Problem wiith KVH dome or Direct TV?

[PeterK]

I have an M7 that is begining to tick me off royally. Started about 6 months ago getting an error message: 771 -Signal loss on Satellite 1. Press SELECT for solutions.

Depending on the channel on on, it may readSatellite 2. Picture and sound remain on but the box covers about 20% of the screen. Until today, I could press Exit and it dissappeared.

My electronics guy looked at it a couple months back and spent and hour with his computer hooked up doing everything he could think of plus everything several others he called could think up.

Spoke with him again today and he said he has been told this is an issue with KVH using a SWM unti but only with Direct TV.

Long winded explanation but has anyone else had this happen? Any solutions? Although my Cubbies aren't playing like last year, I'd still like to watch the games without this issue!

 

[Pascal]

Is that on a dvr receiver with two inputs? If so it's unlikely to be the dish but either one of the two LNB or one of the cables

This happens time sometimes on a fixed home style dish.

Could also be a loose connection behind the receiver. Or damaged cable.

With a dvr you have two cables coming from the antennas or the switch. Do you have other receivers on the boat? Are they all working ?

 

[PeterK]

Only one Genie receiver. I'll double check all the cables and connections.

I presume it takes a piece of diagnostic equipment to check the LNB?

My guy did say he is hearing others are having this same problem, but has no solution...

Thank you for the response

 

[SEVEN]

I have direct tv and have had zero issues in the last 2 1/2 years. Hope that doesn't screw up my luck.

 

[Fish Tales]

I have Direct TV through an Intellian dish. I have been getting this message alot. Sometimes goes away after a complete re-boot, and sometimes if I just leave it on the station, eventually comes in. Sometimes I go up a channel or down. PITA.

Also customer support goes through the Philippines. They are only familiar with stationary home assistance. They do not know the difference of home vs. boat or RV. You have to insist on US rep, then go to the RV department, for vessel support. This takes for ever.

I personally hate it.

Tim

 

[Cricket]

I have constant issues the Directv SWM's at my house which show the 771 error, only for the HD boxes, no issues with non HD boxes because they use a different non SWM dish. Usually if you pull the plug and wait for the green light to go all the way out, which takes longer than you would think, when re-powered everything is usually okay. It got so bad about a year ago Directv sent me 2 spare SWM's to have on hand.
ATT has destroyed Directv's customer service since the purchase, guess they want to be just like Comcast.

 

[SEVEN]

I don't have HD maybe that's why I don't have any issues.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Have had DirecTV on our boat since 2000... Very happy with it and have had zero problems..

 

[Boatsb]

Direct tv never had good customer service. I spent 13 hours explaining again and again the system is mobile and they need to change that setting on their system.

The customer did not allow me to provide the boxes so he got to pay for my 13 wasted hours.

Check the cable and connectors. A bad connection cuts a lot of signal out. Also look for cable type. A good quality rg6 quad must be used with the Sam systems if your running more than 20 or so feet.

 

[PeterK]

I'm thinking this is a Direct issue, specifically with the SWM. Anyone know if there is a different module that can be used?

The M7 worked fine for almost 2 years then very spoaidically would get the error message. It is now nearly constant and hitting the Exit does not clear it.

Further, any program I record is fine and never shows the error. My understanding is there are multiple tuners in Genie boxes. Maybe my primary tuner is going bad?

Also, I do not even have HD service as the dish won't receive Ka band.

 

[Tim Powell]

Scott
I have a m 5 i purchased some time ago. Of course it will not pick up the HD stuff which all the local chanels use. So for the dock i got Direct tv to install a dish. I put a switch on the boat that lets me change from dock to boat when traveling. All worked well till my box from direct went out. They put a new box in the boat. Before that all i had to do was flip the switch from dock to boat. Now I have to do a whole new set up each time i leave the dock. So i call the local kvh factory rep who lives close. He said they have a tun of problems with DTV. I am to the point of replacing the kvh with a shakespear round dome. My friends in the marina have them and receive about 30 chanels FREE I pay about 130$ a month For problems. (something not right there)
Do you or anyone have any experience with the pancake looking tv antenna. Which one is best. I hear there are several makers out there. Some with a booster or other tricks.

MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH MOVIES AND SO FORTH BUT THE 130$ A MONTH GOES AWAY ALONG WITH ISSUES.

Tim

 

[Boatsb]

What's the distance between the boat and the tv towers?

Are you in the signal path for off air reception?

 

[Fish Tales]

I have the High Def TV pancake antenna Hidden in the salon behind a vallance on the 45. Just do a channel scan at different locations, and 60 high def channels pop up. 50 bucks at Walmart. The Direct TV is 130 per month, I have to get tech support at least 2 times per month, hate it. This is what happens when ATT gets back into your life.

Tim

 

[Tim Powell]

What's the distance between the boat and the tv towers?

Are you in the signal path for off air reception?

I do not know but the guys around are getting quite a few signals. I would say yes just based on that.

 

[Boatsb]

Then add the new digital tv antenna. If you need call me I'll get you one.

 

[Entonces]

Thought about getting Sat TV for the boat but holding off. Glad I did. We get free basic Comsucks with our slip so local channels are there. Switched off my Shakespeare antenna but did get 20 or so channels before.

 

[nautibake]

Scott
I have a m 5 i purchased some time ago. Of course it will not pick up the HD stuff which all the local chanels use. So for the dock i got Direct tv to install a dish. I put a switch on the boat that lets me change from dock to boat when traveling. All worked well till my box from direct went out. They put a new box in the boat. Before that all i had to do was flip the switch from dock to boat. Now I have to do a whole new set up each time i leave the dock. So i call the local kvh factory rep who lives close. He said they have a tun of problems with DTV. I am to the point of replacing the kvh with a shakespear round dome. My friends in the marina have them and receive about 30 chanels FREE I pay about 130$ a month For problems. (something not right there)
Do you or anyone have any experience with the pancake looking tv antenna. Which one is best. I hear there are several makers out there. Some with a booster or other tricks.

MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH MOVIES AND SO FORTH BUT THE 130$ A MONTH GOES AWAY ALONG WITH ISSUES.

Tim

Tim - FWIW, I recently got the Shakespeare 19" pancake outdoor unit (it comes with a booster) and it is awesome. around 50 channels, and really good HD. Good luck!!

 

[nautibake]

I'm thinking this is a Direct issue, specifically with the SWM. Anyone know if there is a different module that can be used?

The M7 worked fine for almost 2 years then very spoaidically would get the error message. It is now nearly constant and hitting the Exit does not clear it.

Further, any program I record is fine and never shows the error. My understanding is there are multiple tuners in Genie boxes. Maybe my primary tuner is going bad?

Also, I do not even have HD service as the dish won't receive Ka band.

PeterK - I also have the M7 and had huge headaches with DTV last year. I switched to DISH, added 2 more tuners (for a total of 4), added a Master Receiver Selecter and upgraded to RF7 board and (knock wood) so far it is literally stellar. Any room can be the master and we get all of the DISH HD plus locals. I still have my RF6 board if you need one (but if you switch to DISH you probably need the 7, but there is a work-around). When we are cruising I use the pancake antenna for whatever the locals are. Good luck, I spent hours and hours and $$$ on this issue. Really amazingly frustrating. Also, FWIW, the KVH support was very good, very patient and gave me his e-mail which he would answer even on Saturdays.

 

[Pascal]

DIRECTV is great when it works but a nightmare to deal with...

One lesson I learned the hard way is that if a boat is owned by an LLC make sure you set up an account in your own name not the LLC. I made that mistake setting up service for the boat I run and learned after the fact that commercial accounts had a bunch of restriction including no online account access, no online access to programming and ridiculous pricing for special ppv event. Recently we had guests who wanted to watch some ppv fight... when I called to order I was told it would be $700 and change because it was a commercial account.

And because directv doesn't allow transferring receivers to a new account, changing the account would mean replacing all seven receivers...