Forgot to mention that this is with a 3 LNB dish.
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H20 and OTA problem?
I just bought an H20 as an upgrade to the H10 (bought soley for the better OTA tuner). However, when I plug in my OTA cable into the H20, I get zero signal strength? When I plug back into the H10, I get OTA signal?
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
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pgrogan......
Have you set the H20 up to scan "Local Networks" OTA? I made this mistake the first couple of times I did a search for OTA signals....came back with 2, when I KNOW there's LOTS more where I live!!!
Go into SETTINGS....SAT & ANT.....Let it search for LOCAL NETWORKS (this may take several minutes....)...It should "find" your closest network area (mine's Boston)...After that, it will scan ALL channels in that area....Once I finally did this, it "found" 28 channels with strength of 60 or better!!!
Luckily, I'm about 700' ASL with a clear shot to Boston....using a $25 Radio Shack UHF with a preamp on an INDOOR tripod ("Armstrong rotor".... )
Good luck!
BTW.....That figure of 28 takes into account the SUB-channels for several of the Boston signals...ie., 44-1, 44-2, -3, etc.
Have you set the H20 up to scan "Local Networks" OTA? I made this mistake the first couple of times I did a search for OTA signals....came back with 2, when I KNOW there's LOTS more where I live!!!
Go into SETTINGS....SAT & ANT.....Let it search for LOCAL NETWORKS (this may take several minutes....)...It should "find" your closest network area (mine's Boston)...After that, it will scan ALL channels in that area....Once I finally did this, it "found" 28 channels with strength of 60 or better!!!
Luckily, I'm about 700' ASL with a clear shot to Boston....using a $25 Radio Shack UHF with a preamp on an INDOOR tripod ("Armstrong rotor"....
)Good luck!
BTW.....That figure of 28 takes into account the SUB-channels for several of the Boston signals...ie., 44-1, 44-2, -3, etc.
yes, i scanned for local channels and it found lots of them. I just get a signal strength of zero. Perhaps it's just a bad port.
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So you are getting stations but the signal meter shows zero?
| Originally Posted by pgrogan yes, i scanned for local channels and it found lots of them. I just get a signal strength of zero. Perhaps it's just a bad port. |
What kind of signal number to you get with h10 on the digital stations? If the stations are loaded into h20, you will get slightly better reception with the h20 over the h10, evertything else being equal. With a good directional antenna and stations wuthin 35 miles, you should hit 100 on signal meter unless there is a very weak station.
I put in my zip code and it scanned for channels. It found many channels, but i don't get any signal strength on the H20. I was getting 70-80 on the h10.
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Your original post made it sound like you couldn't pick up anything, not that the signal strength meter was broken on your H20. I'd suggest calling Directv and see if you can get a replacement receiver if the strength meter isn't working correctly.
| Originally Posted by pgrogan I put in my zip code and it scanned for channels. It found many channels, but i don't get any signal strength on the H20. I was getting 70-80 on the h10. |
I think the problem has been figured out, but not solved.
The OTA tuner on the H20 will not work with a Diplex. The line from the Antenna must come striaght from the antenna and into the receiver....the line can not share with anything else.
My current H10 set-up shared OTA and DTV satellite from the roof to the intererior of the house and was then split at the receiver.
The OTA tuner on the H20 will not work with a Diplex. The line from the Antenna must come striaght from the antenna and into the receiver....the line can not share with anything else.
My current H10 set-up shared OTA and DTV satellite from the roof to the intererior of the house and was then split at the receiver.
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You can't use diplexors with the new dish. They should still work with the Phase III dish you have now. Now I'm confused again, are you getting OTA stations or not? You claimed you were getting stations.
| Originally Posted by pgrogan I think the problem has been figured out, but not solved. The OTA tuner on the H20 will not work with a Diplex. The line from the Antenna must come striaght from the antenna and into the receiver....the line can not share with anything else. My current H10 set-up shared OTA and DTV satellite from the roof to the intererior of the house and was then split at the receiver. |
First off, unless you got it free (or for little cost) there was no need to get a H20 to replace a h10 for OTA, soley. If you were getting all the OTA stations before, that is all you can expect. It is always better to run a single line from antenna head to back of STB. You will have to do it when you, one day, get the newer dish. Running a dedicated line will, in itself, give you a somewhat stronger signal.
I have a 3 LNB dish.
With the H10, I was getting most of the OTA Hi def channels, but the signal strength on some of the channels would fade in and out (mostly on 7-1 in the DC market) leaving me with a messy pic or sometimes no picture at all.
