do I test the LNB? Can I just switch their positions on the end of the arm?

Thanks again.

[golfman68]

It problebly is not an lnb problem, yes you can switch the 2. So at home you have a round dish with 1 dual lnb,1 or 2 lines coming out right? At the cottage you have an Oval dish with 2 or 3 lnb's that go into a multiswitch, not a splitter. So when you bypassed the multiswitch and went right to the sat box, from the 101 sat A lnb, what happened? some channels, no channels? all your channels should have worked. What was your signal stregnth at that time, oval dishes can be a pain in the ass to alighn but you have the main sat A 101, locked in. The reason the 119 sat B bird is not coming in is you are slightly out of alighnment, but you do not need that sat any way right? If and when you switch the lnb's make sure you tighten all connections, with good cable rg6 it should work. Plan B return the oval and get a round dish like at home. Let us know!

[Sgt_Stedenko]

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that you didn't have to use a multi-switch with a *choice dish. A splitter will do.

[golfman68]

Originally posted by Sgt_Stedenko
I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that you didn't have to use a multi-switch with a *choice dish. A splitter will do. I stand corrected all you need is the splitter.

[duropar1]

Thanks guys. I'm going up tomorrow and I'll give t another try. I gather however, that you're pretty sure it's not an authorization problem?

[duropar1]

OK - Here we go:

2 lines from 2 pod type LNB's. 1 marked Sat "A" (right hand side LNB) and 1 marked Sat "B" (left hand side LNB). Lines back to receiver through splitter have all been doublechecked by switchng. Both sets of lines receive excellent signal (92 strength) from Sat "B" (I posted Sat "A" in error in earlier posts).

Receiver, dish, etc. were all new in box purchased together on e-bay. Splitter that came with it has two inputs and two outputs. It has a Starchoice sticker on it, labelling it a 2 x 2 Multiswitch for stacked LNB. The two inputs are labelled "Sat B 22 KHZ" and "Sat A 0 KHZ". The two outputs are Out 1 and Out 2.

When I run the line from Sat B through the Sat B input on the Multiswitch, I get about 2/3 of the channels with excellent strength. Same story if I bypass the Multiswitch. But no matter what I do, whether I go direct to the reciever or through the Multiswitch, I get no better than a signal strength of 20 on the 1/3 of channels I am unable to receive (these include CBC East, TSN, New VR). The receiver indicates that we are gettng satellite "A-4" in all cases. I don't know what this means.(The channels we are getting a signal strength of 20 on are subscribed for but all it says is "Please wait, we are processing your request" on the channels themselves.)

As far as I can figure, the only things it could be are (in order of likelihood):

1) an authorization problem - receiver was authorized on a round dual LNB dish. Mine is elliptcal, with two pod-type LNB's. I don't know anything about the Starchoice system and I don't want to kill a couple days at the cottage waiting for someone to come up and look at it. Can I bring the receiver in to a dealer and have it programmed for my type of dish? Is there even any difference between the authorization for two types of dishes?

2) Splitter. It could be you need the Multiswitch but this one is faulty. Why does it say Sat B 22KHZ and Sat A 0 KHZ? Is there another way of testing the multiswitch?

3) Dish alignment. I could be missing the second satellite, but I've tried pointing for hours. There are trees in the line, but it doesn't make sense that I can get as strong a signal as I do if the trees were the problem. Anyway, I tried aligning on the ground with a clear view and got same results.

Is there a list of the channels on each of the starchoce satellites?

I thank-you in advance for your thoughts and assistance.

[cardmuncher]

double check your mount to make sure it is plumb/level as this will affect your skew, and will prevent you from getting both sateliites. Also, I have seen diplexers and receivers damaged by moisture getting into the lines/diplexer.

[duropar1]

Thanks Cardmuncher. I double-checked and it is plumb all-around. The multiswitch is indoors so it can't be water.

Does anyone know if Starchoice has a different authorization for different types of dish/lnb?

[kattdog]

There is different receiver firmware if you are using an elliptical twin-lnbf dish or a round single stacked lnbf.

If you're going to transfer the receiver between two locations, you must have similar dish setups at both locations.

To avoid buying a 2nd dish, just use one lnbf on the elliptical dish (the one that appears to work well), and dont use the 22khz switch. You may need to re-aim the dish.

SG