Leaf Fade

[msmith]

I need some help with leaf fade. The tree closest to my dish has grown enough that it seems to have knocked out 119.

1. Where can I find the azimuth and elevation of the satellite based on my location? I need to be able to use a compass and point in the right direction in order to determine which branch(es) are the problem.

2. What is a method that has worked for you? I'd like to avoid "hack, check signal, hack some more" and do something a bit more carefully.

[randyk47]

I finally had to move my dish last year but I was using the "hack, check signal, hack some more" method for the better part of three years. Last year we had incredible rains, especially in July, and the offending tree grew nearly three feet. That, and the fact I needed to update the dish to a Slimline, made me give up the location and have the Slimline installed in a place where no tree will ever get in the way. Recommend you use www.dishpointer.com to get your specific settings.

[Steve615]

You should be able to find your azimuth and elevation via your receiver.
The Signal Strength screen displays the azimuth,elevation and tilt as it is checking signal strengths on our receivers. :)

[msmith]

You should be able to find your azimuth and elevation via your receiver.
The Signal Strength screen displays the azimuth,elevation and tilt as it is checking signal strengths on our receivers. :)

That's for the aim point of the center of the dish. It's not the same thing as the azimuth and elevation of one particular satellite.

[carl6]

I agree with randyk47's suggestion to use dishpointer.com

When you find your house, make sure you select the applicable satellite (119), rather than the type of dish you have. That will then show you exactly what direction you need to have line of sight to get that specific signal.

Carl

[msmith]

Thanks.

Now I'm worried it might be the 100-year-old tree on the next door neighbor's property. I don't think I can take the top off of that!

[David MacLeod]

Thanks.

Now I'm worried it might be the 100-year-old tree on the next door neighbor's property. I don't think I can take the top off of that!

by any chance is that area of tree real close to power lines? if so perhaps you could coordinate with local power utility to trim a cutout in that area.

its a big issue up here where we have more trees than intelligent life :) and trimming like this happens a lot. almost every time it happens the people involved will do a little extra to help with signals. not only does the extra trim unblock, it means utility can skip trimming next time it comes due.

just a thought in case that is the situation.

[msmith]

No such luck - we have underground utilities and the tree is in the back of a yard.

Plus, the part that would need trimming is like 50-75 feet up.

I hope it's not that tree.

[K4SMX]

Antifreeze.....;)

[Greg Alsobrook]

Antifreeze.....;)

:lol:

[David MacLeod]

Antifreeze.....;)

lol, fire bad ... or is it...

[LarryFlowers]

Back in 1994 I installed my first DirecTV dish myself in the back of a townhouse I was living in at the time. It was at Thanksgiving.

In the spring I noticed my picture was getting worse and worse, and it finally dawned on me that the trees behind the townhouse had no leaves when I installed the dish, but now were in full bloom... I moved the dish.

I am in Atlanta, we have trees, lots and lots of trees (not as many as in Maine) and they are a constant consideration when you are working with the dish. I have seen many a home here with a suspicious gap in some nearby trees and a dish aimed in that general directions.. I am also "aware" of some night-time chainsaw activities....

[msmith]

I took a look last night, armed with the actual azimuth and elevation.

I was getting readings in the 50's sometimes last night. I think I'm shooting THROUGH the leaves. The other night it was raining when I was getting zero - wet leaves?

Unfortunately it looks like the problem is the top center of my tree. Rather than keep fixing that I should probably move the dish.

Anybody have a recommendation for a private (not DirecTV) installer to move the dish (in the Central NJ/Bucks Cty PA area)? I'd rather have somebody that I trust do the work rather than pay DirecTV for whatever quality technician I'd get. I might have to move up to a steep roof that requires a 28-foot ladder (the original 101-only dish was up there).

[randyk47]

I obviously don't live up your way but when I needed a private installer in San Antonio I looked in the yellow pages for home theater companies. The very first one I called had a guy they used to put up dishes, fish cables, etc., etc., and I contracted directly with him. I needed somebody who would do high work, too high for DirecTV installers, and this fellow also changes light bulbs in radio/TV towers for a living so 40' up on a steep roof was not an issue.

[David MacLeod]

you know, I may be off base here, but I installed my own and it was not difficult. something to consider.

[idigg]

I had this problem over the weekend, my sugar maple started growing like crazy due to all the rain. I got one of these - http://www.fiskars.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10101&categoryId=10261&productId=10509&page=products

I cut down a 3" limb and I now have signal again :)

[K4SMX]

PM Joe Diamond. He removes LOS obstructions with a 12 gauge shot gun.....:)

[David MacLeod]

I've heard flechette loads are great for that...not going to say how I heard :)
darn German tree was in my way at the range..

[lwilli201]

To find the offending limb, I got a rope with a weight on it and throw it over each limb that seemed in the way and pulled it down. When I pulled the 2nd limb down the signal strength jumped up. I was able to determine from knowning where the limb was what need to be done. I had a tree trimmer come out and take out the limb and shape up the tree. Since I live in a small town, it only cost $200 to get the tree trimmed up and everything hauled off. I hope everything gets off 119 before the tree gets in the way again.

[JFHughes08088]

Hey, everyone needs more firewood

[joe diamond]

I've heard flechette loads are great for that...not going to say how I heard :)
darn German tree was in my way at the range..

Used to use that stuff.........loaded it in schedule 40 pipe and it worked BUT it took of the roof of the neighbors house and down range..I mean a few blocks further......it chewed hell out of several cars and a dog that barked too much anyway. But, hell boy, were did you get tank rounds anyhow?

And I have reformed. Now we rope offending limbs and pull them out of the way (LOS); less fun!

Buck shot will work if you find yourself to be in a rural setting. BB is second best. Elevation is figured between the top of the rim of the dish and the tip of the LNB..........30-40 degrees for most folks. A single box of shells should do it for a season or two; gun pruning to correct leaf fade.

I see a new Caddy Shack movie here.

"Leaf fade"....that is funny! Road crews used to do winter installs with the plan to get the hell out of town before spring because they knew about half the jobs they did would shut down when the leave came out. Think "deciduous service".

Joe

[David MacLeod]

lol, I loaded mine in a Spaz (don't remember model) 12 gauge urban assault shotgun. lot of fun :)rounds were built for severe crowd dispersal. last I knew they became illegal after that time period. but at the time you use what you bring :)

yeah, chainsaws and the like are a lot more legal, but darn it they're just not as fun....

[joe diamond]

Sad but true.

Joe