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Satellite Trouble

April 30, 2011, 03:13:35 pm

I hope someone can help me.  I cannot get my satellite to lock.  I have a 2003 320 designer with a track star SV Series II inmotion satellite system.  I just brought the coach out of storage, and some will recall I had battery issues that are all resolved.  Coach is at my home plugged into shore power, clear day in Chicago.  System continues to scan  Very occasionally I get a locked verify on the monitor then wide scan.  I have tried shutting off power for 10 seconds, reprogrammed satellite to Direct TV 101, and tried 2 different regions, #3 and #6.  I cannot find what the paperwork refers to as "indoor unit."  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

Gregory S
2003 Designer

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Re: Satellite Trouble

Reply #1 – April 30, 2011, 03:50:53 pm

Same system,  Had Track Star send new LNB for dish mount, all good since, Not expensive and simple to install.

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Re: Satellite Trouble

Reply #2 – April 30, 2011, 04:48:02 pm

I had the same or similar TracStar system in our 2003 U295 and had similar problems.  I called TracStar service (you can also send an email) and they diagnosed the problem and sent me some new parts.  One was a new LNB which was easy to install.  The other was the inside box that seems to control the dish.  Worked very well after replacing these parts.  TracStar service is very user friendly.  Here is the website for service:  Cobham SATCOM TracStar Products - Customer Support Center

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Re: Satellite Trouble

Reply #3 – April 30, 2011, 06:35:31 pm

Try turning the power off at the breaker panel, and let the system reset itself,this what has worked for my BIL.

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Re: Satellite Trouble

Reply #4 – May 01, 2011, 08:14:41 am

Thank you for all the suggestions.  I will call Track Star tomorrow morning.  I cannot find the in-house box or where it gets its power.  It must be burried somewhere.  The telephone-type cable from the control unit, which is in the cabinetry above the driver's left shoulder runs towards the windshield.  FT must have burried it somewhere.  Any ideas, except for removing panels and physically looking?  Also is it possible that the dish needs to be cleaned inside the dome?  Has anyone ever experienced this problem?    Thank you.

Gregory S
2003 Designer

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Re: Satellite Trouble

Reply #5 – May 01, 2011, 08:48:47 am

I had that problem.  Mike at MOT shot new software into it.  It seems that direct TV and stuff changes and that is the issue a lot of the time too.

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Re: Satellite Trouble

Reply #6 – May 01, 2011, 10:45:43 am

The inhouse box is about 1.5" x 6" x 6" in size.  As I recall, the control box (see parts of system here:

www.precisesatellite.com/downloads/tracstar/tracstartv/tracstar_tv_sv360.pdf

connects to the inhouse box via a telephone type cable.  The coax cable from the dish also connects to the inhouse box and from it, another coax goes to the receiver. 

If you have to get into the space near the roof above the dash, the panel in the small compartment on the driver's side gives good access.... well as good as you are going to get!  On mine, which is also a 2003, I just removed the screws holding the floor of the compartment; then the back panel screws and then those in the left panel.  That will give you access.  It is a real tangle of wires back there, but you should be able to get to the box.

In answer to your question about cleaning, I don't think dust or similar stuff will affect the dish's performance.  But I am no expert on that topic, that is for sure!

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