Setup Problems

[dbbent]

Just bought a used motorhome with Wineguard MV3500T.
When I turn on the dish, it searches and searches for at least 20 minutes and never stops searching. I am using a H24 direct TV. I have checked the fuse on the dish electronics box and it is good. I have tried the setup with the 18" multiswitched and the other (both options) and elliptial, Previous inquiries said to use the elliptical but it didn't tell me which one, there a lot of elliptical type dishes to choose from. Sometimes as it goes through setup I get the infamous 771A error. I have run a separate cable from the dish to the receiver and nothing happens. all throughout my adjustments, the satellite dish continues to search. Does this mean the dish is bad?

It would be nice to have basic satellite instructions set up. Such as if the receiver is not set up right the dish will continue to search, or will the dish lock on even if a receiver is not connected. The instructions that came with the MV3500T are minimal at best and bear no relation to what the setup screens has. What are the proper switches or anything to setup the unit explained in an idiot proof (if there such a thing) way. If the unit is bad, I will go with a portable dish since most of the time you camp under trees anyway.

Any help would be appreciated.

Follow up - I just realized that since I did not complete the satellite setup in my last check, the receiver may have defaulted to a SWM setup which would explain the last of voltage. I will go through the satellite setup and set reset it to multiswitch and then check the receiver.

Dave

[dbbent]

Followup, looking through the forum I found a reply about checking voltage. I disconnected the little black wire with a coax end from the electronics box and checked the voltage across the ends of the coax and found no voltage. It was quite a lot of fun with the dish circling around all the time. Did I check it right?

Dave

[Bill Adams]

Did you set the dip switches inside the dome to DirecTV?
Use the 18" round option for the receiver setup.
Go to the signal strength screen and select signal meter during the search. If it does lock on in this manner you will be able to continue through the routine (you cannot exit) to the finish so the settings will remain in memory.

[dbbent]

What about switch settings, you forgot to mention that. What about the satellite searching the entire time, is that a good thing or bad, what about my checking the voltage. I need help with all those answers.

I am sorry to be short with you but but throughout the forum, the respondent assumes the questioner knows all about the unit, has worked on them for years, etc. which settings for what, and all that. Telling me to use the 18" when I told you I already did and it didn't work doesn't help without the information about switch settings and the unit running all the time. I can't believe I am the only person in the whole world who has these questions. Thus your complete reply will aid others.


Dave

Dave

[dbbent]

Yes, switches are for Direct TV.

[Bill Adams]

dbbent,
I am sorry that I have upset you. I did not forget anything. If you said anything about having set the dip switches I simply missed it. Since you mention it was a used unit, this was the first critical step in trouble-shooting and there was no need to delve any further is this had not been done first.
I will leave any further response to the Winegard tech. support folks so as to prevent any further concerns on your part.

[dbbent]

I apologize. I should have mentioned the switchs were set for Direct since you are absolutely right that is the first step. If you look at the my original post, I talk about the how when I turn on the unit runs and does stop, etc.

Again, I apologize and any help would be most useful and appreciated.

Dave

[Winegard Tech Help]

dbbent,

A 771A error indicates the receiver is still set for a SWM setting.

The manual will not match current DirecTV screens as they have updated their menus lately.

To correctly configure the dish using the new menus, you do the following:

-Have the MV3500T powered down at the beginning of the sequence
-Press menu and then select "Settings & Help" from the options on the screen
-On the settings menu, select the option for "Satellite"
-You will have a choice from "View Signal Strength" and "Repeat Satellite Setup", select the "Repeat Satellite Setup" option
-When prompted, hit the dash key (located directly under the 7 on your remote)
-On the satellite dish setup screen, select Dish Type option 02: 3-LNB (18"x20") and Switch Type option 02: Multiswitch
-Select the option for signal strength on the right hand menu. It will start filling in zeros, which is fine at this point.
-Once on the signal strength screen, power up the satellite antenna. If it locks, it will start filling in strength readings on the signal strength screen.
-Once this happens, you will hear the dish initiate the conical search (this will sound similar to a washing machine).
-Select done on the signal strength screen, and when back to the satellite dish setup screen, select continue.
-At this point, a message reading "Verifying configuration" will appear. Allow the receiver a few moments to verify the configuration. After this is complete, it may display a message stating "error found on tuners" but we are certain we are on signal, so select continue.
-At this point, the DirecTV advanced program guide will be downloaded. Allow this to complete, and then follow the on-screen prompts to get to your programming.

It's possible that when you checked your voltage on your coax cable the receiver was not configured correctly, as if it is in SWM mode it will not be outputting power. You can power the antenna down when checking coax voltage as the receiver is outputting that power, not your 12V system.

Give that receiver setup a try and if you're still having problems, either reply back for further troubleshooting or call in to our technical service hotline at 800-788-4417 and a technician should be able to assist you over the phone.

[dbbent]

Thank you for the detailed response. The dish continues to search so I am checking voltage from the receiver back to LNB. The Receiver (H24-100 is a refurbished one supplied by Direct TV) . At the receiver, I get 12 volts, then when I check the coax cable to the electronic box, it is 0.82 volts, I go down to the receiver and it is putting 0.82 volts. Is that the way it is suppose to work? I think I should be getting 13 volts the whole time.

I talked with Direct Tv technical support and at first they had no idea what I was talking about regarding voltage from the receiver, that is why they have a powered SWM. I said Winegaurd says it does have voltage. You can see where I am coming from

Help?

Thanks

Dave

[Winegard Tech Help]

Dave,

When a receiver is put into multiswitch mode, it should start outputting 13 or 18V on the Satellite Input jack on the back of your receiver.

In SWM mode, it will not output any power as they use a power inserter in-line to provide power for the LNB for the satellite.

You should be seeing a minimum of 13V at every point you check. If the receiver is outputting 12V then dropping when you test the coax at the electronics module, you may want to try running an external coax cable (through a door or a window) from the receiver to the satellite and see if you have better luck then.

However, if the voltage keeps dropping, I would try another DirecTV receiver if you have one available. Without power to the LNB, the system is basically blind to finding signal.

If you need anything else, please let me know.