103b question

[lifelong]

I just had an install about a month ago and I checked my 103b signal levels. They seem pretty low, though I am getting all of the mpeg4 channels:
1-8: 73 31 72 38 72 37 70 43
9-16: 73 43 71 44 73 42 n/a n/a
17-24: 72 n/a n/a n/a n/a 51 n/a n/a
25-32: n/a

I am not noticing any loss or breakup of any channels (but I do notice horrid lip sync issues on many of the HD channels), but I just did a signal strength test out of curiosity. Is this a problem. Should I call DirecTV about this? The installer also left me his number. Should I call him directly?

[K4SMX]

Your dish is a good bit out of alignment, so first give the guy a call who installed it . It may have dropped slightly for a variety of possible reasons. The lip sync is a separate issue. Do you use a separate audio amplifier or just the audio from the TV set?

[lifelong]

OK, I'll call the installer directly, but I can imagine that his response may be "are you getting all of your channels? yes? then go away." I'm using a separate audio amplifier. TV is hooked up via component video and audio via toslink.

[jlancaster]

If what Stew says doesn't work...call Directv you have a 90 day guarantee from install date...those even transponders are NOT acceptable.
Keep us informed.

[K4SMX]

I think even DirecTV CSR's would agree that 103(b) transponder levels in the 30's and 40's are unacceptable. It wouldn't hurt to mention that your reception is not solid, because you are right on the edge of losing your signal in a moderate rain shower, so if you haven't experienced this yet, you soon will. Hopefully you'll have no trouble getting the installer back without the need to call DirecTV. I would think he would prefer not to hear from them about his work as well.

[lifelong]

Well we had our first big storm in a month here in Atlanta (thank God), and your prediction was right. I had some MPEG4 HD channels drop out. Called the installer, who actually answered and seems interested in resolving my problem. His theory is a bad LNB because I am getting good signal strength on 101 and 119, which are "around" 103. He'll hopefully come out at some point this week.

[K4SMX]

Well we had our first big storm in a month here in Atlanta (thank God), and your prediction was right. I had some MPEG4 HD channels drop out. Called the installer, who actually answered and seems interested in resolving my problem. His theory is a bad LNB because I am getting good signal strength on 101 and 119, which are "around" 103. He'll hopefully come out at some point this week.

1-8: 73 31 72 38 72 37 70 43
9-16: 73 43 71 44 73 42 n/a n/a
17-24: 72 n/a n/a n/a n/a 51 n/a n/a
25-32: n/a
I don't think so. You will please note that your odd numbered 103(b) tp's are higher than your evens. In addition, even your odd's are about 20 points below where all of them should be.

As has been posted many times on this forum, this odd/even disparity is characteristic of a dish whose EL(evation) is not quite spot on. While the EL is usually a little off on the low side because of gravity and the weight of the dish, it could be off in either direction on a new install.

Our friend texasbrit once commented that he thought if the EL was off in one direction, the odds would be higher than the evens, and if it were off in the other direction, the opposite would be true. I don't think we ever definitively answered the question, but it's not that important. What is important is that the dish be precisely aligned on the 103(b) satellite.

The installer most likely does not own a newer signal meter which would measure the 103(b) signal strength directly. Therefore. alignment is most often done without reference directly to the actual 103(b) reading. But in practice many installers have a tough time with this, so it's easier just to take the 103(b) readings right off the receiver, if you'll give your installer a hand with that. You might get him to adjust the EL fine adjustment setting while you report to him via cellphone the changes on a single even-numbered 103(b) tp using the "Signal Meters" selection (after you have up on the screen the complete 103(b) signal strength panel, which you already know how to do.)

Only after a precise alignment fails to raise your 103(b)'s into mostly all 90's should you consider replacing the LNB.

Congratulations on the rain. There will be no war between Georgia and Alabama....:)

[lifelong]

Forgot to update the thread, but I called Directv for a realignment and they sent out someone from Mastech to come to my home. It took the guy about 5 minutes to tweak the dish and I started getting 103b signals in the high 80's and low 90's.

Then, here in Atlanta, when we had our "once every few years" snowstorm this past week, the signal held up well. The only dropouts I had were because of snow accumulating on the dish, which was easy enough to rinse off with a water hose.

That leads me to another question. I have a freshly re-aligned dish with signals in the high 80's and 90's. We had maybe an inch of snow the resulting accumulation on the dish caused me to get 771 errors. Over the week, I had to go out and rinse the dish off three times. But, is this a constant problem for you guys up north who get lots of snow? Or, what about those of you with a dish that is not easily accessible? Does the angle of my dish given my location (Atlanta) lend itself to more easily collect snow compared to those of you up north?

[Canis Lupus]

Glad you got the realignment. As far as snow goes, most people report problems when the snow is wet and heavy, as likely was your case, along with the people who posted from Baltimore etc this pas week.

So it may not be as common up North, at least in the dead of winter, because colder temps usually mean drier, lighter snow. Not in all cases of course, but generally wet and heavy is more problematic.

[lifelong]

Not sure where else to put this, but during the incredible storm in Atlanta that caused the downtown Atlanta tornado (I live only 1.5 miles from downtown, really dodged a bullet), I didn't lose signal on any SD channels at all. I lost most of my HD channels for about 20 minutes during the real meat of the storm. I was getting really annoyed when it happened, but when my ABC affiliate's HD channel came back and I saw what had transpired, I realized that any annoyance I was feeling was probably pretty stupid compared to those who had a giant oak tree fall on their houses...

But that brings up a question, are the HD channels more prone to dropping out during storms? Or is it just my particular alignment to satellite is beaming them down?

[joe diamond]

Some snow & ice tricks = Spray PAM or similar cooking oil on the dish in December........or......cover the whole dish & arm with a black trash bag for the winter. Atlanta, Georgia should not have many snow issues.

+ Your original signals had some real drop outs...........is your dish pointing at trees without leaves?.............Come spring recheck the signals.

Just for fun.if or when you need service ask MASTEC to send the same competent guy.

Joe