DirecTV and FSE -- WTF????

[TOTC]

Sometimes, my DirecTV shows Fox Sports en Espanol on Channel 616, then it changes to The N network then to Noggin.

What the hell, people!!!!

[geordienation]

Noggin hates soccer?

[wjarrettc]

Sounds to me like you you might a multiswitch or LNB problem with your setup.

I had a similar problem a few months back...I was periodically getting ShopNBC on FSE. I changed out the multiswitch and the problem went away.

Unless you subscribe to any of the spanish language packages, chances are the FSE is the only channel you watch that is on the 119 satellite so you may not notice the problem on any other channel but FSE.

FSE is on transponder B-27 of the 119 satellite. Noggin is A-27 on the 101. I'd bet dollars to donuts that either your multiswitch is bad or you have a line voltage problem on your coaxial run.

Do you have more than on receiver? Do they all exhibit the same problem? At the same time?

If it's happening on multiple receivers, I'd suspect the switch. If it's only one, then probably the cable run or (less probably) the receiver.

Call DirectTV. Ask to speak to "Advanced Support" if the first tech can't help you.

[danielmak]

I have only had DirecTV for 3 months but I wasn't getting FSE when the first installation was complete. They came back and installed an oval dish with a triple LNB (I also have a DVR). So in addition to the multi-switch problem you might have them install the proper hardware for a Spanish-language package even if all you need is FSE. All of that is to say, that I have never had the problem you describe so it is certainly a hardware issue. Take care.

[wjarrettc]

I have only had DirecTV for 3 months but I wasn't getting FSE when the first installation was complete. They came back and installed an oval dish with a triple LNB (I also have a DVR). So in addition to the multi-switch problem you might have them install the proper hardware for a Spanish-language package even if all you need is FSE. All of that is to say, that I have never had the problem you describe so it is certainly a hardware issue. Take care.

Yes, this is a real scam, in my opinion as I know at least one other BigSoccer poster that had this same problem. If they sell you the sportspack as part of the initial purchase, they have to give you a 3-LNB system so you can get FSE. The other poster I allude to had to do some wrangling with DirecTV but ultimately, they came back and installed a new system for him with the proper satellite/LNB combination.

Given that the original poster is sometimes seeing FSE and sometimes not, that would indicate that his system is at least a 3-LNB system. It's easy enough to check that under the satellite setup menus on the receiver though.

[Pints]

Sometimes, my DirecTV shows Fox Sports en Espanol on Channel 616, then it changes to The N network then to Noggin.

What the hell, people!!!!

N-Network and Noggin are the same channel.
Noggin is 6am - 6pm and N Network is 6pm - 6am.


I wish my Noggin would accidently switch to FSE. Course the wee one woudln't be too happy.:D

[texgator]

I added SportsPak and now they want to charge me $50 to "upgrade" my dish so that I can get FSE. Such crap. I should pay so that they can deliver the content I'm paying for? Pssshhh....no way.

[GutBomb]

I added SportsPak and now they want to charge me $50 to "upgrade" my dish so that I can get FSE. Such crap. I should pay so that they can deliver the content I'm paying for? Pssshhh....no way.

the sports pack is a programming upgrade, but you still need to be able to recieve the signal. dishes aren't free. the 1 LNB dish is very old, and only hits 1 satellite, the satellite that FSE is not on.

[texgator]

the sports pack is a programming upgrade, but you still need to be able to recieve the signal. dishes aren't free. the 1 LNB dish is very old, and only hits 1 satellite, the satellite that FSE is not on.Yeah...great...thanks...they could have informed me of that when I ordered the upgrade. I just switched to DirecTV in March of this year....so if they 1 LNB dish is so damn old, why did they set up a new customer with one? I then added the SportsPak approx. 2 months later. Never did they mention that I would not be able to recieve all the programming with my current equipment. In addition, I signed up during a period when they were running a special $8 per month price on the SportsPak. When I ordered it, I confirmed with the customer service agent that I would recieve that price every month in perputuaty. Then, 2 months later, they jacked up the price. I called back to find out what happened and they claim they never ran such a special. Basically, they excused me of making it up. Great customer service right there.

[danielmak]

Yeah...great...thanks...they could have informed me of that when I ordered the upgrade. I just switched to DirecTV in March of this year....so if they 1 LNB dish is so damn old, why did they set up a new customer with one? I then added the SportsPak approx. 2 months later. Never did they mention that I would not be able to recieve all the programming with my current equipment. In addition, I signed up during a period when they were running a special $8 per month price on the SportsPak. When I ordered it, I confirmed with the customer service agent that I would recieve that price every month in perputuaty. Then, 2 months later, they jacked up the price. I called back to find out what happened and they claim they never ran such a special. Basically, they excused me of making it up. Great customer service right there.

