Problem with Fortecstar Lifetime Ultra

sleepyzzz · #1 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 04:03 PM

Problem: A cable guy came to install high speed internet. After he left, the Fortecstar Lifetime Ultra did not work and we could not see any of the channels. I went to the back and the plugs were taken off. I plugged them back in, but now it does not work at all. I believe the cable guy did not touch the satellite so the position of it is not off.

Orginally, the satellite was installed by a professional recommended by a friend. I cannot get in contact with this person. I have never installed a satellite before or have any ideas on how to do it. I looked at the website for installation tips but did not know how to proceed. How would I get this dish working again and what tools would I need.

Help.

pmb1010 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 04:04 PM

make sure the cable from the dish is plugged into the "IF IN" (and NOT antenna in port)

That is common error.

rainman · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 04:16 PM

power the receiver down with the switch on the back for a minute then turn it back on sometime this will reboot the receiver.and it will start working.

elgemcdlf · #4 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 04:45 PM

Is this a fixed dish or motorized installation? Why not call the cable company and ask for the same tech to return to your home and the two of you work through what he did and how to reverse it. He may have pirated a piece of your existing coax thinking it was an unused system.

sleepyzzz · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 05:38 PM

Ok, I plugged the coaxial cable from the "fixed" satellite dish into the "RF IN." There was no IF IN on the box. How many wires should I be plugging in. On the box outside there is a box that has 8 antennas, 1 PWR, & 1 RF IN port. I turned the receiver back on and now I get an info box saying, "Scrambled or bad channel." Also, I checked the signal and it is at 32% and the quality is at 0%.

pmb1010 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 06:00 PM

I have lifetime Ultra, and the port to the far upper left (when looking at the back) has IF INPUT.
That is the one you want.
It might be labled SAT INPUT

try changing channels up/down. Sometimes that will clear that message.

(Normally, that message means you are on a DISH network-type channel which cannot be decoded with an FTA box)

sleepyzzz · #7 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 06:12 PM

I was talking about the box outside the house that had the 8 antenna ports, 1 PWR port, and 1 RF IN port. Straight from the satellite dish, which port do you put the coaxial cable? As for the receiver, there are 4 ports on the back on the righthand side: tv out, sat output, ant in, and sat input +13V/+18V MAX 500 mA, which is bottom left, bottom right, top right, and top left.

pmb1010 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 06:52 PM

I'd suggest to not use the 8 port device outside.
If it's a DISH network splitter box, it wont work.
Why is it there anyway?

Hook up the RG-6 cable from dish's LNBF, directly to Lifetime Ultra box's SAT IN.

pictureon · #9 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 08:06 PM

Looks like the cable guy connected the line going to the satellite box to the splitter. This would kill the signal. If you want to use the same line for satellite and HS Internet, then you need 2 diplexers. You would connect the line going to the room where the satellite box is to the in/out port. Connect the line comming from satellite dish to sat port and one line from the splitter to the Ant port. Inside the house the same wire to the in/out port and one to the Sat port that would go to the "Sat input 13/18 port" of the satellite box and one to the Ant port that would go to the TV or cable modem.