HD signal problem during storms

[MRM]

Hello everyone, new guy here that just found this forum. I have seen some good info here so far.

We switched over to DirecTV back in June. My only complaint about their service is their HD channels go out during a heavy rain or storm. The SD channels do not go out or it's rare they do. It's my understanding the HD signals come though another satellite and the window opening is narrow. But as much as the signal goes out with even low, thick cloud cover is ridiculous. Should have I them come out and readjust the dish to see if they can hone in on the signal better?

[Michael D'Angelo]

:welcome_s to DBSTalk, MRM!

What are your transponder signals on SAT's 103(c) and 99(c)?

BTW I am moving this to the "DIRECTV General Discussion" forum.

[MRM]

I don't know off the top of my head. I'll have to look at it when I get home. I want to say they are not as strong as the others. Most were in the 90's, I think those are in the 60's. I'll check tonight and post more later.

[bnglbill]

I don't know off the top of my head. I'll have to look at it when I get home. I want to say they are not as strong as the others. Most were in the 90's, I think those are in the 60's. I'll check tonight and post more later.

If this is the case then you definately want to get an allignment.

[K4SMX]

Welcome to DBSTalk!

Please fill in the "#'s":

Menu Button > Parental, Fav's & Setup > System Setup > Satellite (& Ant) > View Signal Strength

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c)/(a))
[New national HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(c)/(b))
[Most national HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
17-24 0 NA NA NA NA 0 NA NA

[bigben7]

Hello everyone, new guy here that just found this forum. I have seen some good info here so far.

We switched over to DirecTV back in June. My only complaint about their service is their HD channels go out during a heavy rain or storm. The SD channels do not go out or it's rare they do. It's my understanding the HD signals come though another satellite and the window opening is narrow. But as much as the signal goes out with even low, thick cloud cover is ridiculous. Should have I them come out and readjust the dish to see if they can hone in on the signal better?



I have the same issue all the time during moderate to heavy rain. My signal strengths for 99c and 103c are in the 70's and 80's.

I also seem to lose my signal on 99c & 103c often at night around the same time (11:00 pm est.) even when there's no rain It usually lasts for less than an hour but it happens most nights and it impacts both my boxes.

[K4SMX]

I have the same issue all the time during moderate to heavy rain. My signal strengths for 99c and 103c are in the 70's and 80's.
Your signals could probably be about 10-15 points higher with better alignment, which would reduce the frequency and length but not totally eliminate this problem. Normally, it's difficult to get DirecTV to roll a truck if your clear weather HD tp sig's are all above 70.

I also seem to lose my signal on 99c & 103c often at night around the same time (11:00 pm est.) even when there's no rain It usually lasts for less than an hour but it happens most nights and it impacts both my boxes.
That's rather odd. Most often this type problem is reported to occur during the peak sunlight hours, indicating a temperature-related LNB problem. It could still be an LNB problem, however. That's definitely abnormal, and I suggest you call them while this is occurring in clear weather. Make sure they replace the LNB. You can get your alignment improved then as well to boost your HD tp's to mostly all in the 90's.

If you don't currently have the Protection Plan, you might want to consider adding it for a year, waiting the obligatory 30 days, and then reporting this issue. Or you can add it, pay $20 extra, and not wait 30 days. Otherwise you're going to be charged $80 for the service call.

[MRM]

In my case, we will be moving one TV from one room to another which will require us to get a service person to come out. When I place the service call, I will also make sure the alignment be adjusted if I find out my signal strength is weak on the HD signals. I'll check it tonight to see if that's the case.

[jwd45244]

Rain fade, or more correctly: cloud fade, is something that happens to everyone. Making sure your dish is aligned as best as possible can help to mitigate the effects.

[K4SMX]

In my case, we will be moving one TV from one room to another which will require us to get a service person to come out. When I place the service call, I will also make sure the alignment be adjusted if I find out my signal strength is weak on the HD signals. I'll check it tonight to see if that's the case.
Just make sure everything you want corrected is clearly communicated to the DirecTV CSR. Tech's don't appreciate having a whole load of unexpected additional responsibilities added to the job after they arrive.

And welcome to DBSTalk.com!

[bigben7]

Your signals could probably be about 10-15 points higher with better alignment, which would reduce the frequency and length but not totally eliminate this problem. Normally, it's difficult to get DirecTV to roll a truck if your clear weather HD tp sig's are all above 70.


That's rather odd. Most often this type problem is reported to occur during the peak sunlight hours, indicating a temperature-related LNB problem. It could still be an LNB problem, however. That's definitely abnormal, and I suggest you call them while this is occurring in clear weather. Make sure they replace the LNB. You can get your alignment improved then as well to boost your HD tp's to mostly all in the 90's.

If you don't currently have the Protection Plan, you might want to consider adding it for a year, waiting the obligatory 30 days, and then reporting this issue. Or you can add it, pay $20 extra, and not wait 30 days. Otherwise you're going to be charged $80 for the service call.


I do have the protection plan so do you think I could get them out to do a realignment? Should I exaggerate and say my signals are lower than they really are?

With regards to my "night" issue it used to only happen to my local HD channels but it seems to be impacting most of my HD channels now. I did call once a few weeks ago but after a few minutes I realized the rep new less then I did (which isn't much) so I hung up.

