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Datron DBS-4500

July 27, 2010, 10:05:56 pm

Our coach came with a Datron DBS-4500 installed. I added a new DirecTV DVR and all worked pretty well on a 3,600 mile trip. We had to sometimes cycle the power to acquire the 101 satellite. We enjoyed listening to a couple of the music channels during long driving days.

During the last couple of days of the trip, we couldn't acquire the satellite. I've not been able to get a signal since. I've tried to sync up while stationary and while moving. I did the "cycle the power five times at ten second intervals" to "recalibrate."  I checked connections. I even pulled the dome and watched the dish. It seemed to point in the appropriate direction and make little circles as if it were constantly keeping the position refined. I could put my hand in front of the LNB and the circles would get bigger as if it has lost the signal and was searching.  However, in no case do I get any signal readings above zero on the signal level screen of the DVR.

Have any of you suggestions? It looks like Winegard has an in-motion system for about $1300, but I would rather not do a "fork lift upgrade." DirecTV has a system as well, but I've not seen a price on it. The current unit is securely installed and I've not seen any leaks in the roof. Getting the current unit to work would be my first choice. I expect replacing the LNB unit is about the only repair that can be done, since Datron is no longer in business.

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Re: Datron DBS-4500

Reply #1 – July 27, 2010, 11:05:23 pm

We had the same antenna on our previous 93 grand villa and had to change the drive belt after it broke but does not sound like your problem. You might try
manually pointing the dish. May very well be the lnb.

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Re: Datron DBS-4500

Reply #2 – July 28, 2010, 05:38:14 am

J.D.  run a coax from the connection at the antenna down to the receiver to by pass the original coax and see if you get a signal. This could be a wire or connection problem.

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Re: Datron DBS-4500

Reply #3 – July 28, 2010, 09:25:56 am

I had to replace the LNB on my last Datron dish. Radio-Shack has them, usually.

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Re: Datron DBS-4500

Reply #4 – July 30, 2010, 09:31:48 pm

????? The antenna has not locked on a signal for about a week.  I was in the big city for the week to earn some bucks and was staying at a campground with a wide open view of the southern sky.  I reset the Datron several times and could never raise a signal.  This afternoon, I came to my home about 60 miles away and parked near the house.  I checked the TV, and the antenna was locked on a satellite and recording a show.  ??!!

According to the DVR, signals showed up on all 32 transponders on the DirecTV 101 satellite.  A few numbers were in the 20s, but they ranged as high as 96 and appeared quite adequate for normal operation.  The antenna found the satellite without a reset.

It could be a flaky connector.  However, I checked them all last week before I headed to town.  I plugged/unplugged several times the coax feed connectors to wipe the contact points.  I put dielectric grease on the connector exposed to weather.  It's not a power issue.  With the strong signal readings, I expect the LNB is OK.  However, I don't know whether a bad LNB simply goes dead, or goes flaky first.

This chump is stumped.  I have not tried the "different coax through the window test" yet.  Has anyone any other suggestions that might isolate or fix the problem with the Datron DBS-4500?

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Re: Datron DBS-4500

Reply #5 – July 30, 2010, 09:46:01 pm

It's a long shot (we have Dish, not Direct), but is there any chance the Datron was set to try and lock on a local spotbeam satellite instead of the usual, non-local programming? 

Michelle

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Re: Datron DBS-4500

Reply #6 – July 30, 2010, 10:30:08 pm

We are in the Houston market and get the local stations via a spot beam.  During our recent trip, we traveled as far north as Billings, Montana.  We had oldies tunes and light classical music via DirecTV during most of the trip.  We lost the local stations which come via a spot beam, but had the national channels (except for the broadcast networks).  I think we are locking to general coverage rather than local coverage.

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestion.

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