Signal Reception / Digital Arifacting Assistance

[rod97301]

For those of you that are knowledgeable in this area, I wanted to get some advice in terms of a reception issue I’m experiencing.

Reception Problem - Intermittent digital artifacting and audio drop-out (but not to the point where I would get a 771 message like I would in a rain or snow event).

- this happens on blue sky, calm days (my dish has a clear line of sight – no obstacles even close)
- while I haven’t tracked this down to channels and frequency, my general take is that it happens to some channels like TBS more so than other HD channels – but I haven’t substantiated this
- when this happens, it sometimes can occur as frequently as once a minute (artifacting degrading the stream for 2-3 seconds, then clears-up)

Early last year, I got HD through D* by upgrading to the latest 5-lnb oval dish. I have an HR20 model (receiver/DVR). I’m not sure what the “normal” HD satellite viewing experience is – maybe this happens to most everyone else even on clear, good weather days. However, I’m compelled to ask as I end up surfing to a different channel to avoid the distraction (when watching live TV).


1. D* could just be adjusting the bitrate to a point where base on my current signal strength I’m just on the fringe of getting a consistent picture with drop-outs…
2. My dish may need an adjustment to improve reception
3. This experience is common to everyone else and there’s little more I can do on my side.

I’m sure #1 happens to a degree; so I think the real issue is determining if my dish alignment is pulling the greatest possible signal. How should I proceed to deal with this? Is there some additional analysis I can do of the signal information from my HR20 before contacting D*?

[gvatty]

This happens to me also 2-3 times a week. Discovery HD, MaxHD, SHOWHD are the worst offenders. Usually it lasts for about a minute. Sometimes I switch it to the sd channel for a few seconds and change it back to the HD channel and it clears the issue up

[houskamp]

check and post signal strenth numbers here (from setup>sat) and we'll be glad to help..

[litzdog911]

Post back your signal readings for each transponder and each satellite, especially the 99 and 103-deg satellites. Let's see how your signal readings look because it might just be an alignment issue.

[Canis Lupus]

Given the time frame of your install (before the new HD channels went up), you might just need a little tweak on your 103b SAT. Installers couldn't see this one when they did your install.

[bt-rtp]

+1, you need a service call to have your satellite antenna re-aligned and the LNB and cable connections checked out.

[rod97301]

Here are my readings -

101
1-8 91 94 92 58 91 97 89 96
9-16 91 95 93 53 94 97 91 97
17-24 91 99 94 77 95 98 95 96
25-32 94 62 92 93 96 97 92 98

110
1-8 92
9-16 89 95

119
17-24 89 0 89
25-32 100 92 95 91 51 92 54 95

99s
1-8 23 99 25

103c
1-8 92 93 91 89 86 91 88 91
9-16 86 91 91 92 87 93
17-24 95 95

Can any conclusions be drawn from this? I have some transponders that are showing some low numbers, but overall the numbers are good - could this be due to the fact that my dish was set-up prior to the D10 satelite implementation?

Rod

[litzdog911]

Those signal readings look great.

[Canis Lupus]

Maybe a bad BBC that's working intermittently?

[K4SMX]

This is an HR20, right? Don't we need the 103(c) signal readings for the other tuner as well?

[rod97301]

Yes, it's an HR20-700 - and while I have good signal strength on most of the transponders, I will regularly see artifacting on some of the HD channels even when the weather is clear and calm. Go figure?

[Canis Lupus]

K4SMX is asking that you post your signal strengths on the 103c for both Tuner 1 and Tuner 2 to see if we can see some discrepancies in those numbers.

Yes, it's an HR20-700 - and while I have good signal strength on most of the transponders, I will regularly see artifacting on some of the HD channels even when the weather is clear and calm. Go figure?