DIY DSTV Installation woes

[DCS]

Hey! So me and my flat mate have attempted to install DSTV. It consists of a HD PVR 2P decoder with extraview feeding a normal decoder in another room. We have got all the cables in place and hooked up correctly (I think)...

There is a dual LNB on the dish and we seem to have it pointed correctly using one of those ear phone thingees that go all high pitched...

Now the main decoder (HD PVR 2P) can not find the signal at all though the smaller normal decoder seems to get a signal. The signal strength is 100% and the signal quality is 89%, though when searching for bouquets it never finds anything.

My question is does the fact that the signal strength and quality sit at 100% and 89% mean that the dish is pointed correctly and the LNB is at the correct skew?

Turning the LNB slightly alters the signal quality so I seem to have it in the sweet spot at the moment, so I am not sure if I am not picking up signal because the dish is pointed wrong or if the settings on the decoder are wrong... I guess just having confirmation that the dish and LNB is correct will eliminate one possible problem...

Cheers!

 

[FrankCastle]

Disconnect the second decoder and try to find the signal on the HDPVR.
Check where the cables are plugged in as the problem might be there.

 

[DCS]

Disconnect the second decoder and try to find the signal on the HDPVR.
Check where the cables are plugged in as the problem might be there.

Thanks for the quick reply!

We have tried all that... Swapped cables around, disconnected the second decoder, disconnected the first decoder, checked and double checked the connectors on the end of the cables...

For now I just want to rule out if we have the dish pointed correctly.... Do you know if the signal strength and quality sit at 100% and 89% is the dish pointed correctly and the LNB at the correct skew?

 

[Smurfatefrog]

Those percentages should give you signal, but now how are you connecting both decoders using a twin LNB? You have a multiswitch?

 

[Juggy]

You may have to change the frequency that the PVR listens on. I remember having to do that at a mates place once. It depends on your area.

 

[Quantum Theory]

You may have to change the frequency that the PVR listens on. I remember having to do that at a mates place once. It depends on your area.

:wtf:

What does it listen to? How does it depend on your area? Maybe he ran of the complex system... This guy is in a complex, but he has his own dish up.

 

[Beachless]

The skew typically affects the amount of bouquets and the downloading of the program guide etc but you should get some channels if its about right

You need to check the network setting on the decoder to make sure they apply to your setup.
Also you might be aligned to the wrong satellite make sure you are pointing in the same direction as the other DSTV dishes not TopTV.

 

[Tacet]

Also you might be aligned to the wrong satellite make sure you are pointing in the same direction as the other DSTV dishes not TopTV.

Could easily be this - those "ear phone thingees" of yours picks up any satellite, not only the right one.

 

[MDE]

if you are getting signal on the second decoder is a start. The hd decoders are very sensitive to signal quality. The thing with the skew angle on the hd decoders is that even if it is 1mm out you might not get picture or signal at all even though you are getting on the single view decoder. What i suggest you do is eliminate the multiswitch for now and connect the two cables coming from the lnb straight to the hd decoder. Then fine tune the signal to suit the hd decoder. Once that is complete continue with the setup. Or just pay 350 bucks to get a guy out

 

[D3x!]

Could easily be this - those "ear phone thingees" of yours picks up any satellite, not only the right one.

Rofl and that is why he gets signal?

 

[Tacet]

Rofl and that is why he gets signal?

No idea.

What "signal" does the decoder actually show - incoming signal strength from a satellite (meaning DSTV, VSAT or TopTV), or only DSTV? I have more VSAT experience than DSTV experience, so I don't know what the decoder shows. The signal strength indicators that you use inline with your decoder will beep for just about any signal.

 

[D3x!]

No idea.

What "signal" does the decoder actually show - incoming signal strength from a satellite (meaning DSTV, VSAT or TopTV), or only DSTV? I have more VSAT experience than DSTV experience, so I don't know what the decoder shows. The signal strength indicators that you use inline with your decoder will beep for just about any signal.

Yes but I assume those signal level readings were from the decoder

And isn't top tv dishes pointed in a complete different direction anyway?