Snow

HD signals use the higher Ka-band frequencies, which are more susceptible to fading and dish imperfections (such as snow on the reflector). The SD channels use the lower Ku-band frequencies, which will also fade if there's enough snow, rain, or moisture content in the air or on the reflector.

In your case, there's enough snow to drop the Ka-band signals below the receiver's threshold, but the Ku-band signals do not drop below threshold.

By the way, you live in a great city! I love visiting there (and having a beer, or two...).

 

I can't answer that, although many on this forum have dealt with snow on their reflectors and I'm sure you'll get some good advice.

We just don't get that much snow in SW Florida. :nono:

 

Wetter snow contains more water which is what absorbs/reflects the signal. In colder climates, the snow is drier/fluffier and contains less water. Some people in those climates use heaters on their reflectors to melt the stuff before it knocks the signal out.

BTW, I had snow on my dish this morning and it must have been at just the right spot as my HD channels were fine but the sd were SFS. :lol:

 

When I lived in Chicago, I mounted my dish to a pole on the ground so I could easily wipe it off. When it got really bad out, I'd put a plastic bag over it. I've also seen people use dish heaters, and those seemed to work well too. The dry, fluffy stuff wasn't a problem - it was the wet pack that would cause outages.

 

One of the things you can do is what skiers and snowboarders do, apply a wax to the surface of the dish. The snow should slide right off

 

When I was in Chicago area that's what I did.

 

Although my dish is on the roof it's close to the edge and i keep a telescoping pole (normally used to clean high chandeliers, etc.) with a relatively stiff plastic brush handy, and I wipe it off.

Since I live in the mountains, the dish has to be mounted pretty high to see the birds.

This is only a minor issue when I'm home, when I'm away and this happens I might miss a recording, so it's not fully solving the problem.

 

"Sooper Soaker" style squirt gun filled with warm water works great.

 

Stay warm, dry, and out of the cold: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Shot-HS...868?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1a14eeac

Saved my azz 4x last year. Of course I'm an old man have arthritis in my hands and knees and hate the cold but it was worth every penny (my dish is on ground pole mount).

This year the only snow we had was in October!

 

I have NEVER had snow build up on either a dishnetwork dish or directv dish. Have had one or the other for 12 years.

We are basically straight south for directv up here, and the wind seems to keep it off. Also the elevation of only 38 helps. Sun also would melt it off quick being straight south. winds of up to 60 mph here kinda take care of any build up, and usually create a large drift south of the dish and way below LOS.

Mounting location has some to do with it, like just under an eave on the south side where the wind is always coming from NW could be an issue.

 

I have the HotShot Dish Heater and we have had a lot of snow in the Denver area this year. I have not lost signal at all this year even after a 14 inch dump last month. Best satellite related purchase I have ever made!

 

+1 on the Hot Shot but -10 on a 14" dump!

 

RainX Ice for windshields works like a charm

 

The further north you are, the lower the satellites are in the sky, so the closer to vertical the dish surface gets, making it harder for snow to stick. Add in that colder temperatures make for drier, less sticky snow, and the lower water content of light fluffy snow makes it less problematical even when it does stick, and it all combines for fewer snow-fade problems.

In seven years in Michigan I never had disruption caused by snow on the dish even once. But then, I mounted it on the side of the house, directly under the eave overhang, and there was no ka band then.

 

The direction of the approaching storm will also effect signal reception. Changing weather patterns where I live have produced increased rain fade during the summer and loss of signal in winter snow storms without snow accumulation on the dish.