I'm Really Getting Tired Of This

[SatelliteJim]

I understand that there will be some fade out because of bad weather but, this is getting rediculous. I've had DTV for about 6 or 7 years now and you could always count on some fade out if it rained or snowed but, it would only last for about a minute at the most. But for about the last few months, it's been absolutely nasty. Here in Michigan we're getting some rain tonight, sometimes a little on the heavy side and all my picture is going is going out, then in, then out. It just won't quit. It was the same this past winter. Constant fade out when the snow flew. I've never seen it this bad. I can't even watch anything. Right now, on the tv in this room, the picture has been out for nearly 10 minutes. All the years before this, it only went out for about 45 seconds at the most. I've just about had it.

[TigersFanJJ]

It sounds like you may need to have your dish re-aligned. Once the skys are clear again, check your signal strength. I don't know the average strength for that area, but it should at least be in the high 80s. Preferably in the 90s.

[codespy]

That and maybe investing in a 30" dish. That solved all my problems. Unless of course a hurricane comes through.

[carl6]

If you are still using the original dish and coax, it may also be that you have gotten moisture in your coax connections, or there has been some other deterioration of the system (corrosion, rats chewing on the cable, who knows what...).

Start with a complete visual inspection of the entire coax runs. Unhook all connections and check for corrosion or moisture. etc. Only after doing that, check dish alignment.

It is unlikely that you need a larger dish, but that is an option to consider if you rule out all other possible causes.

If you are not comfortable doing the checks, replacing bad connectors, or doing a dish alignment, then a service call is in order.

Carl

[Proc]

Satellite Jim, I'm in Dearborn, just a few miles from you over there in Westland. No rain fade at all last night. I have the AT9/5LNB dish. Is your dish peaked? Are you getting strong signals? Which dish are you using?

[Bobman]

I understand that there will be some fade out because of bad weather but,

Has to be something with your dish or wiring. I have had DirecTV for 10+ years and never lost a signal due to rain and only lost it for a few minutes when we had a blizzard a couple years ago. Very reliable for me.

[directvfreak]

Check your signal stregth

[DirecTVtech]

Very common problem, as every one else said plus a couple new ideas:

1. Check your signal strength/allignment
2. Check line of site
3. Check connecters/ground blocks for corrosion
4. Check cableing for defects
5. Check your LNB cover (They will dry up and crack or fall off)

Follow those steps in order and you should find the problem sooner than later. Satellite is not much different than cars, through out the years they will need some miner adjustments and TLC to keep them running like new!

[SatelliteJim]

Thanks for the input everybody. I'm using the new 5 LNB dish so, I don't know what the deal is. We're having more rain today and I just got a fade out that lasted for about a minute or two. I will have to check out the signal strength whenever this weather clears up, which is who knows when.

[CCarncross]

Ive got a 5LNB dish here in NE Ohio, so geographically not terribly different from you, and havent had one case of rain fade since it went into service....sounds liike you definitely have a local problem with your install....

[redskin9]

Sure sounds like some fine tuning is needed. Alignment must be spot on with the 5 LNB dish.We had some pretty heavy downpours yesterday and I never lost signal like I used to with a 3 LNB dish.

[Larry G]

I've had my H20 and AT9 since mid march and I've had significantly less signal loss with it than with the 6 year old dish it replaced.

[Brad Martin]

I've had my H20 and AT9 since mid march and I've had significantly less signal loss with it than with the 6 year old dish it replaced.
Same here. in Grosse Pointe significantly less signal loss

[Chesney09]

I am in Redford and haven't had any fade.
I'd agree.. Check you Sig Strength. I see you have the AT9.. That dish is so big, it tends to be a bit wobbly and it may have moved just enough to drop some signal.

When I ave had to readjust mine.. I just use my cell phone and either leave it next to a speaker while on the testing signal strength and have it connected to my home phone. Jump up on the roof and you should be able to hear the test tone.. Gently move the dish and see if you hear any change in the tone. Higher pitch tone = Better Signal. If that works..Make your adjustments and tighten everything up.
If you have someone home.. It is easier to "peak" the signal strength as they can read the numbers to you.

