Local HD in Rain

[Johnboat]

Is it normal for the local HD channels to go out in the rain compared to the non hd channels. Example, I was watching House in HD and it started raining and the signal got lost, I put it on the non hd Fox channel and the signal was ok.

Thanks.

[veryoldschool]

Is it normal for the local HD channels to go out in the rain compared to the non hd channels. Example, I was watching House in HD and it started raining and the signal got lost, I put it on the non hd Fox channel and the signal was ok.
Thanks.
Should only happen with very heavy rain.
After the rain is over, check what your 99 & 103 SAT transponder readings are. If they "low" [not in the 90s] that could cause the loss prematurely.
You only need one transponder for your local HD, so all you need is one good reading from either SAT.

[Coffey77]

I just got done watching House as well and they had a drop from HD to SD during the broadcast, toward the end of the show. I think it had to do with the Network and possibly not with your dish.

[cruise350]

Your dish might not have been properly peaked for the 99 &103 sats. If your signal levels are low you should call D* and have them send someone out to reaim the dish.

[mateom199]

Your dish might not have been properly peaked for the 99 &103 sats. If your signal levels are low you should call D* and have them send someone out to reaim the dish.

Make sure to mention that your unhappy about the first shoddy install, or else they might send the same boob that screwed it up in the first place.

...DirecTech East...ugh....

[DawgLink]

If it is pouring rain with high wing then it may go out

Unless that is happening, its usually fine

[sarfdawg]

If it is pouring rain with high wing then it may go out

Unless that is happening, its usually fine

I find it amazing that people cable rip people with satellite TV, saying that "every time it rains, your dish loses its signal." Well, once again, I'm at my parents' house, and at the very beginning of a thunderstorm, the cable goes out and is out for the night.

Worst case scenario for me is that we get the Armageddon of rain storms, and my signal goes out for about 15 minutes, maximum. That happens about once a year. I have still yet to have to call customer service after a rainstorm - unlike my parents did tonight.

How 'bout it DawgLink?? How are things in La? Only five more months until f'ball season!!

Go Dawgs!

[Johnboat]

Well I haven't checked my signals yet but I have had D* once before and he tested my signals and they were strong. I'll look after work to verify.

Regarding Coffey77s post, I lost my signal just before the middle of the hour and it was just about the time it started raining. I also want to point out that it started kind of heavy then let up a little and when it let up my signal came back.

I have had D* for many years and it always took a downpour to knock the signal out, that was with a 3 LMB dish, this 5 LMB dish seems a bit more sensitive.

[veryoldschool]

Well I haven't checked my signals yet but I have had D* once before and he tested my signals and they were strong. I'll look after work to verify.
Regarding Coffey77s post, I lost my signal just before the middle of the hour and it was just about the time it started raining. I also want to point out that it started kind of heavy then let up a little and when it let up my signal came back.
I have had D* for many years and it always took a downpour to knock the signal out, that was with a 3 LMB dish, this 5 LMB dish seems a bit more sensitive.
Because of the larger dish, it should be less affected by rain. If it isn't "nailed" on the SATs, it will fade sooner [than it should]. I have lost signal in the rain, but it was short & just about the heaviest rainfall ever, well beyond "cats & dogs" and up to "lions and tigers, and bears, oh my".

[n3ntj]

Are we talking about OTA or D* HD? Why would SD vs. HD from D* vary in rain? If the SD from D* was out in heavy rain, I would expect the HD from D* would be too.

[veryoldschool]

Are we talking about OTA or D* HD? Why would SD vs. HD from D* vary in rain? If the SD from D* was out in heavy rain, I would expect the HD from D* would be too.
Ka signals are higher than Ku and as such, more susceptible to rain fade.

[brucegrr]

If it is OTA HD Channels......

At our house, the OTA Toledo channels display rain fade just like the satellite does. I do not have the OTA channels connected to the HR20. They are connected directly to the HDTV. With SD channels it seems the rain doesn't bother them

Bruce

[veryoldschool]

If it is OTA HD Channels......
At our house, the OTA Toledo channels display rain fade just like the satellite does. I do not have the OTA channels connected to the HR20. They are connected directly to the HDTV. With SD channels it seems the rain doesn't bother them
Bruce
SD channel to you TV are analog so they will degrade, but still show [snow or static]
HD is digital and will lose "bits" needed to make the picture [a picture].

[Johnboat]

I'm talking about the local HD channels from D*, not OTA.

[veryoldschool]

I'm talking about the local HD channels from D*, not OTA.
Local HD is from the Ka SATs, & local SD is from a Ku SAT.
Ku is a broader beam than Ka. This was why I asked about your signal strength. Ka can be more susceptible to rain fade, but the larger dish is to compensate somewhat.
If you dish isn't aligned was well as it should be, then local HD will drop earlier than it "should" [like I posted before].
What is your SAT levels for either the 99 or 103 SATs?

