SW64 Question

[squegee]

Hi Guys - I ran into something today and I'm trying to isolate it before climbing on the roof to determine for sure. I've got an SW64 using power-inserter tapped from line1 receiver. Today we got an unexpected snow for my area. The SW64 is mounted to the dish mast (with drip loops in the cable) instead of under an eave, due to access problems, so it had a pile of snow on top of the switch this morning. Later this afternoon, the snow had melted off and all 3 connected receivers stoped working - just searching for signal forever, won't even recognize switch on testing.

I was guessing water in the switch. But also this afternoon we had a brownout in the neighborhood, so I'm thinking maybe the inserter took a hit. Thing is, I was not home when the TV went out or when the brownout occurred, so I don't know which happened first.

Any of you gurus had experience with SW64's? Just trying to determine which part is more fragile - the switch box itself or the power inserter circuitry - before climbing up there. Is there anything I can test on the inserter? Any kind of amperage I'm looking for on the outgoing side? Assuming 12vdc. Any suggestions on how to test the cable (other than continuity)?

Peace!
-Sq

[dishvader]

if you have a sat meter you check voltage and it should be @ or around 18v on the wire that is. you may need to go up on the roof and pull down the sw64 and dry it with a blow dryer in the port 1 since this is the voltage input. I would recommend that you reroute the wiring so that the sw64 would never be in contact with weather. I install for a sat company and this switch is old and hard to replace. Not a weather proof item after all recommended mounting for this seitch is a crawl space or a attic or wire closet.

[squegee]

Thanks Vader. Finally got more cable and remounted it under an eave. Bought another backup SW64 off ebay, too, but it turns out the problem on this one was the crimp on the end of the cable. Doh! It had pulled out about 2mm - just enough for the center wire to lose contact. Guess it has to snow in hell (Texas) before we find these small things, huh...