Reasons for intermittent, random signal loss

[Electrojim]

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.

 

[ERSanders]

Same here, but for a lot longer time since the inception. There are other posts on this, but no resolution yet.

 

[Radioguy41]

Same here. I was trying to watch a show a little while ago and finally gave up, it just kept freezing.

 

[DISH Support]

Hello,

We know technical issues can be frustrating, and would love to check some things with you to help get this resolved. Some things we would want to check are the cabling and running a switch test.

Is the coax cable that runs from the back of the Hopper to your wall/floor screwed on hand tight at both those ports? If so, have you tried unscrewing the coax from the back of the Hopper for about 10 seconds, then screwing it back on, hand tight, to make sure it is still aligned correctly?

 

[Electrojim]

Thanks for alerting me to that possibility. Have not done that, but will, and report if it has an effect. I did perform a switch test, it was fine.

 

[ERSanders]

Thanks for alerting me to that possibility. Have not done that, but will, and report if it has an effect. I did perform a switch test, it was fine.

I did all that and a lot more, many times over... didn't help, neither did several tech. visits.

 

[Jim5506]

I have also noted momentary signal freezing on several channels.

I remember seeing it Sunday on the NASCAR broadcast on USA.

I'll make note of the channels and time when I see it in the future

It freezes the picture and sound for 1/2 to 2 seconds.

I presumed it was a problem with the up-link.

 

[primestar31]

Tropo season going on again, and that makes for unstable signal reception. It especially affects radio and tv, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it can cause some issues with satellite systems in some cases.

https://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

 

[Jim5506]

Just now FOX News ch 205 had two momentary freezing occurances.

 

[Jon J]

Got the complete signal loss screen at about 10 PM for about 10 minutes last night. Skies were clear.

 

[Electrojim]

UPDATE: Seems like this situation is getting worse. Not entirely random, it seems; there will be a 'cluster' of intermittent screen breakup/audio loss, maybe 3 or 4 in the course of a 1 hour program. After that no problem for the rest of the night. Also, time of day doesn't seem to be a factor, no more/less severe day or night. Anyone else want to share recent experience?

 

[Jim5506]

Just experienced a freeze and a jump forward on National Geographic. Rewind and it was on the buffer.

 

[Jimbo]

Could it be Heat related, LNB getting to warm, electronics can be finicky ....
It's been pretty Hot outside of late ...

However, you'd think that everyone would be having the issue .... maybe a particular model of LNB ?

 

[whitty]

Several channels here in southern KY. went totally out last night with the graphic bad weather caused it. Problem was sky was totally clear.

 

[Bobby]

Several channels here in southern KY. went totally out last night with the graphic bad weather caused it. Problem was sky was totally clear.

It is not only your sky that makes a difference. It could be bad weather at the uplink or very heavy cloud cover between you and the satellite beam itself.

 

[Radioguy41]

Come on guys, they're not using pizza pans to uplink. Nothing short of a tornado is going to knock them out so it's not weather related, it's an equipment or satellite issue.

 

[Bobby]

Come on guys, they're not using pizza pans to uplink. Nothing short of a tornado is going to knock them out so it's not weather related, it's an equipment or satellite issue.

I know you run a radio station but it is widely known that the Phoenix uplink has had outages caused by either heavy thunder or dust storms. Same for Denver. Very heavy cumulous will block the signal either up or down.

 

[HipKat]

Could it be Heat related, LNB getting to warm, electronics can be finicky ....
It's been pretty Hot outside of late ...

However, you'd think that everyone would be having the issue .... maybe a particular model of LNB ?

That’s what I was going to say. I’ve replaced a lot of LNB’s’s this summer that were under performing in the heat. Just wanted today, the highest I can get the signal of the 119 was about 60. I put in a new one and without even moving the dish it was at 72

 

[sam_gordon]

Come on guys, they're not using pizza pans to uplink. Nothing short of a tornado is going to knock them out so it's not weather related, it's an equipment or satellite issue.

I've seen rain knock out signals on a 4.5M C-band dish.

 

[Jimbo]

Come on guys, they're not using pizza pans to uplink. Nothing short of a tornado is going to knock them out so it's not weather related, it's an equipment or satellite issue.

Radioguy,
I was referring to the LNB's AT the home end of things .....
IF it was at the uplink side it would show on Every Ones TV's, so far its been hit and miss.