uscgcdr
Herndon, VA
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Joined: 03/21/2002
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I have a Winegard manual satellite dish.
Lately, I am only getting half the channels. Worked with the DirecTV techs at their call center and they trouble shot it with me and advised it sounds like a coax connection problem. To test, they had me test the signal strength on transponder 1 and 2. Over 90 on transponder 1, nothing on transponder 2. Traced all the coax, and did find the connection up on the roof was showing some green corrosion. On my Dutch Star there is a junction in the overhead cabinets where the coax antennae in line splits between two wall plates. On the antennae in side, it feels warm to the touch. On the out side that goes to the cabinet above the driver that holds the DirecTV receiver it is cool to the touch. I am assuming the warmth is from resistance on the signal.
Anyone pulled the coax from the antennae on the roof and replaced it? Looks like it could be a messy job. Any suggestions?
* This post was
edited 09/04/03 07:07pm by uscgcdr *
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Horse Doctor
Cedar Creek, TX
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Why not start by replacing the connection?
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AlegroDave
Canyon Country, Ca USA
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Get some electrical contact cleaner and spray the connections after disconecting them. Make sure to not get the cleaner on any thing as it is acidic and will mark plastic or paint. The cleaner should be available at any electronic store.
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Dick A
Spokane
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Tom,
First, TV coax should never be warm to the touch. There is very little voltage/current in the line; including the Satellite antenna LNB voltage/current. Second, there should not be any splitter in the line UNLESS it is a diplexer switch used to operate two satellite receivers from one dish. Late model LNB's have this built in and are available in both dual and quad versions so you can operate two or up to four receivers from one dish. However, your Winegard probably has a single output LNB. (My Winegard MV-222 full motion system uses a "stacked" LNB so I can operate two receivers using their "destacker" switch.) If the cable is old and corroded I suggest you replace it with new RG-6/U coax and type F connectors. If the antenna end does not have a rubber weather seal boot, seal this connector with DAP Dow Corning clear silicon sealer available at any hardware store. The satellite signal comming from the LNB to the receiver is a much higher frequency than regular TV signals so any cable problems show up quickly. (Cable loss increases with frequency) RG-6/U cable is commonly used in home satellite systems as it is a lower loss cable than the standard RG-59/U TV coax cable. Good look finding your problem.
Dick
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wally2117
quebec canada
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If the coax is the problem, then you should have NO signal at all.
The tech at the call center are always telling about the connections and coax when there's nothing else written in their book!
If you take the receiver from your house to the RV, Make sure you have the same type of LNB on both antenna. If they're different, you may need a new activation from the provider as you have lost a polarity side of the MH's LNB.
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Larry&Linda
Palatka, Fl
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I agree with Horse Doctor!
Replace the "F" connectors with weather proof connectors (they have "O" rings inside to seal them. If you have enough slack, cut the cable back a little when you replace them.
The receiver up's the voltage from about 18 volts (power to the LNB) to about 24 volts to switch transponders.
If this fixes the problem, a little silicone to prevent this from happening again will also help.
Good luck,
Larry
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arkaussie
Mountain Home AR
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If you are worried about your cable and want to check it to be sure before pulling it out after you have decided the ends are Ok. Get a length of cable and connect it to the LNB then run it over the side and in the window or door to see what happens. I have also found that the center wire ofter corrodes at the connection so cutting the ends off and putting new ones on may solve your problem. If you are not able to replace the ends yourself take your motor home to a tv/sat repair shop and they should do it for next to nothing if you have the ends exposed for them. It is about a 2 minute job to replace a couple of ends. The chances that your cable is bad along its run is not great unless you can see a damaged section. I have found bad cable which had been bought at Walmart but what do you expect. Other than that I have never had a problem with cable, just the ends.
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tupelo
tupelo, ms
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YES, there are "problems" with satellite reception if the connections are poor!!!! I know this to be a fact because I have had it happen to me when trying to set up one time while camping!
I got GREAT signal "strength" on the meter, but only about half of my channels! Called DirecTV and was told to check my connections, that is what it was, I had just hand tightened my connections onto the RV and when I put a 7/16" wrench to the connector my problems cleared up!
Cable degradation and/or poor "connection" points WILL cause problems with reception!
Another "post" said to run another cable from the dish to the receiver as a "test", I would also recommend this! You might want to go around to ALL connection points, disconnect them, clean them with an old toothbrush and re-connect them with a wrench! (be careful when tightening them, you can do damage!) A little squirt of WD-40 in and around each outside connection point doesn't hurt either!
If after cleaning and re-connecting you still have signal problems, try the "test" cable method, you MIGHT need to run a new cable! If you do need to run a new cable, use RG-6, make the "run" as short as possible, and seal any exterior holes with a good quality silicone sealant!
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REXHALLER
ALBUQUERQUE N, M, USA
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I cut off the old connector on mine and refit it with a waterproof connector. RadioShack has a blackrubber tape that looks like roofing tar that is great for outside connectors.
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JimmyD
Full-timer (Livingston, TX)
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I also have a problem with direct TV. I have a Camping World cheapie dish. I also have a sat finder. Most of the time it is a snap finding the sat and I am watching TV within a few minutes. However, twice now I have not been able to get it functioning. All but two of the transponder signals are very, very strong, but two of the transponder singnals are zero and no TV. Nothing I do seems to make a difference. Has anyone had a similar experience. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Jim
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