What can I do about lower signal strength?

[tonyp56]

My upgrade from 811 to 211 satellite receiver.

OK, had two 301's and one 811 on DISH 500 with DP quad LNBF... Now, I have two 301's, brand new 211 and a 1000.2 with DP+ triple LNBF (110, 119, and 129). My signal strength on 110 and 119 went from good average of 95 up (some transponders might have been lower than 90, but most were 90 and above, most of those being 95 to about 115) on 119 and 85-105 on 110 on a clear day to 70 and 80's for 119 and 60-75 for 110, and about 40-60 for 129. This was a professional install using my pole mount that I had my dish500 on. And today is a crystal clear day, no clouds at all...

What can I do? Is this pretty normal? I have no trees, buildings, houses, people, etc. in my line of sight for my satellite dish. Cable connections are all new (tech replaced them all) and signal strength is same on my two 301's as it is on my 211. Tech said that signal "Maxed out" his signal meter, but even having signal in the 90's I lost signal pretty often to rain fade... If that was the case then, then having signal in the 70's (maybe 2-3 transponders in the 80's) on 119 and 60-75ish on 110, then I'm going to lose signal more often.

According to install guide for my zip code (740XX)skew should be 117, Azimuth should be 203, and elevation should be 41... Tech set skew to 119 and elevation to 43. Does this sound right?

Thank you,
Tony

 

[topcat0399]

My upgrade from 811 to 211 satellite receiver.

OK, had two 301's and one 811 on DISH 500 with DP quad LNBF... Now, I have two 301's, brand new 211 and a 1000.2 with DP+ triple LNBF (110, 119, and 129). My signal strength on 110 and 119 went from good average of 95 up (some transponders might have been lower than 90, but most were 90 and above, most of those being 95 to about 115) on 119 and 85-105 on 110 on a clear day to 70 and 80's for 119 and 60-75 for 110, and about 40-60 for 129. This was a professional install using my pole mount that I had my dish500 on. And today is a crystal clear day, no clouds at all...

What can I do? Is this pretty normal? I have no trees, buildings, houses, people, etc. in my line of sight for my satellite dish. Cable connections are all new (tech replaced them all) and signal strength is same on my two 301's as it is on my 211. Tech said that signal "Maxed out" his signal meter, but even having signal in the 90's I lost signal pretty often to rain fade... If that was the case then, then having signal in the 70's (maybe 2-3 transponders in the 80's) on 119 and 60-75ish on 110, then I'm going to lose signal more often.

According to install guide for my zip code (740XX)skew should be 117, Azimuth should be 203, and elevation should be 41... Tech set skew to 119 and elevation to 43. Does this sound right?

Thank you,
Tony

well, are you losing signal now? if you are call dish and set up a trouble call.

rain fade, sucks, but its part of the deal.

those are good signals.

search this forum concering "modified meters", you'll learn alot.

 

[tonyp56]

well, are you losing signal now? if you are call dish and set up a trouble call.

rain fade, sucks, but its part of the deal.

those are good signals.

search this forum concering "modified meters", you'll learn alot.

Well, just because it is "good" doesn't mean that it can't be better...

I'm not complaining about the install (I'm actually happy with it), I just know that this will bug me in the long run. I am wanting to get the strongest signal that I can on a clear day, so that it will go a little further when it does rain etc... If this is the strongest I can get with 1000.2 then fine, but if there is anyway to get a little more, then I want to do it. Coming here I was wanting to figure out how to adjust 1000.2, because this is the first time I've ever messed with anything except Dish500 and dish300 along with Directv triple LNB and plain old single LNBF dish from Directv.

 

[GeorgeLV]

Dish recalibrated their signal meter scale a few months back. Instead of 0-125 it's the more logical 0-100. Your signal strength is exactly the same as it used to be.

 

[topcat0399]

Well, just because it is "good" doesn't mean that it can't be better...

