Wild Blue Baked Potatoes

[AcWxRadar]

Well, the weather is changing here once again and I am having troubles with my WB internet connection. But... I now know how to resolve this issue.

This is a bit of a pain, but it costs nothing. This happened to me last year and the year before when the weather changed. I couldn't detect any moisture, but somewhere in there, within the TRIA, there was moisture that kept killing my internet connection.

I took the TRIA off the dish, disassembled it as far as I was able to and stuck it in the oven at the lowest heat setting possible for several hours.

Then, I reassembled the TRIA and put it back on the dish and it worked beautifully!

This problem for me is a typical occurence when the temperature swings and there has been an unusual change in the relative humidity - an increase in humidity. That moisture gets trapped within the TRIA (which for you satellite TV people is the same as the LNBF, but this one transmits as well as receives).

I just about tossed in the towel last year or the year before and bought a new TRIA. Well, I did end up buying a new TRIA just to play it safe, but I fixed my problem before the TRIA arrived in the mail.

All that was required was the baking. That dried the TRIA out and kept it functioning for another year. Now that the temperature and humidity has weeped into my TRIA once again, I know that I must take the TRIA off and bake it once again.

What a quick and dirty fix! And CHEAP! A few hours in the oven... Fixed!

Thought that some of you who use WB (or other sat internet connections) would want to know so that you can try this repair for yourself. You can take the TRIA off the dish without affecting the alignment. Power down and unbolt it from the dish and disassemble it as best you can and toss it in the oven on WARM. It will save you a few hundred dollars because the tech will want to sell you a brand new TRIA. They will dry it out and resell it next year to someone else. Probably sell you a new one then, too.

RADAR

 

[Cadsulfide]

Clever, any visible way to seal it?

 

[AcWxRadar]

Well, I hated walking out into the snow in my sneakers, but I did it anyway because I was tired of losing my internet connection. This problem often happens when it is most inconvenient.

It doesn't happen during a blizzard, thankfully, but typically when the yard is terribly wet and swampy! So my shoes and socks are soaking wet and cold!
That is OK. My TRIA is now warm and DRY! And will last me until the heavy rains come. Then I will have to wade out into the rain and bring the TRIA back in once again.

The TRIA is designed pretty well, with a gasket and all, but nothing is perfectly hermetically sealed. If I keep on top of this situation, it won't become a major problem that causes permanent damage. I get quick advanced warning of the issue. Like losing signal lock on a TV satellite, I lose lock on my internet signal. Once or twice during a week is OK I can blame that on a storm.
But, when it leans to several times a day or several times an hour, I know what the problem is and I address it right away.

If you think you have the same trouble, try my quick fix before you call a tech. It just might save you some big bucks for a repair call. And you can do this without messing anything up. Just ensure that you power the system down and mark your cables so that you do not reverse them when you reconnect. Beyond that you only need two sizes of phillips screwdrivers and possibly a 7/16 wrench to carry out the job. Split the TRIA in half and stick both parts in your oven for several hours on low. Put it back together and reattach it to your dish. Very simple, don't be afraid of goofing it up. If you reconnect the cables properly, you will have no worries.

Just a tip from me... your buddy...

RADAR

 

[AcWxRadar]

Clever, any visible way to seal it?

It is sealed pretty well from the factory, but it is not perfect and nothing with as large of an internal open space placed outdoors can be sealed perfectly. It is just inherent that it will weep in moisture. It is like a big 55 gallon barrel that is closed. How does that closed barrel fill up with water over time? Same way that this TRIA sucks in moisture. Temperature changes makes it happen.

EDIT: If you sealed it with elephant snot or potting compound, that would probably work, but then you couldn't work on individual components either, without picking that away. Everything has its price.

RADAR

 

[eurosport]

... you can try this repair for yourself. You can take the TRIA off the dish without affecting the alignment. Power down and unbolt it from the dish and disassemble it as best you can and toss it in the oven on WARM.

RADAR

"Honey.... What's cooking? It smells interesting....." "Oh, that's TRIA parmesan! " LOL

 

[AcWxRadar]

"Honey.... What's cooking? It smells interesting....." "Oh, that's TRIA parmesan! " LOL

Oh! That's my favorite!

 

[Fizbi]

I've had my WB system for three years now and I haven't had any problems other than a snow covered dish. I'm in a low humidity climate but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen to mine some day. Have you checked the WB forums to see if others had this problem with possible fix?

 

[AcWxRadar]

I've had my WB system for three years now and I haven't had any problems other than a snow covered dish. I'm in a low humidity climate but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen to mine some day. Have you checked the WB forums to see if others had this problem with possible fix?

Fizbi,

No, I never checked on that. I am a member of a WB forum, but they don't seem to chat about tech things like we do here. No offense to them, but they don't seem to want to talk about the things that we discuss here. I get better tips from the members here, It doesn't sound nice, but all they seem to discuss on the WB forum relates to software issues. That is cool, but we understand a lot more here.

Unfortunately, most of the people on the WB site are just users of the WB system and not installers. We here understand the installation process and more. I think that I will just stick with all of you for my WB stuff. We understand the dish setup, the WB forum seems to be more related to the use and application of the software. Not the physical equipment.

Maybe my equipment shouldn't do this to me, but I know how to fix it and what the cause is. I am ok with that. Once or twice a year, I just have to bake some WB potatoes! LOL Hey, it works... What else can I say about that? I could fix it permanently with some potting compound, like I mentioned earlier. Maybe I will eventually.

But, like Humphrey Bogart said in the movie "The African Queen" regarding the safety valve on his boat....

"I kinda like Kickin' her as she's all I got"!

You don't know what that means to me... You must allow me to keep her this way.

RADAR

 

[AcWxRadar]

Eurosport, who is that in your avatar? Is that who I think it is.... Or is it just a look alike? Oh, I don't care, I like your pix! Keep' em coming my friend, keep 'em coming!

Yes I am wild and crazy about good looking brunettes!! Thanks once again for putting your gal pix back as your avatar! Yeah, I like it!

She is sweet!

RADAR

 

[Fizbi]

Unfortunately, most of the people on the WB site are just users of the WB system and not installers.

RADAR,

I agree with you on that. I used to visit their forums a lot, but not any more. Seeing how we paid for our WB hardware, it seems logical to me that you can do what ever is needed to maintain your system. Since you have taken the time to "bake" the potatoes, perhaps you noticed or not if the box can be unbolted for internal inspection? I'm thinking that you might be able to insert some dessicant to absorb excess moisture. Then, after reassembly, epoxy paint the seams. Maybe a new gasket is in order. My system is mounted on a rather dangerous angle of rooftop, so if it happens to me, I'd want a long term fix to stay off my roof. Good luck with your repairs. I wonder what a new unit would cost?

-Fizbi

 

[hwm]

A few hours in a warm oven will usually revive a damp magneto too.

BTW, magnetos have tiny drain holes in the bottom of the case, when these holes get plugged with dirt, the mag may become wet inside. I wonder if the WB TRIA has such drain holes or if it would benefit from having some?