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M
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
I've had my Fortec Star 80cm dish and Invacom QPH31 for a few years now. I've tested a few different receivers, but am now back to my old Fortec NA, waiting until the new SatHawk is back in stock.

For about a year it seems that the quality had been going downhill.
I mainly watch AMC 4 (101) and used to get fairly desent quality of about 60. Now it seems to be hard to get about 40. Even tho on 11.931V (5000) a new SES transponder I seem to be getting 66% (no channels on there tho.).

I went on the roof, tweaked the dish as best as I could, improving the signal somewhat, but it I think it can still be better.

RTv and TUFF on AMC 6 about 33% quality, and that's hardly enough to watch it, but it has a lot of pixelation. Even 97 has bad transponders, almost perfect south for me.

So what can I do to improve reception? Different LNB? I don't use the circular on the invacom anyway after the clear channels on 119 went away. So I could try another LNB?

Or maybe a bigger dish? 120cm or so. What's the minumum for C band, or maybe I shouldn't put a 4 foot dish on my covered patio roof.

My cabling is in many places still RG59, that's what's run inside the house, again, but that should too much of a factor, because I better quality.
Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

Mickel

(Added picture...)
13 Replies · 2430 views
M
The issue I found with the QPH is that its so heavy that it actually pulls down the arm of the dish which results in poorer reception. I'm in Minnesota so the dish is aimed pretty low even on my true south. If your dish had the arms on the side (like the larger dishes do) that should help. I know some folks fabricated some rods on the dish to help support that arm
G
My cabling is in many places still RG59

In many places? that implies connections. Try one uninterrupted section of RG6 from your receiver to the lnb to see if it improves your signal. If it improves it, put it in permanently.
M
In many places? that implies connections. Try one uninterrupted section of RG6 from your receiver to the lnb to see if it improves your signal. If it improves it, put it in permanently.

i must have missed this the first time i read it....yes definitely upgrade your cabling to RG6....one straight run from receiver to motor....no connections or breaks....
S
The issue I found with the QPH is that its so heavy that it actually pulls down the arm of the dish which results in poorer reception. I'm in Minnesota so the dish is aimed pretty low even on my true south. If your dish had the arms on the side (like the larger dishes do) that should help. I know some folks fabricated some rods on the dish to help support that arm

I have a 36" fortec dish and the QPH-031, and yes it's heavy and does weigh down the arm. My solution to this was to use plumbers support strap ( as used for supporting plumbing drain pipes from floor joists ). I screwed one end the side of the dish, and the other to the dish arm. One on each side, obviously, and this did the trick. It pulled the lnb up considerably, and improved the signal.
emuman100
Those Fortec Star dishes are nothing but junk. I had one and I was peaking it almost every day. I got a commercial 90cm Prodelin Ku Rx only offset dish with dual polarity feedhorn (feedhorn comes with the dish and is only to be used with the dish) with two Norsat Ku LNBs. Not a single reception problem. Only thing is, you need separate feedlines for each polarity, so the solution here is to get the Invacom LNBF with waveguide input, and the dual polarity feedhorn, and attaching the Invacom LNBF directly to the feedhorn and not use the "T" Fitting as you would for separate LNBs.

You might be able to get away with using the Invacom LNBF with it's own feedhorn and scalar ring, but you may need to adjust things. I paid about $250 for everything brand new from Prodelin, but you might be able to find a Tx/Rx dish used for cash register transactions at gas stations.

My Prodelin is rock solid stable. I love it and I'll NEVER go back to Fortec!
chaskuchar
checked on amc2/4 with my sathawk receiver, QPH031, geosat 90cm dish with dg280. one run of 50' rg6 from dish to receiver. just got packers/seattle game on at 87% sig intensity and 62% quality. packers are on top, 14 to 7. charlie
M
Today I installed the LNB I ordered. It's a JSC322, it was the cheapest dual-output LNB I could find, and it got fairly good reviews.

My reception on SES-1 (AMC4) only went up marginaly. but on AMC9 my quality went from 30% to 46% on RVT and TUVF (misspelled on purpose).

So overall the new LNB is a success, not too bad for under $20 including shipping.

The invacom I took down looked kinda corroded, but I believe I can be cleaned up.