[bonscott87]

Well I haven't checked my signals yet but I have had D* once before and he tested my signals and they were strong. I'll look after work to verify.

Regarding Coffey77s post, I lost my signal just before the middle of the hour and it was just about the time it started raining. I also want to point out that it started kind of heavy then let up a little and when it let up my signal came back.

I have had D* for many years and it always took a downpour to knock the signal out, that was with a 3 LMB dish, this 5 LMB dish seems a bit more sensitive.

Don't trust them checking your signals...unfortunately.

If your location is correct and you get the Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, MI locals then our HD locals are located on Sat 99, Transponder 6. You should have a 95 or so on this transponder. The rest may be 0 or weak which is fine, they are spotbeams not in our area.

If you don't have a 95 (give or take a couple) then your signal is not properly peaked. You should also have upper 80s/low 90s nearly across the board on 101, 110 and 119 (other then spotbeams not in our area).

[mdavidthomas]

If you don't have a 95 (give or take a couple) then your signal is not properly peaked. You should also have upper 80s/low 90s nearly across the board on 101, 110 and 119 (other then spotbeams not in our area).


How can you found out what Transponders are used in your area? Including spot beams for the HD channels. I had the same problem a couple of nights ago when it rained in Matthews, NC. HD channels disappeared and SD channels showed no effect. This was the first time rain has ever affected my shows. Wind, heavy thunderstorms and snow has caused outages before. BTW, I've only had the 5 lnb dish and HR20 for 2 weeks now.

Regards,

mdavidthomas

[jaywdetroit]

I am in South East Michigan. I lost my signal in the middle of the night last night. I noticed it was worst on the local MPEG4 channels. I am wondering if yesterdays storms were just unusually terrible.

This morning around 7:30 am I was getting transponder readings in the 60s with heavy cloud cover.

I just checked the transponders on 101 and most of them are in the 70s a few 60s and a few 80s. All 90s on 119. 2 transponders register 42 and 31 on 103 and all Zeros on 99. (I don't think I get anything on 99). We have thick cloud cover and a steady 25 MPH wind right now. 110 is all 80s (3 of them)

Anyone think my dish got knocked out of alignment?

[veryoldschool]

Anyone think my dish got knocked out of alignment?
If not knocked out, then never truly peaked.

[bonscott87]

Very possible. These high winds knocked my dish out of alignment twice today. BUT my pipe adapter just came this afternoon and I *finally* have the dish installed in a way it won't move in the wind.

If it wasn't tightened down proper during install it can quite easily move on the pole it's on. If you can get to it, reaim it side to side and you'll be fine. Then tighten it down.

[bonscott87]

How can you found out what Transponders are used in your area? Including spot beams for the HD channels. I had the same problem a couple of nights ago when it rained in Matthews, NC. HD channels disappeared and SD channels showed no effect. This was the first time rain has ever affected my shows. Wind, heavy thunderstorms and snow has caused outages before. BTW, I've only had the 5 lnb dish and HR20 for 2 weeks now.

Regards,

mdavidthomas

Took us in our area a few weeks figuring out which transponder on 99. AVS locals forum is a good place to talk with others in your area.

[funhouse69]

I got my HD upgrade 4 weeks ago tomorrow and since then I've had problems with local HD several times which the general consensus seems to point to poor dish alignment. That said I was seeing great signals on all other Sats 101, 110 & 119. Today with light rain and snow I've lost all my local HD's and even national HD's.

I have D* coming out tomorrow for the 4th time but by then the weather will have passed and they will tell me that it is fine with the exception of the 99b / 103 which I've never seen good signals on and they told me it was "Normal".

Just for a test I'm checking my sats right now...

On 101 I'm getting mostly 70's but a few 80's and 90's
On 110 I'm getting 83, 76 & 85
On 119 I'm getting wow all upper 80's and low 90's
On 99(b) I'm getting All Zero's
On 103(a) I'm getting All Zero's

So I stand corrected I have my National HD's back for now.

These are pretty consistent on both Tuner's.

This upgrade has been a huge joke since the day they attempted it. As I've said before 10 years SD not a single service call. Less than 4 weeks of HD and 4 calls! It seems to be common for people to say that they've had to have people come out to tweak their dish several times before getting it right. This to me is insane - if this is so common then why can't D* focus on this and make sure that they get it right in the first place? This has to be costing someone money to send a so called Tech out 4 times to get it right???

I'm really sad that I can't get FIOS TV as I know I wouldn't be dealing with these issues and I would be able to get an S3 TiVO and all its functionality like DLB.

