signal strength on 103

[rcwinter]

Below is the signal strength I am getting in the Louisville area and would like to improve the signal strength on the 103. Are the local channels broadcast on the 103? If I understand to other post, I would just need to adjust the tilt of the dish. Is that correct?

101
1-8 95 96 94 84 93 100 95 99
9-16 94 97 95 89 94 100 92 100
17-24 93 51 95 86 93 100 92 100
25-32 92 85 95 53 96 100 94 100
110
1-8 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 88
9-16 n/a 92 n/a 89
119
17-24 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 97 60 95
25-32 97 98 98 98 86 98 97 98
99
1-8 92 22 97 0 96 0
103(S)
1-8 0 0 0 0 0 0
9-16 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0
17-24 78 29 0 0 77 0 0 0
103(C)
1-8 77 88 77 89 74 86 74 86
9-16 74 86 74 86 75 86
17-25 78 n/a n/a n/a n/a 83

[houskamp]

small tweak should get it right..
just do one adjustment at a time, and watch the meters..

[K4SMX]

You should peak your 103(c)'s with the AZ and EL fine adjustment mechanisms prior to adjusting your tilt to peak the 119 sigs.

Please study the info in post #44 of this thread before proceeding: Advisory to Do-It-Yourself Dish Re-aligners (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=100397&page=2)

[yarrumc]

small tweak should get it right..
just do one adjustment at a time, and watch the meters..

I had been getting pixelization and 771 errors after my install yesterday. I see that the 103 has an average of 50 on the transponders. I know enough that the signal is way too low!! Is there a suggestion on what 'I' may be able to adjust, to see if maybe I can fix it myself? The other satellites seem to have acceptable signal level, that I can tell. I will also check out the guide, to see if I understand any of it. I am a newbie to aligning, but I am a technical person.

[davring]

I had been getting pixelization and 771 errors after my install yesterday. I see that the 103 has an average of 50 on the transponders. I know enough that the signal is way too low!! Is there a suggestion on what 'I' may be able to adjust, to see if maybe I can fix it myself? The other satellites seem to have acceptable signal level, that I can tell. I will also check out the guide, to see if I understand any of it. I am a newbie to aligning, but I am a technical person.

I am with you as I would try and adjust it myself, it really is not that difficult. What is truely sad is your installer left you in such poor shape, I would raise heck with D* and make them fix it.

[houskamp]

I had been getting pixelization and 771 errors after my install yesterday. I see that the 103 has an average of 50 on the transponders. I know enough that the signal is way too low!! Is there a suggestion on what 'I' may be able to adjust, to see if maybe I can fix it myself? The other satellites seem to have acceptable signal level, that I can tell. I will also check out the guide, to see if I understand any of it. I am a newbie to aligning, but I am a technical person.
watch the signal meters on your reciever and just push a little on the edge of the dish to find what way to move it..
by the way a slingbox and laptop work great...

[yarrumc]

I am with you as I would try and adjust it myself, it really is not that difficult. What is truely sad is your installer left you in such poor shape, I would raise heck with D* and make them fix it.

I certainly will call them, if there isn't a simple thing I can try first. What might be the issue and first thing I want look for on the dish, assuming rest of hardware is fine? What could be the first culprit on low signals for 103c? If there is no straight ahead answer or step to do, then I will call them and have them do their walk through over the phone, which will likely turn into a service call.

Thanks.

[yarrumc]

watch the signal meters on your reciever and just push a little on the edge of the dish to find what way to move it..
by the way a slingbox and laptop work great...

So I want to adjust left to right or the tilt (the correct terms are escaping me)? I would have not thought of a slingbox. Don't get me started...lol. That would only work on the screen I have it set at right? I can't change anything on the screen via laptop to sling (changing satellite, transponder)?

[houskamp]

So I want to adjust left to right or the tilt (the correct terms are escaping me)? I would have not thought of a slingbox. Don't get me started...lol. That would only work on the screen I have it set at right? I can't change anything on the screen via laptop to sling (changing satellite, transponder)?
you can control it just like you could with the remote.. thats what makes it so nice,,
you could also use the cellphone/freind or the old yell out the window too..
just apply light pressure to the top/bottom/sides and see if the levels go up or down.. this will tell you which way to go..

[yarrumc]

you can control it just like you could with the remote.. thats what makes it so nice,,
you could also use the cellphone/freind or the old yell out the window too..
just apply light pressure to the top/bottom/sides and see if the levels go up or down.. this will tell you which way to go..

One last question.. I think..lol. Generally speaking, when I go to adjust the satellite from the existing position, where would the 103 sat. be in sky? For instance, my roof pitches up to the left of the satellite. If the satellite is further East or lower in the horizon, then I might be out of luck. If it is likely further west of where I have it pointed, then I might be in luck! Yes, I have a roof line to contend with, so it is already a border line LOS, I think.

[houskamp]

not sure on that one, but I do know they are fairly high compaired to where it "looks" like the dish is pointed.. all you can do is try..

[K4SMX]

Elevation is always the most likely culprit because of the weight of the dish. Check the bolts of the mounting plate to make sure they were tightened securely. As a matter of fact, check all the bolts. Loose bolts are common on new installations.

The satellites are roughly 25 degrees higher than they would appear from looking at the elevation of the dish because of the offset of the LNB's. You likely have no LOS issues from that roof if you have 103(c) signals in the 50's. If there was a real LOS issue, you'd probably have no signals at all.

[yarrumc]

Elevation is always the most likely culprit because of the weight of the dish. Check the bolts of the mounting plate to make sure they were tightened securely. As a matter of fact, check all the bolts. Loose bolts are common on new installations.

