Social Feed

Electrojim

Last reply Jul 24, 2022 · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Reasons for intermittent, random signal loss

We've got a Hopper 3, about 1-1/2 years old, that has been performing flawlessly, but over the past couple of days has exhibited intermittent 'hits,' mostly video-only and for only a second or two, perhaps once every 2 minutes of viewing. By 'hits' I mean freezing and pixelization of the screen; again, only very brief interruptions.

It doesn't seem to matter which channel is being received, but last night our local (L.A.) NBC feed (Tuner 2, Satellite 129, Transponder 6, Signal Strength steady at 53-54) was breaking up frequently. The ABC feed (Tuner 1, Satellite 129, Transponder 4, Signal Strength steady at 57-59) was also breaking up, but perhaps not as often. I'm not familiar enough with this off-axis type of dish to know how low to the horizon it's actually pointing, but it seems to me that any trees in its path must be significantly below where it's 'looking.'

Would appreciate any ideas or maybe other things to check before I spring for a $ervice call.

Many thanks.

64 Replies · 9808 views

Load Replies (64) Reply Legacy View

Electrojim

Jul 15, 2022

Here's a question: What is this thing? We didn't have it with our old receiver, but evidently it was installed when the Hopper 3 was installed. Is it connected properly? I haven't undone the F connectors yet to check for corrosion, thought I'd ask about this first. Our old installation had the LNB hooked directly to the receiver... a VIP-something.

Reactions: TheKrell and charlesrshell

HipKat

Jul 15, 2022

Electrojim said:
Here's a question: What is this thing? We didn't have it with our old receiver, but evidently it was installed when the Hopper 3 was installed. Is it connected properly? I haven't undone the F connectors yet to check for corrosion, thought I'd ask about this first. Our old installation had the LNB hooked directly to the receiver... a VIP-something.
View attachment 157556

That is a component used in a Hopper system. The way yours is used, it doesn't really need to be there although Dish says it will prevent moca from traveling back to the Dish. Which BTW, region has no bearing on dish size. Other than international dishes and special circumstances, everybody's using the same dish. The "eye" on the dish, or the LNBF may vary depending on region, determined by pointing to the southwest or the southeast. And that depends on which market you're in and where you're high definition locals are.

Typical signal strength for a western arc, which is what you have is 110 and 119 in the 70s and 129 around 50

Reactions: charlesrshell

charlesrshell

Jul 15, 2022

HipKat said:
That is a component used in a Hopper system. The way yours is used, it doesn't really need to be there although Dish says it will prevent moca from traveling back to the Dish. Which BTW, region has no bearing on dish size. Other than international dishes and special circumstances, everybody's using the same dish. The "eye" on the dish, or the LNBF may vary depending on region, determined by pointing to the southwest or the southeast. And that depends on which market you're in and where you're high definition locals are.

Typical signal strength for a western arc, which is what you have is 110 and 119 in the 70s and 129 around 50

Which xpondes for these readings?

HipKat

Jul 15, 2022

charlesrshell said:
Which xpondes for these readings?

21 for 110 and 119, 23 for 129

Reactions: charlesrshell

charlesrshell

Jul 15, 2022

HipKat said:
21 for 110 and 119, 23 for 129

Thanks. What causes the Check Status not to go past 60%? Performed a pull the cord reset with no results. Been waiting now for about 30 minutes. It worked couple of hours ago.

Reactions: TheKrell

charlesrshell

Jul 15, 2022

HipKat said:
21 for 110 and 119, 23 for 129

HipKat, finally got the Check Status to work. How does these signal strength readings look to you for my Hopper 3? I didn't see xponder 23 for 129. My other Hopper 3 is busy recording. Will check it tomorrow. Thanks.

HipKat

Jul 16, 2022

charlesrshell said:
HipKat, finally got the Check Status to work. How does these signal strength readings look to you for my Hopper 3? I didn't see xponder 23 for 129. My other Hopper 3 is busy recording. Will check it tomorrow. Thanks.

