Some paints really do stop sat signals; just like any other obstruction. I have a 10 foot dish somebody painted; i have to remove all the paint before it will work again!!! Natural paints and plastics are the worst thing to paint a dish with. I use a "metal based paint" because painting requires adherance properties, and any dish requires something called "reflectiveness" to make the signal enter the feedhorn!!! If anything that obstructs a satellite signal gets in the way of this process; why take a chance on it with any paint??? And though plastic dishes look like just plastic; they are metal inside with "reflectiveness" all the plastic does is hold the metal firmly in place.
And yes, fix, repair, and use old sat dishes! They are not worth anything unless you do!
And yes, fix, repair, and use old sat dishes! They are not worth anything unless you do!