Help Required Lost uk fta channels in belgium—receiver setup?

[Mickha]

You could also try remaking your cable, between the receiver, and wall plate, or make a new cable.

 

[kropotkin]

So the 'signal' you reported here is gone?

Yeah, weirdly, it has. I really don't understand why. Perhaps I changed something in the settings trying something else that made it do that. I'm kinda losing track. I'm sorry.

Or try another receiver, to rule out that your receiver might be defective. (Or check your receiver on another location.)

As to this and changing the cable, I'm fairly certain this is a settings problem, since everything was absolutely fine right up until the minute I stupidly reset the receiver.

I think I really will have to give up and start harrassing the landlord.

 

[a33]

Well, there are things that can still be tested. Because the strange thing is, that you seem to receive only frequencies Vertical Low from 19E, and nothing else. That would normally indicate something wrong in your receiver, could be settings, but has nothing to do with switching to UK channels on 28e.
And if the problem is no voltage on F-plug or faulty cable, then all problems (to not being able to switch to other satellites or any other than V-Low 19E) follow.

So why don't you check that with manual scans on all frequencies of Astra 1KR / Astra 1L / Astra 1M / Astra 1N (19.2°E) - Alle uitzendingen - Frequenties - KingOfSat, that you get only the matching channels on Vertical frequencies between 10700 til about 11900, and not on higher frequencies?
Then we can conclude if there is or is not something wrong with you cable and/or receiver.

You could also check what scanning possibilities your receiver has, to be able maybe to do a total BLIND scan, and avoid the lot of manual scans...

greetz,
A33

 

[kropotkin]

So why don't you check that with manual scans on all frequencies of Astra 1KR / Astra 1L / Astra 1M / Astra 1N (19.2°E) - Alle uitzendingen - Frequenties - KingOfSat, that you get only the matching channels on Vertical frequencies between 10700 til about 11900, and not on higher frequencies?

Yes, this seems to be exactly right. Vertical only, and nothing above 11686. I don't get any of the channels on horizontal frequencies, and no signal on them either.

 

[Mickha]

As I posted some time ago, communal systems generally use quattro LNB's, these have four outputs, Vertical Low, Vertical High, Horizontal Low, and Horizontal High, which are fed into a distribution system, where cables are fed to each flat, or hotel room.
I have never used one of these systems, but you should have some documentation detailing the system, and what settings you should use.
Even in a normal satellite set up your receiver sends out a signal, to switch the LNB, between Vertical and Horizontal.

Did you have any problems, with your receiver, prior to updating it?

Does anyone else, in the building, have any problems, receiving all the channels?

Have you tried a new cable, between the receiver and the wall plate?

 

[PaulR]

Does the box have an option to increase the switching voltage slightly for long cable runs? If it does try switching it on.

 

[a33]

Yes, this seems to be exactly right. Vertical only, and nothing above 11686. I don't get any of the channels on horizontal frequencies, and no signal on them either.

So, unless somebody messed with the communal setup recently, this would be most typical of cable or receiver issue on your side: "commands" that are give via 22kHz or via (increased) voltage are not sent/received by the communal setup.

So two more tests to conclude:
1. When you scan for 11538Hor, do you get the programs for 11538 Vert? (like Russia Today)

2. When you scan for 12388 Vert, do you also get the programs for 11538 Vert? (like Russia Today)

If the answer to both questions is YES, no voltage (and subsequently 22kHz) from your receiver is received by the communal setup, and you definately have to check the cable and output voltage of your receiver.

Also, a defective port (yours!) at the communal multiswitch could be possible.
When there is another port free, one could try to change to that port; but that would be landlord's responsibility I guess.

However, just to check: Have you had your receiver completely powerless (cut of from mains) at anytime since your reset recently, to restore from a possible automatic shortage protection? Don't know how your receiver would react to that, so please do that again (after the above two tests, and then test them again).

Greetz,
A33

Edit; just to be sure, ad a third test:
3. When you scan for 12388 Hor, do you also get the programs for 11538 Vert? (like Russia Today)

 

[Channel Hopper]

Can't access the dish I'm afraid. Will try for wall plate.

Unexpected work probs this evening and lots on tomorrow, so will be a couple of days before I get round to this and the previous suggestion.

Still awaiting a picture of the wallplate.

 

[kropotkin]

Ok, thanks for all this! Pretty busy today but will get on it all tomorrow. Sorry about wallplate photo -- involves moving furniture. Will do soon.

 

[kropotkin]

Right, here we go:

Still awaiting a picture of the wallplate.

For what it's worth:



We do at least learn that I need to do some dusting. The black cable is an irrelevant power cord.

