suddenly all channels showing No Signal

U

unclejohn

Member
My Satellite Setup
Satellite on the roof, freesat v7 receiver
My Location
Los Angeles
Hi
I have a satellite on my roof for watching free to air foreign channels. my receiver is a freesat v7
suddenly, one day all channels started showing No Signal message. No poor quality picture, no pixelations, nothing, No Signal.
I went to the roof and did a test to make sure the cable from the satellite to the receiver is continuous, meaning nobody's cut it. And in fact, it's continuous.
that's the limit to my expertise as far as electronics, and I know nothing about satellites.
Next I am thinking of testing my receiver and the LNB. The problem is, I don't know how. is there a way to test these?
The picture of the LNB is here:
https://imgur.com/LbYjtSY

Can I buy any random LNB? or it has to match? What has to match? the noise? the gain? how do I even know the problem is the LNB?
There is one in my local classifieds website, it says it's universal and it's for FTA channels. will that work for sure?
 
Well in no particular order

the receiver could have developed a fault
the lnb has failed
the dish has got knocked & misaligned
the cable isnt waterproofed so the cable could be full of water which would require a full replacement run.
the cable could be damaged from eg a nail being driven through it.

Plus a few more
 
Equally you can test your dish setup by getting a friend or relative to allow you use of their stb for half an hour, just make sure it is fully powered down first, before disconnecting
 
Topper said:
Equally you can test your dish setup by getting a friend or relative to allow you use of their stb for half an hour, just make sure it is fully powered down first, before disconnecting
Click to expand...
the problem is, I don't have any friends and my relatives are all nasty people that I don't talk to.
I have been going crazy all day trying to find an old receiver that I don't think I threw away.
is there any other way to figure out if the problem is the LNB or receiver?
 
Check the incoming cable connection has not snapped off on the receiver, it is a common fault on the V7
 
Channel Hopper said:
Check the incoming cable connection has not snapped off on the receiver, it is a common fault on the V7
Click to expand...
Quite true - happened to mine - you need to remove the case to see if the connector "wobbles" on the printed circuit board - if so, then both the centre pin and the mounting lugs need to be re-soldered to that board.
 
jeallen01 said:
Quite true - happened to mine - you need to remove the case to see if the connector "wobbles" on the printed circuit board - if so, then both the centre pin and the mounting lugs need to be re-soldered to that board.
Click to expand...
hello, I just opened the case and the connector is firm and does not wobble.
 
Does signal strength show 0% or something else? My V7 shows 60% strength when connected to a working LNB that isn't receiving any signal (for example when the dish is incorrectly aligned).
 
ozumo said:
Does signal strength show 0% or something else? My V7 shows 60% strength when connected to a working LNB that isn't receiving any signal (for example when the dish is incorrectly aligned).
Click to expand...
thank you, that's an excellent question. when I first change the channel, the quality and strength are both zero, then the strength fills up to 60%
https://imgur.com/tuRxbIS
 
That suggests the connection to the LNB is OK and the dish is misaligned. However the LNB does look like it has been baking in the sun for many years, replacing it with any cheap 40mm 'universal' LNB can only be of benefit. If the dish and mount feel solid I would be inclined to change the LNB before moving the dish.
 
ozumo said:
That suggests the connection to the LNB is OK and the dish is misaligned. However the LNB does look like it has been baking in the sun for many years, replacing it with any cheap 40mm 'universal' LNB can only be of benefit. If the dish and mount feel solid I would be inclined to change the LNB before moving the dish.
Click to expand...
I tried moving the dish no signal.
would a bad receiver show 60%?
 
From memory the receiver does not contain the transponder listings of the satellites over there.

What channels were you receiving before it all went off ?
 
Channel Hopper said:
From memory the receiver does not contain the transponder listings of the satellites over there.

What channels were you receiving before it all went off ?
Click to expand...
I don't know what you mean by "contain the transponder listings"
the channels are all the persian channels such as
Iran International
Jame Jam
Pars TV
 
unclejohn said:
I tried moving the dish no signal.
would a bad receiver show 60%?
Click to expand...
It might do, it might not. I would try a new LNB first.

Edit: I did not realise you weren't located in the UK... do you know which satellite you were receiving the signals from? It's possible the channels have changed frequency or gone altogether.
 
ozumo said:
It might do, it might not. I would try a new LNB first.

Edit: I did not realise you weren't located in the UK... do you know which satellite you were receiving the signals from? It's possible the channels have changed frequency or gone altogether.
Click to expand...
thanks, I will try.
I believe galaxy 19 but not sure. I am in USA.
I thought maybe the channels are gone but what are the chances that all channels will disappear, I had over 20 channels. I think highly unlikely.
 
Yes Galaxy 19 at 97° west carries those channels, though you should have had lots more than 20:


If you press menu on the remote, select satellite installation press OK, scroll to W 97.00 Galaxy 19 & press OK on the remote to put a tick next to it, then press the blue button on the remote and select:

FTA Only: Yes
Scan Channel: TV Channel
Scan Mode: Blind Scan
Then select Search and press OK on the remote.

It will scan all frequencies and hopefully find some channels. But as you've moved the dish it may not find anything as the dish will probably not be aligned on any satellite, but you never know.
 
What you have on the roof is a standard Universal LNB. Just change it.


If no result then you should call in an installer unless you are prepared to buy an analyser to work it out yourself.
 
Code: 
dishpointer.com
can help you find the satellite, select 97 West, then enter your address, it will give you a map with a line on it to show you the direction you need to point the dish, zoom into your location where the dish is mounted and see if your close.

60% on the "S" reading gives you an idea if something like the LNB is trying to send a signal to the receiver, if you disconnect the coax at the LNB and look to see if you have a DC voltage (center pin to the connector outside,+13 to +18 volts DC) at that end the LNB should work. Unless it died in service, or the receivers power supply for the LNB has died.
 
ozumo said:
Yes Galaxy 19 at 97° west carries those channels, though you should have had lots more than 20:


If you press menu on the remote, select satellite installation press OK, scroll to W 97.00 Galaxy 19 & press OK on the remote to put a tick next to it, then press the blue button on the remote and select:

FTA Only: Yes
Scan Channel: TV Channel
Scan Mode: Blind Scan
Then select Search and press OK on the remote.

It will scan all frequencies and hopefully find some channels. But as you've moved the dish it may not find anything as the dish will probably not be aligned on any satellite, but you never know.
Click to expand...
it's not finding any channels.
Channel Hopper said:
What you have on the roof is a standard Universal LNB. Just change it.


If no result then you should call in an installer unless you are prepared to buy an analyser to work it out yourself.
Click to expand...
what's an analyser? you are getting me excited, I love to investigate and problem solve.
Terryl said:
Code: 
dishpointer.com
can help you find the satellite, select 97 West, then enter your address, it will give you a map with a line on it to show you the direction you need to point the dish, zoom into your location where the dish is mounted and see if your close.

60% on the "S" reading gives you an idea if something like the LNB is trying to send a signal to the receiver, if you disconnect the coax at the LNB and look to see if you have a DC voltage (center pin to the connector outside,+13 to +18 volts DC) at that end the LNB should work. Unless it died in service, or the receivers power supply for the LNB has died.
Click to expand...
the satellite is definitely in the same general direction shown on that website. obviously I cannot tell if it's correct to the nearest degree but it's pretty close if you ask me.
 
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