I received an offer to get the H20 (which supposedly has a better OTA tuner) for free after rebate, so I decided to upgrade.
If I plug in my H10, I get marginal OTA signal (it was much better before all the leaves came off the trees). I take the same wire and plug into my h20 and I get nothing.
The first tech at DTV suggested taht my h20 had a bad OTA port, so I returned my h20 and got a new one...same problem.
Called back to DTV, and was escalated to Sr. HDTV tech....who was nice, but a bit clueless (how he got to be a Sr. tech is a mystery). After I pressed him to go find someone else and ask if I can Diplex an OTA signal with the H20, he did. Said that the H20 will not accpet Diplex for OTA. A tech is coming to my house to drop a direct line form antenna to receiver.
With the H10, I was getting most of the OTA Hi def channels, but the signal strength on some of the channels would fade in and out (mostly on 7-1 in the DC market) leaving me with a messy pic or sometimes no picture at all.
I received an offer to get the H20 (which supposedly has a better OTA tuner) for free after rebate, so I decided to upgrade.
If I plug in my H10, I get marginal OTA signal (it was much better before all the leaves came off the trees). I take the same wire and plug into my h20 and I get nothing.
The first tech at DTV suggested taht my h20 had a bad OTA port, so I returned my h20 and got a new one...same problem.
Called back to DTV, and was escalated to Sr. HDTV tech....who was nice, but a bit clueless (how he got to be a Sr. tech is a mystery). After I pressed him to go find someone else and ask if I can Diplex an OTA signal with the H20, he did. Said that the H20 will not accpet Diplex for OTA. A tech is coming to my house to drop a direct line form antenna to receiver.
The H20 is Ka band capable. One of the Ka band frequency assignments overlaps the UHF band.
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This is correct for the AT-9 (5 LNB) dish and H20 only.
You can use diplexers for a 3 LNB dish feed & OTA, no problem. You will need two diplexers, one for each end.
| Originally Posted by pgrogan After I pressed him to go find someone else and ask if I can Diplex an OTA signal with the H20, he did. Said that the H20 will not accpet Diplex for OTA. |
You can use diplexers for a 3 LNB dish feed & OTA, no problem. You will need two diplexers, one for each end.
OK, so now I am confused. Any other ideas of why I would get a signal on an H10 and not an H20?
I know that I have asked this question to the DTV techs, but I will ask here (there seems to be smarter people here)
Do I need to activate my card to get a signal strength for OTA channels? I was told by DTV that I should see some signal strength without activating. As an FYIm the card is in the receiver, just not activated.
Why don't I just activate the card?
I don't want to activate the card until I know the H20 will work. I don't want ot be hassled by the folks at Best Buy if I try to return the unit.
Do I need to activate my card to get a signal strength for OTA channels? I was told by DTV that I should see some signal strength without activating. As an FYIm the card is in the receiver, just not activated.
Why don't I just activate the card?
I don't want to activate the card until I know the H20 will work. I don't want ot be hassled by the folks at Best Buy if I try to return the unit.
Well, DTV people were here today and did not resolve the problem. They said I needed a new receiver. When I told them it was a 2nd receiver, the guy just shrugged his shoulders and said there wasn't anything else he could do.
After examining my outside connections, it appears that I have a OTA, Comcast Cable, and Directv all coming into a 4 port multi switch outside my house. Could the cable be messing things up?
I am at a loss at this point.
After examining my outside connections, it appears that I have a OTA, Comcast Cable, and Directv all coming into a 4 port multi switch outside my house. Could the cable be messing things up?
I am at a loss at this point.
For kicks and grins, borrow a settop antenna or buy one from somewhere with a liberal return policy. Try it direct into the OTA port on the H20 and see if you can get anything. My bet is that it has to do with your diplexed setup.
For kicks and grins, borrow a settop antenna or buy one from somewhere with a liberal return policy. Try it direct into the OTA port on the H20 and see if you can get anything. My bet is that it has to do with your diplexed setup.
Before trading one piece of equipment for another piece, we should, first, be sure the first piece is defective. In the problem above, have we been told all the information needed to come to a conclusion..how far are the transmitters, what type of antenna..line of sight..height of antenna..etc.. I just think the h20 is not getting a strong enough signal at this point in time See if the signal meter moves, at all, across all loaded stations. Seems to me, if the h20 was not showing stations (on the screen), it could not load the stations either . This whole picture, to me, is still unclear..sorry. One thing for sure....Run the OTA line as a dedicated line..no breaks from antenna head to back of h20. If nothing else, you will gain signal strength.
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