Cold weather signal loss

[Butcha]

When the weather gets below 5 degrees, I lose the satellite signal. When it warms up to 10-15 degrees everything returns to normal. What could be the problem? LNB?

 

[HipKat]

When the weather gets below 5 degrees, I lose the satellite signal. When it warms up to 10-15 degrees everything returns to normal. What could be the problem? LNB?

It's the LNB affected by the extreme cold. Same thing happens with extreme heat

 

[Jim5506]

It's the LNB affected by the extreme cold. Same thing happens with extreme heat

Could be the center wire in the cable shrinks back away from the connection in cold weather.

 

[dishdude]

Could be the center wire in the cable shrinks back away from the connection in cold weather.

That would be some incredible shrinkage.

 

[dishdude]

Back in the day they had a batch of bad Twin LNBs that brand new out of the box would lose signal on the first warm day. Replaced at least a hundred of them.

 

[Jim5506]

That would be some incredible shrinkage.

Not really, if the connection is tenuous extreme cold can shrink the center wire enough to pull it back from the connector. Make sure your stingers are adequate.

 

[rvvaquero]

Not really, if the connection is tenuous extreme cold can shrink the center wire enough to pull it back from the connector. Make sure your stingers are adequate.

I know of one stinger which definitely shrinks during extreme cold.

 

[dishdude]

I know of one stinger which definitely shrinks during extreme cold.

Stay out of the pool!

 

[Foxbat]

Stay out of the pool!

 

[MikeD-C05]

I just posted the same thing and then deleted it because you beat me to it.

 

[winter60]

When the weather gets below 5 degrees, I lose the satellite signal. When it warms up to 10-15 degrees everything returns to normal. What could be the problem? LNB?

I live in Minnesota and I have the exact same issue on the satellite dish mounted up on my roof, but it has to get down to below zero. Once the temp falls below -10 or more, I lose signal. If you look at the signal strength screen, it will jump back and forth from 79 to 0, no in between. The LNB up on my roof is a Hybrid and feeds my Hopper 3 and 2 Joey 3s. I know it is not the Hopper 3 as I used to have a Wally connected to it and it did the same thing.

I have a second dish mounted on the side of my deck that has a DPP LNB and this feeds my Wally. It never loses signal even when the temp falls to -20 with wind chills to -40.

 

[telstar_1]

I live in Minnesota and I have the exact same issue on the satellite dish mounted up on my roof, but it has to get down to below zero. Once the temp falls below -10 or more, I lose signal. If you look at the signal strength screen, it will jump back and forth from 79 to 0, no in between. The LNB up on my roof is a Hybrid and feeds my Hopper 3 and 2 Joey 3s. I know it is not the Hopper 3 as I used to have a Wally connected to it and it did the same thing.

I have a second dish mounted on the side of my deck that has a DPP LNB and this feeds my Wally. It never loses signal even when the temp falls to -20 with wind chills to -40.

Generally sat electronics work better in cold, not worse. These described issues of sudden unexplained loss in cold sound exactly like the postulated too-short coax center conductor- physical contraction of circuit elements. Possibly something in the LNBF could be contacting and breaking circuit.

 

[navychop]

Anyone try pipe heater tape or similar on the LNB ?

 

[arlo]

Not enough info to go on. Back when I was messing with DN lnbf's with fta receivers. I blew a receiver tuner after trying a dish triple. Found out that the current draw of DN vs FTA lnbf's was significantly higher mainly because they have more electronics in them. Switches, etc.
I ran another chunk of coax out to the dish and used port 1 for a power inserter found in the box-o-stuff.
New receiver and a current draw check. Tuner chip was warm to the touch. Problem solved.
In light snow the triple was warm enough it melted it.
Also. I don't see hardly anyone. Mainly the CATV dudes "fold over" their coax shield. Nor do they leave much, if at any at all, stinger stick-out.
The little tool that is supposed to expand the shield along with the outer jacket is non-existent at the very least. Designed to wedge in between the center conductor insulation and shield. So that if you don't fold the shield over the outside of the jacket. At least you don't just cram the F connector in and pray you make a good connection when you crimp.
I scrounged a handful of connectors when my cable guy was out here last. Figured maybe they didn't need expansion, fold back. Looked up the application sheet for them online from the manufacturer.
Yup. Fold back the shield, leave 'this much' stinger stick out.
Who knows? I mean you could always make a jumper with the shield cut in half, or center conductor exposed. Trim either in half. Use a multimeter to check the current draw of the lnbf when it works and when it doesn't. And go from there.
kirk out

 

[tjboston5676]

Generally sat electronics work better in cold, not worse. These described issues of sudden unexplained loss in cold sound exactly like the postulated too-short coax center conductor- physical contraction of circuit elements. Possibly something in the LNBF could be contacting and breaking circuit.

When dish first came out with the slim hybrid lnbs this was a big issue in the northern states. But they supposedly redesigned it to correct the issue. However it may be a good lnb and still happen regardless. But it doesn't hurt to call dish and see about getting the lnb changed out just to eliminate that as an issue.

 

[navychop]

I prefer compression to crimping.

 

[Peter Parker]

I prefer compression to crimping.

That's what she said.

 

[brad1138]

Could be a few things. Run a "Test Installation" or "Check Switch" when you lose signal. If it doesn't see the lnb at all, that points to stinger shrinkage. If it sees the LNB but has no signal, that is definitely not shrinkage.

Might help narrow the problem down a bit.

 

[nelson61]

Generally sat electronics work better in cold, not worse. These described issues of sudden unexplained loss in cold sound exactly like the postulated too-short coax center conductor- physical contraction of circuit elements. Possibly something in the LNBF could be contacting and breaking circuit.

I used to strap Peltier coolers on a lnb to lower the temperature. The heat noise is a big deal for a very weak signal. I could effectively double the antenna size.
Found the idea in a German tech video where they were cooling the lnb in a test lab using a gas spray.

So, yes, some connector or crack is opening up in cold weather.

 

[telstar_1]

That's what she said.

I used radial-taper crimping, which could possibly be considered compressive as it leaves a seamless, tapered crimp that resists moisture intrusion if has o-ring.. Most others were using some kind of multi-part fitting with a plastic center. I don't even know what to call those. Compression?