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Topic:
Dish Network 5000 from Hell... Help
This thread has 14 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Tuesday December 14, 1999 at 09:15
Ulises
Historic Forum Post
I got a Dish Network system 5000. The installers came and aimed the dish and it locked the satellite with a strong signal (75%).
When we attempted to do the download from the Sat. the system would not do it, the "Warning" downloading screen will stay on for hours.

I went to the store and replaced the receiver just to experience the same problem. I even left the receiver downloading all night with no success.

Dish Network told me to take the receiver to the store and have them do the download. Is this normal? Any sugestions?

By the way I'm in Colorado if it makes any difference.

Thanks to the Gurus.
OP | Post 2 made on Tuesday December 14, 1999 at 09:52
Chester
Historic Forum Post
I think the first place to look is the alignment of your dish.

75% is actually only a fair signal. I suspect if you had any kind of cloud cover or rain, the signal would break up. At my previous home, I installed the dish myself and got a 97% lock, and it held that for three years without any re-alignment.

At my present home, I had an installer do it (high on the roof). I get about 89%, and I wish it were higher...

I suspect what's going on is that the signal you're getting is not quite clean enough for a data transfer. You might be able to get a video signal, but I bet it'd be choppy, with frequent audio clipping. The data stream required is much less forgiving than your eyes and ears.

Get the installers back out to your house and tell them to bring another receiver. The installer who did mine had a couple receivers he used as test units, and even a small TV he carried on the roof! See if they can get a download out of your dish before looking at the receiver as the culprit.

Good luck!
OP | Post 3 made on Tuesday December 14, 1999 at 10:50
Ulises
Historic Forum Post
Thanks Chester.

Regarding the signal strength. I talked to an installer and he said that the new 500 22" dish signal of 75% is OK.
Is this the same dish you have?
I guess that living in the mile high city doesn't make a difference.

Thanks
Ulises
OP | Post 4 made on Tuesday December 14, 1999 at 13:02
dougw
Historic Forum Post
Ulises,
Do you have a switch that mounts near the 500 antenna? Did the installer follow the aiming procedure for the 500 antenna that removes the switch from the path during aiming? If you do have the swtich and go to the setup screens, what two satellites are you getting and what is the signal strength on each. BTW, I'm in CO (just north of Boulder) and also have the 500 but with a Dishplayer and a 470xx. I've had some issues with the Dishplayer but the 4700 has upgraded it's firmware several times without problem.
OP | Post 5 made on Tuesday December 14, 1999 at 15:56
Ulises
Historic Forum Post
Thanks Doug
I was inside the house and the installer was out pointing the dish so I don't know if he crossed over the switch box.

As an act of desperation, I can try tonight.
I will unplug one leg from the switch box and hook it to the coax line that goes to the receiver. If this does not work I will do the same with the other leg.

Is this approach correct?
Thanks
OP | Post 6 made on Tuesday December 14, 1999 at 21:58
dougw
Historic Forum Post
On my receiver, the setup menus guided me thru the install. Told me to bypass the switch then reconnect it. Did you check your signal strength and switch setup? Just checked mine to give you a comparison - switch input 1 is the 110 west satellite and comes in at 86%, switch input 2 is the 119 west satellite and comes in at 75%. Let me know what you see.
OP | Post 7 made on Wednesday December 15, 1999 at 09:30
billy c
Historic Forum Post
..hi guys , i totally agree with ur troubleshooting and ur prognosis.....follow up on the install , as that may be where ur problem lies, as the tech's USUALLY rush it through...so have them re-do it if need be......try not to accept anything less than a signal strength in the mid-to- upper 80's and usually in the 90's is what it should be....PS....echosphere corp that owns echostar/dishnetwork is home based right in Colorado, denver i believe......call them for their hot input and the right up to the minute data in ur particular install......and u didnt hear that from me......goodluck billy c
northeast satcomm
boston ma. 02149
OP | Post 8 made on Thursday December 16, 1999 at 12:04
Ulises
Historic Forum Post
WE FOUND THE PROBLEM... THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
HERE IT IS:

It looks like a bunch of 5000 receivers were loaded with an old version of the "satellite aiming" screen software. This aiming software, does not display the satellite name on the screen when you "lock" it nor give you an option to select which satelito you want to aim at (weird).

Therefore if you aim to the incorrect satellite, you have no way to know. You don't get the "wrong satellite" message not the name on the screen.

We took the receiver to the retailer and did the software download from there and got the newer aiming screen. After connecting it in my house, we found we were locked on a satellite named "Express VU" from Canada.
The darn installer that came to my home connected the dish on the wrong side of the house.

I'm getting my installation fee back and the dish relocated to the correct side and aimed to the correct sat tonight. I will make sure to get the signal up in the 80's or better.

What a trip...
Thanks again guys
OP | Post 9 made on Thursday December 16, 1999 at 16:00
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
Ah, Bell ExpressVu. That's Canada's answer to DirecTV. Of course, you can still get DirectTV up here if you know where to go... :-)
OP | Post 10 made on Friday December 17, 1999 at 08:46
billy c
Historic Forum Post
....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh alas , as i said ....be careful of the installer's....i know , i have 3 working for me..........tis, tis,...geezzzzz
good luck
OP | Post 11 made on Sunday January 2, 2000 at 20:47
Roger Linkenhoker
Historic Forum Post
The moral here is: don't have it installed "professionally". Hell, most of these guys don't know what they're doing.

I went over to a coworker's house because she couldn't get her "professionally" installed DISH to work. The reason: The genius that installed it in the winter didn't take into account the fact that the tree in it's line of sight would grow leaves in the summer.

I've installed a DTV system four times, and a DISH system twice. It's easy, and if you do it yourself you can be sure the person installing it cares that it's done right.
OP | Post 12 made on Monday January 3, 2000 at 00:16
Alan
Historic Forum Post
Is it possable to get other satlites on the 18" or24" dish? Or are they limited to directtv and dish net.
OP | Post 13 made on Monday January 3, 2000 at 11:14
Lew Stead
Historic Forum Post
I would call DISH or whoever you got installation from and demand 1) that they fix it and 2) for your time and trouble of waiting for them again you should get a complete refund.

75% in a clear sky is unacceptable for a professional installation. I did it myself, get 75-85% and I consider this to be a half-baked job. And it goes out frequently.

A professional installer not checking to make sure everything downloaded and was working is unacceptable.
OP | Post 14 made on Monday January 10, 2000 at 00:38
Monty
Historic Forum Post
You have to remember this IS a dish network installer. He was probably a sub of a sub. The further north you get the less the signal too. Also each transponder can have a different level so I always look at several. Not downloading and at least getting the promo channels going is unexcussable.
OP | Post 15 made on Wednesday February 9, 2000 at 06:58
BenThere47
Historic Forum Post
The signal strength is fine at anywhere between 60-80% for picture resolution. Anything above that will only help to keep picture clarity from becomming distorted by the effects of rain, cloud and snow fade. I have been installing systems for DTV for over 5 years and this is about the jest of it.


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