Dish changes messed up Motosat automatic dishes

[AFChap]

Yesterday after moving to a new location, our automatic Motosat dish would not lock onto satellites -- just searched and searched and finally shut down. I did it again and watched the Dish setup screen on the TV and saw it find the 119 sat but not stop there.

After running through the normal trouble-shooting steps I called Motosat tech support. They were aware of the problem. It seems Dish Network did a massive system change in the past couple of days, changing all transponders related to the 110 sat. So now Motosat has to write new software for the automatic dish so it can find and lock onto the satellites!! They estimate anywhere from a couple of days to a week or more depending on whether or not Dish is finished with their changes.

In the meantime, I went through the setup again and when it hit the 119 sat I turned off the Nomad 2 controller. Motosat said some users have done this, then gone up on the roof and skewed the dish by hand to hit the 110. I didn't try that as we are moving again in a few days.

When the new software is ready, you can download it and update your controller with a 9 to 15 serial cable, or you can get them to send a module to plug into the controller to download the software.

[AFChap]

Yesterday after moving to a new location, our automatic Motosat dish would not lock onto satellites -- just searched and searched and finally shut down. I did it again and watched the Dish setup screen on the TV and saw it find the 119 sat but not stop there.

After running through the normal trouble-shooting steps I called Motosat tech support. They were aware of the problem. It seems Dish Network did a massive system change in the past couple of days, changing all transponders related to the 110 sat. So now Motosat has to write new software for the automatic dish so it can find and lock onto the satellites!! They estimate anywhere from a couple of days to a week or more depending on whether or not Dish is finished with their changes.

In the meantime, I went through the setup again and when it hit the 119 sat I turned off the Nomad 2 controller. Motosat said some users have done this, then gone up on the roof and skewed the dish by hand to hit the 110. I didn't try that as we are moving again in a few days.

When the new software is ready, you can download it and update your controller with a 9 to 15 serial cable, or you can get them to send a module to plug into the controller to download the software.

[Olive]

AFChap, Do you know when this happened? I set up Friday afternoon without a problem. Am just wondering am I ok or do I have to go through the reprogramming when or before I move from here if a few days.

[AFChap]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">when this happened </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
My problem was about 3:15 Friday afternoon Mountain Time. The tech I talked to said Dish had made the changes in the last couple of days. He also said they had a similar problem a couple of weeks ago that affect some customers. I suspect it depends on the antenna and controller each customer has. Mine is an MD500 with Nomad 2 controller with original software almost 30 months old. From what he said, if my dish didn't have to skew as part of the setup, there would be no problem.

[Olive]

Thanks. SO far so good for me. I have the old internet dish with dish on it also. Now I know if I have a problem what to check for. I'll check to see if I need the update. Hope they have it ready for you soon. I have a Winegard dome to fall back on.

[K-Star]

apparently if one was already setup it was transparent. I saw no change in my service. I guess if one shut down prior to the change and tried to setup after the change got dinged.

i myself am in Kutztown, PA and have been trying (on and off) for 4 months to get signal from the 129 bird. NADA. Oh well, maybe when I head south.

[AFChap]

UPDATE...

I talked with Motosat support today and they told me the new software is available for download. You have three options to do the software update:
1 - Download it and update you controller yourself. You need a computer with serial port, and probably Windows XP as you need Hyperterminal to do the installation (which isn't part of Vista). You ALSO need a special serial cable from Motosat.
2 - Request an update module from Motosat. Simple to use by just plugging it into the serial port on the rear of the controller. ONLY CATCH is that they don't have the modules available, and won't for at least a month due to the large number of customers affected.
3 - Take the controller to a Motosat dealer and pay them to do the upgrade. The dealer I contacted here in Las Vegas told me he hasn't had much luck updating controllers -- he recommended requesting a controller swap with Motosat -- fat chance with probaby a few thousand customers in the same boat!!!

So it seems like none of the options are very workable for me right now!!!

[Bill Adams]

We will be in Las Vegas after we leave the Reno Air Races. I suspect we will be there by Tuesdays and we will be around for a week or 2 before heading for the Albuq. Balloon Fiesta.
If you would like me to update your Nomad2 we should be around the Sam's Town area and would be glad to help.

[AFChap]

Bill

Thanks for the offer to help. I sent you a PM.

[dirko]

Hi Ho: I have a KVH L3 Trackvision system and have experienced a similar problem. Actually, I can acquire and track on 119, but can't track the 110 satellite. I too have tried the "turn off the tracker" trick and find it works if I am fast enough.

Does anyone know if this problem is the same one that you are discussing? I have an appointment to tack the thing in, but it works perfectly on 119, so I can't see how it can be the Trackvision system. The problem is that I tried a week ago to update the software for over an hour with KVH on the telephone. That worked just fine but didn't solve the problem.

Dirk

[AFChap]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Does anyone know if this problem is the same one </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
That certainly sounds like the same problem. Motosat told me my controller first finds 119, then moves on to skew the dish to find 110. But because Dish Network changed all the transponders for 110 the system cannot acquire 110 and will eventually just give up and shut down.