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vamiller

Last reply Aug 22, 2011 · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Pixelization/ Occasional Loss of Signal on Satellite 119

Since early July I have noticed a degration of signal quality on satellite 119 on my Dish 500 system. It started with a total loss of signal (it is a 10 yr old system). I replaced the LNBs and the signal returned. Now I have occasional signal drop outs and pixelization. I could be watching for 20 minutes for no problem then the picture starts to go crazy for 5-10 minutes. I confirmed the dish didn't move (made minor dish adjustments but the ended up at the orignal settings for the best signal) The typical signal strength on sattelite 119 on a clear day is ~108 (of 125), ranging from 75 to 120.

Is anyone aware of changes made on satellite 119 that could be causing this? I know I have an older setup (2800 and 3900 receivers) but the problem appeared suddenly and on both receivers. No problems have been observed on satellite 110. When looking at the signal strength it is fairly solid (fluctuates about 5 on the meter) then has a tremendous drop to 50-60 or less, jumps back up to the original value but takes a few seconds to lock. I know people are going to ask about trees and the treeline is fairly far from the dish (>100 ft). I only lost ~10 on the signal meter when I was cleaning the dish.

Now the words of wisdom from the forum members

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Stargazer

Aug 21, 2011

The problem could be with the wire or a connection depending on your setup. Is there a switch that both receivers connect to before it goes to the lnbs on the dish? What model is the switch? If so then it sounds like the switch is bad or the wire from the switch to the lnb is bad. When you state that you replaced the lnb's that hints at an lnb for 110 and an lnb for 119 instead of the twin lnb where both are connected together as one unit with the built in switch.

To test to see if it is the switch or not, you can bypass the switch and only connecting the 119 lnb to the receivers to see if it still happens.

Which does the lnb look like that you are using on the Dish 500? Two of the single ones pictured below or a Twin where the two are built in together (which also has the switch built in).

vamiller

Aug 21, 2011

Thanks for responding and here are answers to your questions. I have 2 receivers (2800 and 3900) each connected to a SW21 switch. You are correct there are 2 LNBs, one for 119 and the other for 110. I also replaced both SW21 switches. The 2 LNBs and SW21s I used to replace were from another system given to me by a friend about 2 yrs ago. The systems was only used for 2-3 yrs before he changed satellite providers. The only original parts in the system are the cables and the dish (and I was considering swaping the dish since I have another one).

Other notes: While the signal can degrate at any time during the day we have noticed it gets a little worse from 9pm to midnight. For example tonight I was watching program which used sat 119, xponder: 08. The signal strength is typically about 92-101. It could be this way for 15-30 minutes then the signal drops and returns back to the normal strength but takes a few seconds to lock. Earlier today I was receiving a good signal/picture at with a signal strenth of 57 during a rain storm. In addition I noticed the higher numbered transponders (i.e. xponder: 20) is has a 10% higher signal. (not sure if this would help with the dropout issue since I don't appear to watch programming on this xponder and only watched the signal meter for 10 minutes). It is this occasional dropout is frustrating.

I am considering upgrading to HD but my concern is Dish Network is having satellite resource issues causing them to push their equipment to the limit.

TimberWolf

Aug 22, 2011

Different transponders will always have different signal levels. The rec picks the one its needs based on what channel you select.

It does sound like a branch may be swaying in front of 119. Do you have any photos from behind the dish?
It could also be a corroded connector, damaged cable or even a splitter in the line.

Both of your recs are being phased out so you may be able to get them replaced.

The HD system uses a different dish, lnbs, recs and sats

"MysteryMan"

Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge

Last reply 4 minutes ago · posted in Computers and Gadgets

Windows 10/11 Download

I created this thread on the original Edgecutter Cutting Edge Forums site. It's simply a place for those to review the latest software available for those using Windows 10 and Windows 11. To date it has received 112,559 views. I have been asked by staff to continue this thread here.

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EarDemon

Oct 13, 2026

If it wasn't for what I want, I wouldn't need any of this.

