Ka signal strength expectations?

[dinotheo]

Hi all,
Ever since I've gone to the new satellites, I have "reception" issues on the HD locals when there is inclement weather.
During clear weather my signal strength on the 99 and 103 satellites are between 79-89 on most transponders (with most in the mid 80's).
Is this strong enough?
If not, is it worth it to pay someone to come out and fine tune my dish?

I had paid a 3rd party company a while ago to get my dish aligned but they screwed up worse before they finally came back to get me where I am at today.

If I decide to have someone do it, what should I ask as far as meters go? Meaning should I just ask if they have a Ka/Ku meter, or is there a specific one I should ask about? (I talked to one installer touting a Birdog)


Thanks,

[Nicholiathan]

Recomended signal str is higher than 70 (except on an H20 which needs signal str over 60.) Your number are right where they need to be.

[dinotheo]

Recomended signal str is higher than 70 (except on an H20 which needs signal str over 60.) Your number are right where they need to be.

Hmmmm. I recall having read somewhere, that although DTV recommends over 70, in reality you want Ka to be much higher (ie in the 90's). On very overcast/rainy days I will lose my HD locals while all the SD stuff is just fine. Actually I can't recall when I last lost my SD channels due to rain.
I was hoping that higher signal strength would help. I've tried:

- Replacing lnbs
- Replacing multiswitches
- Recrimping all connectors (actually compression fittings)
- I ran coax directly from the dish satellite to a receiver and the signal strength is still the same.

Thanks

[LameLefty]

I would shoot for higher signals, personally. My 103(c) and 99(c) signals are upper 80's to mid/upper 90's on all transponders in clear weather and I have very, very little issue with weather except in the worst downpours. Similarly, my spotbeam signals on 99(s) where my locals come in are 96 on clear days - again, absent torrential rain I never have issues. I'd get my dish repeaked if it were me.

[FHSPSU67]

I would shoot for higher signals, personally. My 103(c) and 99(c) signals are upper 80's to mid/upper 90's on all transponders in clear weather and I have very, very little issue with weather except in the worst downpours. Similarly, my spotbeam signals on 99(s) where my locals come in are 96 on clear days - again, absent torrential rain I never have issues. I'd get my dish repeaked if it were me.

Just saw your avatar. Congrats on getting Mojo back:)
AndI do agree that OP needs a realignment. I'm in Western PA and have 99c, 103c sigs in mid 90's. 100 for my local transponder from 103s.

[Matman]

You can definitely do better, the higher you can get those 99 and 103 signals the more resistant to rain fade you are going to be. There is a wealth of info on here for you to try yourself, you might be able to do better on your own. (If I can do it, ANYONE can do it.....)

[ironwood]

does your dish move during windy weather? it doesnt matter how good your pick a dish, if its lose you gonna continue having problems. I have low readings in the 70s but because my dish is solid the signal just stays where it is regardless of the weather conditions.

[LameLefty]

does your dish move during windy weather? it doesnt matter how good your pick a dish, if its lose you gonna continue having problems. I have low readings in the 70s but because my dish is solid the signal just stays where it is regardless of the weather conditions.

Being solidly-mounted to prevent movement is essential for consistency but doesn't do a thing by itself to prevent rain/snow/ice fade.

[knew001]

Since having an SL3 installed in a dish relocate and all signal strengths in the low to mid 90's I have yet to lose any channels. We have had about 2 feet of snow the last four days and it did not drop even in the periods of heaviest snowfall.

[ironwood]

Being solidly-mounted to prevent movement is essential for consistency but doesn't do a thing by itself to prevent rain/snow/ice fade.

In extreme weather I agree.

From experience through I can say that if a technician spent time mounting the dish solid he probably did a good job aligning. If your dish is vobly then its bad any way you put it, whether its peaked at time of installation or not.

[LameLefty]

In my experience it doesn't matter if your dish is encased in a three-dimensional mold of concrete if your clear weather signals top out in the 70's. You're gonna have trouble (macroblocking, 771 errors, etc) in any kind of steady rain, let alone anything "severe."

[1948GG]

Hi all,
Ever since I've gone to the new satellites, I have "reception" issues on the HD locals when there is inclement weather.
During clear weather my signal strength on the 99 and 103 satellites are between 79-89 on most transponders (with most in the mid 80's).
Is this strong enough?

Your Ka (99s or 103s) locals should be 100+. By that, I mean that even only during very heavy rainfall should you see lower. You should be able to figure out where your Ku/DBS SD locals are as well, as those should be in the 100+ range as well. With those figures, you'll find that the Ku/DBS locals will 'wink out' well before the Ka/HD's will. Again, with a good alignment.

The nationals (99c and 103c) should be 85+. Most will be over 90. Maybe 1 or 2 will be in the low 80's.

Anything lower you're going to have continual problems. No installation should be 'signed off' with anything lower. Don't listen to the '70 is okay', that's the 'company line', so to speak. NONE of the systems that the people I consult to would walk away from a system without those high numbers, and if we had a buck for every system (in fact, we have LOTS of those bucks!) we are called out on to fix poor HSP alignments and installs, well... that's how we get a good chunk of business!

Figure out what transponders your HD/Ka locals are on, or better yet, list all your transponder listings here. Your locals will be obvious from the readout.