rain fade getting noticeably worse

[STL]

I have had an EA dish since Feb. 2008, and somewhat recently I have noticed that rain fade seems to be getting more severe and much more common (than it has been been in the past). Could some action by DISH -- like lowing signal levels and/or cramming more channels in -- potentially be the reason? It is about to the point where I'll strongly consider leaving DISH when my contract is up.

Perhaps the dish just isn't pointed as good as it should be. If it is that, I know I can call them and get someone out -- but won't that cost me a pretty penny? And no I don't have their service plan -- seems absurd for me to pay that when it is THEIR equipment (that I'm leasing). I was with DirecTV for 8+ years and never had rain fade (and/or dish pointing) issues like this with them.

 

[dk21]

Yeah, we had a light storm the other day and we completely lost signal. That has never happened before. I suspect that the reason is because the satellite at 61.5 is in bad shape. I'm hoping this improves once the new satellite is in operation to replace it.

 

[robstudio]

Please post your signal strengths on all three sats so we can figure out if you need a repoint. Check strength on transponder 19 & 21 and wherever your locals are.

 

[lsilvest]

I have a strong signal and in the past have not had much problem with the rain (more so with heavy, wet snow), but I've noticed that this year it happens more often - usually just briefly and then resets and is fine. In the past, most rain storms didn't even affect the signal - usually just when very dark clouds and thunder. Don't know if the storms are different or if it has something to do with the Satellite itself.

 

[TNGTony]

This summer has had many more severe and larger storms than last summer. That could be the cause. Light rain in your area doesn't mean that the signal isn't going though a 20 mile thick cloud (all moisture).

 

[JimP]

STL,

When you take your readings, if possible do it on a clear day. Then you'll know that any reduced signal strength isn't attributable to clouds.

 

[KAB]

This summer has had many more severe and larger storms than last summer. That could be the cause. Light rain in your area doesn't mean that the signal isn't going though a 20 mile thick cloud (all moisture).

:up:up

 

[xyz38]

Very hard rain does not cause my receiver to loose signal.
It only happens when the dark clouds move to the front of the dish.

 

[Matt9876]

Within a couple of weeks the new high powered satellite (E15) will be active at 61.5,This should help things quite a bit on the eastern arc as the current bird has actually and permanently lost transponders also it has noticeably less power than a year ago on some of the conus transponders.

 

[Barry Erick]

My signal levels on 61.5 are usually high (40' to 61) since the new EA dish, but rain fade is mush worse than it had ever been on the wing dish that I put in that was close passing a tree. Almost every time it rains, I loose it. Today I did, but did not loose any 72 or 77 channels. I hope the new bird passes and can get a qood signal in a perhaps my old dish would be doing that now. I know the signal strength does not entirely show the actual signal strength, but the signal quality and only a signal meter would say how strong the RF signal actually is.

 

[cjsiv]

I did notice that within the past year my disruption was much more frequent with weather. Used to be that it had to be pouring so hard I couldn't see across the street to lose signal. Then almost any time there was a steady rain, it would cut out. I actually had the installer come out and check everything and they told me all was good. Even added an extra mount to the sat base to stabilize just in case. Didn't change. HD feeds would lose signal yet the SD one usually would work. Not with dish anymore so not an issue now, but I did have similar problem when I was a customer.

 

[cappy29]

I've been having rain fade issue's with the 129 satellite,last time i checked i had a signal in the upper 50's to low to mid 60's.This is a 1000.2 dish i believe,i get 129,110 and 119 and used to get 118.7 orbital slot.

 

[Austinm777]

Eastern ARC Storm Issues

I live in Southern Lower Michigan and often times when there is large thunderstorm anvils to our South I lose the signal on 61.5. It could be sunny where I live yet the storm tops in the southern sky affect my signal. It has been worse this year than prior years. With that said, the number and severity of storms across northern Indiana and Ohio is much greater this year than prior years. I was upgraded from a Western ARC hybrid (110/118/119/61.5) earlier this year to Eastern ARC. I never have any problems with 72 or 77 even in bad weather.

 

[Ghpr13]

I live in Southern Lower Michigan and often times when there is large thunderstorm anvils to our South I lose the signal on 61.5. It could be sunny where I live yet the storm tops in the southern sky affect my signal. It has been worse this year than prior years. With that said, the number and severity of storms across northern Indiana and Ohio is much greater this year than prior years. I was upgraded from a Western ARC hybrid (110/118/119/61.5) earlier this year to Eastern ARC. I never have any problems with 72 or 77 even in bad weather.

Can I ask a slight OT question? When I lose my signal on my 722k, it seems to lock up until it gets back the signal. How can you tell that what satellite has lost signal? How can you change channels when the signal is gone?
Thanks,
Ghpr13

 

[3HaloODST]

Can I ask a slight OT question? When I lose my signal on my 722k, it seems to lock up until it gets back the signal. How can you tell that what satellite has lost signal? How can you change channels when the signal is gone?
Thanks,
Ghpr13

Menu - 1 will bring up your guide.

Menu - 6 - 1 - 1 will check signals.

 

[Ghpr13]

Menu - 1 will bring up your guide.

Menu - 6 - 1 - 1 will check signals.

Thank you,
Ghpr13
​

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Chances are the dish might have blown just slightly out of alignment. Just a smidgen over and it can cause rain fade issues.

I am glad I have my dishes on the ground as I repeak them twice a year for the best performance.

 

[JimP]

Scott....

Slight OT, but are there any 1000.2 dishes that can replace the originals that have a more refined adjustment system. The up/down adjustment on the originals can drive a semi sane person mad.

 

[STL]

Please post your signal strengths on all three sats so we can figure out if you need a repoint. Check strength on transponder 19 & 21 and wherever your locals are.

I took some readings at 10:45am today with the skies clear:

sat61.5, tran19 = 37
sat61.5, tran21 = 34   
sat72  , tran19 = 49
sat72  , tran21 = 53
sat77  , tran18 = 53
sat77  , tran21 = 48

Are the normal/good?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Check your transponser readings to the ones below...

61.5 Tr. 10 - 39
61.5 Tr. 14 - 60
61.5 Tr. 29 - 46
61.5 Tr. 31 - 44

72.7 Tr. 15 - 51
72.7 Tr. 17 - 58
72.7 Tr. 19 - 52
72.7 Tr. 21 - 58

77 Tr. 13 - 48
77 Tr. 16 - 43
77 Tr. 20 - 47
77 Tr. 21 - 49

The above signal levels are the average signal readings for St. Louis, if you are way below these numbers call DISH pay the $15 and get the repeak.