Expected HD signal strength for North Dallas:

[pschmidt64]

I've taken the plung and am upgrading my DirecTV to HD. Installer is showing Saturday.

So been searching the forum for expected signal strength so I don't sign off on the install until I know the dish is aligned properly.

Saturday is suppose to be a nice clear day. And my current dish (SD) on a clear day gets high 90's (97-98) for it's signals. So I know I have a nice location. I've seen posts that say anywhere from 70's is good to 85+ is good. The install tips say expect 90's on all Sats.

Given I don't know what the menu's/Sat strength looks like on the new HD21's, what should I expect to see? And what Sats do I need to worry about, and what's the minimum strength I should see before signing off on the install?

Thanks for the help,

Perry

[randyk47]

While I don't exactly live in Dallas I'm not that far away in San Antonio. I consider my Slimline pretty well aimed and I'm getting 94 - 98, even a few 100's, as typical readings pretty much across the board on the sats that matter. I'd imagine your signal should be about the same as mine and not far off of what you're getting on your SD. My signal improved a lot when I went to the Slimline but the install point had to be moved because a tree was catching up with the old 3LNB dish so that's not a good comparison.

[dshu82]

It will depend on trees, etc. at your particular location. If you are 90+ though I would consider that very good.

[dshu82]

Oh, and the important thing is that the installer checks them on your TV, in front of you, before he leaves or you sign anything. Too many stories about people not getting 119, others are fine but 103 b is in the 40's, etc.

[dshu82]

And since I did not answer your question, I will bump up my post count: 103 (b) is where the new HD channels are.

[BK EH]

I live near White Rock Lake. Dish is at 40ft with a clear shot, no trees. We get 92-98 on all, w/ the occasional 100.

[pschmidt64]

Excellent - thanks for the info.

Sounds like I should get pretty good numbers there - i.e. 90+ on everything. (Given I have a great spot already - nice clear shot, etc...)

Thanks - HD, here we come!

Perry

[K4SMX]

The new mpeg4 HD national channels are carried on the DirecTV10 satellite at 103W. The signals from this satellite are shown on a transponder by transponder basis in the Setup Menu on your receiver under Satellite > View Signal Strength. The default satellite position initially shown is 101W. Use the left-right arrows to cycle to 103(b) or 103(c), depending on your software version. With good alignment, all tp's should be in the 90's with maybe a couple of high 80's.

Your Dallas/FW HD locals are also carried on DirecTV10, and they will show up on the 103(a) or 103(s) Setup Menu page, again depending on your software version. In this case, however, your HD local channels are carried on only one of the tp's, so you will see signal strengths all over the map on this page.

Additionally, the older mpeg2 HD nationals (Ch 70-79) are carried on the 110W satellite, tp's 8, 10, and 12 and the 119W satellite, tp 28.

[texasbrit]

Here are my signal strengths from Parker just east of Allen. Your installer will probably not get signals as strong as these (I did my own alignment) but you should certainly have signals on 103(b)/103(c) - the numbering will depend on your software version - in the mid to high 80s. The TPS with low or zero signal are spotbeams directed to other cities and have no programming for DFW. Nothing on 99 is for DFW. The DFW HD locals come from 103(a) - which might be numberered 103(s) in your system - on TP21.
101:
1-8 98,80,98,0, 98,97,94,96
9-16 94,92,94,100,95,100,94,100
17-24 95,0,94,100,96,98,98,98
25-32 95,0,100,0,98,98,98,100

110:
TPs 8, 10 and 12 are all at 95, rest are n/a

119:
TPs 1-21 are n/a. 22 = 96, 23 = 96, 24 = 100
25-32 98,100,100,100,100,100,98,100

99(b) - might be 99(s)
1-6 0,0,81,76,0,84 rest are n/a

103(a) - might be 103(s) for you
1-8 0,0,0,0,100,0, na,na
9-14 are n/a, 15 is 97, 16 is 87
17-24 97,0,95,86,100,0,97,95
25-32 are n/a

103(b) - might be called 103(c) in your system
1-8 95,96,96,96,96,96,96,96
9-16 95,96,96,96,96,97,n/a, n/a
17=97, 22=97, rest are n/a