Dodgy LNB?

[MysteryMan]

A few weeks ago I replaced my previous Vu+ Solo with a Solo2.

It is connected to a motorised dish, with single feed and the box has OpenVix firmware.

All was well until yesterday when I noticed that a whole load of Sky channels were coming up "Tune Failed". I did a scan of 28.2 and only found about 350 channels and all Sky Sports channels, apart from Sky Sports 2, were missing.

As an experiment, I connected a feed from my Sky dish and did another scan - this time it pulled in 900+ channels, including the Sky Sports ones.

Switching back to the motorised dish feed and doing another scan - it reverted to missing a load of channels. I remade the F-connection, but, that made no difference.

My diagnosis is that the LNB is failing - does this seem reasonable or could there be other causes?

I am a million miles from being an expert and would appreciate other, more knowledgeable opinions, please

[Mobley2]

Are all of the missing channels on the same polarisation? ie. V or H, if so then this would
certainly suggest a faulty Lnb. As the lost channels are coming in on the Sly dish, then that should rule out the possibility of the Lnb settings being set wrong on the Solo 2. Did you try re-connecting your old VU to see what the situation was
re the missing channels ?

regards mobley2

[MysteryMan]

Are all of the missing channels on the same polarisation? ie. V or H, if so then this would
certainly suggest a faulty Lnb. As the lost channels are coming in on the Sly dish, then that should rule out the possibility of the Lnb settings being set wrong on the Solo 2. Did you try re-connecting your old VU to see what the situation was
re the missing channels ?

regards mobley2

I just ran DreamBoxEdit and retrieved all 28.2 channels from box - they were ALL Vertical....not a H in sight!!!!!

This is pointing to the Lnb failing/failed, yes?

[Mobley2]

Yes indeed, time to invest in a new Lnb. My personal recommendation would be the
Inverto Black Ultra.

regards mobley2

[MysteryMan]

Yes indeed, time to invest in a new Lnb. My personal recommendation would be the
Inverto Black Ultra.

regards mobley2

Thanks.

Can't decide whether to have a go myself or call someone in. Guess I'm afraid of buying the wrong LNB and/or one with wrong fixing. Do they have different ways to attach to arm of dish and do they need adjusting once fitted or do the fixings ensure it lines up the same as old one?

I can see me buying one and then still calling someone out!!!

[Mobley2]

Thanks.

Can't decide whether to have a go myself or call someone in. Guess I'm afraid of buying the wrong LNB and/or one with wrong fixing. Do they have different ways to attach to arm of dish and do they need adjusting once fitted or do the fixings ensure it lines up the same as old one?

I can see me buying one and then still calling someone out!!!

It is no bad thing to have a go yourself, keeping in mind, health and safety. ie ease of access to the Dish and where it is located.
It is a good way to learn something about your system. If it means hanging off the end of a ladder to get at the Lnb, then maybe
best left to someone with experience. If you do decide to try it then an 11mm spanner, for the F connector and a Posi 1 screwdriver for the screws holding the top of the Lnb clamp will help, as it is a Motorised Dish then the Lnb would be fitted completely vertical,as no skew is needed.do not fully tighten the clamp when you connect it all back up, as moving the Lnb, forward or backward in the clamp may gain you some signal. this is best tested when you switch the system back on and check your signal level, it ensures that you are illuminating the full dish surface, without going over the rim of the dish and adding noise. When you are happy that everything is good then tighten everything, and seal up the F connector with some self amalgamating tape.sorry if this has got a little long winded, and I wish you good luck. You should make sure to have the Stb switched off, before you disconnect anything, to avoid any possibility of a short. PS. you can use any Standard Ku band Lnb. my recommendation is just the one I have found to be the best. It will probably be a 40mm neck on the Lnb, although some come with a 23mm collar so you may need to check this before ordering one. I am presuming that your dish is Offset ie. oval rather than circular, if it is circular with a centre feed Lnb then you will need a Flange type Lnb, which is a little more difficult to fit, and also usually more expensive.

regards mobley2

[Mickha]

Did you check your signal quality readings, from both dishes, to compare them?
Can you please post a few channel details, name, frequency, polarity, S/R (Symbol Rate), and the signal quality readings.

[nml]

It would be a good idea that you do what has already been suggested but this may also help.

