Movin' Vu Satellite Antenna motor just spins

[AA4WP]

This unit is the Winegard model 3500; it is a replacement for a couple of earlier models. Winegard has been very helpful in finally sending me a unit which worked flawlessly for about two years. The earlier units which were installed on my Journey five years ago failed to function properly. The current unit worked really well up until last Thursday.

For the past year the unit has become increasingly noisy, sounding as though it was coming apart. Last Thursday the noise changed; all I can hear is that of the motor spining; now no "seeking" sound is heard. I think the dish assembly has come loose.

I have done all the removal and installation of these dish replacements. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem?

The irony of all this is that the original antenna gave us no problem (model 0099); WI recalled this antenna and had the dealer to install a "better" model. That "better" model never worked. The tech at Winegard sent us two different replacements; the first did not work at all, and the second worked for a little while. It would not pass RF through the universal "joint". They finally sent me the model 3500 which did not have that slip joint, but rather had the facility to reverse the rotation after approximately 360 degree rotation, as needed. That one worked around two years and is the one which is currently not working.


Wendell

[AA4WP]

This unit is the Winegard model 3500; it is a replacement for a couple of earlier models. Winegard has been very helpful in finally sending me a unit which worked flawlessly for about two years. The earlier units which were installed on my Journey five years ago failed to function properly. The current unit worked really well up until last Thursday.

For the past year the unit has become increasingly noisy, sounding as though it was coming apart. Last Thursday the noise changed; all I can hear is that of the motor spining; now no "seeking" sound is heard. I think the dish assembly has come loose.

I have done all the removal and installation of these dish replacements. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem?

The irony of all this is that the original antenna gave us no problem (model 0099); WI recalled this antenna and had the dealer to install a "better" model. That "better" model never worked. The tech at Winegard sent us two different replacements; the first did not work at all, and the second worked for a little while. It would not pass RF through the universal "joint". They finally sent me the model 3500 which did not have that slip joint, but rather had the facility to reverse the rotation after approximately 360 degree rotation, as needed. That one worked around two years and is the one which is currently not working.


Wendell

[Bill Adams]

Take a look under the dome and see if the belt that drives the antenna movements have come loose or broken. If it's not a belt you should be able to see what is or is not moving and pinpoint the problem a bit more closely.

[AA4WP]

Bill Adams:

Well, I would have been really happy if it was a belt. I took off the dome today and initiated the system. Here is what I discovered:

The assembly rotated, slowly at first, the got to the end of circle travel and reversed (I could not detect a change in sound when it did the reversal). It continued on for a while, and shut down. Before it shut down, I noticed the elevation screw tried to operate (the motor came on) but no elevation occured. After the system shut off, I gently manually raised the assembly to the top of travel. I then went down and started the system up again and observed the following:

The assembly rotated, as before, one way then the other, the elevation decreased and rotated (searched?) again at a lower elevation, seemed to adjust (dish shudders) rotated again, then dish lowers again, assembly rotates again, then the last two motions reoccur. The dish finally gets to the lowest position. It never raises elevation.

It seems that either (1) the elevation motor only goes one way or (2) the logic to control the elevation won't tell it to go up.

Or is it a stripped screw in the elevation motor? I have no idea.

Any suggestions?

Wendell

P. S. I won't try to edit this posting.

[Bill Adams]

Well you certainly have found the source of the problem. If I recall properly the dish should search, lower, search, raise, search, lower, search, raise.....
I know I saw a similar problem a with a system we installed and I believe that we replaced the elevation motor (the box that turns the elevation worm screw) but I honestly can't remember. If you are certain that all the wires are properly connected related to the elevation motor it would have to be the motor or the brain itself.
I would call Winegard tech. support and describe it exactly as you have here. If they still carry parts for that model they should be able to accurately diagnose the problem.

[AA4WP]

Thank you, Bill:

I have worked with Winegard tech before. This is going on year six since we got the first unit. The coach came with a MV0099 which worked OK but was recalled and replaced with a newer (then) model which did not work well at all. They then sent me a replacement which I installed myself. It lasted a little while (the slip pass-through connector quit) and they then sent the newer model (the 3500) which worked reasonably well. I notice that they are always trying to improve their product. I don't know if I want to send it back to them or not for repair. I don't have the package anymore. Anyway, I'll give them a call tomorrow and see if I can impose on their good will again. They have been really good to me with their replacements.

I do see that they have yet a newer model, but it is a 12" model, not a 15" which should have a better signal response. And I don't want to have to spend a lot of money anymore. (Don't have it!)

Again, Thanks.

Wendell

I will not edit this posting.

[AA4WP]

Well, Bill, there has been a miracle!

I reset the dish model 311 receiver and lo and behold, the antenna evidently liked it, and found the satellites.

Go figure!

Wendell

[Bill Adams]

That is a miracle! Congratulations!