computog
join:2007-01-12
Buford, GA
 ·Atlantic Nexus
| Switch issue
Hello all-
I have Direct TV and have a regular plain receiver in one room and a DVR in the other. Both Direct TV brands. My wife can not record one channel and watch another. The switch on the house is a 3/4 multi switch. I can get the recorder to work- record one and watch another, but then I lose my normal receiver upstairs. I have tried every cable placement combination I can, with the terminator (I am guessing) on the 3 side of the switch. Everything is tight, etc. I hope I have enough info here, but can someone tell me why I may be having this issue? The dish was installed about a year ago, and it worked fine up until late summer.
Thanks for any guidance- |
|
Airborne29th
join:2008-10-20
Staunton, VA
 ·Alltel Axess
1 edit | depending on if the wires were gounded from the dish or not, you may have a blown 3x4. The 3x4's are notorious to being fried. Usually in the case of the original installer running the dual cabling straight from the dish to the 3x4 instead of to a ground block. Let me know if thats not the case, but still sounds most likely that it is.
Also with both boxes on and plugged up, check your signal strength's and see if your only getting the odd's or evens, also do them same with only the DVR connected or only the standard box connected. Sounds most likely that its the 3x4, but it could also be one of the recievers is back feeding through the lines.
Also on the 3x4 you should have 2 lines from the dish to the 3 side, with an open port between them (for OTA cable)
and then on the 4 side you should have at least 3 lines connected in any way. |
|
computog
join:2007-01-12
Buford, GA
·Atlantic Nexus
| Thanks for the reply, Airborne. I have tried the switch in every configuration I can think of. I had not tried the signal meter, as I was just glad to see picture again when I was testing. I think it is grounded correctly- it was working up until a couple months ago. I don't know enough about it to know on that.
I am beginning to think you are correct about the switch- I've tried all I can, but it does not want to work the way it should.
I caved in yesterday and let my wife call a tech out. I'll find out tomorrow morning what the cause is and will let you know. |
|
computog
join:2007-01-12
Buford, GA | reply to Airborne29th
You were correct about it being the switch. The tech replaced and left the old one, saying it was fried.
At least I know it was not something I was doing wrong.
Thanks again for the reply- |
|
Airborne29th
join:2008-10-20
Staunton, VA | Yep, well hopefully it didnt cost you too much, Ive seen even properly grounded systems have to have a new 3x4 every year! sad.. but it happens. |
|
computog
join:2007-01-12
Buford, GA
·Atlantic Nexus
| The price of a service call- 49.99. The installer left the old one- turns out there was a crack by the base of one of the threads, which likely caused the thing to fry. I'm now trying to figure out how to get the switch protected from weather some- it does not have much cover. Debating if it is worth the effort- |
|
