Loss Of Signal

[elbyj]

I don't profess to be the greatest expert in the world concerning how DBS works -- I just accept it and keep on going! However, for the past few days we have been experiencing a lot of storms coming from the south which has periodically block the signal. Not for an extended period of time, like our neighbors with Time Warner Cable, but short enough to break the thought process on the program. We have a Dish 500 system with dual LNBs, which I know point to two different Sat's in the heaven, however, I am continually amazed why one of the satellite signals is blocked and the other is fine. We have been noticing that while most of the distant networks are out, we still are getting our locals and several of the national channels. Can someone please provide me with a logical explanation of this?

Thanks ---

[gor88]

Each channel resides on a transponder. Sat 110 and 119 each have several transponders. You will find that the signal strengths will vary from transponder to transponder.

I had a Dish PVR 508 with a Dish 500 and DishPro twin LNB with dual output. I would get between 110-125 signal strength on the transponders after readjusting the dish. In the worst of rain, the signal would drop to between 45-60. A signal strength of 50 is needed to maintain a consistent picture. When it drops to the 40's, the picture will scramble. Below that, you lose the signal.

Because the transponder strengths vary, you may be watching a channel on a transponder with signal strength of 40 that goes out. Change the channel, however, and you might get one with a transponder strength of 52, which will come in fine. That's really all there is to it.

I had to readjust my dish several months ago, because of rain fade. I have to say that I didn't have any signficant rain fade after that (and we had several storms several weeks after that in MS). If you have a DishPro system, you should probably be able to reaim the dish to get signal strengths above 100 on all non spotbeam transponders. If you don't have DishPro, I would try to see if I could get all transponders reading 85 or better.