[SatelliteJim]

Ok gang, here we go again. I'm sitting here watching the Tiger baseball game and the wind picks up and on the set I'm watching the picture begins breaking up. My main tv is fine. It's the second, third and fourth tvs that are having the problem right now. I can get the locals just fine and the HD channels are ok but, all the rest keep fading out. And it's only the wind blowing. I guess I better call Directv and have them send someone out. I'm getting to old to climb up on the roof.

[TigersFanJJ]

I'm getting to old to climb up on the roof.

You've got that right. I won't do a roof mount unless it's absolutely necessary for that main reason.

[SatelliteJim]

Ok, I just finished checking the signal on the main tv. On sat. 119, signal is in the 70% range. On sat. 110, it's in the 60% range. On sat 101, it's anywhere from 27% to as high as 62%, depending on the transponders. On sat. 103, it's 0 on both network 14 and 15. On sat 99, it's also 0 on networks 10 and 11. But aren't those satellites that are not being used or something.
So, does it sound like my dish needs realigning or is it something else. Right now, I'm watching one of my other sets and the only channels I'm getting are my locals and the HD channels. All the others are either breaking up or there's no signal at all.What a revolting development this has become. I just might have to go up on the roof and shake the dish a little and have my wife tell if it's changing anything. Or call DTV.

[morgantown]

27 to 62 is extremely low for the 101. If there is not a problem with the lines that dish certainly needs re-aligned. Those signal strengths are not good at all. All 90's here and rain fade is only with extreme thunderstorms and even then for a very short period of time.

[Proc]

Ok, I just finished checking the signal on the main tv. On sat. 119, signal is in the 70% range. On sat. 110, it's in the 60% range. On sat 101, it's anywhere from 27% to as high as 62%, depending on the transponders. On sat. 103, it's 0 on both network 14 and 15. On sat 99, it's also 0 on networks 10 and 11. But aren't those satellites that are not being used or something.
So, does it sound like my dish needs realigning or is it something else. Right now, I'm watching one of my other sets and the only channels I'm getting are my locals and the HD channels. All the others are either breaking up or there's no signal at all.What a revolting development this has become. I just might have to go up on the roof and shake the dish a little and have my wife tell if it's changing anything. Or call DTV.

Hmm, far too low on the 101. Call D* out again. Wonder if its a bad LNB? I've had the AT9 for a few months. Its been good. SatelliteJim, you have the monopoles installed on the AT9 dish right? It helps to keep it steady, or at least it has so far, knock on wood.

[Skip Towne]

The wind blowing makes your signal come and go? It sounds like maybe a tree grew up in front of your dish. That would also explain why your signal quality has gotten progressively worse.

[SatelliteJim]

Well, I finally called DTV and they're sending someone out on Wednesday morning. Right now, I'm not getting a bunch of channels at all. I just turned on fox News and nothing, in fact, most of the channels are out except the locals and HD channels. It's funny, I can get TNTHD but, not the regular TNT. I went up on the roof and checked everything up there but, I didn't want to try too much and make a bigger mess. All my connections are ok, at least on the inside of the house. As for a tree being in the way, not really. I have a red maple behind my house but, it isn't high enough yet to block the signal. When I was on the roof, I stood next to the dish to see where it was aimed and it's above the tree. I guess maybe it's a little out of alignment or even a bad LNB as someone suggested. When the guy comes, I'm gonna tell to check everything to make sure there are no more glitches. Meanwhile, I'm hoping to be able to watch game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight. I don't think it'll come in on OLN but, the HD coverage on Ch 95 should be on.

[SatelliteJim]

Problem Solved!

A Directv technician came out this morning, realigned the dish and I'm now getting all my channels, A-OK. I wasn't home, since I had to take my brother to his chemo therapy but, my son said he was here and gone in a very short time. Thanks to all of you who made whatever suggestions you did. I was just being lazy to calling DTV to get the problem solved. thought it might correct itself.