Bad DiSEqC or bad receiver

mreaves53 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-18-2007, 05:51 PM

I finally got my Ku working again on my 4DTV DSR 922. So I started working on my Mercury II. If I hook the Ku straight to the Mercury, I can receive Ku. If I hook the Ku to my DiSEqC switch I get no Ku signal, but I can receive C-band. I do have the antenna setup for a DiSEqC switch and to the correct port. I have the 22Khz tone set to off and the lnb set to 10750 which is correct for my new Norsat Ku lnb. I have connected the Ku to every port except number 1.

So my questions are:

Can a DiSEqC switch pass C but not Ku?
If the switch is bad will it still pass port 1?
Do I have the receiver set up wrong?
Can the receiver not be telling the switch to change?

I know buying a new switch is not that expensive, but I hate to buy a new one if my old one is still good.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

mreaves53 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-18-2007, 09:40 PM

I connectedt the Ku feed to port 1 and disconnected the C feed, nothing. Hooked the C feed to port 2, did not change anything and C-band FTA popped right in.

Going back to my original question, can a DiSEqC switch pass C-band, but not Ku?

Thanks

lumpkin666 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-18-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mreaves53

Going back to my original question, can a DiSEqC switch pass C-band, but not Ku?

Thanks

Diseqc switches will pass both. I have C and Ku going through motors/diseqc/22k with no problems, so it's not a limitation of a diseqc switch.

rainman · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 07:09 AM

http://www.sadoun.net/forums/4dtv-c-...t-bird-im.html

there is a diagram in this post see if it is the way you have it hooked up.

wejones · #5 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 08:32 AM

Re the C vs Ku thing, your switch never sees either C or Ku. The signals coming from the lnbs are IF in the 950-1450 range, not C or Ku. Ie no difference at all.

Several years ago I bought a 4 port switch to upgrade my 2 port. It was dead out of the box on 1 port, and over a period of a few months, lost the other two ports, so several months ago, I bought 3 new diseqC switches of different brands. All were completely or partially non-functional, so I put them all back in their boxes. Then last fall, I had a new need for a switch, so I pulled one of the bad ones out, and for some reason it worked, and has continued to work for the best part of a year now. I've also found that one of my switches wouldn't work with one receiver, but then worked well after I upgraded the power supply (computer receiver). I've also come to the partial conclusion that switches don't work as well when close to the receiver compared to close to the LNB.
I've come to the opinion that using DiseqC switches can be a black art. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I'd recommend buying a couple spares. If one doesn't work, exchange it for another, but don't throw bad ones away, because they may start working again, or may work with a different receiver.
Also, make sure you have LNB power turned on in the receiver. The switches need power.
Seems like in the mercury, there are 2 items you have to set up, ie you have to set the diseqC switch type (1.0) and select the port in another item, while other receivers it just goes from off to the proper port number in one item (hope that makes sense).
When you changed the ports are you sure you have both the correct port number and LO programmed in receiver?

mreaves53 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 09:29 AM

I have double checked my setups and every thing is correct. I can not figure out why I can receive Ku when connected straight to the receiver, but not through the switch. I could always use a manual switch to switch from C-band to Ku.

Thanks,

wejones · #7 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 09:34 AM

If it switches to 2 when C-band connected there, then it doesn't sound like a switch problem, since the switch is switching there. I'd start to suspect the cable between the switch and the Ku lnb. Check to see if it's shorted or open.

EDIT: Also, can I assume that you are powering LNBs via analog receiver, and are using DC-blocks or one leg pass splitters to isolate power from dvb receiver?

bill190 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 11:47 AM

If C connected to LNB 1 on switch and Ku connected to LNB 2 on switch...

The setting for a C satellite in Antenna Setup should be...

diseqc 1.0
LNB 1

The setting for a Ku satellite in Antenna Setup should be...

diseqc 1.0
LNB 2

Note that if you are using a BSC621-2 C/Ku LNBF, it has a built in diseqc switch on the C LNB. C wants to be LNB 1 and Ku wants to be LNB 2. I don't use this switch and instead have two wires run from the LNBF to another diseqc switch. But I am consistent with the wiring to avoid trouble. C is LNB 1 and Ku is LNB 2 on the seperate diseqc switch.

Also I noticed a software bug with Mercury software version V0151 where it was not switching the diseqc switch. I went back to version V0145 and it worked fine again. So if using V0151, might want to try V0145 and see if this solves the problem.

Also check wiring. Are you using different wires with the direct to receiver connection than when uisng the diseqc switch? Might want to swap the C wire with with the Ku wire and see what happens.

Also try moving the C connection to LNB 2, then LNB 3, then LNB 4 (and change settings in the receiver) and be sure that works.

mreaves53 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 02:33 PM

I have moved wires around in every combination imaginable. I use the same cable that supplies the Ku to the switch to connect to the receiver. I put the C-band in port 2 and Ku in port 1, Ku did not work, c-band did.

I have about decided that either the switch is bad, or the receiver is not changing the port on the switch.

I have ordered a new switch from Sadoun. I will keep working with it thought.

Thanks,