Dual dish setup

[JWH]

I have two 18" dishes setup one for 101 and one for 119. I purchased a trunkline 35-trds8 to originally use with a phase 3 dish. I decided to use two 18's intead to reduce rain fade. When I have the 101 sat connected the system runs good except for the missing channels. When I connect the coax from the second set of wires from the 119 sat I lose all signal strength. The inputs are labeled
(lnb a 18vdc/22khz) (lnb a 18vdc/0khz) (lnb b 13vdc/22khz)(lnb b13vdc/0khz)
Which sattelite goes to which lnb's? Will this multiswitch even work with this setup? Do I need to buy a tone inserter?Thankz for any input,
JWH

[sandbishop]

I use two 18 dishes one on 110 and one on 119. I use a sw21 which works fine.

[Blaster]

An sw21 is for DishNetwork Only, JWH has a DTV setup.

If you have a "plus" receiver, or one that shows you signal strength for the 199 sat, you don't need a tone inserter.

I know it sounds confusing, but your inputs are marked "lnb a" & "lnb b" but they don't actually go there :D

Connect, YOUR lnb a to the ports marked "lnb a 18vdc/0khz" & "lnb b 13vdc/0khz"

And YOUR lnb b to the ports marked "lnb a 18vdc/22khz" & "lnb b 13vdc/22khz"

I assure you, you're NOT the first to be confused by this... ;)

[JWH]

Thanx Blaster. I tried connecting the wires the way you explained and I get the same results. I am asuming that you mean lnb b is from the 119 sat and lnb a is from the 101 sat. For instance both coax that come from the 119 sat go to
"lnb a 18vdc/22khz" & "lnb b 13vdc/22khz" . Correct?? Should I change each reciever to "oval dish with 2 sattelites" in the dish pointing options before I hook up the wires??
One more thing. If I connect one of the wires from the 119 I do not lose signal. If i take that wire off and connect the other wire all signal is lost.JWH

[Blaster]

I am asuming that you mean lnb b is from the 119 sat and lnb a is from the 101 sat. For instance both coax that come from the 119 sat go to
"lnb a 18vdc/22khz" & "lnb b 13vdc/22khz" . Correct??

Yes, the 119 is the "lnb b" and the important thing is the 22kHz tone is sent by the receiver when it wants the multi-switch to access the 119 satellite.

Should I change each reciever to "oval dish with 2 sattelites" in the dish pointing options before I hook up the wires??

At some point yes, you have to tell the receiver you're a "Oval - 2 lnb" installation or it won't send that 22kHz tone.

One more thing. If I connect one of the wires from the 119 I do not lose signal. If i take that wire off and connect the other wire all signal is lost.JWH

Hmm... I'm not sure why that would happen :( see if it still happends when you configure the receiver as 2-amp-Oval.

Is it possible that wire is shorted somehow? Swap it out with another one and see if the problem follows the wire or the port (you could also "Ohm it out" to look for a short when it's disconnected on both ends - compare it to the other wires)

[JWH]

OK I solved the problem with loss of signal. It was a bad lnb on the 119 dish.
I set the signal to about 92 on the 119 and got the message. This channel is not available in your area. I called dtv and they had me put on channel 400 where all I got was the dtv logo. They said I had the 110 sattelite not the 119. I can't seem to find the 119. Is there a transponder that will only register for the 119 and not the 110. My kids are getting pissed sitting at the other end of my walkie talkie. Plus my neighbors are getting quite a laugh out of it. Is there any way to distinguish between the 110 and 119 without going to channel 400 or one of the locals. Hopefully on the signal meter screen.
Thanx again JWH

[Blaster]

Easy Way, switch transponders...

When you're looking at the 119 signal strength it should default to a transponder between 22-32. Leave it there and check transponder 1 for the 101.

[Blaster]

Wait a min...

If you have ch. 400 you must be getting it from the 119. Are they speaking Spanish?

[JWH]

All I am getting on chn 400 is the dtv logo. Just tried again and I got the 101 on both dishes. This sucks. I am going to try one more time. If I am locked on the 101 I should be going to my left a little and down on the elevation 11 degrees correct. I am in RI.
Thanx, JWH

[Blaster]

Standing behind the dish,

you're going to rotate the dish on the pole CW (to the right - towards the WEST) so that the outer lip of the dish in your right hand comes to you a couple of inches (a guess ;) )

Again, this is from behind the dish.

And drop your elevation (yea, around 10 degrees sounds right)

If you use an Az/El site like this one -> http://www.satcruiser.com/azel.htm

You can use their specific numbers, but they will Only be accurate if your pole is "plumb" (even a couple of degrees off and the elevation marks on the side of the dish are useless).

[JWH]

Thanx Blaster, I am going to call it quits for tonight. (not to safe walking around on the roof in the dark) Tomorrow I will bring a small tv and ird up on the roof and try that way. My kids are only helpful for 15 minutes or so. If I don't have any sucess can you recomend a sattilite finder? I have seen some on the internet but don't really know which ones are good. Hopefully I can find one that identifies the sattelite at the same time it gives you the signal strength. I really apreciate all the help you have given and I will keep you posted on how I make out. JWH

[Blaster]

NP ;)

The TV on the roof would make things alot easier...

The meter I like is called the Lacuna (marketed in N.A. by ChannelMaster) and it does actually identify the satellite you're aimed at, but it's kinda pricey ($400+) for casual use.

Good Luck Tomorrow!

[rocketmangb]

gonna take a shot here.
i believe the 119 sat is higher in the sky than the 101.
try setting up the 101 dish according to the IRD as a single.
switch the IRD to oval 3 sat and set up 119 dish to that.
would think an azimuth diff of about 14 degrees and an elevation of about 5 up on the 119 should work.however because of where you are the 119 may actually be lower than the 101.
thats why the triple dishes are rotated !

[JWH]

I got it!!! I had to move the dish for the 119 to another corner of the house. The location of the 101 dish gives me 93 plus signal strength, and I was getting 85 plus on the 110. However ther is a tree to the right of the line for the 101. I thought I had plenty of room but a few degrees over a large distance is quite a bit. I went to walmart bought a cheap compas set the dish to the proper elevation ang hit it 95 plus my first shot. Thank you all for your help, especially you Blaster.
Oh yea the multiswitch works fine with the 119 connected to the 22mhz connectors.
JWH