When do you tinker with FTA the most?

[Inno]

I got thinking about this the other day when I realized I hadn't been spending much time on the forums just recently. Seems that for me it goes in spurts. There are just certain times of year when I'm more interested in FTA than others. Obviously weather and different seasons play a part but what, aside from the poll questions factors govern your FTA adventures? Do you spend more time on the forum at certain times of year etc.?

 

[Inno]

So I voted for weather/seasons for a couple of reasons. First and foremost because of where I live, our winters are not conducive to dish tinkering all year. With that said, I probably spend more time watching FTA than I do tinkering with hardware during the winter months.
Now that spring is upon us I have the bug and a few projects in mind but there are too many other things that need to be done around the yard to have any time for FTA.

 

[Mr Tony]

weather...I'm in the same boat as you inno with winter. When we get a decent day (like 25-30F) then I work on it if I need to

The only time in winter I work on the system outside is when its a necessity (bad switch/LNB etc)

 

[gmd63]

Anything bigger is done early spring to late fall. Unless it is something important, then it does not matter when.

Almost everyday is FTA day for me (viewing wise), always watching or checking something out. I take a look at the forums everyday.

 

[guapoharry]

I voted for weather too. When it's summer after it gets humid, it's just not worth going outside to work because it wears you out.

 

[phlatwound]

I voted "All of the Above".

Hopefully that will change fairly soon.

 

[classicsat]

When two conditions are true: 1. There is nothing on network TV (meaning in HD, which I havent't a DVR for.). 2. It is dark enough to see a TV outside. In the winter, there is usually an opportunity before 6 pm when those conditions are true. Otherwise, just playing with the receiver, or just watching, of which I mostly watch/listen weekends.

 

[tvropro]

Usually when the weather is nice. During the winter it's repairs only or an important change needs to be made.

 

[Ironsides]

Spurts

I am come and go I guess...I get everything working and I don't mess with it as long as it's working. Spring time and early fall would be when I play outside the most. I am always on the look out for a dish no matter what kind it is. I like to read more than post but lately I have posted here more than I have in several years. I guess the older I get the more need I have for some form of conversation.

 

[Cadsulfide]

Went out this weekend and converted my two buds and a 4' DTN to bandstacked. Gained about 30 channels with a powered DP34 and my new AZBOX . Receiver runs a lot cooler not powering the outside stuff. SQ went up a few notches too. Been wanting to do this since November, but winter is for pushing snow. Still a bit of snow in the shelter-belt, should be gone in a few days. Hope to add a couple more dishes this year. Will be able to pour cement in a couple of weeks, most of the frost is out of the ground. Looking forward to the warm months....

 

[Tron]

Voted for weather...

Summers in New Orleans will drain your energy. When I must work during the summer, I work almost exclusively at night, on nights with a full moon. Nighttime is cooler, and full moon = plenty of worklight ...

Yes, the neighbors think I have issues.

 

[vanalex]

Voted for Family obligations. Have younger kids and didn't have the time to tinker. The now 4yo is getting older and getting more time to do these things. Trying to teach him (4yo) about the dish but he is not to interested yet. I have logged a lot of night time hours tinkering with the dish and am now pretty good in the dark. Love the full moons but I still leave the Ku dish on the roof alone after dark.

 

[Inno]

My son is 9 and he's still not interested..........well, he's interested enough when he can't watch what he want to but aside from that, he doesn't get too excited about it.

 

[rv1pop]

Too hard to do much when it is below 40° inside or the wind is above 45 MPH outside.

Then the motorhome likes to rock and roll. But so did the BUD!

 

[Inno]

Too hard to do much when it is below 40° inside or the wind is above 45 MPH outside.

Then the motorhome likes to rock and roll. But so did the BUD!

Below 40°??? That's a NICE day here!!

 

[Mr Tony]

yeah no duh inno!

When its dead of winter and the temp doesnt get above 0F when you see 25 in the forecast you get giddy

 

[pro96]

Weather for me, when its 60 outside too cold to work on dishes. And yea 60 is cold here in Socal.

 

[Inno]

60° is perfect weather for working outside, you can work hard and not sweat much!

Two winters ago I set up my C-Band dish in January.........it was probably -15 or so. Just gotta dress for the occasion.

 

[eurosport]

Weather here too, but just the opposite. I get the Primestars re-pointed to the good sports birds, (97w and 125w dishes go to 91 and 105) and make sure everything else outside is functioning properly by about the middle/end of May. After that, the dish farm is on it's own out there, until it cools off sometime in October.
(Unless something takes a crap! )
It's just way too hot in the summer for outside manual labor type stuff!

 

[Corrado]

For me it's the weather. In the extremes it's for for emergency repairs to get back up and running.

We had a few nice warm sunny days in the winter I took advantage of to install secondary LNBFs and switches, cables etc. I did a couple of site surveys about the yard around solar outage time after a record snow fall in New York. My neighbor was watching me walking around with papers and a compass looking at the sky. They should be used to it be now.