One Satellite (number 3) on Triple LNB failed..got new LNB still failed

[Lagreeneyes]

I have the DirecTV triple LNB system so we can get the Latino Channels. A few weeks ago, most of the latin channels were blank, we rebooted the receivers, checked the cabling and all seemed to be fine. Called DirecTv support after doing the troubleshooting/reset and the message that we got was that one of the Ovals failed 1 and 2 are fine..we get all the english channels and local channels, and the third one failed. According to the DirecTV rep, the LNB apparatus was probably damaged. They were going to charge 80 dollars to come out and see, so I instead bought a new one on Ebay, installed it and still the same problem, the third satellite is failed. The dish hasn't moved at all. I do remember that when our system was installed last summer, the guy that installed it had to change out twice the grounding block outside, because there was no signal. Could that be the problem again? If not..what could it be?

Thanks!

[carrottop432]

I admit that I'm not familiar with DirecTv multiple LNB setups, but I imagine it's similar to my multi-LNB FTA setup. If so... there should be a box that all 3 LNBs connect to and then one wire leaves that box and goes to the receiver. That box (commonly called a "switch") could have a bad port on it. Mine got water inside it and some of my satellites would disappear at random.

Basically, what I'd do is trace the wire coming from that LNB and anywhere it went, I'd check for issues. It's possible that the wire was improperly terminated. Something as simple as 1 little strand of ground shield coming into contact with the center conductor will completely kill any signal traveling down that wire. If the grounding block has a record of giving trouble, there's a good possibility that it is the culprit, but only if each LNB passes through it individually. If the LNBs go through a switch and then the grounding block (meaning that only 1 wire passes through the block) then I'd direct my attention elsewhere.

Sorry for the lengthy reply, I tend to do that from time to time. Hope this helps. If nothing else, maybe I can learn a little more about how DirecTv multi-LNB setups are designed!