When I can't stand it anymore, i'll get a bigger dish, but the arms, then that should be the end of it. Too bad I can't really place a BUD, my yard is kinda small, and i'm hesitant to place it on the patio-roof. Maybe a mesh dish, oh well i'll see.

The RG59 run are all inside the house. I run RG6 with line amp from dish to my cable distribution, then split. Then it runs on RG59 until I split/combine it again at the TV. When I use a 10 foot line from dish to the nearest TV and hook my receiver up to it, the quality improved about 4%, which in some cases could mean, picture or no picture. If I get desperate, i'll run some coax around the house, but I really don't want to drill any more holes in my house. It's already swis-cheese after two cable co's, 2 phone co's and now Uverse.

Thanks everyone for the help and advise.

Mickel
Former member 209992
Last reply · posted in SatelliteGuys Support Center
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
534 Replies · 18180 views
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Scott Greczkowski
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat. :D
Foxbat
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat. :D
WTF… …What the Foxbat!😱
S
WTF… …What the Foxbat!😱
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you :biggrin
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Foxbat
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you :biggrin
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:
IMG_1990.webp
IMG_1989.webp
comfortably_numb
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:

Not likely since that place closed down.
Foxbat
Not likely since that place closed down.
You're no fun.😑
comfortably_numb
Site was down for a good 20+ minutes just now.
Foxbat
Site was down for a good 20+ minutes just now.
Huh, that's interesting, it was like I had the site all to myself…🤣

JK, JK! Scott will explain when he gets back home and can get online.
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T
Was down for me also
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TRG
TRG
Site was down for a good 20+ minutes just now.
Ditto
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Peter Parker
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
No idea what improvements might be involved.
10 Replies · 520 views
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cpdretired
Two bugs out and three new bugs in.🐞
Almighty1
Updated to H713 on a Hopper 3 from H712 with Hopper Plus a few hours earlier.

It brought a old problem back:

One of the problems I am seeing is that the Available Joey Software section no longer is showing the Android TV versions even after a manual software reset twice and the nightly reboot. Until it does, nether Technician Android TV download and Hopper Plus is able to check, download and update the Android TV software.

This was a major problem with H703.

H710 removed that dependency but it's broken again.

Rick Durham and brittanygarden
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dishstaller
Two bugs out and three new bugs in.🐞
Yep. Just got a call from a customer who said her DVR buttons stopped working. Told her about the new software and had her reboot her H3, problem solved.
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S
Updated to H713 on a Hopper 3 from H712 with Hopper Plus a few hours earlier.

It brought a old problem back:

One of the problems I am seeing is that the Available Joey Software section no longer is showing the Android TV versions even after a manual software reset twice and the nightly reboot. Until it does, nether Technician Android TV download and Hopper Plus is able to check, download and update the Android TV software.

This was a major problem with H703.

H710 removed that dependency but it's broken again.

Rick Durham and brittanygarden
i can still see my joey software version with H713.. i am starting to think it's time to get rid of the hopper plus. i just have 2 joey 4's and the hopper 3 with no issues. it seem like the people that have the hopper plus have issues!!!
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Almighty1
i can still see my joey software version with H713.. i am starting to think it's time to get rid of the hopper plus. i just have 2 joey 4's and the hopper 3 with no issues. it seem like the people that have the hopper plus have issues!!!
Are you talking about the Available Joey Software section which goes something like this:
Available Joey W153 W209 J613 J713 J813 K113 J913
Software
in H713 in diagnostics which is directly below the "Switch" section which is what I am referring to that should have a number starting with P which is needed for the
Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey 4
or the top area where it shows what the current version of the software is for the Hopper 3?

