Anybody else out there having problems with Ultimate TV reception that began yesterday? I got a new RCA 490RE receiver for christmas. I set it up and it worked great for 2 days. I loved it! Then yesterday it started acting a little funny...some channels would drop out etc. I watched a recorded movie last night and then when I went back to the program guide it was gone. No signal.

I spent 1 hour last night and 2 hours this morning on the phone with both Direct TV and RCA. Direct TV says it is a receiver problem. RCA says it is a problem with the new Direct TV satellite and they have received numerous calls about it. Direct TV said to get a new receiver, RCA said to sit tight and wait for Direct TV to fix the problem.

I know it is not a installation or LNB problem since I have 2 other RCA receivers (not ultimate TV) that work fine. I know it is not a multiswitch problem for the same reason. The two RCA non-ultimate TV receivers work fine when connected to the multiswitch. The problem is that usually one of the ultimate TV receiver tuners does not lock on the satellite signal. I get a "retrieving program guide" message on screen that does not go away. I tried taking the multiswitch out of the picture and took LNB A and B right to the ultimate TV receiver and it still does the same thing. I even went out and returned the original receiver and got another one (same kind). Same problem. RCA says it is a problem with the transponders. There is no signal on transponders 4, 12, 16 and 20. They state that the program guide is located on transponder 16 and direct TV moved it. This seems to be a problem with ultimate TV only.

Thoughts and comments would be appreciated!

I wonder if it is because it uses Microsoft software. Maybe it's as defective as Windows. Can you switch to TiVo?

Spoken like a true Mac User!

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

.....I'm tending to agree with you. I bet it is a software/hardware problem within the receiver that is having problems with the new satellite launched by direct TV. I would hope someone fixes it soon but in the meantime I'm sitting here paying for ultimate TV service but unable to use it. If it's not fixed in the next few days I'm going with Tivo.

I'm an avid Windows based computer geek.....and I agree with your microsoft comments. I upgraded to Windows XP home and it crashes more than a bad kite!

Dan - there's been a fair amount of discussion on recent Ultimate TV problems over on www.dbsforums.com. See if this thread helps any: [Link: dbsforums.com]

[Added later] Well, I see in another thread that you've already found that same information out for yourself. Hope they get this solved soon for you.

This message was edited by Makai Guy on 01/04/02 16:44.20.

Just to add my 2 cents is it possible your other 2 receivers are not plus. the reason I ask is older units worked fine with rg59 cable but the newer ones are picky. Maybe you need to replace some cavle with rg6.

Rudmeister

I think am having a similar problem, there are a few channels that read no signal on my Ultimate Tv but not my other two units (I have a Sont DAT50, the Ultimate TV by Sony, and a Hughes). It seems to be the Football package that I noticed most. I have spent hours truing to fix what I thought was my signal.