Direct TV-No Signal

[slabman]

OK, this is driving me nuts! My King Dome 9762-LP sat. dome is 3 yrs. old and has never failed me....'till now? I've been parked under trees for the past 6 months and was using a portable dish to get Direct TV on two receivers in the coach. So yesterday when we pulled out and headed south for the winter I found we have zero signal from all transponders. In fact, when going into the DTV menu on BOTH DTV receivers, all I get is an item entitled "Parental Favs & Setup". When entering that menu all I get is the screen indicating signal strength from each transponder(which was all zeros). So what happened to my "Settings" menu?....The one you initially get which walks you through the type of dish, etc.? I would love to review the setup to be sure something hadn't changed in the setup parameters, etc. But how? I've powered the receivers and dome controllers up and down as well as activating receiver reset buttons, but to no avail.

My King Dome controller says the following- "Run: Lock Verify, DTV 101, Now on ? ==>". In the past it's read "Run:Locked", but not now. It doesn't seem like it's seeing the satellite, but how can I make the dish find it if I can't get into the setup? I'm wondering if doing the King Dome initialization and re-calibration would help?

Anyone else ever had this issue?

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slabman OK, this is driving me nuts! My King Dome 9762-LP sat. dome is 3 yrs. old and has never failed me....'till now? I've been parked under trees for the past 6 months and was using a portable dish to get Direct TV on two receivers in the coach. So yesterday when we pulled out and headed south for the winter I found we have zero signal from all transponders. In fact, when going into the DTV menu on BOTH DTV receivers, all I get is an item entitled "Parental Favs & Setup". When entering that menu all I get is the screen indicating signal strength from each transponder(which was all zeros). So what happened to my "Settings" menu?....The one you initially get which walks you through the type of dish, etc.? I would love to review the setup to be sure something hadn't changed in the setup parameters, etc. But how? I've powered the receivers and dome controllers up and down as well as activating receiver reset buttons, but to no avail. My King Dome controller says the following- "Run: Lock Verify, DTV 101, Now on ? ==>". In the past it's read "Run:Locked", but not now. It doesn't seem like it's seeing the satellite, but how can I make the dish find it if I can't get into the setup? I'm wondering if doing the King Dome initialization and re-calibration would help? Anyone else ever had this issue?

If you are looking for the setup screen it's right there "Parental Favs & Setup".

[wa8yxm]

I agree it's SETUP you need on the receiver

QUESTION: How do you switch from ground mount to King-Dome, Do you use a switch? If so verify it's in the KING DOME position. or do you manually swap cables.. If so make sure you swapped cables

I have a very strong suspicion it's one of these.

Had a member here with a problem not unlike yours a while ago.. he had a strong signal on his automatic dish display but no signal on his DTV receiver The Auto Dish said Sat: 119 Signal: 94 or something like that.

I see you did not have his problem (When I left it said Sat: 101 and the receiver was displaying televison shows)

It is possible you are parked in just exactly the wrong spot.. But I truly suspect a switch/cable issue.. Inspect the switch and/or cable connections, if you swap cables inspect the ends those crimp on connectors often crimp.....off as it were (Why I use compression fittings.. I've only had one of those pull off, and it took power gear to pull it off too)

[slabman]

Bill, when I hit "Parental Favs and Setup" it then switches to the signal strength screen. That's where I got the zero signal strength. Today I verified with DTV that this is the only screen I'll get when there is no signal....so it has to be the satellite dish/dome. Unfortunately, King Controls is closed 'till Monday.

I switch between dishes by swapping cables. I've traced the cable from the controller to the receiver, so that's not the issue. And the rear receiver has the same problem, so it's not isolated to the hookup to just one receiver. That leaves the cabling between dish and controller as the problem. That's why I'm wondering if the dish has lost its way and needs initializing and re-calibrating. As for location, no, it's had this issue over the 300 mile trip from Dallas to San Antonio......don't think that same tree has followed me all that way! And yup....COMPRESSION ends on those cables....no bent wire.

[hamguy]

I am not familiar with that particular dome but is it a tracking dome (I looked it up and it is)? Do you tell it your ZIP code or otherwise give your location? And as another asked, how do you switch b/t external dish and dome? OH, do you have the tracking motor turned on?

[wa8yxm]

Ok, I"m out of ideas.. This is where I turn it over to the professionals.

Bill Adams.. he is a professional.

Oh I do have one more idea... But you have already addressed it (Bad receiver) Odds both receivers are bad... very low

Suggestion... Get a cheap A/B switch (Google "Antenna Switch" the Google store has or had recently them for $2.00 each.. that's the switch) and hook the King Dome to "A" and the basement or bulkhead connection to "B".. the remaining connector (Common) goes to the receiver's LNB.

Makes it easier to swap w/o cabling

NOTE: if you swap cables with power on... The chances of killing the receiver go way up

I have one dead receiver.. I have yet to pull the cover to see if I can find the bad part. But when I hooked it to my Motosat dome.. No joy.

Pulled it and tested. No output voltage to LNB on the LNB line

Tried a different receiver (I've got a box full) and... The dome locked on before I could finish

[slabman]

Yes, this IS a tracking dome and has worked flawlessly since new. As for switching, I mentioned I swapped cables. This means I take the cable from the remote dish and attach to the DTV receiver. Then, when changing to the rooftop dome, I then attach its coax cable to the DTV receiver. Hey, what more can I say?

The tracking motor is integral to the controller module, so it has to be on to function. As I mentioned, I've used this and another KVH tracking dome for years, so this is not the first time I've had issues with a signal. But this is the FIRST time this particular dish has been problematic.

All I'm wondering is if others may have had a similar issue and did a re-initialization and re-cal. solve the problem?

[Bill Adams]

If you have the Trac-King then there is also a zone setting that you can change. The dome is not locking on so you need to take whatever actions are available to reset/recalibrate/rezone to see if you can get the antenna functioning properly again.

[a k]

Dis you forget to change the dish type in the setup?

[steelheadbluesman]

When I thought I had issues with my Kingdome, (although it turned out the dome was fine), the support guy at KD was able to very quickly check my unit and determine that the problem was elsewhere. The guy knew his stuff! They can diagnose a failure inside your KD unit remotely. I would call them Monday a.m. to resolve any problems with the KD unit itself, and go from there. Support phone is 800-982-9920, central time, I think. Hope this helps a little.