Motosat Nomad SD trouble - Help!

[Punks385RLS]

The used coach I recently purchased is equipped with a Motosat Nomad SD controller and HD-SL5 antenna. Unfortunately I cannot get the dish to deploy. I have power to the controller as the Stow, Search and Power LEDs on the controller come on when powered up. I thought the problem might be the controller firmware so I downloaded the latest firmware from Motosat's website and it appears it installed successfully per the update instructions using the SD card. Even after installing the new firmware the dish will not deploy. I also cannot get the controller into configuration mode to program the mount type. I contacted Motosat and they were not helpful at all. The technician told me to test the antenna motors using a 9-volt drill battery. While the manual has a color coded wiring schematic, the cable at the dish is insulated with a jacket and Motosat could not provide a pinout diagram for the harness connector at the dish to identify which wire was associated with each pin! I could not believe they could not provide this! So very frustrating. Tonight I powered up the controller and tested for DC voltage to the dish at the harness right out of the controller. I'm pretty sure the problem is not in the antenna or the cable to the antenna as I had no DC voltage to the motors or the dish LED at the controller harness. The documentation indicates that the controller will either flash error codes via the LEDs or in a log file on the SD card if you first create a log files folder on the card. I get no flashing LEDs or nothing in the log file. It appears the controller is just frozen up. My plan is to send it in to Motosat. If anyone has any experience troubleshooting this equipment I'd greatly appreciate the feedback. Thanks.

Paul

[saydiver]

Please post your problem on Datastorm Users - The Premier Site For Mobile Satellite Internet and TV

Sue

[justaroamer]

It does sound like a controller problem and your best bet would be to send it in for repair. If it is the SD model and not the newer SD II, you should upgrade. You can do the motor test at the controller by removing the connector at the back. I have seen techs use 12 or 18v drill batts. to do this. If you don't know who the installing dealer was, you might get some help from Global Satellite Solutions Internet Connections Anywhere Welcome . Call them and talk to Roger or Phil. They have installed 2 systems for me and they are quite knowledgable and should be very helpful. They travel alot installing systems all over the country and may be able to come to you.
The MotoSat is a great system when working and if you talked to Kurt there, I can understand your frustration, but don't give up it will work.

[Punks385RLS]

Thanks for the help folks. I really appreciate it. I would like to perform the motor test but without the pinout diagram at the harness connector (at the dish) I would not be sure which wire I was applying power to. I did send the controller to Motosat yesterday so maybe I'll have a working system shortly!

thanks again!

[justaroamer]

You can perform the test from the controller connector, that way you also test the harness too. If you want to do it at the antenna, you will need a second harness to connect to the antenna connector on the roof.

[Ed-Sommers]

I just looked at my manual for the nomad 2, and the pin out info is there. Download at Motosat I believe.

Ed

[Punks385RLS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers I just looked at my manual for the nomad 2, and the pin out info is there. Download at Motosat I believe. Ed

I downloaded the manual and it contains the color coded wiring schematic but it does not show the corresponding pin connections at the roof harness.

I could run the motor tests at the controller connection harness but if the motors don't run then it could be the wiring harness or the motor itself. I would also need someone else to help troubleshoot - someone on the roof and myself at the controller.

[rvjimmy]

Just a thought, have you had the dome off to see if the belt is broken.When I had a Moto-stat it would not hook up and the belt was broken. This might not apply in your case.