TracVision R4SL Help

[evanskl]

We have a TracVision R4SL satellite system on our 2009 Southwind. We set the system up with Dish Network when we purchased the motor home last year, and it worked without any problem. We don’t keep the receiver activated unless we are going to use it (most parks have cable or we are able to pick up local “air” signals).
Recently we tried to setup the system in the driveway in preparation for a trip and found that we could not locate the satellites and when we run a check switch we are getting “No Switch Found”. We’ve run the check switch many, many times….and nothing. So we set up our old trusty tripod and dish, and what do you know….there are the satellites.
Where do we start troubleshooting? We’ve check connections, the A & B Keys are in…..we’re at a loss. What could have changed?
Any help at all would be appreciated.

[FreshAir]

Just for starters, you said you checked connections, hopefully you do have the R4 dome plugged to the receiver andyour not still on your tripod cable? Brings back memories for me. DW reminded of that. I use the R4 with Dish, a311 receiver, and on occasion have had some problems, usually my fault, operator error stuff.
After you turn the receiver on and then turn on the R4, does your R4 start looking for a sat.? It should find one and you can check by doing the Menu 611. I don't think the check switch operation will do any good unless it locates one after turning it on, could take it 10 minutes while initalizing. If it does, while doing the ck sw does it seek randomly occassionly stopping when it sees a sat?
Only time I needed to call KVH was a year or so ago for bassically same as your problem. They said Dish had changed some satelite identifying info which affected some KVH's. They had me hook my laptop to the R4 and we updated the software. Only real problem I've had. My R4 is an 2007.
Just sounds to me like your receiver and R4 arnt't talking, connection.

Sorry, not much help but might get others to jump in.

[evanskl]

Thanks for the response.....

The R4 does search for satellites for 30 - 40 seconds then stops like "mission accomplished".......that's when I start the check switch.....as for the status bar (menu 6, 1, 1)........we see no indication of a satellite signal.

[lllkrob]

Try running the check switch function without the A/B keys installed. Also in that menu section you can manually test for satellite signal strength. See if it will lock on to either 110 or 119 and show a signal strength test. By the way you did enter your zip code into the menu ??

[evanskl]

Yup, zip code is in..........

[lllkrob]

Which sats are you looking for 110, 119, and 129 or 61.5, 72, and 77?

[evanskl]

We're looking for 110 & 119. Run check switch without the A & B keys......like maybe the R4 will reset it's self to DirectTV, then put the keys back and try again?? Worth a try.

[FreshAir]

Possibly the R4 could have been reset to look for Direct sat 101. You said you have the AB switch. I believe you can select Direct or Dish sat's with the AB switch. To do so I think you press the select button for about 5 seconds for Direct and about 10 seconds for the Dish sat's. The lights will start blinking when it changes. Someway there is a way to tell if your on Dish or Direct, instructions somewhere. I've seen this happen before.
Pat

[evanskl]

Ok FreshAir, I'm confused now.....our R4 has the A and B keys, not a switch (see below)....no button that I know of.

[FreshAir]

Hmmm! Kvh must have changed some things as mine has a handheld device with a cable that plugs into the switch panel that turns my dome on/off. It has a select button, three led's, Sat A, Sat B, and Error, and info pertaining to the meaning of the led's. When I bought my KVH the handheld was optional and was referred to as an AB switch. It can switch satelites and some other minor setup things such as Direct/Dish selection. I'm not very up to speed on it's full usage but KVH had me do somes things if I had the switch otherswise they would loan me a switch to assist in trouble shooting the R4.
Possibly they now incorporate it in all the newer KVH's and it probably does the same functions as mine????. How???? KVH tecs have really been good to work with for me.
Sorry, didn't mean to throw in anymore confusion factors.
I'm thinking the only time I see "no sat found" has been when the R4 was not connected to the receiver otherwise I usually get the wrong switch number on a Ck switch test. Just wondering, you have the SL, low profile model R4. Do you happen to have a high AC unit fairly close to the dome that might be blocking your SE line of sight to the Sats? Curious as to what receiver model you use, I'm using a 311 now. Good luck, I'keep thinking.
Pat

[FreshAir]

Another question, when you use your tri pod dish, do you remove your R4 coax cable and connect your tri pod cable to the receivers sat input? Or do you use another switch, also called an AB switch to connect your tri pod or the K4 to your receiver w/o having to manually disconnect and connect the coax to the receiver?
Pat

[lllkrob]

I think I would try running the check switch without A & B keys installed. My R4SL does not require any keys to operate in Dish 500 mode with a 211K receiver and has no problem finding the 110 & 119 sats. Mine however is an early production 2008 model and may have had the programing upgraded when I bought it already installed on the coach.

[evanskl]

Yes it is a R4sl, but no we're facing South so, the AC isn't causing a problem and the coax goes directly to the receiver, no A/B switch.

I'm stuck. Tomorrow I'm going to try removing the A B keys and run the check switch again.

Question...... How long should I wait between turning the R4 on and running the check switch? Like I said earlier the dish searches for 30 or so seconds and then stops....wait longer?

[lllkrob]

Normally on mine when I run check switch its usually within a minute or two of turning on the receiver and then turning on the R4SL. Usually just long enough to find the remote and punch in 6-1-1.