Tracstar SV360/Directv/Texas

[jimnkee]

My Tracstar SV360 will not lock verify DTV 101. I am told this is a problem in Texas, California and Florida. I have done a recal but still have the same problem. Does anyone have any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance.

[Sharpspurs]

I have the exact same equipment. My directv guru says it will all come to an end with our SV360 very soon. TX and FL are among the first to lose the old signals.

No retrofit available according to him.

I'll be watching this topic in case someone else comes up with a fix. However, I think we're out of luck.

[Sharpspurs]

What is your software version?

[docj]

Originally Posted by Sharpspurs

I have the exact same equipment. My directv guru says it will all come to an end with our SV360 very soon. TX and FL are among the first to lose the old signals.

The internet has been full of rumors of doom and gloom that DirecTV is going to end SD broadcasts and all the old equipment will be obsolete.

The actual situation isn't anywhere near as bleak. DirecTV stated that in 2019 it will stop broadcasting MPEG2 SD channels but that's not at all the same as saying that all SD broadcasts would stop. SD will continue using MGEP4 encoding.

Actually, the rumors are that some SD channels on the 101 satellite might be replaced by HD channels which means that some of the old dome systems might, once again, be able to get at least some DirecTV HD.

[jimnkee]

My software version is 3.16C. I've ordered a usb/serial cable to be able to upgrade to 3.16G which is the latest version. Hopefully that will fix it. I had a RV satellite guy tell me it still won't but in TX, FL and Calif. I'm going to do the upgrade anyway and post the results here.

[docj]

There are a lot of rumors floating around the internet about what DirecTV is or is not doing either now or in the future (2019). Despite what someone was told by some unnamed "satellite guy" who has no direct link to DirecTV, there appears to be no actual announcement from DirecTV about any future satellite re-alignments.

This all seems to have started in April with this blog post: Solid Signal Blog - THE END IS COMING: DIRECTV announces end of SD service

But there has been nothing from DirecTV to confirm this. The rumors appear to be based on the fact that the satellite carrying the SD channels will reach an end of life situation in a couple of years and, therefore, maybe SD channels will be cancelled.

Except the channel assignments are totally under DirecTV's control. The fact that SD is currently on the 101 bird and HD on the 99 and 103 is not because they have to be. So even the end of life of the 101 satellite would not, necessarily, result in the loss of the SD channels.

As for the problems in TX and FL that your satellite guy warned about, it would be interesting to see what rumor mill he got that one from. Some people are attributing DirecTV issues to a change Dish made a few months ago and those two things aren't even related.

Remember, satellite guys are installers. That's what they've been trained to do; it doesn't mean they know very much about how the stuff works or what changes are being planned

[Sharpspurs]

Originally Posted by jimnkee

My software version is 3.16C. I've ordered a usb/serial cable to be able to upgrade to 3.16G which is the latest version. Hopefully that will fix it. I had a RV satellite guy tell me it still won't but in TX, FL and Calif. I'm going to do the upgrade anyway and post the results here.

I did the 3.16G update and it was successful, but im in Iowa. Please update us on your progress.

[Sharpspurs]

docj,
You seem to be very knowageble regarding DirecTV. I just purchased my coach and it has the Tracstar SV360 jimnkee is discussing. The expert guy we are using for software upgrades on the Trackstar is Will Newsum in Florida. He understands the Trackstar and offers a software upgrade that requires he send a RS-232 box he sends with instructions. Unlike many advertising on the internet Will is very responsive and so far he's demonstrated great knowledge of this equipment. I think he only charged $30 for the software upgrade.

My understanding, which could be incorrect, is that the Trackstar will not upgrade to receive HD channels. Nothing wrong with the Trackstar hardware but there is no continued support for software upgrades needed to keep up with DirecTV. Therefore as the SD channels are moved or replaced my Trackstar will become obsolete. In addition to this Will has informed me that his customers are losing all contact with 101 in East Texas, So. Cal, Washington and a few other spots around the country. This is based on his direct contact with customers and attempts to upgrade to the last software 3.16G.
The Trackstar SV360 has a good track record and I sure appreciate the build quality I've seen so far. That being said I'd sure like to keep it working for a couple more years.
Do you have information that would be different than Will's assessment of the future use or our Trackstar equipment?

Thanks

[docj]

Originally Posted by Sharpspurs

docj,


My understanding, which could be incorrect, is that the Trackstar will not upgrade to receive HD channels. Nothing wrong with the Trackstar hardware but there is no continued support for software upgrades needed to keep up with DirecTV. Therefore as the SD channels are moved or replaced my Trackstar will become obsolete. In addition to this Will has informed me that his customers are losing all contact with 101 in East Texas, So. Cal, Washington and a few other spots around the country. This is based on his direct contact with customers and attempts to upgrade to the last software 3.16G.

Will's statement that the Tracstar won't be able to receive HD is based, I believe, on the assumption that DirecTV HD channels will always remain on the Ka satellites. That is how things are today and he is correct that you can't receive Ka band on your system. So he is correct as things stand today.

He also, I think, is reacting to the rumor that DirecTV has announced the end of SD programming in 2019. As I stated in my previous post, as far as I can tell that is a stretch assumption based on a rather oblique statement that MPEG-2 SD programming would end in 2019. It's not at all clear that this means that all SD programming will end since some of it already is broadcast with MPEG-4 encoding. There's a lot of discussion about this on the several DirecTV online forums.

However, if some SD channels on the 101 satellite are eliminated there is at least a rumor going around that some of those transponders will be used for HD channels. That would mean that some HD might move back to the Ku band and, therefore, could be received by your Trackstar.

The transponders on the satellites don't know the difference between SD and HD nor do the LNBs on your Tracstar. Many systems used to be able to receive HD until DirecTV moved all the HD channels to 99 and 103 using Ka band.

As for the inability of some of Will's customers to receive the 101 satellite, I did spend some time researching that issue and from what I found it appears to be a TracStar problem and not a DirecTV one. I found reference to a problem with TracStars not properly switching to the 101 satellite when software versions 3.06 or higher are installed. You can read more about that issue on p22 of this manual: SV360 Tech Manual | RV Satellite Systems

From what I read the problem has nothing to do with where the customers are located; it appears to be entirely a hardware/software issue with the Tracstar.

You Tracstar was designed when DirecTV was broadcasting on the 101, 110 and 119 birds. That was more than 5 years ago which is simply eons in terms of electronics hardware. It continues to serve you well. But it is almost inevitable that at some point in the future its obsolescence will necessitate installing a newer system. JMO

Joel (AKA docj)

[jimnkee]

I updated my system to 3.16G and it didn't make any difference. I'm still unable to pick up directv satellites. The system will lock onto 101 but will not verify it. I've been told by three different satellite guys that my SV360 system will no longer work in most areas of Texas, Florida and California. I've also been told this by a rep at Cobham (new owners of Tracstar). Cobham no longer supports the SV360 system.

[jimnkee]

Update. I ran a re-calibration on the unit and it now picks up DTV 101!!!

[AVguru]

hey guys do any of you have the files? I have a usb to serial and null modem. need to update a sv360. tia

[jimnkee]

This page has the download and instructions on how to install it.

In search of a software update tracstar sv360 in-motion

[OTRA4752]

Originally Posted by jimnkee

Update. I ran a re-calibration on the unit and it now picks up DTV 101!!!

Can you please specify which calibration you did, Temp Cal, magnetic, 0 cal?
Thank You