Precipitation = Lost Signal

[DesertFlyer]

I have been having a problem with my setup. I live on the second floor on an apartment building (3 floors total) and my Slimline is on the roof. I have a SWM-8 also installed on the roof. Unfortunately I don't have access to the roof so I can't go up there to see how good of an install was done.

Anyways, since I live in AZ, the weather is typically fair. The last few times it has rained I lose ALL signal. A few of the SWM transponders say 100, but others are 0. All sats and all transponders go to 0 or very low (<40). The dish is a few years old and I've been using the SWM since July. I'm worried it's the SWM since I know D* won't replace it since I purchased it, but I'm thinking it's the LNB. Normally I have pretty goo signal, low 90s to low 80s on all transponders. The second rain stops, signal comes back. Strangely enough, sometimes the signal will come back after it has been raining for a while, but it'll be low 60s.

This happens on both my HR20-700 and HR21-100.

[LameLefty]

Sounds like water is getting into your connections to me.

[veryoldschool]

This "sounds normal". Your SWM "zeros" are from the low SAT signals. [zero in = zero SWM (out)].
Heavy rain [even when not "on your dish" can/will cause the SAT levels to drop.

[veryoldschool]

Sounds like water is getting into your connections to me.
It never rains hard in TN?

[veryoldschool]

the "older" SD channels that are Ku, should hold out a bit longer than the new HD Ka channels do.

[DesertFlyer]

I lived in the San Fransisco area and had DirecTV a few years back and didn't have as bad of "rain fade" as I'm having now. Also at my old apartment (dish was on my balcony) I didn't have as many problems. It rained here last night and it wasn't a hard monsoon like we get in August, just a steady rain on and off (no wind). Well my signals were going crazy for an hour.

Too bad I can't get on the roof to check the install.

[firefighter4evr]

Sounds like water is getting into your connections to me.

That or a really poor dish pointing... did this start before or after the SWM8 was installed?

[DesertFlyer]

When I moved I had a SWM8 installed. That was in July and we didn't get any storms until August, but all of them were very big storms that knocked the signal out. It didn't seem abnormal for the size of the storms. Now with smaller rain showers, it seems excessive. I've only ever had the SWM8 at this install.

[veryoldschool]

I lived in the San Fransisco area and had DirecTV a few years back and didn't have as bad of "rain fade" as I'm having now. Also at my old apartment (dish was on my balcony) I didn't have as many problems. It rained here last night and it wasn't a hard monsoon like we get in August, just a steady rain on and off (no wind). Well my signals were going crazy for an hour.

Too bad I can't get on the roof to check the install.
What do the 99 & 103 levels look like [when not raining]?
If they're in the high 80s to mid 90s, then your dish [alignment] is fine.

You need to remember it's not the rain "on your head" but the rain between your dish and the SATs, that is the problem. Tall thunderstorms south of you will raise hell, even if it isn't raining on you.

[DesertFlyer]

Like I said, I still think there is more going on than just rainfade. The signal seems to drop instantly upon any rainfall, but still I thank you for your input VOS. You may be correct, I just like to make sure. Plus I've never had as much rain fade as I'm having now, and it doesn't hit KA more than KU.

Here are my current, clear signals:

99c: hi 94 low 82
103c: hi 94 low 86

So it doesn't seem to be a pointing issue, if I'm reading those numbers right.

[veryoldschool]

Like I said, I still think there is more going on than just rainfade. The signal seems to drop instantly upon any rainfall, but still I thank you for your input VOS. You may be correct, I just like to make sure. Plus I've never had as much rain fade as I'm having now, and it doesn't hit KA more than KU.

Here are my current, clear signals:

99c: hi 94 low 82
103c: hi 94 low 86

So it doesn't seem to be a pointing issue, if I'm reading those numbers right.
Your numbers are good, so it isn't dish alignment.
The SWM8 is fairly weatherproof, which leaves the cable/connectors as a possible point where water could be giving you problems, [as another poster posted].
Guess it's time to check out the cabling on the roof. :(

[LameLefty]

Your numbers are good, so it isn't dish alignment.
The SWM8 is fairly weatherproof, which leaves the cable/connectors as a possible point where water could be giving you problems, [as another poster posted].
Guess it's time to check out the cabling on the roof. :(

I wish people would listen to me. :)