Signal strength and the season change.

[cj9788]

I have noticed a significant drop in signal strenght on 119 Spot 3. The signal drops out to less than 45 (on the "old" signal meter on my 3900) at around 245 pm EDT. It comes back up to a lockable signal at around 745 pm EDT.

AT the same time the signal on spots 5 and 7 are increased to over 100 where as before fall they only came in at around 75.

What gives. This happens every fall and so far I have gotten no valid reason. Do the birds wobble more in the fall winter as oposed to spring summer.

My dish has an unobstructed view to the sky. Any tech people know why this happens?

[Allen Noland]

It sounds like solar conjunction issue. It should happen in the spring as well. At some point it should go out completly for a few minutes as the sun moves directly behind the satellite. But will only be out for a few minutes.

[cj9788]

Thanks for the info. It lasts for about 5 hours. It only happens in the fall and winter till about the second week of january. Then the signal locks all day.

[Allen Noland]

Do you have a switch between your receiver and dish?

[SaltiDawg]

Thanks for the info. It lasts for about 5 hours. It only happens in the fall and winter till about the second week of january. Then the signal locks all day.
It does not sound like "solar conjunction" if it lasts until February. Also, the increases in signal level that you report as occurring during the Winter months may be due to leaves falling from neighboring trees and improving the "look" at the Satellite.

[cj9788]

Allen: I use a one meter dish for 119 and a regular E* dish for 110. The dp 34 feeds 5 receivers in my home.

Salti: Leaves on the neighbors tree is not an issue. My view to the sky is not blocked at all by trees or man made structures..............

[Allen Noland]

Allen: I use a one meter dish for 119 and a regular E* dish for 110. The dp 34 feeds 5 receivers in my home.

Salti: Leaves on the neighbors tree is not an issue. My view to the sky is not blocked at all by trees or man made structures..............

Is it possible that the sun is shining on the switch in the fall enough to heat it up? 15 years ago I was having trouble with my cable TV just in the afternoon. I turned out that the sun was shining on the cable box on the side of the house - heating it up. Cable company came out and replaced it and all was fine. Any chance it is a similar problem?

[DNSFSS]

[QUOTE=cj9788;1845407]Allen: I use a one meter dish for 119 and a regular E* dish for 110. The dp 34 feeds 5 receivers in my home.

DP34 switch= 3 orbital inputs and 4 satellite outputs. If you have 5, then you either have 2 switches trunked together or something is pretty crazy. Even at 45% on the old meters, it still should be a lockable signal.

[cj9788]

Is it possible that the sun is shining on the switch in the fall enough to heat it up?

No my switches are inside in a room that catches no sunlight. My setup is right under an ac vent.



DP34 switch= 3 orbital inputs and 4 satellite outputs. If you have 5, then you either have 2 switches trunked together or something is pretty crazy. Even at 45% on the old meters, it still should be a lockable signal.

I have two dp 34 switches between the receivers. 1 625 and 3 510's. I keep an old 3900 but it is not activated. I use it becuse it has the old meter. Third 'sat in' is empty. If I ever go High Def I am hopeing that will come in handy.

When the signal drops below 45 on the old meter and and below 15 on the new meter it loses the lock. And this only happen during this time of year.

The whole thing is a mystery as to why it happens. I am hopeing that a 1.5M or 2M dish will do the trick to keep a lock all year round. I just have to convince my wife. :)