They look good, actually. 119 is a bit low, but these Hybrid Slimline LNB's just do read lower than the older DPP and DPP Style Hybrids did for some reason. I'm sure the other installers on here would agree.

On a DPP Western Arc, I'd see readings closer to the high 70's for 119, closer to 80 for the 110 and close to 60 for the 129. It's refreshing the rare times I get to (re)point a DPP LNBF. The fact it took so long to run the Check Status is concerning though. That LNB may have some issues or a component, connector, etc in the cabling could be failing.

Reactions: charlesrshell and TheKrell

Jimbo

Jul 20, 2022

Sorry to point this out, but we all more than likely figured you had already done a red button reset ...
That is normally the 1st step in any issue, just in case its a simple computer issue ....
As you probably know already, a RBR basically shuts the unit down Properly, much like turning your computer off correctly ...

I'm glad this resolved your issue and all is good.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Electrojim

Jul 20, 2022

Jimbo said:
Sorry to point this out, but we all more than likely figured you had already done a red button reset ...
That is normally the 1st step in any issue, just in case its a simple computer issue ....
As you probably know already, a RBR basically shuts the unit down Properly, much like turning your computer off correctly ...

I'm glad this resolved your issue and all is good.

Thanks for that, Jimbo; no, didn't think a reset would have been needed for less than an unrecoverable failure, and everything seemed to be working okay otherwise. I will keep this in mind and try an RBR should anything untoward happen in future.

Reactions: charlesrshell

charlesrshell

Jul 20, 2022

Electrojim said:
Thanks for that, Jimbo; no, didn't think a reset would have been needed for less than an unrecoverable failure, and everything seemed to be working okay otherwise. I will keep this in mind and try an RBR should anything untoward happen in future.

I always do a pull the cord reset instead of RBR. Seems to work better for me clearing things up.

Reactions: MikeD-C05 and TheKrell

charlesrshell

Jul 22, 2022

charlesrshell said:
Thanks. What causes the Check Status not to go past 60%? Performed a pull the cord reset with no results. Been waiting now for about 30 minutes. It worked couple of hours ago.

HipKat after couple days experimenting I have figured out why my Hopper 3 Check Status test would sometimes stall at 60%. Stalling was only happening when performing the Check Status test during Prime Time hours. So turned the PTAT setting off and now the Check Status test works during the Prime Time hours too. Go figure.

Reactions: HipKat and TheKrell

charlesrshell

Jul 22, 2022

HipKat said:
They look good, actually. 119 is a bit low, but these Hybrid Slimline LNB's just do read lower than the older DPP and DPP Style Hybrids did for some reason. I'm sure the other installers on here would agree.

On a DPP Western Arc, I'd see readings closer to the high 70's for 119, closer to 80 for the 110 and close to 60 for the 129. It's refreshing the rare times I get to (re)point a DPP LNBF. The fact it took so long to run the Check Status is concerning though. That LNB may have some issues or a component, connector, etc in the cabling could be failing.

HipKat had an internal DISH tech visit couple days ago along with his supervisor. They were from a DISH office in St Charles Missouri. They replaced LNB 119, 110, 118, and 129. All signals are a little higher now with the exception of 110. It is a few points lower for some reason. They didn't have a clue why the Check Status test was stalling out at 60% but I figured it out. See post #60.

Reactions: HipKat

HipKat

Jul 23, 2022

charlesrshell said:
HipKat after couple days experimenting I have figured out why my Hopper 3 Check Status test would sometimes stall at 60%. Stalling was only happening when performing the Check Status test during Prime Time hours. So turned the PTAT setting off and now the Check Status test works during the Prime Time hours too. Go figure.

It must get held up while something is recording

Reactions: charlesrshell

HipKat

Jul 23, 2022

charlesrshell said:
HipKat had an internal DISH tech visit couple days ago along with his supervisor. They were from a DISH office in St Charles Missouri. They replaced LNB 119, 110, 118, and 129. All signals are a little higher now with the exception of 110. It is a few points lower for some reason. They didn't have a clue why the Check Status test was stalling out at 60% but I figured it out. See post #60.

