Integrator's Manual

109
If the guide acquisition state (flashing PWR LED) lasts longer than expected without the Tuner
LEDs turning on, then the system is probably having difficulty acquiring the APG (Advance
Program Guide). In this case, it is recommended that the installer verify proper and healthy RF
levels being fed into the COM120 RF Distribution panel. The card may appear to “forget” its
old settings during this time, but they should reappear once the situation has been remedied.
Upon successful boot-up, a COM24 will revert to its previously configured channel lineup. The
lineup is specified either by the external control server (if applicable) or automatically from the
cards themselves if the persistence setting was enabled when the system was configured
(persistence is disabled by default).
8.1.3 Normal Operation
When operating under normal circumstances, there are a few characteristics you can expect to
see in LED behavior. The first is that the PWR LED should always be lit when surrounded by
favorable weather conditions. Some behavior, although not desirable, is still considered normal.
During rainstorms or other conditions that may obstruct satellite communications, the receiver
may lose contact and be unable to receive guide data. At this point, the PWR LED will start
flashing, and the tuners may turn off.
A Tuner LED can take on one of three behaviors. The state you will see the Tuner LEDs in most
frequently is the ON state. A tuner whose LED is on can be interpreted as being “locked on” to a
certain satellite and, providing you qualify to receive the programming, should be streaming
video on the specified channel. The COM24 cards will maintain a lock on the signal at all times
if the signal strength and quality is within specifications (-25 to -55 dBm per transponder).
A flashing Tuner LED indicates that the tuner is locked on to a satellite but it cannot stream
video. This is most likely to occur when you are trying to tune to a channel that DIRECTV
provides and you are capable of receiving, but you have not purchased the content streaming on
that channel. This can also happen if a B band converter has stopped working.
A tuner whose LED is off is not locked onto anything. This most likely indicates that the tuner is
not set to stream anything. It could also mean that the card could not find the channel specified,
in which case you should check for the following:
 The channel is one that DIRECTV actually provides.
 You have entered the channel number correctly.
 You are qualified to receive the channel.
If, after having reviewed the above checklist, the tuner LEDs are not lit when they are expected
to be, or if the PWR LED begins flashing at any point other than under inoperable weather
conditions, it may be an indication that there is something wrong with the integrity of the RF
signal between the satellite dish and the COM1000.