Ok sorry just venting - I realize that the HR20 is going to ultimately be great (Someday) but when you can't watch or record anything and have to listen to your girl complain about it and "Why you had to change". Don't mess with a girl and "Her shows" :nono2:

[veryoldschool]

Doing a good job [once] seems to be either a "lost art" or a "dieing breed".
There are still a few "old school" types that understand & take pride in their work.
Most installers seem to suffer from "well this was good enough before" syndrome.
It's a shame as without a good "input", everything else is downhill from there.
D* contracts out the installs, so their at the mercy of the installers.

[bonscott87]

I have D* coming out tomorrow for the 4th time but by then the weather will have passed and they will tell me that it is fine with the exception of the 99b / 103 which I've never seen good signals on and they told me it was "Normal".


Very, very wrong. You should be getting 90+, probably 95, on the one transponder on either 99 or 103 your HD locals come in on. The others may very well be 0 or very weak.


Just for a test I'm checking my sats right now...

On 101 I'm getting mostly 70's but a few 80's and 90's
On 110 I'm getting 83, 76 & 85
On 119 I'm getting wow all upper 80's and low 90's
On 99(b) I'm getting All Zero's
On 103(a) I'm getting All Zero's


I already addressed 99/103. Should have around a 95 on one of the transponders.
101 is quite low actually. You should have mostly upper 80s/lower 90s and above with only the spotbeam transponders not in your area any lower.
110 is a bit low as well. Again, should be around 90.
119 looks fine.

So your dish is definitely not installed correctly. They didn't do anywhere near a good job. Do not let them leave until you get these numbers. It takes a bit to tweak the 5 LNB dish, you can't just slap it up there and be done in 5 minutes like the older dishes.

[funhouse69]

Thanks for the info - I will try and hold the guy that comes tomorrow to those numbers or somewhere close to them. It is very frustrating that these guys who I know are only subcontractors aren't taking any pride in their work. I certainly hope that they aren't getting paid for every return call that they do otherwise maybe that is why they do substandard work so they can keep coming back for more (Money that is).

As much as I am up for a challenge and I can see where this is going ultimately going (with a great product in the HR20 and when / if the new birds are launched the content to utilize it).

I just don't think that D* is really there yet. I understand there is a whole lot more involved for them adding capacity over others forms of delivery. Seriously if it wasn't for my Local HD's I would be very upset / disappointed in D* offering. Add in that I've lost them now 3 times in 3 weeks for multiple days we have a very, very unhappy customer.

I'm giving them this chance to see how it goes it this one results in the same as the previous 4 then I think I'm done. Thankfully I still have my old SD Dish on the house that has been perfect since installed. I will revert back to that and drop HD completely until FIOS is offered. I trust Fiber more than Sat at this point - well at least HD Sat that is.

[Johnboat]

Should only happen with very heavy rain.
After the rain is over, check what your 99 & 103 SAT transponder readings are. If they "low" [not in the 90s] that could cause the loss prematurely.
You only need one transponder for your local HD, so all you need is one good reading from either SAT.

Yeah there low, 50's and 60's. Do I have to call D* or can I fix this somehow?

[Michael D'Angelo]

Yeah there low, 50's and 60's. Do I have to call D* or can I fix this somehow?

If you are getting 50's and 60's you need to have a TECH come out. You should have all of your signals at least high 80's if not in the 90's. Any lower then that you will have problems.

[Johnboat]

Ok, that stinks, but will do.

[veryoldschool]

Ok, that stinks, but will do.
Sorry about the smell, but yeah, you need to get it improved to have a better experience with your HD programing.

[Johnboat]

Well after a few months of procrastinating, I finally called D* to have a tech come out. He adjusted my dish and said it was loose so he tighten it up nicely.

All seemed well until it lightly rained and I lost my signal. Looking back in this post I saw bonscott mention that transponder 6 on 99b should be 95 or so, well now it's 85 or so. I guess this is still too weak.

What transponder is 103b and what should it's strength be?

[veryoldschool]

Well after a few months of procrastinating, I finally called D* to have a tech come out. He adjusted my dish and said it was loose so he tighten it up nicely.

All seemed well until it lightly rained and I lost my signal. Looking back in this post I saw bonscott mention that transponder 6 on 99b should be 95 or so, well now it's 85 or so. I guess this is still too weak.

What transponder is 103b and what should it's strength be?
99 & 103 are the SATs [with the transponders] and they are spot beams so only the one pointing "at you" is what counts. bonscott is in your area it seems so knows what transponder is "yours". All of the others "don't count".
I get three off of each SAT, but it doesn't matter since only one is carrying my local HD channels.