DirecTV Cannot Detect SWM: Meaning and solutions – Robot Powered Home
I live in a multi-story house, so I was looking for a way to use a single satellite connection for more than one TV instead of subscribing to three different connections.
That’s why I got really excited when I learned about swm and how it works with directv.
multiple receivers and tuners can make cable management and troubleshooting tedious and frustrating.
so having a single cable connected to the back of the dvr seemed like the perfect solution.
However, while I was well versed in the technical aspects of the process, the upgrade involved a fair amount of configuration hassle.
I made sure every step from installation to connecting the new cables and ports was correct.
however, after completing the satellite setup on each receiver, I received the error message: directv cannot detect swm.
I tried to fix it by running the installation again, but I got the same error every time I booted up the system.
however, before contacting customer support, I quickly browsed the internet and found an obvious solution, and in less than a minute, swm was running smoothly.
if your directv can’t detect swm, check the wiring from the dish to the power inserter, take a look at the swm spec, or replace your swm unit. Also, make sure all ports are in the correct positions, especially if you’re using multiple receivers.
In case these fixes don’t work for you I have listed other solutions including resetting or rebooting your swm or receiver.
what is a swm?
Previously, if you had a satellite tv, you needed a hd receiver or dvr to run it. some people ended up using a mobile satellite or multiswitch line from spaun.
Either way, you’ll need to connect a separate cable to each device’s satellite dish for satellite transmission.
however, directv revolutionized the streaming landscape in 2011 by introducing a new standard: swm.
stands for ‘single-wire multiswitch’. all you need to do now is connect one line to the back of your dvr instead of multiple for each device.
swm technology uses a single cable to power multiple receivers and tuners from the dish instead of each device needing its own dedicated cable. you no longer need a splitter to connect two separate tuners.
Currently, swm can support up to 21 devices simultaneously on a single line.
However, it is critical to install the correct swm to improve streaming performance.
check your swm specs
The limitation on the number and type of devices you can connect depends on your swm unit.
directv offers two variants: swm8 and swm16.
the main difference between the two units is that swm16 can support sixteen directv satellite tuners, while swm8 is limited to eight.
you can run 16 receivers or 8 dvrs, or a combination of both with two tuners per dvr using swm16.
swm16 also increases support for more legacy ports and compatible receivers, as well as a larger number of connected devices.
so the choice between the two swm units comes down to how many tuners and tv receivers you need.
The appropriate swm must be compatible with all tuners and dvrs in your directv broadcast setup.
If you incorrectly connect a device to swm or exceed the device limit on your swm, you will most likely see an error message that the dvr cannot detect swm.
causes a service outage on all your directv connections.
restart your receiver
if you have been using swm for a while and your configuration works perfectly.
however, you may suddenly get the swm detection failure error message.
A great place to start troubleshooting would be by resetting your receiver. restarting the receiver may fix any temporary errors in it.
To reset your receiver, follow these steps:
- turn off the receiver with the button.
- unplug the swm from the power socket
- wait patiently for about 30 seconds
- plug the power back insert the device.
- wait 30 seconds.
- turn on the receiver..
However, I recommend rebooting the particular receiver displaying the error, as rebooting all TVs could lead to more complications.
Since each swm has a unique swm mapping (on the switch), rebooting can cause conflicts due to reassignment.
leads to loss of service on all directv connections on the same line.
how to do satellite setup?
transitioning to swm from a traditional h24 receiver needs proper setup.
It would be helpful if you had already rebooted each of your receivers one at a time. however, if you haven’t, you can start now.
once you’re done, you can move on to completing the satellite setup.
These are the steps to navigate to the satellite settings:
- use your directv remote to open the main menu
- go to “settings and help” and open settings.
- select the “satellite” option, followed by “repeat satellite setup”.
- press the dash button on your remote while the process aborts programming.
once you are in the satellite setup, here are the settings you need to make to get your new swm system running –
- change the multiswitch type from “multiswitch” to swm or dswm (depends on your receiver)
- follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
- during setup, you will need to remove any b-band converter on the existing connection.
check your wiring
ports and cables are quite annoying in messing up fully functional connections.
although swm reduces the number of cables connected to the rear hub of the dvr, it is not without cabling issues.
here we will explore how to check your cabling for different swm configurations.
a receiver:
- connect a cable from the dish to the “power to swm” port on the power inserter
- connect the “signal to ird” port to the receiver (showing error)
multiple receivers:
- connect the power insert to the red port on a green labeled directv splitter (it’s the only splitter that will work)
- run a cable from the top connector of the splitter to the dish
- connect all receivers to the other ports on the splitter
- make sure the terminator cap is on an unused port.
In addition, it is essential to trace each cable to ensure they are intact and free of corrosion.
Also, when upgrading to swm, you may have used the wrong cable out of the four cables used in the older h24 receiver connections.
therefore, it is better to check each different connection and use copper cables for effective transmission.
reset your swm
reset helps to get rid of any errors or temporary glitches in the firmware. additionally, it is an effective remedy for swm detection failures.
then if the cables check and the connection was working so far, consider resetting the swm. follow these steps:
- use the directv remote to open the menu
- select ‘settings’, followed by the restart option.
reverts the swm settings on the particular receiver to factory defaults or changes the mapping.
reset your receiver
Alternatively, you can also reset each receiver manually.
These are the steps to follow:
- locate the red reset button on the receiver
- press it and wait 5 minutes to press it again
triggers a receiver reset that clears all log files and runs diagnostics on the receiver.
replace your swm drive
if all tvs show the same error, it is better to consider replacing your swm receiver.
you can file a ticket with at&t support, and they will guide you through the replacement procedure.
Also, it’s best to place AT&T receivers over third-party options for a seamless viewing experience and customer service.
contact support
finally, if none of the standard solutions worked for you, it’s best to contact at&t customer service.
you can generate a ticket describing the error message and your experience with directv in the past.
customer support agents often offer additional troubleshooting tips and may even consider replacing your swm unit.
You can also browse through their robust collection of knowledge articles and FAQs.
multiple users are experiencing the same error, and you may come across an issue that has already been raised by another subscriber in the community forum with solutions.
final thoughts
Although unusual, there is a possibility that the swm tuner is the root cause of the error message.
Receivers have two tuning systems: one for swimming and one for non-swimming.
maybe the swm tuner failed in the past and you didn’t know about it as it didn’t affect your TV.
the most frequent problems are related to the wiring and the reboot of the device.
so it’s best to spend a few minutes troubleshooting before you buy a new receiver.
you may also enjoy reading:
- how to connect directv to wi-fi without connection kit
- directv network connection not found: how to fix
- directv not working: how to fix problems
- directv equipment return: easy guide
frequently asked questions
swm connection loss on directv?
if you experience a loss of swm connection, consider restarting the receiver:
- unplug the power inserter from the main power supply
- wait 30 seconds
- insert the swm inserter back into the power outlet
make sure all cables and ports are snug.
where is my directv swm?
you can find the swm on the lnb (low noise lockup converter) at the end of the dish arm, powered by the 21v dc power inserter.
do i need a swm power inserter?
yes, you will need a power inserter to run newer receivers like h44, hr444, etc.
is it necessary to have a swm for directv?
swm is required for genie hd dvrs. otherwise you can choose to use an h24 receiver, but it has drawbacks.
