Can't figure it out (neither can BEV Cust Serv) - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

mrhud · 2010-05-01, 09:07 AM

My setup was as follows:

9200 in Living room, dual tuner to the kitchen
3100 in Bedroom

The remote for the 3100 was getting wonky after years of use, so I bought a UHF remote on eBay and split the signal for the kitchen (from the 9200) to my bedroom as well. I disconnected the 3100 and stored it for the future. All was well.

Last week I decided to reconnect the 3100 in the basement for the kids. I ran RG6 from where the line came in from the outdoors over to the TV and turned it on.

The 'Downloading Program Information' appeared and I left it for awhile to let it do its thing. I come back a few hours later to discover an error screen .

I call cust serv and he tells me that my software is out of date, as we hadn't used the machine in a few years, and to unplug the 3100 for 20-30 minutes then turn it back and all would be well.

This didn't work.

I call back and the rep says that the previous rep skipped a step and says that I should have set the transponder to 13, then turn off the machine for 2 hours and then turn it back on.

This didn't work either.

Before I call back, was wondering if anyone here can lend a hand.

When I go to the signal meter, it always shows Transponder 7 on Sat 91 at 97%. When I change transponder to 13 (or anything else for that matter) the signal drops to 0%.

Checkswitch gives all X's.

Please give me some suggestions.

Thanks

tico · 2010-05-01, 09:27 AM

A little more info on your wiring and LNBF's would be helpful. It sounds like you are not able to switch Transponders with that wiring setup - maybe you missed a switch somewhere. The type of LNB - and whether or not your other receivers go through a switch first is kind of important.

To figure out if this is a wiring problem the easy way - move the working box to the wire in question - and move the box in question to a wire where the working box currently is.

mrhud · 2010-05-01, 10:01 AM

I understand what you're saying, except that essentially what I did was move the 3100 from the bedroom to the basement, albeit with a 2 year delay.

When the Bell tech came to install everything 3 years ago, he wired the switch (SW44 I believe) so we had the 9200 in the Living Room with the Remote TV2 to the Kitchen and wired the 3100 with a cable directly attached to the switch that came in from outdoors.

hugh · 2010-05-01, 12:22 PM

To Tico's point, we would need to understand your wiring. The fact that you "split" a cable sounds like you have done something that may be problematic.

Explain how many wires you have coming from the dish and to what device, where the split is and then which cables are going to the receivers. Without all that information we can't help you

shakabra · 2010-05-01, 01:59 PM

if u havnt used it in a couple years, maybe you need the newer smart card, what colour card do U have ?

mrhud · 2010-05-02, 11:10 AM

There are 3 cables coming into the house from the dish.

2 come into the 9200 (1 directly into the 9200, and another inter a power inserter which then feeds into the 9200)
1 comes in through the basement and feeds the 3100 directly.

Another cable comes out of the 9200 and feeds through the wall into the kitchen (TV2)

I have the correct smart cards in each unit and they are activated.

peano · 2010-05-02, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhud

Checkswitch gives all X's.

Something is wrong with your cabling. Probably a bad connector.

mrhud · 2010-05-02, 12:22 PM

It is says 'Downloading Program Information', but this has been displayed for the last hour or so. I don't remember it ever taking so long.

kandkt · 2010-05-02, 01:20 PM

Why don't you try connecting the 3100 to one of the inputs into your 9200. If you do a check switch and everything is okay, you know that something is wrong with your cabling (most likely a bad connector).

mrhud · 2010-05-02, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kandkt

Why don't you try connecting the 3100 to one of the inputs into your 9200. If you do a check switch and everything is okay, you know that something is wrong with your cabling (most likely a bad connector).

Which input on the 9200?

peano · 2010-05-02, 01:48 PM

Doesn't matter but I would use the one without the power inserter.

mrhud · 2010-05-02, 02:15 PM

So I connected the 3100 to an input cable, did a check switch and....all x's.

Does that mean my 3100 is broken?

Pinza · 2010-05-02, 02:19 PM

Sure sounds like it.

The signal strengths you gave in post #1 would look to be from 82 not 91. The 3100 will NOT get signal on TP13.

Are you certain it has a current Card, a card from 2 years ago is NOT a current one. The Card needs to start with S06*******.

mrhud · 2010-05-02, 02:21 PM

Yes, the card is current.

I have another 3100 that I'm going to try out.

Will have to activate the card though.

Will let you know.

SUNSET366 · 2010-05-02, 02:44 PM

Try running a check switch without the sat. cable connected.
Once the check switch is completed re connect the sat. cable and run check switch again.