Seeing what your Joey 4/Wireless Joey 4 software version just tells you what is the current software version already installed, until the P version(s) shows up in "Available Joey Software" section which is different for the Hopper Plus, Joey 4, Wireless Joey 4 and it will only list one for the device(s) that exist in one's own configuration which lists what's the latest available, those devices will not be able to check or update their software as it will say "Failed: No Tgt" while "Download ATV Files" in TECHNICIAN SETTINGS under tools will respond with:
"Download ATV Files 3000
This device is not currently targeted for
Android software"
as both are dependent on the P version being listed in the "Available Joey Software" section. It usually takes a few minutes before it shows up. I know with H710-H712, it was not shown and the Download ATV Files worked except since H710, even if you selected everything shown which for me would be the Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey 4 versions, the first download will as a end result only download the Hopper Plus's versions even though it shows all three as downloaded based on what Available Joey Software shows which is always two P numbers P153 and P15317. After the first successful download, the next download will actually download all three and Available Joey Software will reflect that. In H708 (H709 was skipped as no one mentioned it on the forums) and earlier, it always downloaded everything selected and would show 6 P versions in the Available Joey Software area. The Available Joey Software section is how I tell if there is a newer software available for the Hopper Plus and when I see that, I do the Download ATV files first which is where I get my information to post in my other thread, "Latest available software version for Android TV devices - Hopper Plus, Joey 4, Wireless Joey 4". The Download ATV files does not do any install or update the Hopper Plus as I still need to manually hit Menu, Settings, Device Preferences, About, Software Update to update the software.

So with any new Hopper 3 software update, the first things I will check is the Notifications in Settings to see if any of the settings were reset. For the "Remote Control Mode Reminder" setting, I would try it with off, exit notifications then hit TV on the side of the remote to make sure it does not show the reminder before going to notifications andputting it back to on, exit to see if it works correctly before going back to notifications for the other settings. Then I would look at Available Joey Software and regardless if the 2 P versions, one appears to be the 3 digit major version number and the other is the full 5 digit number which is the 3 digit major version number with 2 more digits, exists or not. Attempt to do the Download ATV Software for all 3 Android TV devices Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey 4 until all of them is downloaded and shown in Available Joey Software which should be a total of 6 things added. If Download ATV Software has the no target like since H713, I will wait until I see a P version before I do it.

For reference, it's in the following threads:
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bookworm370
Yep. Just got a call from a customer who said her DVR buttons stopped working. Told her about the new software and had her reboot her H3, problem solved.
Reboot just fixes it for a short time and then it's back to messed up

Try going exclusively to an IR remote and you will see the pain
Almighty1
Updated to H713 on a Hopper 3 from H712 with Hopper Plus a few hours earlier.

It brought a old problem back:

One of the problems I am seeing is that the Available Joey Software section no longer is showing the Android TV versions even after a manual software reset twice and the nightly reboot. Until it does, nether Technician Android TV download and Hopper Plus is able to check, download and update the Android TV software.

This was a major problem with H703.

H710 removed that dependency but it's broken again.

Rick Durham and brittanygarden

Within the last few hours as I did check earlier today when it was still missing, the Available Joey Software line now has added "P154 P15403" which is for the Hopper Plus that I have but my Hopper Plus software is still on P15317, I will do a Download Android TV (ATV) Software for the Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey which are all Android TV devices and then manually do a check update on the Hopper Plus to update the software shortly.
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BatStang2000
This happened to me. I was outside mowing and my wife came out and said that our nieces and nephews were going to be on the Noon News. She had it on in the bedroom on our Joey3. Since they weren't on yet, I decided to turn it on in the Living Room on our Hopper3. When I selected the channel (through Dish, not OTA) the Joey3 turned itself off. When I went back to the bedroom to turn it back on, the Hopper3 did a reboot. Luckily it all finished before their story came on, but I just found it strange.
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Van
Van
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Who says dinner or lunch has to be the only good meals of the day?

Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
6630 Replies · 379374 views
TRG
TRG
Bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast. Coffee.
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TRG
TRG
Wound up at the Waffle House this morning. Got the two egg breakfast with coffee.

1622.webp
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dfergie
Speaking of waffles, I'm going to put my mini waffle iron on stove so I'll remember to make waffles in the morning... Had some last week, been awhile.
dfergie
Dos cackleberrys over easy on top of 2 corned beef hash patties fried in skillet... Chocolate milk.
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TRG
TRG
Cold morning today, only 32 degrees. Fired up the oven and made cinnamon rolls (from a tube) and a pot of coffee.
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68511 Replies · 2671604 views
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ClarkGable
Five O'Clock World - The Vogues
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FTA4PA
Six O'Clock News - John Prine
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Bobby
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson
harshness
Somewhere - Barbra Streisand
sdfntx
Somewhere in Time - John Barry
meStevo
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Continuing the Kilauea thread in the Pub here. Perhaps the Iceland one too next time there's remarkable activity.

