Help with mysterious signal loss problem needed!

aemilianus

Hi guys,

I am desperate to get some help on an issue which is driving me crazy for several months now. I have the following setup:
- 2 dishes with 3 LNBs (Alps and Sharp, 0.3 dB) on the roof. One 4/1 Disecq EMZ Centauri combines the signals from Astra 19 E, Eutelsat 16 E and Hotbird 13 E into one cable.
- 20 m long cable from the roof to the basement
- 15 meters long cable from the basement to my living room (in a cable canal, I do not have access to this cable)
- Eycos 55.11 PVR receiver, Pioneer Kuro Plasma TV

The problem is the following: I normally have a signal with strength 45 % and quality 63-54 % from Eutelsat, and almost 100 % from the other 2 satellites. When I switch off the receiver, however, signal is completely lost. It reappears again after I unplug and plug again (normally after several attempts) the F - connector to the back of the receiver, and restart the receiver every time. Sometimes the signal disappears on itself while operating. Signal appears again also when I disconnect and reconnect the cable from the Disecq. Since last week I noticed something even more confusing – the signal sometimes disappears for only one satellite (Astra) while staying there for the others.

I know that a short circuit is a very probable explanation. Here is what I have done until now:
- changed the 20 meter cable from the roof to the basement with a professional double shielded (90 dB) with prefitted connectors
- bought a new Disecq
- checked and refitted all connectors
- checked for short circuit the cable between the basement and the living room (it seems problem-free, but any suggestion how to recheck it again will be highly appreciated)
- exchanged the receiver with 2 other models – problem is still there

I am close to getting desperate as I do not have any other place to put a new dish (laws in Austria are very strict on this). I also do not have control on the cable from the basement and cannot exchange it.
Any idea on how to solve this will be very, very highly appreciated (and rewarded with premium beer, I am not joking on this). I am getting really desperate on this – up to the point of considering to change my apartment… Sorry for the long post and many thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,Emil

Robbo

Hi, my only suggestions would be to bypass the cable that you cannot gain access to, with either a new piece of by trying the receiver in the basement.

Secondly, try another receiver, maybe it isn't switching or working properly in some way.

aemilianus

Thanks Robbo,

I checked with a receiver and a small TV in the basement - it also does not work, so the problem must be somewhere between this point and the roof (even though this does not exclude a problem with the built-in cable between the basement and the living room). I have a feeling it's a mixture of problems.

As I mentioned in my first post, I tried with different receivers and the signal is still gone.

Cheers,Emil

ralphmagno

hello ,
i saw this and it seams you have done everything.
it seams you have done everything shanged receivers,cable and disec switch.
there may be a signal the one dish is picking up.
if there is a cell phone repeter close to the antenna since they use a frequency of about 1ghz to 1.4 ghz it could effect one.
if the eutrlsat is effected try to run the line from the dish to the receiver and bypass everything else.
if the problem is gone we have isolated it a bit.
if the problem is still there then on the eutel sat some times wraping aluminum foil arround the lnb will sheld it.
do not cover the opening with foil or it will kill the signal 100%.
sometimes some interferance was comming in from the side being that most are made of plastic.
or try another lnb on the eutelsat dish and see it the symptom changes.

if you are running 2 receivers you should have
3 lnb with 2 outputs each running to a 3 in to one out disec to receiver 1 and the other 3 outputs going to another 3 in to one out to the other receiver.
anything else will cause a conflict between the 2 receivers.
ralph

aemilianus

Thanks Ralph, I already changed the LNB - same result. I will try the trick with the foil (do you mean aluminium one?

Cheers,Emil

Tivù

Only the weather protection (outer casing) is plastic - the LNB itself is contained within a sealed diecast enclosure.

Low Profile

Perhaps all those LNBs are drawing too much current?

ralphmagno

hello again
althoug the inner part of the lnb is metal sometimes a strong signal from a cell phone repeter till get in from the side.
i will be in vienna on saturday.
what luck .
i will not have any test equipment with me.

you should have the the following set up.
2 satellite dishes with 3 lnb's
each lnb should have 2 outputs giving a total of 6 outputs.
2 for 19 degrees,2 for 16 degrees and 2 for 13 degrees.
the 3 outputs should be going to disec 1 which is going to one receiver
the other 3 outputs should be going to the other receiver in the basment.
both boxes will have independent use
using the disec tones from the receiver the box will switch from 19,16 and 13 degrees.

you can not split the signal from 1 disec switch to run 2 satellite receivers
there will be a conflict.
hope this will help
will be in vienna for 5 days
let me know is i need to drop by
ralph

Tivù

Please Sir, may I carry your bags?

aemilianus

Hi,

@Ralph: I am running only one receiver, not 2. Therefore the LNBs have one output only. Of course, you are welcome to drop by for a beer and advice if you are in Vienna :-)

@Low Profile: this is an interesting thought. I think that this should not be an issue as many set-ups are using a similar arrangement. Any other opinions on this?

Cheers,Emil

ralphmagno

have you tried to swap inputs
were as if 13 degrees is input 3 swap to input 1 and if 19 degrees is input 1 swap to input 3 and see if things change.
hi tivu got a laugh on this .
thanks

glad were all friends
ralph

ralphmagno

hi aemilanus
wanted to send you a private message and can not for some reason.
if you can click on my name and send me a private message with a phone number and an address in vienna. i can contact you when i am there.
i will be driving up from naples and my daughter and her boy friend live in the center of vienna.
we can take a look at the system.
i will have no test eruipment but we probally can isolate the system
most of the techs are lost here and call me to sort the elaborate systems.
the turkish buildings here has a centralized system for 42 east.
and set up a spanish system at 30 west last week.
looking for the message
ralph
ps we can not post message here and numbers but we can send private messages
ralph

satelliteman

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ralphmagno

a small message to aemilanus
did you get the information i sent on a private message?
we can not post phone numbers and e addresses here so we can send a private message and i just wanted to make sure you did receive this before i leave for vienna.

you can post a reply here or send it to my e address.
ralph