Poor Signal @ 61.5 (45-55 out of 125)

wcnghj

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Feb 18, 2010
82
0
New England
I am starting to notice pixelation on my HD channels, most of which are on 61.5. I called tech support, got transferred to "advanced tech support" and they asked for my signal strength. They said they could send out a tech for $15.

Could having signals in this range actually be causing pixelation? Can I easily move the DISH myself? 61.5 is on a wing dish for me, so theres only one LNB on the dish I'd be moving.

Thanks!
 
Maximum is somewhere below 90 as I recall. 45 and up should be fine unless you have a moving obstruction (leaves, branches) in your line of sight.
 
50's are about typical on most transponders on 61.5 if I remember correctly on a Dish1000.4.


I think my wing dish is a 300, and it's dedicated to 61.5. Will the new satellite(launching in a couple days) put out a stronger signal? Or should I call and see if I can get HDs from another sat.?
 
Was the pixelation on your local HD channels, or the national HD channels? Within the past day or two, I've noticed a little myself on my local channels coming from 61.5, SB5.
 
Important to note that 125 isn't the maximum...it used to be, then they changed the scaling and the highest you'll ever get for 61.5 is probably somewhere around 70. 110/119 were between 70 and just above 80 for me, depending on the TP, however I recall reading something here that they will naturally read higher.

61.5 comes in in the 50's and 60's on most TP's, and the same for 72.7. That is with a D500 pointed at each though - not a 1000.4. It seems the 1000.4 pulls in a little lower for each.
 
Oh yes. It definitely lowers the strength of the transponders on 61.5 using the 1000.4 dish compared to a side sat for 61.5. I have used both and I get some of the following strengths on the side sat dish ( old 1000.2 sat dish with single lnb adapter)

tr 02 - 56
tr 04 - 57
tr 10 - 59
tr 14 - 76
tr 19 - 56
tr 21 - 46
tr 24 - 63
tr 29 - 61
tr 31 - 53

Compare this to my eastern arc dish on the same transponders.

tr 02 - 48
tr 04 - 45
tr 10 - 48
tr 14 - 68
tr 19 - 47
tr 21 - 40
tr 24 - 47
tr 29 - 55
tr 31 - 46
 
Here is an example of what I'm seeing on Palladia right now. The singer has his eyes closed, but the blotchiness(compression?) makes it look like a face without eyes. This photo was taken with the camera in focus. See the square blotches?

I called DISH and asked if it was compression and the rep claimed my DISH needs to be re-pointed or replaced..

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2554/dsc00305rv.jpg
 
I just installed a 1K.4 system. My numbers are real low, about 22-25 avg. I used a satellite meter, Channel Master, to peak my AZ and EL. Should I re-peak using the "meter" on my receiver (VIP211K)?
 
11:21 PM 7/10/2010 Transponders with 0 signal were deleted, all were "transponders" unless denoted by "SPOTBEAM"
1000.4 DISH in Southwest Virginia - I haven't noticed any pixelizing or freezes unless there is a pretty hard downpour.
02 42 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
04 52 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
07 7 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
08 48 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
09 5 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
10 45 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
11 10 Locked - Name Not Acquired! "SPOTBEAM"
14 64 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
19 57 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
20 43 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
21 48 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
22 46 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
23 48 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
24 57 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
25 50 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
27 48 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
28 45 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
29 55 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
30 47 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
31 46 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
 
Last edited:
Is there anybody else who can look at the photo I posted and let me know if their HDs are coming in that poorly?
You can't really tell much from a photo of a TV screen, especially when obviously taken very close to the screen.
 
I am starting to notice pixelation on my HD channels, most of which are on 61.5. I called tech support, got transferred to "advanced tech support" and they asked for my signal strength. They said they could send out a tech for $15.

Could having signals in this range actually be causing pixelation? Can I easily move the DISH myself? 61.5 is on a wing dish for me, so theres only one LNB on the dish I'd be moving.

Thanks!
Ignore the 125 scale. It's been rendered meaningless for four years since Dish recalibrated the scale.
FYI signal strenghts vary across the country. CONUS satellite signals are at their strongest in a geo-center of the US. And at their weakest in the corners.
 
11:21 PM 7/10/2010 Transponders with 0 signal were deleted, all were "transponders" unless denoted by "SPOTBEAM"
1000.4 DISH in Southwest Virginia - I haven't noticed any pixelizing or freezes unless there is a pretty hard downpour.
02 42 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
04 52 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
07 7 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
08 48 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
09 5 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
10 45 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
11 10 Locked - Name Not Acquired! "SPOTBEAM"
14 64 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
19 57 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
20 43 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
21 48 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
22 46 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
23 48 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
24 57 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
25 50 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
27 48 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
28 45 Locked - Name Not Acquired!
29 55 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
30 47 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
31 46 Locked - Echostar 61.5W
The TP's on the install martix are 14, 29, 31, and 32
Here in Central NC I get 70 -73 on 14........60-63 on 29.......50-52 on 31 and 47 -50 on TP 32....WV not being that far form here I would want to say the ideal signals on your should be close to those numbers.
 
Here is an example of what I'm seeing on Palladia right now. The singer has his eyes closed, but the blotchiness(compression?) makes it look like a face without eyes. This photo was taken with the camera in focus. See the square blotches?

I called DISH and asked if it was compression and the rep claimed my DISH needs to be re-pointed or replaced..

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2554/dsc00305rv.jpg

Is it only on Palladia? Because I see blockiness due to compression on cable when watching Palladia as well. Makes me think that it's an issue with them. The signals you posted aren't low enough to be periodically dropping the signal like that.
 
Is it only on Palladia? Because I see blockiness due to compression on cable when watching Palladia as well. Makes me think that it's an issue with them. The signals you posted aren't low enough to be periodically dropping the signal like that.

No, it's on all HD channels.


Try writing an email to the dishquality@echostar.com folks and tell them about your video issues with Palladia. It sounds like a pq problem with the channel itself.

I sent them a message a week ago detailing my problems. No reply yet. Thanks though!
 

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