I'm not complaining about the install (I'm actually happy with it), I just know that this will bug me in the long run. I am wanting to get the strongest signal that I can on a clear day, so that it will go a little further when it does rain etc... If this is the strongest I can get with 1000.2 then fine, but if there is anyway to get a little more, then I want to do it. Coming here I was wanting to figure out how to adjust 1000.2, because this is the first time I've ever messed with anything except Dish500 and dish300 along with Directv triple LNB and plain old single LNBF dish from Directv.

well alrighty then but, just know that a 1000.2 with 3 sats is alot touchier than a 2 sat dish.

many customers feel as you do, mess with the dish, screw it up, call dish and set up a trouble call, and the tech eats it big time beacuse of the 90 day warranty. has happened to me lots of times. i have to fix it for FREE plus my gas, because you messed with it.

if you MUST mess with it, go into your point dish menu and select the 129 sat.
select the LOWEST strenght transponder.

if you can, have that tv outside where you can see it, and twist the dish around left and right and up and down without loosening the bolts. otherwise you have to use a partner.

the meter bar on a receiver is SLOW so you have to move it, hold it for like 10 seconds, and then observe the meter bar. if it improves in any direction, then PERHAPS you could peak it a little better. use a sharpy to mark where the dish is pointed FIRST - both azimuth and elevation. loosen the sleeve bolts until you can JUST move the dish with lots of drag. make SMALL adjustments and watch the meter. once yoiu get it the highest. tigthen the sleeve bolts.

now do the same for the elevation bolts.

if you lose a sat, and call dish, have the gonads to tell them you did it. k?

 

[tonyp56]

Dish recalibrated their signal meter scale a few months back. Instead of 0-125 it's the more logical 0-100. Your signal strength is exactly the same as it used to be.

Well, on my 301s they both show very similar numbers that the 211 shows on signal strength... And on the 211, signal meter goes to 125, not 100...

 

[garys]

Well, on my 301s they both show very similar numbers that the 211 shows on signal strength... And on the 211, signal meter goes to 125, not 100...

The meter shows to 125, metering only goes to 100.

 

[foghorn2]

Dish recalibrated their signal meter scale a few months back. Instead of 0-125 it's the more logical 0-100. Your signal strength is exactly the same as it used to be.

My meters show 0-125, please keep your "expertese" to the Directv Forums

 

[foghorn2]

My upgrade from 811 to 211 satellite receiver.

OK, had two 301's and one 811 on DISH 500 with DP quad LNBF... Now, I have two 301's, brand new 211 and a 1000.2 with DP+ triple LNBF (110, 119, and 129). My signal strength on 110 and 119 went from good average of 95 up (some transponders might have been lower than 90, but most were 90 and above, most of those being 95 to about 115) on 119 and 85-105 on 110 on a clear day to 70 and 80's for 119 and 60-75 for 110, and about 40-60 for 129. This was a professional install using my pole mount that I had my dish500 on. And today is a crystal clear day, no clouds at all...

What can I do? Is this pretty normal? I have no trees, buildings, houses, people, etc. in my line of sight for my satellite dish. Cable connections are all new (tech replaced them all) and signal strength is same on my two 301's as it is on my 211. Tech said that signal "Maxed out" his signal meter, but even having signal in the 90's I lost signal pretty often to rain fade... If that was the case then, then having signal in the 70's (maybe 2-3 transponders in the 80's) on 119 and 60-75ish on 110, then I'm going to lose signal more often.

According to install guide for my zip code (740XX)skew should be 117, Azimuth should be 203, and elevation should be 41... Tech set skew to 119 and elevation to 43. Does this sound right?

Thank you,
Tony

Actually your signals are pretty good. Today I upgraded the 1000 to a 1000.2, the best I could get from 129 TP 11 was 25, the best tp gave me 40. 119/110 ranges from 40-85 and the dish500 pulls in 61.5 from 40-90!

This is with L512 on the VIP622 with a max of 125 on the scale.

 

[tonyp56]

Actually your signals are pretty good. Today I upgraded the 1000 to a 1000.2, the best I could get from 129 TP 11 was 25, the best tp gave me 40. 119/110 ranges from 40-85 and the dish500 pulls in 61.5 from 40-90!

This is with L512 on the VIP622 with a max of 125 on the scale.

Alright, well I'll wait and see what happens when it rains before I will mess with anything. I'm actually quite happy, like the receiver (how much smaller can they go? LOL) very impressed with everything really... Will have to get DVI to HDMI cable so I can use my component input on my TV for my DVD player. (Yes, would like a new HDTV, but cable is a little cheaper, LOL)

This was actually a very informative post... Instead of just saying my signal strength was "good" you pointed out from your own experience... Maybe it won't be affected as badly, after all it is a bigger dish. I have hughesnet too, with signal strength in the 60s, it don't really go out any more often than Dish did before. So, it will probably be good. Just saw a pretty drastic reduction in signal strength... Even if you discount the 211, both 301's are showing 15-20 lower than what they were before... Not on average, I mean each transponder dropped 15-20 points. Which to me was pretty drastic.

