Sonicview 4000 first timer - ABA DSS

pbrow009 · September 17th, 2007

Hello, I am brand new to all of this, 3 hours to be exact. I have searched all over for info to address my problem and cant find exactly what i need. If I overlooked a post please point me in the right direction.

I am trying to set up the Sonicview 4000 but i cant find a satellite with a signal. I am on Echostar 7 and have a very weak signal and no quality. I live in an apartment building and currently have dish network but i do not have access to the actual dish as it is shared throughout the building. Is it even possible to install this without direct dish access? Any help would be appreciated.

**RICKSBEACH** · September 17th, 2007

welcome to the site pbrow009
not sure if i have correct answer to this so i'll let it pass as someone might have it for you.
again welcome

pbrow009 · September 17th, 2007

thanks. I'm trying to follow all of the directions and tutorials but i cant get past the first part. I cant seem to find any instructions that address the problem of not being able to get a strong signal. They basically say select your satellite, now lets search for channels and upload the bin.

**grasshopper** · September 17th, 2007

Do you know what type of dish, LNB, switch that you are using now? It's easier for us to help you, if can provide us with those info.

pbrow009 · September 17th, 2007

I wish i did. I live in a large apartment building that offers dishnet as well as cable etc. Im not even sure where on the building the dish is located. If there is a way to look that info up i am unaware of it. Im sorry i dont have all the info. Im trying to follow all the available user manual info and online resources but am having no luck so am deferring to the experts here.

**grasshopper** · September 17th, 2007

Here are few things you need to try: LNB type, try to change it to single, OCS DP, Legacy Twin... Transponder set @ 12224, DiseqC change it to 1,2,3,4. Play with it until you have good signal, quality

pbrow009 · September 17th, 2007

Does anyone know of someone who has hooked one of these up under the same circumstances (i.e. in apartment bldg)? I just want to make sure that its even possible before i continue researching.

pbrow009 · September 18th, 2007

Thanks. I tried playing with those settings for a few hours last night with no luck but it was my very first time so I will be back at it tonight after work. Im not giving up.

If I cannot move my satellite, I would imagine I am restricted in the satellites i can choose. Is that correct?

**Allan23** · September 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbrow009

Thanks. I tried playing with those settings for a few hours last night with no luck but it was my very first time so I will be back at it tonight after work. Im not giving up.

If I cannot move my satellite, I would imagine I am restricted in the satellites i can choose. Is that correct?

get your self a compass and find out what is the dirction you need to pointed your dish too the elevation will be diffrent in a building depending what floor you are on .P.S l have a sv 4000 too.

pbrow009 · September 18th, 2007

Im in a lower floor but the satellites are all on the roof, about 14 floors up.

One thing i noticed is that when i plugged my regular box back in and booted it back up, It said it was "acquiring satellite info" from 61.5/transponder 29. When i hooked the sonicview back up to give it another try, I did not see 61.5 as an option.

dottie750 · September 18th, 2007

Its almost a gimme that the dish feeds into a mutiple dish switch when
need a disQe type switch. you probaly need to set up a separate dish
for your use only.

pbrow009 · September 18th, 2007

That would be very disappointing. I hope that is not the case, mounting a dish outside my window will not fly with building management.

If I have a signal with the normal box and subscription, shouldnt I be able to at least pick up the same signal with the sv-4000?

**Allan23** · September 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbrow009

That would be very disappointing. I hope that is not the case, mounting a dish outside my window will not fly with building management.

If I have a signal with the normal box and subscription, shouldnt I be able to at least pick up the same signal with the sv-4000?

What are the settings in the normal box .then change the settings on the sv to be the same ..

**tomcat01** · September 18th, 2007

could be hit and miss you don't know if they are using dp switches sw etc. there are so many.. also what the lnb is .. follow what GH said and just keep trying different setups .. first thing before you try for all that is get a signal forst even if you do not have a q make sure the signal is high approx 50-65 then shut off disconnect the coax and turn back on make sure you do not have the same signal (the reasin i an telling you this is sometime you willget a false signal from the surrounding building ) anyways if it is gone or really low good hook back up and then try all the different settings .. hard to say with no info on equipment .. good luck .

pbrow009 · September 18th, 2007

Thanks so much for your help everyone.

I think all of the directions I was trying to follow made it look so easy that I didnt realize how much there was to learn.

I will be settling back in to my trial and error adventure tonight after work and will return to share my results and any new information I learn.

thumper75701 · September 18th, 2007

yes you can ive done it but you need to know what lnb your useing most ive soon are dish pro 500 and you need to set box to osc-dp and try port 1234 until you get your signal

**grasshopper** · September 19th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumper75701

yes you can ive done it but you need to know what lnb your useing most ive soon are dish pro 500 and you need to set box to osc-dp and try port 1234 until you get your signal

That's exactly what I toll him to do on previous post

pbrow009 · September 19th, 2007

Sorry, yes it is a 500. I found all of the specs last night but I didn't get home until after midnight last night so I didnt get a chance to implement everyones suggestions.

Thanks so much for everyones suggestions. I cant wait to get home and give it another try.

twitchie · September 19th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbrow009

Hello, I am brand new to all of this, 3 hours to be exact. I have searched all over for info to address my problem and cant find exactly what i need. If I overlooked a post please point me in the right direction.

I am trying to set up the Sonicview 4000 but i cant find a satellite with a signal. I am on Echostar 7 and have a very weak signal and no quality. I live in an apartment building and currently have dish network but i do not have access to the actual dish as it is shared throughout the building. Is it even possible to install this without direct dish access? Any help would be appreciated.

Hey there. If your personal dish is of a size either equalt ot or greater that the "common" dish on the roof of your building, then you should have no problem. Your dishes view must not be blocked by large trees, etc. Keep your cable run as short as possible. Use R6 cable only. Tweek the dish direction with your TV close by so you can see subtle changes in signal strength and quality. That is for a start. If you cannot improve your signal you likely have your "settings" not quite right.

So, if you can tell us what dish/lnb type you are using and what "settings" you are currently se to with the SV4000, we can help you more.

pbrow009 · September 19th, 2007

Heres the spec info I found late last night.Most of it is gibberish to me so I'll list what I found. I pulled it off the sysinfo screen on my remote as well as system info channels.

I have a "DISH 500"
Status: STB is in QAM mode
Pointed: at 61.5 digital orbit
Dish 811, software: P388
Device: Unknown-QAM Mode
Remote Address: 1
DNASP: 102REV289
Loc ID: 07A7E0F5
Hardware ID: LAND_N
BOOTSTRAP : 1015