5LBN cover

[stblake10]

I wanted to ask the masses out there for some advise. I live in the NE (Derry, NH) and I get allot of sat interruptions when it rains really hard or it shows. I wanted to ask if anyone knows of a decent sat cover for my Slimline 5lnb. This dish was installed last January "07" if that helps with the specific type. I want to prevent the snow/water from collecting on the dish. If it's an alignment with the dish, I will provide my #'s below. Any help, suggestions would be appreciated.

Azimuth 235, elevation 32, tilt 63

tuner %
sat 101 sat 110 sat 119 sat 103 (c)
tuner1 89 77 84 68
tuner2 85 79 85 66

sat transponders %
101 86-100
110 (8,10,12) 77-79
119 (22-32) 79-97
103 (s) (1-7 & 15-24) 0-91
103 (c) (1-14 & 17, 22) 0-67

*pls note the #'s in () are the transponders that show up with either zero or more %'s. Those left off are N/A.

[Mertzen]

You need a dish realignment more then a cover. 103C should be all over 85 idealy even over 90. As far as snow, maybe get a dish heater.

[boba]

Second realign and heater.

[dave29]

your dish definately needs tweaked

[JeffBowser]

For sure get the aim tweaked, your 103C is terrible, it probably goes out when someone sneezes across the dish.

[stblake10]

I appreciate everyones ideas. I will schedule a dish alignment. It will cost me $80 though.

[litzdog911]

I appreciate everyones ideas. I will schedule a dish alignment. It will cost me $80 though.

That $80 service visit is still a better investment than a dish cover to improve your reception.

[stblake10]

I went onto www.wedgiecovers.com and saw then for $40. Not bad.

[jdspencer]

BTW, a dish cover will do absolutely nothing to prevent rain fade. It can help prevent snow buildup.

[curt8403]

I wanted to ask the masses out there for some advise. I live in the NE (Derry, NH) and I get allot of sat interruptions when it rains really hard or it shows. I wanted to ask if anyone knows of a decent sat cover for my Slimline 5lnb. This dish was installed last January "07" if that helps with the specific type. I want to prevent the snow/water from collecting on the dish. If it's an alignment with the dish, I will provide my #'s below. Any help, suggestions would be appreciated.

Azimuth 235, elevation 32, tilt 63

tuner %
sat 101 sat 110 sat 119 sat 103 (c)
tuner1 89 77 84 68
tuner2 85 79 85 66

sat transponders %
101 86-100
110 (8,10,12) 77-79
119 (22-32) 79-97
103 (s) (1-7 & 15-24) 0-91
103 (c) (1-14 & 17, 22) 0-67

*pls note the #'s in () are the transponders that show up with either zero or more %'s. Those left off are N/A.


I also recommend a dish heater, but not one that you can buy from a retailer. I made my own, and will repost info and pictures on it in a few months. It cost me about 35$ and works just fine.

[stblake10]

Thnx everyone on your posts. I do have an update on my signal %. This morning it was overcast. And not that it is sunny/cloudy, sat 103c is 59-67% in all 16 transponders. Is that good, or what % should I be in? My line of sight has no structures in the way.

[Tom Robertson]

For the CONUS signals on 103°(c) you should see no less than 85, and typically above 90. A signal of 95-ish is about the best one could get.

You might try having someone very lightly push upward on the LNB arm while you are watching the signals. Seems like very commonly the dish settles downward most often over time. And is an easy thing for most people to fix.

Good luck,
Tom

[stblake10]

Thnx, for the idea. That should save me some $$'s. I was told by an installer that spraying the dish with Pam cooking spray that would lubricate the dish and help with the rain/snow. Any thoughts on that?

[curt8403]

Thnx, for the idea. That should save me some $$'s. I was told by an installer that spraying the dish with Pam cooking spray that would lubricate the dish and help with the rain/snow. Any thoughts on that?

no no no no no

it will make the dish sticky and attract insects. use rainx or wd40

[JeffBowser]

There is nothing you can do about rain - it's not about what's on the dish with rain, it's about what's in the clouds between your dish and the satellite. Forget the Pam, old wives tale. Get a dish heater, or make your own for snow, dish covers are a placebo at best, and can increase rain-fade at worst.

Thnx, for the idea. That should save me some $$'s. I was told by an installer that spraying the dish with Pam cooking spray that would lubricate the dish and help with the rain/snow. Any thoughts on that?

[tuff bob]

it will make the dish sticky and attract insects. use rainx or wd40

rainx doesnt make much of a difference.

[curt8403]

rainx doesnt make much of a difference.

for rain collecting on the dish, a tiny (Tiny tiny) bit, for rain in the clouds, none, for snow collecting on the dish, none. Heater works much better

[Mertzen]

I appreciate everyones ideas. I will schedule a dish alignment. It will cost me $80 though.

When the tech is there make sure to tell him to check if there are two monopoles.

[finaldiet]

I also recommend a dish heater, but not one that you can buy from a retailer. I made my own, and will repost info and pictures on it in a few months. It cost me about 35$ and works just fine.

Let me know how you made your own dish heater.

[curt8403]

Let me know how you made your own dish heater.


Ok, I'll try to explain

Start with a length of Heat tape (The kind used to thaw water pipes) about 12 feet long or so.

Starting at the bottom of the reflector part of the dish, run the line up the back side of the dish, securing with a plastic clothespin every 1 1/2 foot or so. The line will have a thermistat on the end closest to the plug, which needs to be secured to the mast. just below the dish. (Use electrical tape for this) and then run the line on the back of the dish up and around, then down the other side of the dish. Run the line from the bottom of the dish up one side of the arm for the LNB (Secure with metal tape) and then thread through The LNB assembly (Over, Under, Over) and then back down the other side of the lnb arm.
Go to the back of the dish, and wrap around the part that is used for tilt/elevation, tuck any remaining heat tape down inside the mast