Fox: Audio dropouts and video pixelation

[Pluvious]

Ok ok.. enough is enough. Last week I replaced my old system with a new HD system from DirectV and I've never seen such bad signal problems before. I'm pretty sure it's coming from FOX directly and it's their feed and NOT my equipment.
I'm sure you've all seen this problem as well on FOX during prime time. Audio cuts out and the picture gets garbled with pixels. I can handle it happening once and a while, but it seems to be getting worse and happening two or three times in a three minute period!
Who do I call, DirectV about this??

[Michael D'Angelo]

Ok ok.. enough is enough. Last week I replaced my old system with a new HD system from DirectV and I've never seen such bad signal problems before. I'm pretty sure it's coming from FOX directly and it's their feed and NOT my equipment.
I'm sure you've all seen this problem as well on FOX during prime time. Audio cuts out and the picture gets garbled with pixels. I can handle it happening once and a while, but it seems to be getting worse and happening two or three times in a three minute period!
Who do I call, DirectV about this??

Is this on HD MPEG4 or SD local? If it is the HD what are you signals on SAT 99 and 103? I am not sure what one your locals are on.

[Earl Bonovich]

Which HD system? HR20 or H20?
Are you getting your FOX via SAT (MPEG-4) or OTA

What signal strengths are you seeing for your 99/103 (if you are getting them via SAT)

[Pluvious]

I have the HD20-100 unit and using SAT not OTA. edit: I have the DVR model so I assume that's the HDR unit?

How do I check signal strength?

[Michael D'Angelo]

I have the HD20-100 unit and using SAT not OTA.

How do I check signal strength?

Press menu-->Settings-->setup-->Sat & Ant-->View signal strength. Then choose the SAT you want to check.

[Pluvious]

Thanks.. here's my stats:

99(b) Transponder 1 = 97% on both tuners (takes about 20sec to acquire info though)
101 Transponder 1 = 89%-91% tuner 1 / 92% tuner 2
103(a) NOT ACQUIRED
110 Transponder 8 = 95% on both tuners
119 Transponder 22 = 92% tuner 1 and 92%- 94% on tuner 2

Azimuth 132 Elevation 41 Tilt 115

[me_ccie]

I also experience the same behavior with FOX in the bay area. The SD channel works fine but the audio constantly drops when on HD. I've checked my signal strength as noted and 99 shows great signal, 103 doesn't give anything as fars as the green bars.

[Earl Bonovich]

Thanks.. here's my stats:

99(b) Transponder 1 = 97% on both tuners (takes about 20sec to acquire info)
101 Transponder 1 = 89%-91% tuner 1 / 92% tuner 2
103(a) NOT ACQUIRED
110 Transponder 8 = 95% on both tuners
119 Transponder 22 = 92% tuner 1 and 92%- 94% on tuner 2

Azimuth 132 Elevation 41 tilt 115

For your 99... Can you gives the strength for all the transponders that appear.

Also... do you have a ballpark idea on how long your cable run is between your DISH and the Receiver?

[Michael D'Angelo]

Thanks.. here's my stats:

99(b) Transponder 1 = 97% on both tuners (takes about 20sec to acquire info)
101 Transponder 1 = 89%-91% tuner 1 / 92% tuner 2
103(a) NOT ACQUIRED
110 Transponder 8 = 95% on both tuners
119 Transponder 22 = 92% tuner 1 and 92%- 94% on tuner 2

Azimuth 132 Elevation 41 tilt 115

Your signals are fine. I am guessing it has some thing to do with your local network station. You may want to try to connect them. Here in Baltimore about 4 months ago we had a lot of audio issues and someone contacted the local FOX here and they got with Directv and had it fixed in a couple of weeks.

[Pluvious]

For your 99... Can you gives the strength for all the transponders that appear.

Also... do you have a ballpark idea on how long your cable run is between your DISH and the Receiver?


For 99 :
6 total out of 32

1-8 } 97, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, N/A, N/A
9-32 = N/A

For 101:
I have 32 out of 32 but I didn't note the ranges

For 103:
7 out of 32

1-8 } 0, 95, 0, 95, 0, 95, N/A, N/A
9-16 } All N/A
17-24 } 0 the rest are N/A
25-32 } All N/A


My run is pretty far.. I'm not good at estimates but I would guess 150' at least.

[Pluvious]

Should I be concerned about getting a "NOT AQUIRED" with 103* !?

Or is it that in my area, 101 is replacing 103 ? (( I get 32 out of 32 with 101. 90%- 92% on both tuners))

[Earl Bonovich]

My run is pretty far.. I'm not good at estimates but I would guess 150' at least.

And there is the key....

That is WAY to far for the Ka band... the max is 100'... and shorter dependent on what type of cable you are using.

While your signal strength's listed are good, at the time of testing... there is probably times that they drop out or are having some sort of other issue.

Two ways to correct it...
Shorten the run...

Or introduce some sort of power/signal locker into the mix.
Such as the Sonora Signal Locker, or a powered multiswitch, or the SWM.

And that can be the exact reason why you are not getting a signal on the 103.
Not 100% sure though based on your area, but you should be getting something...

[Pluvious]

Guess I'll call D* and see if I can get a tech out to investigate it. (?) It's only channel 2 (fox) that is having the problem. And the signal strength is good as you say...won't they just ignore me then?