Do I need a collection of handheld radios, scanners and speed enforcement countermeasures? Nope, but I want them. Very little, if any of the software used to interface with these devices is available on Linux.

WhiteBeard

Oct 13, 2026

EarDemon said:
If it wasn't for what I want, I wouldn't need any of this.

Do I need a collection of handheld radios, scanners and speed enforcement countermeasures? Nope, but I want them. Very little, if any of the software used to interface with these devices is available on Linux.

To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.

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EarDemon

Oct 14, 2026

WhiteBeard said:
To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.

For niche use cases, yes I agree. Kali for ethical hacking and security testing, and running a Cacti server for network monitoring are the two things I have experience in. Plus thousands and thousands of other things, but for every day use I just can't see it. The owner of the GMRS repeater that I pay to access is changing the Tx DPL tones tomorrow, while Chirp is available on Linux, the software to program my MXT500 is not.

I run Fedora and Ubuntu in VMWare, honestly I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows. The cartoonish dock at the bottom of the screen reminds me of Apple products.

harshness

Oct 15, 2026

EarDemon said:
I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows.

What is so fantabulous about the Windows UI? By many accounts, it has been going downhill since Windows 7.

There are Linux desktops that offer Windows or Mac UIs, yet you don't hear much chatter about them outside of questions about when the creators might get sued.

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EarDemon

Oct 15, 2026

harshness said:
What is so fantabulous about the Windows UI?

Because it's what I prefer. I know I've said this a few times, I use Open Shell to give me the cascading start menu a la WIN 95 and NT4.0. The only reason I went from Windows Vista to 7 back in the day was because of Classic Shell. I cannot stand anything other than the OG start menu from 30+ years ago. I'm using ExplorerPatcher to give me Windows 10 UI elements of the taskbar and right click context menus.

If you could take a look at how I set up Windows 95, you'd find many similarities to how I use 11.

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EarDemon

Oct 15, 2026

I could probably use that as a starting point, but I don't like the full size icons. If you have to click on each folder that's also a no-go for me, it has to be cascading.

I used to have Peppermint Linux in a VM, that was about as close as I could get to recreating a Windows NT4.0 style of menu structure, but I could never get it to scale properly in VMWare on a 4K display and eventually gave up.

Whatever the boot up time it's fine with me. The longest part of my bootup is the HP SureStart BIOS integrity check. Once that is done, it's only a few more seconds. I haven't done this reg tweak yet since the reformat, but I switched the bootup animation to the Windows 10 style spinning circle of dots, and it's two and a half rotations. I can live with that.

harshness

Oct 16, 2026

EarDemon said:
Because it's what I prefer.

I hope you don't believe that makes it wonderful (especially when you're using workarounds for Microsoft's malfeasance).

I use LibreOffice as opposed to Microsoft office (even in Windows) because it's UI is like the Office of old, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is (in a manner of speaking). The ribbon was one of the worst ideas to come out Redmond.

HipKat

Oct 16, 2026

EarDemon said:
I could probably use that as a starting point, but I don't like the full size icons. If you have to click on each folder that's also a no-go for me, it has to be cascading.

I used to have Peppermint Linux in a VM, that was about as close as I could get to recreating a Windows NT4.0 style of menu structure, but I could never get it to scale properly in VMWare on a 4K display and eventually gave up.

Whatever the boot up time it's fine with me. The longest part of my bootup is the HP SureStart BIOS integrity check. Once that is done, it's only a few more seconds. I haven't done this reg tweak yet since the reformat, but I switched the bootup animation to the Windows 10 style spinning circle of dots, and it's two and a half rotations. I can live with that.

I used to pin the C: drive to the Win Taskbar and it would open in cascading style

"MysteryMan"

4 minutes ago

2026-10 Preview Update Builds: 26300.9818 and 26200.9818 (KB5127936) has been released. Moderate time needed for those choosing to perform a manual download/install/restart. Quality improvements only. No new operating system features.

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

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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:

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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....

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Dos cackleberrys over easy on top of 2 corned beef hash patties fried in skillet... Chocolate milk.

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