1. When you scan for 11538Hor, do you get the programs for 11538 Vert? (like Russia Today)

2. When you scan for 12388 Vert, do you also get the programs for 11538 Vert? (like Russia Today)

3. When you scan for 12388 Hor, do you also get the programs for 11538 Vert? (like Russia Today)

1. This isn't in the predefined transponder list. When I scan it manually, I don't get anything.

2. Also not in the predefined list, but yes, I get Russia today, France 24 in three languages . . . 11 channels total.

3. This isn't in the predefined transponder list. When I scan it manually, I don't get anything.

If the answer to both questions is YES, no voltage (and subsequently 22kHz) from your receiver is received by the communal setup, and you definately have to check the cable and output voltage of your receiver.

So the answer to one question is YES, and for two others it's NO. Not sure where that leaves us. Especially since . . .

Did you have any problems, with your receiver, prior to updating it?

None whatsoever (I reset it, would you believe, to get the subtitle and audio settings back to normal after a guest had messed them up). This is why I really think this is a receiver settings thing—it would be really a big coincidence if the cable/satellite/etc went wrong at the precise moment that I reset the tuner, having had no problems at all before with any of that stuff. It is possible of course that there is something weird about the hardware and that a previous tenant/engineer managed to find a settings workaround that I lost when resetting.

Does anyone else, in the building, have any problems, receiving all the channels?

I believe so. The landlord, who I have contacted, says his satellite guy has "disappeared" and he is searching for a new one. I suspect this is not high on his list of priorities.

Have you had your receiver completely powerless (cut of from mains) at anytime since your reset recently, to restore from a possible automatic shortage protection? Don't know how your receiver would react to that, so please do that again (after the above two tests, and then test them again).

I hadn't. I did this now. It now seems that the answer to all the questions is no, i.e. I no longer get RT etc on 12388 Vert.

Folks, I don't know how much patience you have, but . . . I think I might just have to learn to live without the BBC for the remainder of my time in this apartment, or at least till the landlord finds a new satellite installer![/QUOTE]

 

[a33]

Have you had your receiver completely powerless (cut of from mains) at anytime since your reset recently, to restore from a possible automatic shortage protection? Don't know how your receiver would react to that, so please do that again (after the above two tests, and then test them again).

I hadn't. I did this now. It now seems that the answer to all the questions is no, i.e. I no longer get RT etc on 12388 Vert.

That is interesting. We'll have to check that out.

Your first answers: receiving the programs for 11538 Vert (like Russia Today) when scanning 12388 Vert, meant that the multiswitch didn't switch to the high band, which would normally occur when your 22kHz command-signal is OK.
So: a problem with 22kHz, which would also account for diseqc switching problems.
And the not receiving 11538 Vert while scanning HOR would indicate that some sort of switching on 18V (needed for hor) does occur.
(Though it is strange that you didn't seem to receive anything on Hor, as you indicated earlier. Strange.)

But after your complete powerless situation it seems something has changed.
Has the 22kHz-switching returned, I wonder?
Could you try scanning 11538 Vert (like Russia Today, on 19E), but now with diseqc 1.0 for the present satellite ( I assume you chose 19E for your tests?) at D or 4/4?

When now Russia Today is NOT received (but it was there witch diseqc 1.0 at A or 1/4), then some diseqc switching seems to happen... :-)
Then we would do the test of post #18 again, searching for 28e channels.


A puzzling problem it is; but we want to know what is the cause, as you do. Though doing the analysis from a distance is a bit troublesome...

greetz,
A33

 

[kropotkin]

A puzzling problem it is; but we want to know what is the cause, as you do. Though doing the analysis from a distance is a bit troublesome...

True all round! And I do appreciate the efforts and patience.

I'm following your explanation, just about. Seems like some good problem-solving.

OK:

Could you try scanning 11538 Vert (like Russia Today, on 19E), but now with diseqc 1.0 for the present satellite ( I assume you chose 19E for your tests?) at D or 4/4

OK, so I put 19.2E in position D in the tuner settings (with other satellites in A-C). In the satfinder (and manual scan), I still get a strong signal for 11538 V and Russia Today is among the channels I get (11 in all).

So does that suggest that disceqc isn't working somehow?

 

[Mickha]

All that shows is that your receiver is working, on that transponder, as you get Russia Today, which is located on 19.2E, 11538 V 22000, along with France 24, TV 5 Monde Europe, and other channels.
You have an Enigma 2 receiver, which has many options, especially when networked to your PC, via your router.
Did you ever use a program, like dreamboxedit, and download your receivers channel list, to your PC?

 

[a33]

OK, so I put 19.2E in position D in the tuner settings (with other satellites in A-C). In the satfinder (and manual scan), I still get a strong signal for 11538 V and Russia Today is among the channels I get (11 in all).

So does that suggest that disceqc isn't working somehow?

Absolutely. Switching to port D should have made it impossible to receive 19E channels, when the communal setup has satellites switchable on diseqc 1.0, as would be the 'normal' setup.