Sometimes the receiver needs to be cleared and doing a check switch with no Sat. cable will do this.

2010-05-01, 12:22 PM	#4
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	To Tico's point, we would need to understand your wiring. The fact that you "split" a cable sounds like you have done something that may be problematic. Explain how many wires you have coming from the dish and to what device, where the split is and then which cables are going to the receivers. Without all that information we can't help you __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2010-05-01, 09:07 AM	#1
mrhud Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 44	Can't figure it out (neither can BEV Cust Serv) My setup was as follows: 9200 in Living room, dual tuner to the kitchen 3100 in Bedroom The remote for the 3100 was getting wonky after years of use, so I bought a UHF remote on eBay and split the signal for the kitchen (from the 9200) to my bedroom as well. I disconnected the 3100 and stored it for the future. All was well. Last week I decided to reconnect the 3100 in the basement for the kids. I ran RG6 from where the line came in from the outdoors over to the TV and turned it on. The 'Downloading Program Information' appeared and I left it for awhile to let it do its thing. I come back a few hours later to discover an error screen . I call cust serv and he tells me that my software is out of date, as we hadn't used the machine in a few years, and to unplug the 3100 for 20-30 minutes then turn it back and all would be well. This didn't work. I call back and the rep says that the previous rep skipped a step and says that I should have set the transponder to 13, then turn off the machine for 2 hours and then turn it back on. This didn't work either. Before I call back, was wondering if anyone here can lend a hand. When I go to the signal meter, it always shows Transponder 7 on Sat 91 at 97%. When I change transponder to 13 (or anything else for that matter) the signal drops to 0%. Checkswitch gives all X's. Please give me some suggestions. Thanks

2010-05-01, 09:27 AM	#2
tico Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 109	A little more info on your wiring and LNBF's would be helpful. It sounds like you are not able to switch Transponders with that wiring setup - maybe you missed a switch somewhere. The type of LNB - and whether or not your other receivers go through a switch first is kind of important. To figure out if this is a wiring problem the easy way - move the working box to the wire in question - and move the box in question to a wire where the working box currently is.

2010-05-01, 10:01 AM	#3
mrhud Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 44	I understand what you're saying, except that essentially what I did was move the 3100 from the bedroom to the basement, albeit with a 2 year delay. When the Bell tech came to install everything 3 years ago, he wired the switch (SW44 I believe) so we had the 9200 in the Living Room with the Remote TV2 to the Kitchen and wired the 3100 with a cable directly attached to the switch that came in from outdoors.

2010-05-01, 01:59 PM	#5
shakabra Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 58	if u havnt used it in a couple years, maybe you need the newer smart card, what colour card do U have ?

2010-05-02, 11:10 AM	#6
mrhud Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 44	There are 3 cables coming into the house from the dish. 2 come into the 9200 (1 directly into the 9200, and another inter a power inserter which then feeds into the 9200) 1 comes in through the basement and feeds the 3100 directly. Another cable comes out of the 9200 and feeds through the wall into the kitchen (TV2) I have the correct smart cards in each unit and they are activated.

2010-05-02, 12:22 PM	#8
mrhud Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 44	It is says 'Downloading Program Information', but this has been displayed for the last hour or so. I don't remember it ever taking so long.

2010-05-02, 01:20 PM	#9
kandkt Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 507	Why don't you try connecting the 3100 to one of the inputs into your 9200. If you do a check switch and everything is okay, you know that something is wrong with your cabling (most likely a bad connector).

2010-05-02, 01:48 PM	#11
peano Veteran Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,586	Doesn't matter but I would use the one without the power inserter.

2010-05-02, 02:15 PM	#12
mrhud Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 44	So I connected the 3100 to an input cable, did a check switch and....all x's. Does that mean my 3100 is broken?

2010-05-02, 02:19 PM	#13
Pinza Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: GTA Posts: 8,572	Sure sounds like it. The signal strengths you gave in post #1 would look to be from 82 not 91. The 3100 will NOT get signal on TP13. Are you certain it has a current Card, a card from 2 years ago is NOT a current one. The Card needs to start with S06*******.

2010-05-02, 02:21 PM	#14
mrhud Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 44	Yes, the card is current. I have another 3100 that I'm going to try out. Will have to activate the card though. Will let you know.

2010-05-02, 02:44 PM	#15
SUNSET366 Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11	Try running a check switch without the sat. cable connected. Once the check switch is completed re connect the sat. cable and run check switch again. Sometimes the receiver needs to be cleared and doing a check switch with no Sat. cable will do this.