Cold temps and transponder trouble ??

K

konstantinos

New member
I have a BEV satellite system (standard, not HD).

It's weird, but everytime the outside temperature falls below a certain level (say around -10 Celsius), all the even-numbered transponders' signal strength falls to "0" and I lose all the channels associated with them. The odd-numbered transponders are solid (95%-100% signal strength) all the time.

Then, when the temp warms up, they all come back (to the same signal strength as the odd-numbered).

It's really frustrating. The only thing different today is that these even-numbered transponders are out right now with the temp hovering around zero Celsius. Arrrgh !!

Have anyone seen this before? Any idea what is the cause and how to fix it?

Many thanks in advance.

Konstantinos
 
Low temperatures will contract metal. This is usually an indication of a poor connection somewhere - like the RF-coax connections.
 
Very interesting. I just got fed up of the same exact problem and started googling for BEV forums, and low and behold, a topic is already started with this same problem. In my case, it WAS the odd transponders, but now, it's the even ones. It's really annoying. Here's some info I can add to this "phenomenon"

It only happens on one of my receivers. On the other one it *seems* fine. They are both 3100's. That said, on the one that appears to work, sometimes I'll switch channels and the receiver appears to hang, without displaying the channel, just a black screen. If I switch channels back and forth a little, it eventually shows again.

I'm hoping that someone has some info on what I can look into to resolve this. I haven't taken a very close look at the dish, cause it's been cold and snowy outside, but there's nothing visibly wrong/blocking it. The wiring is very simple, and hasn't been touched, or moved in any manner. I don't feel like arguing over the phone again and paying 75$ to have a tech replace some wires or something dumb like that, so I'm hoping someone here can guide me to see if there's something I can fix before going that route.

Thanks!

***EDIT***

I posted this and saw the above reply afterwards. I checked the wiring, all seems fine. I'm going to try replacing the wiring to see what difference it makes. That said, is it possible the connections right at the dish are corroded?
 
It started happening to me a couple of years ago when I had a 3100. Since that time, I have added a 4100 and 5900-PVR to the original 3100, and I still have the same problem. I use the 3x4 switch, purchased at the Bell store. My dish has the dual LNBF. Both LNBF lines are connected to the switch.

When the even-#'d transponders go out, they got out on all three units, simultaneously and consistently.

I read somewhere once that there is voltage switch that switches between the even- and odd- transponders. Once requires 14V, the other 18V. Seems that the LNBF is not getting one of the voltages.

Anyways, I've checked all my connections and they seem solid. I used high-quality RG-6
cabling with exterior-grade connectors and all-weather boot protectors. The 3x4 switcher is also grounded.

Not sure how to proceed either. Could be that my LNBF is faulty. Can I swap it out for a new one (or one I can pick up at the local surplus shop).
 
Two years ago I was losing my signal for the even transponders. The problem was that the connections at the dish were corroded. Once I fixed that I haven't had a problem since.
 
Thanks for the info. If you don't mind me asking more details, what exactly was corroded in your case? Was it the copper coax wire itself or the threads of connectors.

And do you simply clean things up or cut new connections?
 
Corroded threads are not as much of a problem as the copper would be
If you have an OMEGA 3x4 switch, that could be the cause as well, as they are very flaky
Try bypassing the switch if you can (use a F-81/barrel connector) to connect the line from the LNB to the line going to the receiver
I'm guessing it is the switch (especially if its an OMEGA, or the LNB)
Good luck, and if you can't find the problem, spring is coming, so no more -10 till next year!:D
 
I'm pretty sure I have the Omega switch, but I don't think it's the culprit here.

This problem existed before I got the switch (ie when I had just one cable line running to one receiver) and when it does happen now, it hits all my receivers simulaneously. It's just a hunch, but I think that if it was the switch, the dropping transponders would not be global across all my receivers; rather it would randomly affect a different number of receivers each time.

I'll have a look a look at all my copper ends . . . when the weather warms up.

Thanks again.

P.S. The switch located outside the house. My house was a new build and unfortunately the Rogers tech pulled ends of the coax lines that were installed (and originally left running into the basement) to outside the house before it was bricked up. I guess they assumed I would be getting Rogers and they wanted to make it easier to install their weather box outside the house.
 
As an aside, regarding the 3x4 switch, do I need to connect both of the LNB outputs to the switch or can I get away with just connecting one of them. I did notice on the input side of the switch there was one LNB input with a "14V" label and another with a "18V" label. I hooked one of the LNB lines to the 14V and the other to the 18V.

Should I have done this? If I should use just one of the inputs on the switch, which one should I use.

Thanks in advance.
 
The connectors were corroded. So I just cut the coax and put new connectors on and my problem was solved.
 
For preventative maintenance, it is a good idea to replace all outdorr connectors every 3 years or so. Do it at your convenience (i.e. summer) rather than wait for a problem when there is 14 feet of snow and wind blowing -23 degrees :)
 
Switches generally require at least 2 inputs (13v and 18v), some 4 or more. Check out the installation forum as it has pictures and all the info you need. No need to hijack this thread.
 
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