110 signals have seemed lower this summer, many times not much higher than the mid 60's

Reactions: charlesrshell

charlesrshell

Jul 23, 2022

HipKat said:
It must get held up while something is recording

HipKat yep for sure. Even though selecting yes in the Status Check Warning pop-up window, PTAT recordings will not stop recording and the Check Status will stall out at 60%. Also if you change PTAT setting to off during PTAT hours it does not take effect until after PTAT time zone is complete.

Reactions: HipKat

MikeD-C05

Jul 24, 2022

charlesrshell said:
I always do a pull the cord reset instead of RBR. Seems to work better for me clearing things up.

This is the best reboot method to clear out glitches from Software downloads too. I used to do it every time we got new software so I wouldn't have problems.

Reactions: HipKat, KAB, Jimbo and 1 other person

View all replies (64)

TheForce

Supporting Founder Pub Member / Supporter

Last reply 1 minute ago · posted in The Phone & Tablet Zone

Apple Event September 2026

Apple Fall Hardware Event takes place today, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. It marks the debut of new CEO John Ternus and the expected reveal of Apple's first foldable phone.

130 Replies · 1417 views

Load Replies (130) Reply Legacy View

comfortably_numb

Oct 10, 2026

Can't remember if I've posted this yet..

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfL5seXJyWU

Foxbat

Yesterday at 11:47 AM

If you ponied up for an iPhone Duo, keep it away from anything other than your soft, fleshy fingertips. No fingernails, no dust, sand, dirt, or other particulate matter. And don't bend it more than it needs to. Zack has destroyed $2,000 of Apple hardware to get those views, which should cover his expenses.

Reactions: comfortably_numb

comfortably_numb

Yesterday at 11:56 AM

Foxbat said:
No fingernails, no dust, sand, dirt, or other particulate matter

And definitely no medieval chain armor!

Reactions: Foxbat

harshness

Today at 12:18 PM

comfortably_numb said:
medieval chain armor

Aka "mail" or "maille".

Reactions: Foxbat and comfortably_numb

Foxbat

1 minute ago

IFixIt has published their Teardown and they had some positive things to say about the iPhone Duo. It still showed some dust ingress into the hinge assembly but seemed otherwise well-sealed.

View all replies (130)

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 5:52 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

This Week in Tech 1107

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHoCBzfrdmQ

Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 4 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 5:52 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

This Week in Tech 1107

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYRNrj5MQzw

Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 5 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 5:52 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

This Week in Tech 1107

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41qc5p2NdN4

Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 1 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 5:52 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Club TWiT: Unpacking 'You Can See Everything' - Deception, Empathy, and the Art of the Documentary

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPXZ_k6ld-g

Direct YouTube Link - Club TWiT: Unpacking 'You Can See Everything' - Deception, Empathy, and the Art of the Documentary
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 5 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 5:22 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

This Week in Tech 1107

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvJmUuXvDHI

Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 6 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

Ham Radio 2.0

Today at 4:52 PM · posted in Ham Radio 2.0

200,000 Subscriber Livestream - Let's Giveaway some RADIOS!

Time for another AWESOME video from Ham Radio 2.0!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sqK9KJAt7E

Direct YouTube Link - 200,000 Subscriber Livestream - Let's Giveaway some RADIOS!
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook

0 Replies · 7 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 4:48 PM · posted in TV Shows

Brutal review of Netflix's series Below

Don't know if any of you have watched this series yet, it would be interesting to see if you feel this review was accurate. It was very humorous to listen to however.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tsDO3y8I2c

2 Replies · 104 views

Load Replies (2) Reply Legacy View

KAB

Today at 8:16 AM

What a "pile of slop" review! I liked the show.

Reactions: NYDutch

Yespage

Today at 4:48 PM

KAB said:
What a "pile of slop" review! I liked the show.

If the review is like the article, oi! Eighteen paragraphs into the review and... all they've done is not really talk at all about the actual thing they are reviewing.

Halfway into the "written" review, I know more about how the writer "thinks" than I do about what they are writing about. I understand their politics, their self-overestimated understanding of film, their inability to be funny.

