[sangs]

I had DirecTV for about 10 years before switching to FIOS a couple years ago. The first six years or so, it was flawless, but it seemed that with the increase in HD channels the signal became incredibly fussy. I'd lose the HD channels with the lightest of rains. Even after many service visits to realign my dish, it would happen. So I cut the cord and haven't looked back.

However, I've a friend nearby trying to decide between Comcast and DirecTV. I want to steer him toward DirecTV mainly due to my disdain for Comcast, but not if the signal in NJ is still as precarious as it was for me. So I'm looking for some New Jerseyans (especially in the NE/Central area) to chime in with their opinions. Has the signal improved since I cut bait a couple years back? Or is it still prone to frequent outages. Thanks much.

 

[jdspencer]

I suspect that the signal was precarious for you was because of a poorly aligned dish. With a proper line of sight it shouldn't make any difference if you are in NJ or California.
As you can see I'm in Binghamton, NY which is on the southern border of PA. I have very strong signals here.

 

[sangs]

I suspect that the signal was precarious for you was because of a poorly aligned dish. With a proper line of sight it shouldn't make any difference if you are in NJ or California.
As you can see I'm in Binghamton, NY which is on the southern border of PA. I have very strong signals here.

They came and realigned it over 10 times (no joke) and the transponders always registered strong signals, so no.

 

[TBlazer07]

It's fine at Exit 136. Still get rain fade, a little more than I would hope for, but not enough to make me drop it. Pricing might though.

 

[Diana C]

The HD signal is more sensitive to rainfade, but I'm in NE Bergen County and we have rainfade maybe two or three times a year. I had snowfade once or twice, but since putting in a dish heater that's no problem. A neighbor with cable has WAY more downtime per year than we do.

The one issue I HAVE seen is that a lot of DirecTV techs do NOT know how to align an HD dish correctly. Your clear sky readings should be above 90 for most, if not all, HD transponders (mine range from 89 to 96, with the SD transponders all above 95 and about ten at 100). It took several tries before I hit a tech that did it right.

 

[sangs]

The HD signal is more sensitive to rainfade, but I'm in NE Bergen County and we have rainfade maybe two or three times a year. I had snowfade once or twice, but since putting in a dish heater that's no problem. A neighbor with cable has WAY more downtime per year than we do.

The one issue I HAVE seen is that a lot of DirecTV techs do NOT know how to align an HD dish correctly. Your clear sky readings should be above 90 for most, if not all, HD transponders (mine range from 89 to 96, with the SD transponders all above 95 and about ten at 100). It took several tries before I hit a tech that did it right.

See, that was the thing that did it for me - the increasing instances of rain fade. Snow fade, yes, I understand. Heavy thunderstorms, OK, no problem. But it started dropping with just general light rain and they came out and checked everything. It was very thorough and I was very pleased with their efforts at trying to rectify the situation, but it wasn't working. Which was too bad really, because to this day they were the best provider I've ever had - and that includes FIOS. But hearing all this at least makes me feel like I'll be steering my buddy in the right direction. Hell, maybe I'll even revisit it again when my FIOS contract is up if they don't offer me the farm to re-up.

 

[goldwing]

See, that was the thing that did it for me - the increasing instances of rain fade. Snow fade, yes, I understand. Heavy thunderstorms, OK, no problem. But it started dropping with just general light rain and they came out and checked everything. It was very thorough and I was very pleased with their efforts at trying to rectify the situation, but it wasn't working. Which was too bad really, because to this day they were the best provider I've ever had - and that includes FIOS. But hearing all this at least makes me feel like I'll be steering my buddy in the right direction. Hell, maybe I'll even revisit it again when my FIOS contract is up if they don't offer me the farm to re-up.

Maybe you had a weak lnb array and it wasnt a aiming problem at all. I know they had some problems with the older legacy lnb's (certain brands). I used to have rain fade issues if it even looked like it might rain. Replaced my lnb and now it has to be pouring sheets before i lose signal. Just a thought

 

[spaul]

I live in West Deptford NJ just the across the river from Phila. for the most part haven't had a major problem.Switched from Comcast back in 9/06 as some have mentioned once and a while when heavy rain band first comes thru but, nothing to deter me from enjoying Directv service over 98% of the time to my 3 HDTV ,s .Funny note last summer during a Eagles preseason game the local feed scrolled that Comcast customers turn to the regular feed since they lost the HD during a storm .My wife and I laughed because we just kept receiving the HD feed on Directv.

 

[jdspencer]

It could also be bad connections, at the LNB, the ground block and any other outside connection.

 

[RobertE]

With any weather related issues, it does not have to be happening directly over your house. The weather event can be anywhere in the line of site and cause problems. You can have sun shining on your house, but nasty weather in the path and have issues. The inverse is also true, can be pouring at your house and clear in the path and have no issues.

 

[TBlazer07]

The HD signal is more sensitive to rainfade, but I'm in NE Bergen County and we have rainfade maybe two or three times a year. I had snowfade once or twice, but since putting in a dish heater that's no problem. A neighbor with cable has WAY more downtime per year than we do.

The one issue I HAVE seen is that a lot of DirecTV techs do NOT know how to align an HD dish correctly. Your clear sky readings should be above 90 for most, if not all, HD transponders (mine range from 89 to 96, with the SD transponders all above 95 and about ten at 100). It took several tries before I hit a tech that did it right.

With the exception of spotbeams I don't have a signal below 88 (of which there are 3) with most 90-100 but I get plenty of rainfade. Never snowfade because I put a heater on a couple years ago after one of our "rare" blizzards killed TV for the evening. For those who will now say "WTF a heater, just get a broom or a supersoaker filled with anti-freeze" I reply, "feel free to go out in 50 mph winds and 10 degree temps and brush off your own dish, for me, it's a heater even if I use it once a year!"