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In trying to set up my tripod system, I'm having trouble getting and holding my receive signal. The signal level most often reads about 15, and when it does, it doesn't matter WHERE the antenna is aimed the signal stays at a consistent 15.
Once in a while the signal does respond correctly (varies when I move the aim point), and during one of those times I LOCKED the aim point for a signal level of about 70. Typically within about a minute, the REPORTED signal level drops back below 30, sometimes saying 0 or 1 or 12 to 17 or 29. Then it'll jump back to 72 or somewhere in the 50s. and then back below 30. All this without moving the dish aim point. Sounded like an intermittent cable problem...
I've tried 4 sets of cables with no noticeable difference in the signal level behavior - So, I'd say it DOESN'T seem to be the cables or connectors (I'm connected directly from the 7000s modem to the receiver with no intermediate jumper cables).
I typically use a simple "signal finder" (the type used to aim TV dishes) to get much better feedback in aiming the Hughesnet dish. Works great in conjunction with the PC OPI to make sure I'm aimed at the right satellite.
Anyway, here's an interesting observation: I learned several years ago that applying 18 volts (from two 9 volt batteries) to the OUTPUT port of the signal finder provides it with power to read signal levels and do it's tone output. Plugging the INPUT port of the finder onto the HN LNB (LNB = Low Noise Buffer = receive head) allows the signal finder to locate satellites very nicely (although not necessarily the CORRECT satellite) - without any connection at all to the HN modem.
Here's the interesting part - As long as the signal finder (WITH the 18 volt batteries) is applied, the signal behaves nicely (varies with aim point and drops if I put my hand in front of the head). When I DISCONNECT the batteries and plug in the receive cable from the modem (thru the signal finder), the receiver CONTINUES working properly (as evidenced by the signal level changing with aim point). After a short time the signal goes back to its intermittent pattern.
That got me wondering about the DC supply voltage being applied to the receiver (thru the receive cable). Measuring it at the cable shows only about 13.4 volts dc (as opposed to the 18 volts I was applying from the batteries which gets the receiver working again).
My HN power block provides 19.5 volts to the HN modem. It's spec'd at 19.5 volts at 2.85 amps. The voltage appearing on the receive cable end is only 13.4 volts, open circuit. The loaded voltage (ie, when plugged into the receive head is about the same.
QUESTION: Is my power block correct for the HN7000s (Model YM2051A, Part Number 1500089-0001)?
QUESTION: Does anyone know what the cable voltage SHOULD be? Please disconnect the receive cable from your WORKING setup, measure the voltage at the end of the cable with a voltmeter, and let me know what it reads.
Here's my thinking:
1. Maybe my modem POWER BLOCK is incorrect for the HN7000S. I upgraded to HN7000S from DW7000 last year. I've had this same problem "occasionally" since then, but never this badly.
2. Maybe my MODEM is faulty and is not supplying a high enough voltage to the receive head (13.4 volts from 19.5 volt supply). (Otherwise, why would giving the LNB a "kick" with 18 volts from my signal finder get it working for a few minutes?)
3. Maybe my LNB is faulty and the 18 volt "kick" gets it working again temporarily.
4. Maybe I'm missing some other clue to this wildly intermittent behavior. Any suggestions??
Thanks, Jack
Posts: 4 | From: North Carolina - for now | Registered: May 2005
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In a message dated 11/20/2010 10:22:47 A.M. US Mountain Standard Tim, RVInternetBySatellite@yahoogroups.com writes: Re: Need HELP with HN7000S signal level Posted by: "Don Bradner" donb@arcatapet.com donbradner Date: Sat Nov 20, 2010 9:06 am ((PST))
A quick answer on the voltage:
Your LNB is actually two distinct LNBs, one Horizontal and one Vertical. They are voltage selected - 13V selects Vertical and 18V selects Horizontal.
Don - That's a great piece of information! OK, does that mean I can switch my settings "somehow" to select the Horizontal LNB? Will selecting it cause the modem to provide the 18V instead of the 13V? How do I change the receive polarization setting?
As far as I know I haven't changed any settings since last time I used my setup two weeks ago (in a different area in AZ) - how would a change have occurred?
Do you think this explains all the problems I'm seeing?
Thanks much, Jack
Posts: 4 | From: North Carolina - for now | Registered: May 2005
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I don't think you have said anywhere what satellite/transponder you are assigned to, but whatever it is there is only one "correct" polarity. If you go through registration installer and choose to set the values manually you can set the wrong one, but that's about the only way (one of the many reasons not to use the manual settings).
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My designated sat/xpdr is AMC9/990MHz. I just noticed now, however, that the 3 transponders on AMC9 (990, 1390, and 1430) ALL have VERTICAL Rx polarizations.
Since I'm only seeing consistent signal levels when applying 18V to the LNB (implying use of the Horizontal receiver), that suggests that I must be aimed at the WRONG satellite. Do you agree?
Also, since I see no signal variation at all (when changing aim point) with the 13V cable plugged in, that implies that maybe my 13V VERTICAL LNB has failed. That might explain why I can't see the correct (vertically polarized) satellite. Does that make sense to you?
Is there any way to test this theory (other than substituting a known-good LNB)? If not, any ideas on where I could find a used LNB to do the test?
Can you think of anything else that would explain my erratic behavior - well, not mine personally - but my tripod setup.
Thanks, Jack
Posts: 4 | From: North Carolina - for now | Registered: May 2005
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Jack, You are confusing the heck out of me. Where are you getting a 13v cable? A 18v cable? Are you not using the 120v Hughes power supply for your modem? The power to the radio is selected by the modem and transmitted via coax cable, isn't it? Gary
-------------------- DSL & Verizon Jetpack - formerly F1 Datastorm w/2-Watt BUC | D3 3.9.6w | HN7000s 5.8.0.82 | AMC9 - 83W/1290 H/H | 33Msps | BOW SL3 SWM HDTV | Linksys WRT54GS See my current location Posts: 1194 | From: Debary, Florida | Registered: May 2003
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I would suggest that you do this: Run Registration Installer on a satellite/transponder combination that is Horizontal Receive. Could be any satellite, and you can stop after you get a good signal. Then back up and try using Registration Installer choosing a different satellite/transponder that is Vertical receive. If you can always hit a Horizontal and can't hit a Vertical, regardless of satellite, that would prove the LNB was the likely culprit since you already know you have the proper voltage.
Before doing the above, make sure you have a current config file as described in the article in the reference forum here. Any older config file will have a number of transponders that are inactive, which won't help you in this experiment.
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