BajaNomad

ODD DishTV behavior

MrBillM - 3-31-2011 at 05:05 PM

Mi Esposa called me into the Living Room last night to "FIX" a TV problem.

There were some characters in one corner of the screen which disappeared, then other characters appeared in a different corner, disappeared with others showing up in a different place, etc, etc, etc, etc.

W-T-F ?

As I sat there watching this Bizarre sequence and changing channels, I decided to do a Cold Reboot which "seemed" to clear the problem for a few minutes and then the odd characters started reappearing.

Puzzling over whether it was somehow related to the TV or Dish Receiver, I got the answer when some of the characters would say "DP301E ---------" which is the model of THAT receiver.

After awhile, it all cleared.

Today, late in the afternoon, it reappeared.

Which leaves me to wonder IF it is an indication that the receiver is experiencing problems OR another case of a DISH firmware upgrade gone awry which has happened before, but not in years.

Since I'm not having the problem on any other receiver, I'm unsure, but I only have the one 301, so Quien Sabe ?

SO, Manana, I suppose, I'll get on the phone to DISH. Something I ALWAYS dread.

Anybody Else see THIS ?

mtgoat666 - 3-31-2011 at 05:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Mi Esposa called me into the Living Room last night to "FIX" a TV problem.

There were some characters in one corner of the screen which disappeared, then other characters appeared in a different corner, disappeared with others showing up in a different place, etc, etc, etc, etc.

W-T-F ?

As I sat there watching this Bizarre sequence and changing channels, I decided to do a Cold Reboot which "seemed" to clear the problem for a few minutes and then the odd characters started reappearing.

Puzzling over whether it was somehow related to the TV or Dish Receiver, I got the answer when some of the characters would say "DP301E ---------" which is the model of THAT receiver.

After awhile, it all cleared.

Today, late in the afternoon, it reappeared.

Which leaves me to wonder IF it is an indication that the receiver is experiencing problems OR another case of a DISH firmware upgrade gone awry which has happened before, but not in years.

Since I'm not having the problem on any other receiver, I'm unsure, but I only have the one 301, so Quien Sabe ?

SO, Manana, I suppose, I'll get on the phone to DISH. Something I ALWAYS dread.

Anybody Else see THIS ?


sounds like govt psy ops. big brother is watching, but their software has a bug.
if you blink at rate of 0.7 hz you will be able to read the secret msg that dick cheney programmed into your TV before he left office.

BajaGringo - 3-31-2011 at 05:11 PM

We recently switched to Dish and were watching last night until late. We never observed what you did but we did have the very same thing happen to us on occasion back when we were on the SKY satellite system.

Not sure of its significance but would be interested in what you find out...

woody with a view - 3-31-2011 at 07:25 PM

put on your foil hats and get on with your life.....

monoloco - 3-31-2011 at 07:29 PM

They're coded messages from the Illuminati.

BajaGringo - 3-31-2011 at 07:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by monoloco
They're coded messages from the Illuminati.


I know, but what do they mean????

:P

LancairDriver - 3-31-2011 at 07:58 PM

I have had the same type of random problem occasionally. After pushing all of the buttons on the satellite and receiver remotes, I finally stumbled on the "clear" button on the receiver remote that clears it. I have an RCA receiver. This seems to work for an undetermined time, sometimes days, but hitting "clear" always clears instantly.

RCA ?

MrBillM - 3-31-2011 at 11:02 PM

I'm Unaware of any RCA-produced Dish Receivers. At one time (Legacy days) there were Panasonic-produced Dish receivers, but I've only seen Proprietary equipment in recent times. Direct TV, maybe ?

As far as the "clearing", one of the first things I did was a "Factory Defaults" reset with no effect.

In any case, the problem (appears) to be peculiar to the 301 in my case since the others (508 and two 3900s) don't exhibit any such characteristics.

In another wrinkle to the issue, on two occasions today, my wife found that "some" HBO Movies were running with Spanish sub-titles displayed. Unfortunately, she told me after the fact so I wasn't able to check those against a different receiver.

One upside to the "Problem" is that I considered the advisability of having a spare unit ready if needed and found one authorized source selling New 512s (SD-DVR) for $129.00 total. Free UPS 3-day and no (CA) sales tax.

BajaGringo - 4-1-2011 at 07:06 AM

Any chance that closed captioning is turned on?

TMW - 4-1-2011 at 07:42 AM

Try unpluging the power cord for at least a minute.

Jim/Liisa - 4-1-2011 at 09:38 AM

They all do that. Not sure if it's a code for the satelite or what. Just have to get use to it.

They ALL do THAT ?

MrBillM - 4-1-2011 at 01:06 PM

Well, NO they DON'T.

In fact, this unit (301) is the FIRST one that has EVER showed these characteristics and I've owned 9 Different Receivers (currently 4) besides having worked on a dozen or more different systems for others. Currently neither the 508, the (2) 3900s OR a 2700 I have access to exhibits these characters at the same time.