The satellites are roughly 25 degrees higher than they would appear from looking at the elevation of the dish because of the offset of the LNB's. You likely have no LOS issues from that roof if you have 103(c) signals in the 50's. If there was a real LOS issue, you'd probably have no signals at all.

If I find the bolts are all tight (I did watch the installer mount the brace/mount), then I would assume it's safe to assume that it probably isn't dead plum, because the frame he mounted it to (90 degree angle) is likely not plum? Since it is mounted vertically (mount and pole starts horizontal), he has the 'stop bolt' in the center position, which keeps it 'level' in this case. How then would I deal with tweaking the dish to offset a non-plum mount? If have 50's for a signal on 103c, then that it is not likely a LOS issue, so would assume it is still an alignment issue? What might be the best bet in trying to tweak it myself? I am all for a little turn here and there, while watching the signal meter, but I am wondering if there is likely only one thing I would have to do, in risk of making it worse by pure guessing? Thanks all.

[K4SMX]

Loosen the two EL lock bolts first (The ones with EL markings, not all three of them, or the whole dish will drop!) and slowly adjust the EL while you watch one of the weaker tp's on 103(c) using the Signal Meters. Then adjust the AZ in similar fashion after loosening the 2 lock bolts on the front of the horizontal plate for that mechanism. Some people torque the whole dish a little to get an idea of which way to go initially. I don't do that. I'm patient....:)

[yarrumc]

Loosen the two EL lock bolts first (The ones with EL markings, not all three of them, or the whole dish will drop!) and slowly adjust the EL while you watch one of the weaker tp's on 103(c) using the Signal Meters. Then adjust the AZ in similar fashion after loosening the 2 lock bolts on the front of the horizontal plate for that mechanism. Some people torque the whole dish a little to get an idea of which way to go initially. I don't do that. I'm patient....:)

Ok, so it is a bit of trial and error then. I will probably take some time this weekend and if no success, I will put in a call to Direct. Do you think it is a safe bet to put in a call anyway, have them walk me through troubleshooting and set up a time, so if I fail, I will already have a date set? Sounds logical to me...:)

[K4SMX]

Well it should be covered under the 90 day new installation/HD upgrade installation warranty, and with pixelation on the HD's and 103(c)'s in the 50's, there's not a lot of "troubleshooting" they can do over the phone. If you get it fixed yourself, you can always cancel your service request. But is there no way you can first contact your install company directly? They would appreciate that.

[yarrumc]

Well it should be covered under the 90 day new installation/HD upgrade installation warranty, and with pixelation on the HD's and 103(c)'s in the 50's, there's not a lot of "troubleshooting" they can do over the phone. If you get it fixed yourself, you can always cancel your service request. But is there no way you can first contact your install company directly? They would appreciate that.

I am not sure who the company was, since it was through Direct. I know he was a contractor. Come to think of it, I am not sure I got a copy of the install form I signed...doh! I am sure Direct has a record of who came out? At that rate, I am sure they just pick whoever is available to come out for troubleshooting, but if they can ask for the same guy, that would work. I guess I can always request that.

[yarrumc]

I am not sure who the company was, since it was through Direct. I know he was a contractor. Come to think of it, I am not sure I got a copy of the install form I signed...doh! I am sure Direct has a record of who came out? At that rate, I am sure they just pick whoever is available to come out for troubleshooting, but if they can ask for the same guy, that would work. I guess I can always request that.

So I called D* and let them know of my signal issue and my picture cutting in and out at times, since my install on 3/2. CSR did acknowledge that my issue would likely be with Satellite 103c, if my HD locals were cutting out and I agreed I felt that was the case. I told her that my strength was in the 50's on average. She asked if I was experiencing the issue 'now' and I stated that it wasn't happening at that moment, but did prior to me calling. she went on to say that 'they' consider 50-60's signal strength to be good for the 103c HD transponders and that she rarely sees it being higher than that. I just shook my head and sort of mentioned that I do a lot of reading and I have never seen 50-60's be considered good by anyone. She said that the 103c using a different signal and that the SD channels really needed to be in the 80's plus range to be good. I see people on here with 80'+ on the 103c satellite, so I know it is possible to get higher and I feel that is still my problem. Any insight on this?

[K4SMX]

This is tiresome. Almost without exception all 103(c) tp's are in the mid-80's to 90's on a properly aligned dish with an LNB in good working order. So what do they want you to do, only call when your picture is actually pixelating, not pixilating 15 minutes ago? I guess we know now not to mention 50's and 60's. From what you posted, they have not resolved your new installation issue. I wonder if they realize how much it costs them not to handle a legitimate service request on the first call which will eventually have to be resolved?

It's really very simple: You have a new installation, and you do not receive solid reception on the HD channels for which you are paying, and paying extra, to receive.

[yarrumc]

This is tiresome. Almost without exception all 103(c) tp's are in the mid-80's to 90's on a properly aligned dish with an LNB in good working order. So what do they want you to do, only call when your picture is actually pixelating, not pixilating 15 minutes ago? I guess we know now not to mention 50's and 60's. From what you posted, they have not resolved your new installation issue. I wonder if they realize how much it costs them not to handle a legitimate service request on the first call which will eventually have to be resolved?

It's really very simple: You have a new installation, and you do not receive solid reception on the HD channels for which you are paying, and paying extra, to receive.

I hear ya. It's not over, believe me. I am going to try and tweak the alignment this weekend. If I fail at doing that, I will call again and let them know that there is an issue and would like someone to check my setup.