38 replies to this topic

[cedros]

I have two receivers connected to my Shaw dish. For several days now when viewing PBS on one receiver it is constantly breaking up-both the sound and video like when you have heavy rain. All the other channels are fine and with the other receiver all, including PBS, are fine. How can this be?

[bournemouth]

I have the same problem - it doesn't last long and I've gotten used to it.

[giltner68]

Which PBS, what channel?

[bournemouth]

For me - Detroit, channel 324.

[johanson]

I'm getting a good signal from two receivers both tuned into the Detroit HD channel (on the classic menu channel 288 or the new menu 324) My receiver signal strength is 75 on both receivers. I did note some audio breakup which was not reception problems, but what I perceive to be the fault of the station or, or. but not the lack of ability of my receivers to pick up a signal


For the test I had two receivers a (505 and a 600) each wired to the 75 E Quad LNB and matching satellite dish.

[giltner68]

I'm getting a 90 signal on 324 and crystal clear audio/video, also 288. The other night I was getting some fade on 293.

[HelperGuy]

This usually is a problem with the cables connecting the dish to the box.

[cedros]

Which PBS, what channel?

80 (364). Detroit

[cedros]

This usually is a problem with the cables connecting the dish to the box.

How can that possibly be? Just affecting one channel of many on one receiver. Do you think the cable problem is internal (inside the cable) or just at either end?

[rsw]

Usually when you have just one channel breaking up and the others are fine, it is a temporary problem with the signal feed between the source (station) and Shaw before the signal is distributed via the satellite.

[giltner68]

I get my PBS from Buffalo, so don't see that one. The problem can be corrosion in the connectors at the ends. Could have been it got pinched etc. that's uncommon, but happens. Also, your dish could have shifted slightly, we've had some wind lately like the big on 2 weeks ago. You need to check the signal level using your remote. As Pete mentioned, the best dish is the 75cm, I also have a smaller one, but the alignment on that one is so critical you can't imagine. And, the new 630 requires 2 coax feeds so you have the potential of two problems. I've even had my PC Ethernet connects inside the house get flaky and unplugging and replugging them fixes that.

[Sailor]

I have been having this problem with the 300 channels out of the states for a few months now, but only on one receiver. The other one is fine. I had the guy change the one receiver and it worked fine for about a week. Then last night it started again and so bad you couldn't get the jist of the program. Luckily, the same show was on a Canadian station and it came in fine. What could be the problem? The guy checked the connection and it was fine. Very frustrating.

[greens]

For a while now, the Detroit PBS on my system has typically broken up for a second or two several times in a half hour. Other stations are OK.

[cedros]

Usually when you have just one channel breaking up and the others are fine, it is a temporary problem with the signal feed between the source (station) and Shaw before the signal is distributed via the satellite.

That makes more sense than it being connecting cables or corrosion at the ends or dish alignment. I'll try asking Shaw.

[cedros]

So after emailing Shaw back and forth they say my 75E dish needs realigning. He asked for the signal strength on 5 channels (including PBS) on both receivers. For my 505 receiver (where I am having breakup) it was 46. On my 317 receiver where I don't have a problem the signal was 31 (on the 317 where I don't have any trouble the signal on 5 channels ranged from 31 to 45).
I don't know what this says about the others that were having a similar problem with PBS. Why PBS?

So who can you recommend for realighing these days? I think Jose did it originally 3 plus years ago.

[johanson]

Cedros; if you want to play around you could do it yourself. I usually do it myself when up north, but not always when in Mexico, because it doesn't cost much down here. If you feel like doing it, bring a receiver and a small TV up to where your antenna is and connect them, then after checking your signal strength (check manual to learn how) move the dish a tiny, tiny bit in various directions and see if you can get a stronger signal. Remember wait a while after every very small move to get an accurate signal strength reading. It's kind of fun actually, if you have easy access to your dish and LNB.

If you are not into playing around siting in your dish, there are any number of good folks for the job, from CP-electronics to Satellite Systems of Ajijic to the person you mentioned. If you decide to have someone else do it, watch him, and you will see how easy this can be, if you have easy access to your antenna.

[cedros]

Thanks johanson. I didn't realize it was that easy. I've been looking at the manual and it shows how to do it for one model but not the other. I guess if it is good for that one it will be good for both.

[johanson]

It's a little different on each receiver, On my 600 I go first to OPTIONS, next "4. System settings," then "3. Insallation Settings", and finally "1. Tune in satellite"

Once there, the page says "tune in satellite signal"

And at the bottom of the left box it shows a signal strength bar, that in my case shows for channel 288 (classic channel listing) (324 new) a signal strength of 75.

Good luck

I bet I could tune in this HD channel a little better, but why bother

[HelperGuy]

That makes more sense than it being connecting cables or corrosion at the ends or dish alignment. I'll try asking Shaw.

Sorry, Cedros, I misread your post... thought you said all the channels are fine on the other. However, I have a customer who just last week was having the same problem, except that it was affecting more than just one channel. With some folks, they don't watch all that many channels so they may not know that others are breaking up too... and that can be a loose or corroded connection, because if one receiver is doing fine: ask "how could it possibly be the alignment of the dish"? (She got the cable replaced to the second box, problem went away._ Giltner is right (cripes, second time I've agreed with him this week...), too.

But there are always exceptions. The HD boxes typically grab the signal better than the older SD boxes (you are the exception, your signal strength not helping). Also, each channel feed has a corresponding "switch" inside the box, and sometimes individual switches "drop dead".

Talking to Canada Shaw about signal strength here is iffy at best, because it can be very weak. And it depends which satellite that channel is coming from... although again that doesn't explain why one works and one doesn't

Has anybody used the nice guy on the highway beside the Oxxo in Riberas for satellite work? Jose is too damned expensive and greedy these days. He does know how to align, though.

[cedros]

I'm thinking Jose is too expensive also as mine is very easy to access. Does anyone have contact numbers for others that do alignment?

johanson has a signal strength of 75 so his isn't weak at all. Do others have high numbers like that?