I hadn't. I did this now. It now seems that the answer to all the questions is no, i.e. I no longer get RT etc on 12388 Vert.

Well, if this is still the case, the symptoms are rather unpredictable.

So my conclusion till now would be: diseqc isnt working, possibly because of 22kHz not working, and 13/18 volt possibly working?
But no conclusive outcomes of the testing, so far, as to 'typical' setting faults or hardware faults.

One other question; focussing on the communal multiswitch now, where the signal is led to the various households:
Can you locate that somewhere in the building?
And write down brand and typ, and post some photoos maybe?
(And would the cable to your apartment be distinguishable, by some indication at or near de cable?)

Greetz,
A33

 

[kropotkin]

focussing on the communal multiswitch now, where the signal is led to the various households:
Can you locate that somewhere in the building?
And write down brand and typ, and post some photoos maybe?
(And would the cable to your apartment be distinguishable, by some indication at or near de cable?)

I will have a go tomorrow when it's light again, though I suspect it's all somewhere to which I don't have access. Will need to do some exploring!

You have an Enigma 2 receiver, which has many options, especially when networked to your PC, via your router.
Did you ever use a program, like dreamboxedit, and download your receivers channel list, to your PC?

No, never tried that. I wonder if editing that list might help.

 

[Mickha]

Not re

No, never tried that. I wonder if editing that list might help.

Not really, but if you had a backup, of your old channel list, including Bouquets, it might have helped.
You could try the various options in advanced tuner configuration, to test all the settings, one at a time.
Did the landlord, or one of your neighbours, happen to describe the problem, with your communal satellite system?
Are many of your neighbours English speaking and watch Astra 2, 28.2E?

I would still check all the connections, from your receiver, to the wall plate, and try a different cable.
Did you do as mentioned, by a33, I think, and check with a multimeter to see if your receiver is sending the signal to switch between Horizontal, and Vertical, polarity?
Did you try manually scanning any Horizontal channels, on 19.2E, like 10891 H 22000 DVB-S?

 

[kropotkin]

OK, back on it. For today. I'll say now that I'm away for the next few days at a conference, so . . . we might be getting to the end here.

One other question; focussing on the communal multiswitch now, where the signal is led to the various households:
Can you locate that somewhere in the building?

I got nowhere with this. Didn't manage to track the cable anywhere at all. I wonder if it's behind a door I can't unlock.

Did the landlord, or one of your neighbours, happen to describe the problem, with your communal satellite system?
Are many of your neighbours English speaking and watch Astra 2, 28.2E?

It's difficult to answer, since a lot of my "neighbours" are AirBnB flats, so I barely speak to anyone there. I do think that there have been problems in other flats with getting channels they want. I suspect that I was lucky in that my receiver was still tuned in by the now-disappeared satellite guy, whereas other peoples' had been reset. My landlord does say that he's trying to find someone new to "fix" the system, but I don't think he's in a hurry about it.

try a different cable.
Did you do as mentioned, by a33, I think, and check with a multimeter to see if your receiver is sending the signal to switch between Horizontal, and Vertical, polarity?

I don't have either a spare cable or a multimeter. I'll see about borrowing one when I get back from the conference.

Did you try manually scanning any Horizontal channels, on 19.2E, like 10891 H 22000 DVB-S?

Yeah. I don't seem to get anything on any of the H frequencies, including the one you mention.

I'll have a go, as you suggest, trying some of the advanced settings and seeing if any help.

 

[kropotkin]

OK, here's an interesting thing (maybe):

in the tuner configuration, I set it to DisEqC A/B/C/D and set the ports to "automatic". This led it to try to tune the tuner to the following four satellites sequentially on port A/B/C/D.

19.2
23.5
28.2
13.0

Why those four I don't know. Anyway, it failed to tune to any of them, leaving the ports with "nothing connected".

I don't know whether that info helps?

 

[Mickha]

Those four satellites are very strong, and require a smallish dish, so it's easy to set up a multi bracket system, with 4 LNB's, and they provide a lot of channels, with different languages.
Try using advanced tuner option and set Astra 1, 19.2E, to LNB 1, Astra 3B, 23.5E, to LNB 2, Astra 2, 28.2E, LNB 3, and Hotbird, 13E, to LNB 4, with different settings, and see if you can get any signal.

 

[kropotkin]

Try using advanced tuner option and set Astra 1, 19.2E, to LNB 1, Astra 3B, 23.5E, to LNB 2, Astra 2, 28.2E, LNB 3, and Hotbird, 13E, to LNB 4, with different settings, and see if you can get any signal.

"with different settings", meaning change things like voltage mode under LNB settings and see if it makes a difference?

Just assigning each an LNB and scanning everything, I get:

28.2: same 65 channels as usual.
23.5: no channels
13.0: 11 channels.
19.2: 300 or so channels including those appearing under the other two satellites.