Trav’ler with Dish Network, repeated switch failures.

[ljr]

My dish is connected to a Dish Hopper 3 through a DPH42 switch.

One morning a couple weeks ago my normal 129/119/110 changed to 129 & blank.

I checked the signal with a meter (Acutrac III+) at the cables directly connected to the LNB assembly. Only the first lead had signal. Assuming the switch in the LNB assembly had failed, I then replaced the entire LNB assembly. That solved the problem.

All was well until this morning. It just did it again. Identical symptoms. Any idea why this would happen twice within two weeks?

[Bill_Satellite]

ljr wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you have the time be sure to go back and put a small dab of di-electric grease in all those F connector ends. This will likely prevent it from happening again.

Saw that in another of your posts in a different thread. Done.

:C :C :C

[ljr]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you have the time be sure to go back and put a small dab of di-electric grease in all those F connector ends. This will likely prevent it from happening again.

Saw that in another of your posts in a different thread. Done.

[Bill_Satellite]

If you have the time be sure to go back and put a small dab of di-electric grease in all those F connector ends. This will likely prevent it from happening again.

[ljr]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

ljr wrote:
My dish is connected to a Dish Hopper 3 through a DPH42 switch.

One morning a couple weeks ago my normal 129/119/110 changed to 129 & blank.

I checked the signal with a meter (Acutrac III+) at the cables directly connected to the LNB assembly. Only the first lead had signal. Assuming the switch in the LNB assembly had failed, I then replaced the entire LNB assembly. That solved the problem.

All was well until this morning. It just did it again. Identical symptoms. Any idea why this would happen twice within two weeks?

Are you using a Winegard Trav'ler? There has been numerous reports of the tiny coax(es) inside the arm of the antenna going bad. A new cable and all is better. Just a thought!
If it's a Trav'ler, is it a 2018 or later model?

Good call!

I still don’t have WA access so I’m relying on my meter. Cable wiggling showed that two of three cables were intermittent. I replaced with a sheathed cable bundle from Winegard. The meter is happy now even with wiggling and several ups and downs.

Real test won’t come until I have WA again but I think it’s fixed.

Thanks.

[starcraft69]

Do you have a solo hub inline between dish and box?

[starcraft69]

Here is a great resource for Dish help and supply's. Pace 800-444-7223

[ljr]

All was well for most of a day. Now it’s doing it again. Multiple switch tests, both normal and “nuclear”, didn’t help. Tester says coax is ok but I’ll probably replace it anyway.

Way too cold here to be working on the roof. I’m back to my tripod mounted dish. In a few days I’ll be without western arc access for several months anyway so I’m going to give up on the Trav’lr again for now.

Thanks for the ideas.

[TechWriter]

ljr wrote:
My dish is connected to a Dish Hopper 3 through a DPH42 switch.

One morning a couple weeks ago my normal 129/119/110 changed to 129 & blank.

This appears to be a common problem with us H3 owners using Travlers with the DPH42 switch. Happens to me ALL the time.

Here's one fix: Hopper Check Switch with Nuclear Option.

Or . . . unplug you're H3 before raising your Trailer. Power up your H3 after the Travler acquires all sats.

[Bill_Satellite]

I suspect the quad shield might cause problems but certainly, if nothing else, you could test it with regular RG6 coax.

[ljr]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

ljr wrote:
My dish is connected to a Dish Hopper 3 through a DPH42 switch.

One morning a couple weeks ago my normal 129/119/110 changed to 129 & blank.

I checked the signal with a meter (Acutrac III+) at the cables directly connected to the LNB assembly. Only the first lead had signal. Assuming the switch in the LNB assembly had failed, I then replaced the entire LNB assembly. That solved the problem.

All was well until this morning. It just did it again. Identical symptoms. Any idea why this would happen twice within two weeks?

Are you using a Winegard Trav'ler? There has been numerous reports of the tiny coax(es) inside the arm of the antenna going bad. A new cable and all is better. Just a thought!
If it's a Trav'ler, is it a 2018 or later model?

It magically came back after many switch checks and power on/off resets. Bad coax certainly fits the symptoms.

Why the “tiny” coax? I have a roll of Quad Shield RG6 I could use or would that interfere with the arm flex.

It was installed in 2014 so it’s not eligible for DPH upgrade.

[Bill_Satellite]

ljr wrote:
My dish is connected to a Dish Hopper 3 through a DPH42 switch.

One morning a couple weeks ago my normal 129/119/110 changed to 129 & blank.

I checked the signal with a meter (Acutrac III+) at the cables directly connected to the LNB assembly. Only the first lead had signal. Assuming the switch in the LNB assembly had failed, I then replaced the entire LNB assembly. That solved the problem.

All was well until this morning. It just did it again. Identical symptoms. Any idea why this would happen twice within two weeks?

Are you using a Winegard Trav'ler? There has been numerous reports of the tiny coax(es) inside the arm of the antenna going bad. A new cable and all is better. Just a thought!
If it's a Trav'ler, is it a 2018 or later model?