Intermittent loss of signal

[Montaillac Man]

I have a problem with the intermittent loss of signal on my two receivers.

We live in South West France. The setup I have is a 90cm generic dish, with a Vlaanderen DuoLNB with four outputs. Those outputs feed a Manhattan Freesat + recorder and a Freesat 4K recorder. The LNB is either Belgian or Dutch and was inherited with the house and is around 9 years old. The dish and LNB are pointed at Astra 28 E for Freesat channels. We get good signal strength and quality, and no interference on channels.

We have had the Manhattan box for 4 years, and had an increasing problem where the signal would just drop on one feed at random intervals. I tried swapping round the feeds, and remaking the connections but the problem persisted. The signal only comes back when the box is rebooted.

I came to the conclusion it was the Manhattan box, so on a recent trip back to the UK we bought a new Freesat 4K box. Now we are having the same problem with it and the Manhattan box. The signal drops randomly, sometimes after days, or weeks. We only find out when we turn them on and get the message. A reboot restores the signal to both receivers.

Is there anything I can test to pin the problem down? I use a satellite finder and that registers a strong signal. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

 

[ozumo]

LNBs don't last forever and with yours being fairly old it might be time for change.

 

[jeallen01]

I'd also carefully check the cables from the LNB all the way to the receivers for physical damage, or deterioration due to the high UV levels you get in your area - and also pay particular attention to the state of the F-connectors on the LNB as there may be corrosion in them.

 

[a33]

with a Vlaanderen DuoLNB with four outputs.
...
The dish and LNB are pointed at Astra 28 E for Freesat channels
...
We only find out when we turn them on

Which head is aimed at 28E? The diseqc A-head or the diseqc B-head? (marked 19E and 23E I guess?)
(There might be an issue there...)

greetz,
A33

 

[TJExcalibur]

Bad connections with water ingress. Do not just rely on the rubber boot with the lnb connection, use some amalgamating tape first. Belt and braces.

 

[Montaillac Man]

Thanks for all the advice.

I have checked all the cables and connections. At the LNB end they were all clean and still shiny, the dish is in quite a sheltered spot away from prevailing weather. I do have a signal checker, and the strength was fine on all the cables through to the receivers.

The only thing I did discover is that the new Freesat 4k box is whacking out close to 18v on each feed even when in standby mode. The Manhattan only pushes out voltage when it’s turned on, and not when it’s on standby.

The dominant head is the 19.2 degrees one, but I’m not sure if that makes any difference. Both boxes have had no trouble in picking up the channels during a scan. As I have all the channels working on both boxes I’m not inclined to try switching across to the 23 degree head just now.

So everything is spick and span, I guess it’s just a question of if the LNB itself is acting up. If I get the problem again I think I’ll invest in a new one.

Thanks again, and if you’ve any other ideas, let me know.

 

[a33]

We only find out when we turn them on and get the message. A reboot restores the signal to both receivers.

So changing channels doesn't bring anything?
And disconnecting and connecting again of the antenna cable (without causing a shortcircuit!) also doesn't bring anything?

G,
A33

 

[Montaillac Man]

So changing channels doesn't bring anything?
And disconnecting and connecting again of the antenna cable (without causing a shortcircuit!) also doesn't bring anything?

G,
A33

Not sure what you mean by “bring anything”. Everything is working fine, and has not lost the signal since I checked everything. I have all the channels. The connections were all clean. The signals are strong. I will have to wait and see if I lose the signal again.

 

[a33]

Not sure what you mean by “bring anything”.

I meant that those actions might also bring the signal back, instead of booting again.
If so, that might give an extra indication of where the problem comes originates.

So indeed, you could try it when the problem occurs again.

Greetz,
A33