I doubt you're going to get anywhere with the Sportspack thing--I've found most of the customer service and accounting customer service people to be ill-informed and not very helpful. The tech people, on the other hand, have been very helpful. I was able to get them to come back and re-install the oval dish and 3LNB because I wasn't getting all of the programming that I was paying for (FSE is part of the Sports Pack and that's on my subscription) but I was (and I guess, technically still am) a new customer. You might try calling the tech people and in addition to explaining the Noggin thing, tell them that you complained about this issue when you were a new customer and they could have solved it at that point by switching your dish and LNB set up. Furthermore, they took advantage of your non-technical knowledge (you don't work in satellite installation, I assume, or in electronics more generally) by withholding information about the oval dish/LNB even though you should have been receiving the programming. Give it a shot. Maybe they'll wave the fee. Another option is just to ask for a tech supervisor from the very begginning. Tell him/her all of this stuff and threaten to leave. Take care.

[JayRockers!]

Multi-switch? Please explain. I have this problem too. I wrangled a free dish by the "I'm paying for it but not getting it route" but I had to pay for the install. They also gave me customer credit, so it worked out as them paying me to get the dish. Now I have the same prob.

I have 2 receivers. One doesn't even get the channel, (it's real old-only shows one satellite on fine tuning) the other shows 2 satellites when doing the fine tuning (it's old, just not as).

Thx,

Jay!

[wjarrettc]

Multi-switch? Please explain.

http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Products/BMS-34/images/bms34diag1.jpg

Here's a basic explanation of what a multiswitch does. Note, I am not a satellite technician so some of this may be not technically accurate, but it'll give you an idea at least...

Your satellite dish has a device called an LNB. The LNB receives the signal from the satellite and converts it into an electrical signal that can be sent to the receiver inside the house. It is the little round thing that sits on the arm pointed at the round or elliptical dish.

For every satellite in orbit that you are picking up, you need one LNB. Most DirecTV dishes today have either 3 or 5 LNBs. Most of the programming you recieve comes off of a single satellite, but if you have HDTV or foreign language programming, and local programming, you may be utilizing up to 5 different satellites to get your programming.

There is one wire from the satellite for every LNB. In the picture above, the dish has two LNBs.

The line from each LNB (and optionally from an off-air antenna) are run to the input side of a multiswitch. The multiswitch then combines (or multiplexes) all of the electrical signals from all the satellite LNBs and the off-air antenna together and sends all of those signals together over one wire to the back of your receiver. The receiver then splits those electrical signals apart and processes them so it can identify the TV signal being sent from the proper LNB.

Without a mutliswitch, you'd have to run one line from each LNB to each receiver in your house. Not very convenient.

Anyway, the reason I suspect that the original poster has a multiswitch problem is that FSE is on the same transponder number, just a different polarity and LNB, as Noggin/N. It doesn't take an electrical genius to assume that what is happening is that the multiswitch is some how screwing up the combination process and electrically the signals are "bleeding" over each other. The other logical causes could be voltage loss in the cable run from the multiswitch to the receiver or a bad receiver. But if you're experiencing the problem on multiple receivers, I'd be money on the multiswitch.

Depending on your setup, you may be able to buy a multiswitch (anywhere from 20 bucks up depending on your setup) and try to solve it yourself. Or just call DirecTV and pay for the service call, it's a lot simpler.

[JayRockers!]

Got it. Mine combines cable and satellite for a prewired house. Then I have to separate the signal inside as well.

It will take some figuring out.

Thx,

Jay!

[danielmak]

One other thing that you might think about is taking advantage of deals for free upgrades. I don't know if DirecTV has one going on right now but they did a few months ago. Basically what they do is upgrade your receiver, switching out the old receivers you have for the new DVR (R-15?) or HD if you have that. They'll give you the receiver for free after a rebate. Now the problem is that you are then leasing the receiver, which you don't actually pay for if it is your primary receiver, and you pay for DVR service. If you do this, you probably could get them to come out and install a new dish/LNB set up. DVR service is $5.95 a month, I think. I waited a long time to do this, relying on the VCR for 2 years at least after Tivo hit the market and I have to say that I was a fool to wait. The DVR is amazing. All of this would probably cost you more than the multi-switch solution described by wjarrettc but you might be a lot happier in the end. Take care.