Rain Fade/Loss

[alta]

I'm in the midwest, with a clear view of the SW sky. I get a signal loss every time we get rain. I'm not just talking about a thunderous downpour, but even a steady drizzle.

However, it seems that I often get a couple of the channels fine, I think TBS is one of them. Could it be a problem with the LBN? Today it is as clear as a bell and here are the results of a signal meter test:

Sat A Maxes out at 72
Sat B Maxes out at 99
Sat C Maxes out at 74

Any thoughts or help will be greatly apreciated

 

[boba]

Your signal strengths look weak on A & C please be more specific as to what signal strengths on what transponders. If these are your maximums you need to get your dish repeaked.

 

[alta]

Here they are:

Sat A:
Tran Signal Tran Signal Tran Signal
1 65 16 51 31 72
2 53 17 59 32 59
3 67 18 0
4 0 19 70
5 65 20 22
6 61 21 65
7 62 22 60
8 44 23 69
9 61 24 52
10 56 25 59
11 66 26 0
12 64 27 68
13 69 28 24
14 61 29 67
15 70 30 60

SAT B
Tran Signal
22 84
23 59
24 80
25 82
26 83
27 82
28 84
29 77
30 84
31 99
32 82

SAT C
Tran Signal
8 68
10 59
12 73

Thanks

 

[damaged]

Here is what you should get with a properly peaked dish.

Numbers are in Min - Max format (as some do fluctuate), averages are calculated by adding the min/max of each xponder than dividing it by the number of xponders for that sat.

Transponder strength oval/triple lnb 101:
1: 92-93%
2: 92-92
3: 89-90
4: Out
5: 88-90
6: 94-94
7: 91-92
8: 94-95
9: 91-92
10: 92-93
11: 92-100
12: 100-100
13: 93-94
14: 94-95
15: 89-92
16: 93-94
17: 91-92
18: Out
19: 93-94
20: 98-100
21: 92-100
22: 94-94
23: 91-92
24: 95-95
25: 92-93
26: 98-100
27: 93-94
28: 100-100
29: 90-91
30: 93-94
31: 93-94
32: 94-95
------------------
Total: 2791 - 2834
Avg: 93 - 94

Transponder strength oval/triple lnb 119:
22: 95-95
23: 95-95
24: 94-95
26: 95-96
27: 95-96
28: 95-95
30: 95-95
32: 98-98

Transponder strength oval/triple lnb 110:
8: 93-94
10: 88-88
12: 94-94

 

[alta]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is "peaked". Is it as simple as climbing up on to the roof and re-aiming the dish, or should I call a local installer to do it?

Thanks.

 

[damaged]

Yes, that's what peaked is.

If it is a single lnb dish, you may want to get a meter (30 bucks or so) and give it a go.

If it is a 3lnb dish, then it may or may not be easy, really depends on a few things, but generally it _can_ be much more complex (like if you have a bad plumb line).

The following is assuming this is a triple lnb dish:
I think it's worth getting a professional installer to do it, just make sure you check the signals before you sign the form and the installer leaves.

You can buy a signal meter (make sure it can tell what satelite its looking at as opposed to the meters that can't, the good ones are around 135 bucks, but you can get a cheapie for ~30 that however will not be able to tell the difference betwen 101, 119, 110 so it makes aiming harder).

Or you can use the meters in your reciever (not recommended, really.), if you do decide to, make sure you give the recievers at least 5-8 seconds between each dish adjustment to lock onto the signal.

Also whatever way you decide, make sure you also check the coax from start to end and all connectors, to insure a cut or chewed up coax, errosion or a bad connector is not your problem.

Here is the manual from directv for installing a 3 lnb dish and aiming it.
http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/12429_00_AntennaManual_1D.pdf

Good luck.