Takes about 22 paragraphs to get to one that starts "Anyway, the story kicks off...". Talk about Slop!

klang

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 3:35 PM · posted in TV Shows

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Paramount+

Season 2 order already in hand:

'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1

I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.

91 Replies · 3666 views

Load Replies (91) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: MikeD-C05, TheKrell and Foxbat

klang

Oct 11, 2026

klang said:
I'm sure I will watch at least the first episode but I am not optimistic.

Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.

Reactions: MikeD-C05

MikeD-C05

Oct 11, 2026

klang said:
Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.

Yeah, the foot stuff was just nasty. I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less. Funny, I love being shoe less at home and never wear shoes indoors in my home for long, but seeing her laying on all her furniture with her bare feet hanging out just kind of grossed me out.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

harshness

Oct 13, 2026

MikeD-C05 said:
I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less.

Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?

Reactions: Jimbo

MikeD-C05

Oct 18, 2026

harshness said:
Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?

There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure. So walking around the station like she did she would get stuff on her feet. I am sure the robot vacuum is still going to miss stuff, with all those different alien species running around there.

Reactions: Howard Simmons and long_time_Dish

harshness

Oct 18, 2026

MikeD-C05 said:
There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure.

Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.

MikeD-C05

Monday at 1:35 PM

harshness said:
Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.

I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

osu1991

Monday at 1:59 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that.

Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though :clapping

MikeD-C05

Yesterday at 12:25 PM

osu1991 said:
Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though

Say, I don't wear socks or shoes in my house either. But for a captain in Star Fleet it looks bad to be walking around the academy with no shoes. Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

Jimbo

Yesterday at 4:30 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.

You say that like it's a Bad thing or something ... :biggrin

Reactions: MikeD-C05

long_time_Dish

Yesterday at 4:38 PM

Well, look at the way she sat in the Captain's Chair. I didn't say the show should have been called "Captain Chair-Whore" for nothing...

Reactions: MikeD-C05

primestar31

Yesterday at 11:00 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
Say, I don't wear socks or shoes in my house either. But for a captain in Star Fleet it looks bad to be walking around the academy with no shoes. Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.

Just sayin...

Reactions: Jimbo, MikeD-C05, Foxbat and 1 other person

MikeD-C05

Today at 11:17 AM

Jimbo said:
You say that like it's a Bad thing or something ...

For a whole generation of adults it was in the 1960s and 1970s.

All In The Family Nostalgia GIF by Sony Pictures Television

All In The Family Singing GIF by Sony Pictures Television

Reactions: long_time_Dish and Jimbo

harshness

Today at 11:53 AM

Females wearing any clothing is unthinkable on Ferenginar.

long_time_Dish

Today at 3:35 PM

harshness said:
Females wearing any clothing is unthinkable on Ferenginar.

Was never a huge of the Ferengi-centric episodes in Trek...

View all replies (91)

Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 3:14 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

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....

68605 Replies · 2677832 views

Load Replies (68605) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: c-spand

sdfntx

Today at 9:36 AM

Gondoliers, Shakespeares, Overseers, Playboys and Bums - Norman Greenbaum

Bobby

Today at 10:30 AM

I Wish I Was Eighteen Again - George Burns

Reactions: long_time_Dish, FTA4PA and dishstaller

harshness

Today at 12:06 PM

I Wish - Stevie Wonder

Reactions: gms49ers

EatMyVolts

Today at 1:47 PM

Lonesome Road -- The Wonder Who?

long_time_Dish

Today at 3:14 PM

Lonesome Loser - Little River Band

Reactions: RaiderPower and gms49ers

View all replies (68605)

Top

Back

Search

Search

Social Feed

Reasons for intermittent, random signal loss

Apple Event September 2026

This Week in Tech 1107

This Week in Tech 1107

This Week in Tech 1107

Club TWiT: Unpacking 'You Can See Everything' - Deception, Empathy, and the Art of the Documentary

This Week in Tech 1107

200,000 Subscriber Livestream - Let's Giveaway some RADIOS!

Brutal review of Netflix's series Below

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Paramount+

Song Name Game Part 3!