As I said originally, I had done a complete power-off reset and NO, there are no closed-captioning options activated. The fact that the ODD captioning (in Spanish) seems to come and go without pattern would have indicated the same without checking but, of course, I have checked ALL options.

BajaGringo - 4-1-2011 at 01:09 PM

You might have to just call in and have them do a service reset from their end to see if that helps. Like you, I enjoy those calls as much as I do a trip to the dentist, but that might be the fix if you have already tried everything on your end...

Jim/Liisa - 4-2-2011 at 05:31 PM

I just had a new dish installed and another box. Mine still does the same it does some wiered symbals as well. It realy doesn't bother me it goes away after awial.
Never did ask the cable guy why it does that? Could be comunication with the satilite?

Another FM Problem

MrBillM - 4-2-2011 at 09:03 PM

As we OFTEN said back in the day when a Customer would ask.

It's F---ing Magic !

Got up this a.m. prepared to do the Tech Support Tango with Dish Network and found the problem has "apparently" cleared ! So far, not a single instance.

WHICH tends to reinforce my earlier belief that it was a kink in one of their software/firmware uploads that they (like Hughes) will NEVER admit to even after the fact.

As a totally unrelated aside, but another example of the "ASS-U-ME" Syndrome, I'm doing a minimal installation for my Stepson and I brought back a spare Antenna from Baja "Assuming" the LNB was still OK.

Right ! Zero Signal.

Although I've got two spare "Known Good" LNBs, they're both DISH and the antenna I brought back was an RCA which has the rectangular feed-arm.

Luckily, I had a Dish 300 up on the roof aimed at the (no longer used) 148 slot.

ASSUMING almost always lets you down.

roundtuit - 4-2-2011 at 09:57 PM

I have a different system and been having similar problems. If you ck around you will find that we are expirening solar flares. Mine usually has problems around noon and lasts for a hour or so.

Flaring Up.

MrBillM - 4-3-2011 at 09:39 AM

The Solar activity would be a "Very" unlikely causative factor in this case especially since, at present, there are multiple receivers sharing the same Dish "Antenna" (actually Reflector) and LNBs (where the "antenna" is located) arrangement.

ONLY the 301 experienced any of the described "Characters". Which are STILL completely gone this a.m.

I HAVE experienced brief instances of "Pixelizing" here and there which I "usually" assume to be Flare effects.

As always, the positive comments received relating to similar problems is appreciated, though.

Bajahowodd - 4-3-2011 at 04:38 PM

Maybe you could e-mail Charlie and get no response just like most of their subscribers. :lol::lol::P

ceo@echostar.com

No Need to Bother Charlie.

MrBillM - 4-3-2011 at 09:20 PM

So Far So Good. Even though I'm sure Charlie would have jumped right on it, The problem "seems" to be gone.

Actually, though, having been a customer since 1995, I'm fairly satisfied.

And, whenever, I do have a problem I think back to Cable Days and realize how much better Sat has been. Any difficulties with Cable after-hours that required a visit ALWAYS had to wait for the next day.

Like the time my service went out two-thirds into the top of the first inning of the All-Star game.

Jim/Liisa - 4-12-2011 at 01:41 PM

[Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]


[img]http://C:\Users\Convoer\Pictures\Tv signal1.jpg[/img][Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]
[Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]

[Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]

Tv signal1.jpg - 25kB

No Problemas aqui- DISH A-OK

MrBillM - 4-12-2011 at 02:12 PM

Until their NEXT (inevitable) glitch.

On the Upside, I guess, is that concern over the 301 "possibly" having a problem, is that I bought another receiver. DVR 512 from www.dishdepot.com. $129 TOTAL. No tax-Free shipping. 3 day UPS.

It turned out to be a GOOD, if not great, deal.

Dish says that their price is $149 (plus tax-shipping).

The downside is an additional $6.00 monthly DVR charge in addition to the $7.00 extra receiver monthly charge. I haven't looked further into the charge, but the Customer Rep seemed a little vague on EXACTLY What that charge covered other than it was an extra charge for having a DVR Receiver which I paid for rather than leased.

In any case, it's a nice unit. Reading the manual, I was a bit concerned that it "might" not work with my Legacy LNBF since it was specified for DishProPlus But would work (according to the manual) with a DishPro LNBF. Nothing about a Legacy.

However, it works fine. No problem polarity switching. If I want to use the PnP, I need to run an additional RG6 from the Quad to the second internal tuner, but other than that (and the charge), it's nice. Since, at some point soon due to tree growth, I have to move that Reflector, I'll do it then.

The 512 Gives me a backup to my 508 DVR. Which does NOT have a $6.00 charge because it's a Grandfathered unit. Once you've had a DVR unit, you never want to be without one.

The Cust Rep did make the comment that, since the 508 has such a "Tiny" HDD, they no longer even consider it a DVR.

60 Hours Record-Time is "Tiny" ? Could have fooled me.

Jim/Liisa - 4-12-2011 at 03:10 PM

This is what i was talking about...
[img]http://C:\Users\Convoer\Pictures\Tv signal1.jpg[/img]

[Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]