MV3500 is confused

[aa4wp]

Well, either it is or I am. I have been using this in-motion antenna with a Dish 311 receiver for around 2 1/2 years with reasonable success. Usually the receiver would lock on to satellite 119 and stay with a station while in motion, and allow me to switch channels when the occasion arose. No problems.

We had our Dish service changed from standard definition to high definition in our house. We obtained two high-definition receivers for use in the house. The next time I turned on the 311 in the motorhome, the MV3500 sought out and locked on satellite 129; as the receiver went through its automatic setup routines, it progressed through steps 1 - 5 (locked on 129) then sought to do the same using satellite 119; that did not work. The dish would not move to 119, but started over on 129. No success.

Then I obtained a 211k receiver. When I attached it to the MV3500, the same thing happened, with the following additional "features": I powered up the 211k in the house using home satellite antennae, set up "favorites" lists which were 1.) all standard definition channels (satellite 119), 2.) all Local OTA channels, using a OTA antenna (got about 20 channels that way), 3.) a mix of satellite 110 and 119 channels, and of course the default high-definition channel list (presumably satellite 129 channels).
When I powered down, I left the receiver set for the 110 & 119 mix (hoping the mv3500 would look for only satellites 119 and 110). I then ran a check switch routine with the satellite cable detached. The notice indicated "no antenna found"; I then attached the mv3500 antenna to the receiver and powered on and ran the setup. The receiver found and locked on the 110 and 119 satellites; the check switch indicated SW42, and channel 205 on standard definition did appear on the screen. I was elated. Pressing on, I changed to another standard definition channel, and the MV3500 engaged, and switched to locate satellite 129. I did NOT switch to a high def channel. Why would the MV3500 switch to another satellite, not even in its check switch screen list? The check switch screen indicates both odd and even (in details) and both satellites 110 and 119.
Pressing on, I used menu and selected Program guide; it came up, and I switched to "locals" and was able to view several of the pre-programmed local channels; no problem. I then used the guide, and went to the HD list; then were viewable (from satellite 129). The MV had jumped to satellite 129. I do not have the 2700 box. The MV3500 has three, not four, mounting feet.

The MV3500 is installed on a 2004 Winnebago Journey with the 0099 antenna originally installed, and then another Winegard antenna installed as a result of a factory recall; then the MV3500 replaced it when the "pass through cable junction thing quit passing the signal through.

Does anyone have a clue?

I hope so.

Wendell

[aa4wp]

Since I have not received any reply, I thought I would BUMP this up and update it, hoping for some help.

Update # 1: 4/21/09 - Went out today and turned on system(s) and the MV3500 locked on 119 and passed
signal, switched to 110 and worked reliably. What a relief..... But:

Update # 2: 4/23/09 - powered down everything (it is a motorhome, after all); rebooted system in the
following manner:

1. Turned on TV and Vip211k Dish receiver set up as indicated above. The MV3500 "moaned", took its
time to go through its setup routine. After a while, it locked on sat 129 and went quiet; not quite
knowing what else to do, I ran the checkdisk routine. The antenna would jump to some other location and further checking to determine where a signal might be coming from, the screen would not indicate any signal from any satellite (I checked 72, 61.5, 105,110,118,119,121,129 and 148. No signal found.

2. My next move was to remove the dome from the dish and observe. I turned on TV as before (see #2, 1. above) The moaning was due to the fact that the elevating motor was at the end of travel at the lowest position. So I nudged it slightly, and the antenna went through its routine, trying to find (hopefully) sats 119 and 110. To my dismay, the antenna did what it had done before in #2,1, above, locking only on to sat 129.

3. To my amateurish eyes, I would think that there are some corrupted software issues with this unit.
Is it possible to obtain some software patch which I could upload from my laptop using one of the ports
on the unit. I see there appears to be an ethernet port, and either miniature usb or zip drive port(s)
Let me know.

Wendell

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

Thanks for the bump.

I completely missed this thread.

DISH Network took care of your first problem. They recently made some software changes in their receivers that played havoc with the mobile market. This has been corrected for nearly all receivers and those that still have the issue will be updated shortly.

The second issue sounds like you may have a problem with your elevation limit switch.

While the motor is elevation motor is driving towards the limit, can you use a screw driver to pencil to trip the elevation limit switch long before the motor actually hits it?

Then let me know if the unit changes direction or keeps going?

[aa4wp]

Thanks....

The next sunny day (rain is forecast through Saturday ) I will check with a screwdriver or pencil the limit switch action. I hope that only a slight adjustment is all that is required...I hate to have to replace that motor.

Wendell

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

Motor failures are rare. It is more likely the limit switch which is simple to replace.

[aa4wp]

Having checked the switch action, I conclude that the switch is activated only when the motor is at the lowest point on the screw, i.e. the dish is at its highest elevation. It appears that the motor does not reverse when the motor is at its highest point on the screw (the dish is at the lowest point). The antenna will eventually (after several minutes) come off it dish low elevation; all it requires is that I remain patient. The other action (finding sat 129) still occurs (a mixed blessing) but I have not had the opportunity to see if the in-motion aspect for sat 119 will still work. Perhaps next week.

Wendell

[ronnzz]

yeah i read some of this article i think there something complicated




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[Winegard-Mobiletech]

When you first turn the unit on, does the dish look up or down first?

[aa4wp]

Down.

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

Give us a call at

1-800-788-4417

and tell them the elevation limit switch has failed. They should be able to talk to you about replacing it.