Tell me about the AT9 dish?

[Capmeister]

In about a week they're replacing my 3lnb oval dish with an AT9 (5lnb, right?) dish. No MPEG4 in my area yet, but it will be coming eventually. Here's my question... will this larger dish help with my signal strength on my current sats or with rainfade or anything like that?

It seems I get rainfade for any moderate size storm, if even for a few minutes. Nothing is blocking my dish--I've had trees removed (they were dying anyway) to clear the path.

[Proc]

I've had the AT9 since May. Its been more reliable in rain that the Phase III. Its bigger than the Phase III. If you roof mount it, make sure the installer uses the optional monopoles to stabilize it.

Click here to see my dish (http://www.shoplikeaman.com/images/at9-1.jpg)(its mounted on the garage and no its not aimed at the trees...lol)

As for strength, it you get the H20 receiver, it reads much lower signal strength-wise than other receivers. Mine generally gives readings in the upper 60s to mid 70s while my other receivers are all in the 90s. The new HR20 (HD DVR) gives readings in the 90s from what others are saying.

[Capmeister]

My current 3lnb is mounted on my deck. Easy to brush off the snow. :)

My H20 (being swapped for an HR20 next week) has an excellently sensative OTA tuner that I love. I hope when the HR20's tuners are enabled, it's equally good. My H20's OTA tuner is better than my HR10's.

[carl6]

As for strength, it you get the H20 receiver, it reads much lower signal strength-wise than other receivers.

Different models of receivers typically show different signal strengths. It is only a relative reading - you still have the same actual amount of signal.

The AT9 should normally show about the same amount of signal as the Phase III. If you notice a substantial improvement when changing, chances are very good that your old dish was not properly aligned.

With a lot of rain fade issues, I would also expect that your old dish is less than perfectly aligned, and if the AT9 is properly installed and aligned, you should expect to see improvement.

Carl