Rain Fade South Florida with Dish Network

[robl45]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but I"m hoping someone can help me with rain fade. Ever since I installed this Dish network system, professional installer and then my own mounting of the dish after the hurricane, I lose signal in the rain. Any little rain and the signal is gone. I had a dish system years ago in Mass and hardly ever lost signal so this was a sure suprise. Called dish network about it and they ended up charging me shipping and handling to send me a new receiver which of course didn't fix the problem.

Anyway, I believe I have the superdish? I get 110 and 119 channels and it has 3 adjustments. Do I just need to try and adjust it? My scifi goes out at the drop of a hat when it rains, doesn't seem to have the strongest signal. Is there a best way to adjust it or am I forced to find an alternative? CAn't use cable here as I"ll never have tv after a hurricane, but can't be without tv everytime it rains in florida. Thats everyday!!!

Thanks in advance. I can tolerate a lot but the wife isn't so easy.

[tampa8]

Check to see what your signals are on each satellite on a normal cloudless/partly cloudy day. If they are low to begin with, they will be more likely to fade with rain. I am in the 95 to 105 range for each in Tampa. (Higher in Connecticut)

I also live in Connecticut, and can tell you there is more of a chance of rain fade in Florida. Partly because of the heavier downpours and partly because of being further out on the signal pattern. But I do not lose the signal often, certainly not whenver it rains in Florida.

[Richard King]

I had my first rain fade event yesterday. They are not as common as I had expected when I moved here about 11 years ago and are usually fairly short in duration. Tampa is correct, check your signal strength (on a non spot beam transponder). If it is a real problem I suspect your dish needs to be re-aligned.

[robl45]

my signal is like over 100 on a normal day like today, when ever it rains, it is knocked out and then comes back. I know it can't be connectors or something getting wet because it is right back after the rain. I installed my system when I lived in mass and it went out cuz of the rain but that was because I didn't waterproof the connectors so I had to go shake it out before it would work again.

The 119 number 1 transponder is like at 110, the other transponders such as 119 number 8 is at 75 today and its sunny out. I will try to adjust the thing. Is there a best way to adjust it?

[scooper]

The transponders you need to check should be 11 on both 119 and 110.

[robl45]

why 11? 8 is scifi which I watch a lot of.

[Richard King]

Transponder #1 is a spot beam. Spot beams are MUCH stronger signals than normal transponders and register higher.

[jarvantgroup]

Make sure the mounting surface is secure. If its not, then the slightest wind will move the entire dish. Also make sure all the bolts are secure as well. Including the bolts that attach the actual dish to the mounting bracket. :icon_cool

[robl45]

I reaimed today. I was roughly in the 70s on transponder 11 for both birds. Now I am at 110 or so for 119 and 84 for 110. If I want 110 higher, which setting do I need to fiddle with? I left skew as is, I just fiddled with making the mount slighly more level and moving the azimuth and elevation. First azimuth and then elevation.

When I do menu 611 on a specific channel, that will bring up the bird and satellite for that channel right? I looked at all the channels I typically watch including locals and they are all on 119 so do I even need to worry about 110? I'd rather have it right of course.

I don't get any movie channels, just basic stuff and locals and blockbuster total access when I want to watch movies which is usually 1 or 2 a night :)

[Richard King]

I just fiddled with making the mount slighly more level It sounds like you did good, BUT, for the published angles to work the pole must be perfectly plumb. This is the most important part of the installation and is the starting point that all the angles are derived from. If you get the pole perfectly PLUMB the published angles should work.

[robl45]

yea, I meant I got it plumb, the mount is only held on by the top two screws, its pretty solid but not perfect, the published angles are pretty close but I finetuned it.

Now I just need to know how to fine tune for 110 or even if I need to bother.

[tampa8]

I reaimed today. I was roughly in the 70s on transponder 11 for both birds. Now I am at 110 or so for 119 and 84 for 110. If I want 110 higher, which setting do I need to fiddle with? I left skew as is, I just fiddled with making the mount slighly more level and moving the azimuth and elevation. First azimuth and then elevation.

When I do menu 611 on a specific channel, that will bring up the bird and satellite for that channel right? I looked at all the channels I typically watch including locals and they are all on 119 so do I even need to worry about 110? I'd rather have it right of course.

I don't get any movie channels, just basic stuff and locals and blockbuster total access when I want to watch movies which is usually 1 or 2 a night :)

From my experience at my house in Florida, I could get a reading like you did - 110+ for 119, and around 85 for 110. But not near 110 for both. The answer is to comprimise and turn the dish a little more towards 110 and get them both around 95 to 100. From my experience once you get near a 100 signal going above that does not diminish rain fade that much.
In Connecticut I get just under 125 for 119, and 115 for 110.

[robl45]

do I adjust the skew to get the dishes more even or do I have to turn the dish?

All of my locals and just about everything else are on 119. Just a few channels like the man network and water network and such are on 110 and I can probably live with them going down in the rain. I'm thinking maybe its better to peak 119 so that hopefully it doesn't go out in the rain.

[Richard King]

I'm thinking maybe its better to peak 119 so that hopefully it doesn't go out in the rain.That's what I would do in your situation.