Vertical Lines? Signal or Set?

[cyberized]

I had been noticing sometimes these faint vertical lines on slight angle to the right in my picture - and it seemed it was only on my Local Channels. I didn't worry much about it figuring maybe they send a weaker signal to my local transmission or something. Decided today to finally write DISH and see IF it has something to do with their signal strength.
Went back to watching TV and noticed same lines on the ESPN2 channel I was watching, then would switch back to Local ABC and it might not have lines, then back and forth - anyway I could see them coming and going at both channels.
Then it dawned on me - maybe this is an indication my set is going "tits up", maybe it has nothing to do with DISH signal???

I live in the Portland, Oregon area - has anyone in my area or any area experienced the same??

TKs Michael :confused:

[Crest]

I had been noticing sometimes these faint vertical lines on slight angle to the right in my picture - and it seemed it was only on my Local Channels. I didn't worry much about it figuring maybe they send a weaker signal to my local transmission or something. Decided today to finally write DISH and see IF it has something to do with their signal strength.
Went back to watching TV and noticed same lines on the ESPN2 channel I was watching, then would switch back to Local ABC and it might not have lines, then back and forth - anyway I could see them coming and going at both channels.
Then it dawned on me - maybe this is an indication my set is going "tits up", maybe it has nothing to do with DISH signal???

I live in the Portland, Oregon area - has anyone in my area or any area experienced the same??

TKs Michael :confused:
Michael, what type of monitor do you use for viewing satellite? I use a TFT computer monitor, and noticed the same thing (not just on locals, but others as well). The effect seems to be magnified when I use the coaxial cable connection to my monitor (which I now use composite video[red,white,yellow] cables, and the lines are almost unnoticeable. If you are using only coax cable, try composite video and see if it gets better. If you are using composite or "s" video, it is most likely the quality of your local broadcasters' original signal- nothing to do with Dish. Another thing to note- make sure your cable is properly grounded outside your house; also note if your receiver is near or on top of another component (it should be on its own shelf, free from RF interference and allowed to "breathe" to stay cool. Also if you have a VCR hooked up and nearby, try moving it and see if this doesn't correct the problem. If your TV set was going "tits up", I don't think you'd have this type of interference; you'd see a much more dramatic effect in picture quality. One last thing to note- do you have a cell phone stationed nearby? These things can spell hell for a pure satellite signal. Try relocating that as well. Hope this helps. By the way, I live on the east coast and my monitor is only a few months old. I do notice over here that signal strength is a lot lower on local channel spotbeams as well (maybe why we see the lines) and the ESPN channel (ESPN2) seems to be on a weak transponder.

[cyberized]

Thanks Crest for the feedback on this - I have EMailed EchoStar and they responded that their PQ Dept would check it out.
Anyway - after I had written them, I noticed, maybe I said this, that I was getting these lines (////////) not only on locals but on other channels too - BUT - I didn't use to. I have been with DISH for over 6 years and never had this before last month or so. Just finally decided to CHECK it out - here and with them.
My 36" Toshiba is connected to the DISH PVR by an S-Video connector and the Receiver sets in a stand under the TV (should be NO interference there).
Call me CYNICAL, go ahead, BUT I am no HiTech WIZ or anything BUT I notice different PQ and even Sound Quality at times from Channel to channel - - - could it be that our Provider in attempts to give More for Less - - - is actually giving us Less for More - no what I mean? Can they and do they weaken certain signals so they can say boost signals to Movie Channel for example?

Laters, Michael