Lastweek I had problems with some higher frequencies over 11700on Astra 19.2 east and hotbird they were fluctuating all the time but mainly on 0.The lnb was a Black Ultra quad 3 years old so I swapped it for an old one I have and all is now fine. I have never had this happen before.
Can you try another lnb?
I dont know where you are but I have read that in places like Spain because of the heat lnb's can fail quickly. I now believe it because I have only been in Spain for 3years. The lnb I have on now is 10years old, wonder how many months it will last here?

[Mickha]

Most likely the LNB, which is the cheapest component to change, and check.

[nml]

@ MysteryMan,
If you know what dish you have or current lnb someone one here will be able to help this would make things a bit easier for you.

[MysteryMan]

@ MysteryMan,
If you know what dish you have or current lnb someone one here will be able to help this would make things a bit easier for you.

Afraid I don't know, but, will take some pictures tomorrow and post them to see if that helps.

Thanks

[nml]

Thanks MysteryMan once you do that we should be able to advise you. Then have a chat with our sponser Goldwafers to obtain a new lnb at a good price.
Good luck, but be safe if you are on a ladder.

Afraid I don't know, but, will take some pictures tomorrow and post them to see if that helps.

Thanks

[MysteryMan]

Thanks MysteryMan once you do that we should be able to advise you. Then have a chat with our sponser Goldwafers to obtain a new lnb at a good price.
Good luck, but be safe if you are on a ladder.

Thanks. Yes, it is a bit tricky as over conservatory!!!! I shall do an exploratory climb and see if I feel safe before going any further.

Hopefully, photos sometime tomorrow

[MysteryMan]

OK, I have taken some photos and uploaded to PhotoBucket __http://s670.photobucket.com/user/MysteryMan2/library/Sat%20Dish

Hope they are useful to someone to identify what I need and whether this is a DIY job or I need to call in the professionals.

A few more details.....I live in North West England and use the dish to watch satellites from 1W to 28.2E

Thanks

[nml]

I am moving this to the LNB discussion section because I think that you will get better results from our members. It does look like a monoblock but with only one cable attached and it does look very old. May be time for an update dish and lnb.

[MysteryMan]

I am moving this to the LNB discussion section because I think that you will get better results from our members. It does look like a monoblock but with only one cable attached and it does look very old. May be time for an update dish and lnb.

Thanks!

[MysteryMan]

I am moving this to the LNB discussion section because I think that you will get better results from our members. It does look like a monoblock but with only one cable attached and it does look very old. May be time for an update dish and lnb.

OK, I will take your suggestion on board and treat myself to a new dish and LNB.

It will be attached to a motor with vertical pole - actually, the pole is slightly off vertical - is that normal?

Are there any dishes/LNBs that are the ones to go for?

Also, where is a good place to buy? I looked on Goldwafers, but, could not see any dishes for sale.

[jallen01]

Personally, I think you need a new mono-bloc but I don't think you need a new dish as they don't really deteriorate until there is heavy corrosion (sea air or similar) or they have been damaged by being hit with something (or swung past the dish E-W limits and hit a wall or something like that).

Changing a mono-bloc is a LOT quicker, easier and cheaper than changing a dish, and you would still need a new LNB anyway even if the dish did prove in the end to be faulty - so change the LNB first and then see whether that has fixed the problem before going any further.

PS: just looked again at the pics of your dish and it looks very like a very old 80cm perforated AMSTRAD SKY dish - and in pretty good overall condition (can't see any physical damage or corrosion). Just binned one of those but only because of the slightly bigger s/h dishes that I had collected over the years and am now setting up.

Only problem I can see is that you may need to be careful in loosening the bolts holding the LNB to the arm because the original AMSTRAD plastic LNB holders get brittle after a long time - but I seem to see that this has already been replaced by something else. Anyway, spray some good quality penetrating fluid on all the bolts around the LNB a few days before you actually want to change it - and the bolts and screws should then come apart without too much problem.

[skomedal]

Personally, I think you need a new mono-bloc

Question

Why fit a mono-bloc to a motorised setup?

Re. #1 "" It is connected to a motorised dish ""

[MysteryMan]

Personally, I think you need a new mono-bloc but I don't think you need a new dish as they don't really deteriorate until there is heavy corrosion (sea air or similar) or they have been damaged by being hit with something (or swung past the dish E-W limits and hit a wall or something like that).

Changing a mono-bloc is a LOT quicker, easier and cheaper than changing a dish, and you would still need a new LNB anyway even if the dish did prove in the end to be faulty - so change the LNB first and then see whether that has fixed the problem before going any further

Thanks for suggestion.

Just to demonstrate my ignorance, what is the difference between a Mono-bloc and an LNB, please?