 

[tonyp56]

Dish recalibrated their signal meter scale a few months back. Instead of 0-125 it's the more logical 0-100. Your signal strength is exactly the same as it used to be.

OK, on my 301's it says that "signal meter has been modified" and to check help to see details... Anyways, it says that it might appear lower now but signal is the same. So I stand corrected, you are right and I was wrong... On 211 it says nothing, but on 301's it says this... Don't know if any other receivers say this or not but 301 does for sure. Anyways, they ought to change scale to 0-100 instead of having it still read 0-125, but you were right so thank you for pointing this out.

 

[tonyp56]

Few days into upgrade and I am a happy camper... Couldn't be happier to be honest... 211 seems like a solid receiver and I am happy to have upgraded to it (wouldn't mind upgrading to 622 or 722 either, but doubt I could get them for free, LOL)

Haven't been keeping up with this, but has USB port been enabled? Can you hook a external HDD up to 211 and use as a DVR? remember something about a 1 time fee that you have to pay to enable, was/is this for 211? Mine is 211K BTW...

Thanks everyone,
Tony

 

[jldhawk]

Do the 110 and 119 Satelites need that 40 on the meter? I am below 25 on 129 and above 40-50 on 110 and 119, can I sacrifice a little of 110 and 119 to get more on 129?
All of my Locals and HD channels are on 129 and that is what I pay the most for.

 

[topcat0399]

Do the 110 and 119 Satelites need that 40 on the meter? I am below 25 on 129 and above 40-50 on 110 and 119, can I sacrifice a little of 110 and 119 to get more on 129?
All of my Locals and HD channels are on 129 and that is what I pay the most for.

when i put up a 3 sat dish, i always rob from 119/110 and give to 129. Peak your dish for the weakest bird in the sky - which happens to be 129.

 

[Agonizing Fury]

Do the 110 and 119 Satelites need that 40 on the meter? I am below 25 on 129 and above 40-50 on 110 and 119, can I sacrifice a little of 110 and 119 to get more on 129?
All of my Locals and HD channels are on 129 and that is what I pay the most for.

Acceptable signal strength varies from market to market, however I am in an area that is on the fringe of 129 and regularly peak transponder 21 in the 45-60 range. 119 transponder 16 is usually in the 80-86 range (on a 1000.2, 3-4 points lower on a 500). If you are having to sacrifice 119/110 signal for 129, then either your skew is set wrong, your mast/pole is not plumb, or your reflector is warped. Any time I increase a 129 signal on a dish, 119/110 stay the same or go up.

 

[jldhawk]

119 TP 16 is holding around 51/52
129 TP 21 is at 24 (0-125 Scale)

I am in zip code 51360 (N. Central Iowa)

 

[topcat0399]

Acceptable signal strength varies from market to market, however I am in an area that is on the fringe of 129 and regularly peak transponder 21 in the 45-60 range. 119 transponder 16 is usually in the 80-86 range (on a 1000.2, 3-4 points lower on a 500). If you are having to sacrifice 119/110 signal for 129, then either your skew is set wrong, your mast/pole is not plumb, or your reflector is warped. Any time I increase a 129 signal on a dish, 119/110 stay the same or go up.

ok, i'll rephrase: i dont really ROB from 119/110 - I optimized the dish for 129, and yes, the other increase or stay close to the same. dish teaches to peak on 119 and the others will come in. I peak on 129 and the others come in. far less trouble calls that way.

to jld hawk: your dish needs to be better optimized for 129.

any chance something phyical happened to your dish or the mount? lawn mower hit? big wind storm? mount came loose? dish got bent?

if you are going to DIY, if i were you, find the weakest transponder on the 129, watch your meters and aim your dish better. its risky though if you dont know what your doing, you could end up losing everything.

maybe you should call a pro.

 

[jldhawk]

That is EXACTLY what was wrong with my weak signals.
The Dish 1000.2 was warped out of the box, My neighbor is a Dish Installer, he put up a new dish, and now I am getting great numbers.
65-70 on 110/119 and 55-57 on 129.

 

[jldhawk]

As soon as my neighbor went home, and closed the door, I lost all signal on 129 again.
I guess as soon as I started bragging about good signals........
Reading the other forum, 129 is dieing quickly. Perhaps I am just finding this out the hard way.
I did call dish, and told them that I am not paying for this.
they have my account frozen until another tech can come on on 8/10 (Two weeks from now)
The trouble is, is my locals are also on 129 in SD.