[MRM]

My transponder number came up as such:

32 total at 101º

95 94 91 0 91 96 90 96
91 95 92 0 94 97 87 96
90 95 92 0 95 97 93 96
95 80 94 86 95 97 93 97

Az at 212º, Elev. at 45º, and tilt at 68º

[Kansas Zephyr]

My transponder number came up as such:

32 total at 101º

95 94 91 0 91 96 90 96
91 95 92 0 94 97 87 96
90 95 92 0 95 97 93 96
95 80 94 86 95 97 93 97

Az at 212º, Elev. at 45º, and tilt at 68º
OK,

Now, post the numbers for the 99(c) and 103(c) satellites, too.

[K4SMX]

I do have the protection plan so do you think I could get them out to do a realignment? Should I exaggerate and say my signals are lower than they really are?

With regards to my "night" issue it used to only happen to my local HD channels but it seems to be impacting most of my HD channels now. I did call once a few weeks ago but after a few minutes I realized the rep new less then I did (which isn't much) so I hung up.
The "night issue" should be sufficient. You should call while you are experiencing the problem, and hopefully you'll have a better CSR when you're asked to jump through all the hoops on their list. Be prepared to tell them your transponder signal strengths on 99(c)/(a) and 103(c)/(b), as applicable to your receiver type, DVR or non-DVR.

[MRM]

Okay, got my other numbers.

99c:
1-8 64 74 61 76 60 73 59 75
9-16 60 73 58 76 60 74 N/A N/A

103c:
1-8 72 74 71 73 70 73 69 72
9-16 72 73 69 74 70 74 N/A N/A

[K4SMX]

Those are marginal when you have any significant precip and are below DirecTV minimums of 70 on all relevant tp's. All of these are probably relevant tp's. They all carry programming you pay to receive, depending on your programming package. See the last para. of post #7, above. You may be able to get this corrected for free, since your installation was in June. There is a 90 day installation warranty.

[Kansas Zephyr]

Okay, got my other numbers.

99c:
1-8 64 74 61 76 60 73 59 75
9-16 60 73 58 76 60 74 N/A N/A

103c:
1-8 72 74 71 73 70 73 69 72
9-16 72 73 69 74 70 74 N/A N/A
Yes, you need your dish tweaked.

[DMRI2006]

You can have your dish tweaked, but don't expect it to cure the problem. Like you I have had numerous dropouts during thunderstorms this summer -- but only on the HD channels. The SD channels are almost always unaffected while the HD channels blackout completely...and I have readings in the 90's across the board on those satellites.

The same thing will happen even if you have your dish tweaked, it just seems to be a fact of life with the HD channels.

[K4SMX]

It won't "cure the problem," but it'll definitely mitigate it.

[MRM]

Considering about the only thing we watch are the HD channels, that is not good. Thanks for the suggestion. I have to call to get a new line ran to another room. When I call, I will also bring up the dish alignment issue.

[Nodes of Ranvier]

Considering all the responses here, is the Service protection plan(SPP) a must-have? I mean if the HD channel reception is that sensitive to rain, clouds, etc. it may be a good idea to have the SPP. Also $80 for service call, because of weak TP signals is pretty costly. Would this be included free of charge with SPP?

[Kansas Zephyr]

It won't "cure the problem," but it'll definitely mitigate it.
+1

No one here is saying this will eliminate rain-fade. The "newer" higher frequencies used by D* are more susceptible. It's just the physics of wavelength used.

But, a properly peaked dish will ensure the best chance of uninterrupted viewing during a light to moderate rain/snow event.

[ticked_off]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1948GG View Post
When you folks understand LINK BUDGET then you'll see why the Ka signals are BETTER than the Ku/DBS ones, for every point I made (reread it).

And as far as all the folks complaining here, they complain about virtually everything, and from the number of poor installations (!!), it's obvious why!

I remember, back in the early days of DirecTV (and Ku/DBS), 1994-?, of the number of folks who had TONS of problems with the Ku/DBS reception, again due to poor installations. We can all laugh at that today, saying that jeez, you gotta be kidding me! The number of professionals who scoffed at Ku/DBS at the time as 'unworkable' were legion; curious that when DirecTV fielded the Ka system, all those folks were silent. Maybe remembered how wrong they were years earlier? But that's the facts.

The only thing on that front is simply to go to larger reflectors (dishes).



Many years ago I installed a 70 CM dish with a triple LNA (wineguard) to end rain fade. There is no way I am going back to an undersized dish. With the DirecTV going to the new KA sats I am very ticked off for many reasons:

1. I have been searching in vain for a general purpose KA LNA that can be mounted on a custom antenna. No luck what so ever.

2. On the chance I would settle on my current 101/110/119 high gain system, you would think I could get DirecTV to tell be what the channel alignment is going to be when they switch from MPEG2 to MPEG4, right...

3. Wonder what the sports bars are going to do? I know they will not put up with it.

4. I could give a rats @$#$ about locals over sat, to many other ways to get them.

Just moved and have not reinstalled my system. About a month away from switching to dish. Lots of options there for high gain systems.

[directvsocks]

Those are marginal when you have any significant precip and are below DirecTV minimums of 70 on all relevant tp's. All of these are probably relevant tp's. They all carry programming you pay to receive, depending on your programming package. See the last para. of post #7, above. You may be able to get this corrected for free, since your installation was in June. There is a 90 day installation warranty.

Nicely done.:)