Currently there is precursory lava flowing into the crater, leading to the next episode that'll probably start within the next day.

You can see the pace of inflation / deflation here. It serves as the primary predictor for when the expect the eruptions, which coincide w/ inflation turning into significant deflation and last for several hours on average with significant fountaining.



View: https://youtu.be/Uecu2seh4b4


Wife and I like the AfarTV feeds, for the discussion along w/ them, though they're otherwise just mirrors of the official USGS feeds.


View: https://youtu.be/iws3rh5vLAQ
119 Replies · 3234 views
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Foxbat
​
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Foxbat
​
Foxbat
Oooo, quite the show now. All three vents have doming and overflows. The cone that built up around the North vent lost its upper quarter at 02:50 Oct 17 and is now spewing lava at a healthy rate. Don't know if I would say it's a fountain, but it's close.


IMG_1534.webp

edit: The USGS has called the official start of Episode 55 as starting at 03:19 HST Oct 17, 2026:

Alert Level: WATCH, Color Code: ORANGE 2026-10-17 13:43:56 UTC
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 3:43 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H488
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.

Volcanic Activity:
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.

Fountain heights are relatively low at about 100-150 feet (30-45 m), and it is not clear whether this episode will evolve to the same heights as previous episodes. Continuous overflows from the vents began yesterday, October 16, just before 6 a.m. HST and transitioned into episode 55 fountains at 3:19 a.m. HST this morning. The current forecast is for winds are blowing from the north-northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the south-southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu.
  • All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Foxbat
Kīlauea seems to be returning to the "normal" eruption script, impressive fountaining from the North Vent. For once, the V2 Cam has the best overall shot:
IMG_1535.webp
The lava flows have covered a good portion of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
BlackHitachi
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
Since the Reds have there thread we should too!

Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
5390 Replies · 510355 views
osu1991

View: https://youtu.be/9j3vxhzM8MY?is=Rs1cY1FQAiRWi87i


Come September (1961)
Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida with Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin
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Y
1791758462355.webp


Simple, charming. Entire premise is quite silly but Cary Grant carries it across the line in good fashion.
T
Last: The Social Reckoning. Spoiler alert, they make Zuck look like a...
Foxbat
Since it was already "paid" for, I spent the two hours of my time watching the John Cena action movie on Apple TV, "Matchbox The Movie" even though the reviews were brutal. It was better than I expected, so I didn't feel like I had wasted an afternoon watching it. But it felt like another "Reacher"/"Neghley"/"Mission: Impossible"/"Fast & Furious" crash and blow stuff up with lots of automatic gunfire mixed in movie featuring covert CIA operatives.

I don't think we'll get a follow-up movie from this. I expect Mattel will have other toy lines to exploit.
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dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Anyone making their own breakfast sausage? I've recently been trying different recipes, found some I like, some I've modified...
38 Replies · 3565 views
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navychop
Bob Evans Sage.
R
Bob Evans Sage.
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.
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dfergie
Swaggerty's isn't too bad, sausage prices are lower per lb than making my own from pork butts right now so I've been buying JC Potter or Owen lately.
(Swaggerty's at Sam's is pre cut, I usually partially freeze the rolls and cut with my slicer and vacuum seal on parchment paper)
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S
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.
amazon maybe :what
S
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.
owens on amazon is 54.99 for a 4 pk 16 oz a sausage. i feel that's kind of steep!!!
S
Swaggerty's isn't too bad, sausage prices are lower per lb than making my own from pork butts right now so I've been buying JC Potter or Owen lately.
(Swaggerty's at Sam's is pre cut, I usually partially freeze the rolls and cut with my slicer and vacuum seal on parchment paper)
id'e rather make my own vs store bought.
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R
owens on amazon is 54.99 for a 4 pk 16 oz a sausage. i feel that's kind of steep!!!
Especially when I can get a two pound roll of Jimmy Dean from Sam's Club for $7.38.
dfergie
They run Owens at $3.99 for lb and $7.99 a couple times a month at some grocery stores here, I actually was wrong, just checked a pork sirloin roast it was $1.99 a lb. (cooked it yesterday so pack was in trash)
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