61.5 vs 129 (or how I learned to avoid the D1000)

[Tom Bombadil]

So, not including those who have one or the other blocked by obstructions, does anyone, anywhere get a stronger signal on 129 than from 61.5, using the same dish pointed at each?

I'm in the upper Midwest, well within the 129 recommended area, but have chosen to go with 61.5 for HD because the signal strength is significantly stronger from 61.5.

My readings from 61.5, using an 18" D300, are:

Trans - Reading
1 - 91
2 - 97
6 - 98
13 - 95
17 - 92

And so on, almost all in the 90s.

My readings from 129, using the same dish, averaged 15-20 points lower.

And a friend who elected to go with the D1000 & 129, not only gets lower readings from 129 than I do from 61.5, but his readings from 110 & 119 are lower than mine (D500).

So it appears to me that going with a D1000 is mistake. An option to choose only if you must have only 1 dish or can't see 61.5 from your location. At least that's how it looks from my area.

 

[OoTLink]

As long as I have the option of having 2 dishes, I'll go that route - don't really see the big deal in appearance (tell ya the truth I think it looks more unique lol), and you can repoint the wing at any time you feel like it vs being stuck with 129 lol.

 

[dougmcbride]

I'm on the West coast where 61.5 reception is rumored to be troublesome due to low look angles, etc. I recently changed it over to 129 for a couple of reasons (more than just local programming on 129). Even here on the West coast, I was getting mid 80's - mid 90's on 61.5. On 129 (separate D500 with "I" adapter) I get mid 60's to low 80's. So far it has not been an issue losing lock on anything on 129, but we usually have pretty benign weather out here except in the dead of winter.

Doug

 

[webbydude]

The only problem I can see here in Ohio is if/when the locals go hi-def. Rumor had it (at least until news came out about the new "+" dish's and 118) that the 129 would be used for that

 

[Tom Bombadil]

That's interesting that people in California are getting stronger signals from 61.5 than from 129.

Doesn't sound like 129 is stronger anywhere.

 

[David Dietzel]

Tom:

You're Avatar would be humorous were it not so close to the truth.

I'm in Kalifornia and I also can attest to the fact that 61.5 gives a much stronger signal that 129.

 

[RIRWIN1983]

Tom:

You're Avatar would be humorous were it not so close to the truth.

I'm in Kalifornia and I also can attest to the fact that 61.5 gives a much stronger signal that 129.

perhaps we can send webbydude's cat to take care of the situation, looks like that pussy can handle a big gun, lol

 

[bhodgins]

I am in Los Angeles. I too get a much stronger signal from 61.5 than 129.

 

[abricko]

I'm also in LA, and 61.5 was quite a bit better (and signal was pretty stable) but i was missing my HD locals (I get them all perfectly OTA but I'm paying for guide data so I may as well get the channels from dish too) so I moved the second dish to 129, the signal ranges from 50 - 80s and i don't see tiling much (except for the *abnormal* rain we get once in a great while). E5 is just a crappy old bird, they are launching a new sat next year lets hope it'll push E5 out of the way and beam us a nice strong signal).

 

[swade]

Dish forced me to Dish 1000 w/vip622

Tom:

You're Avatar would be humorous were it not so close to the truth.

I'm in Kalifornia and I also can attest to the fact that 61.5 gives a much stronger signal that 129.

I was set up with two dish 500's and one was at 61.5. It worked great. Going to 129 was not an option so I have a 1000 (had them out 2 times to focus it) and a dish 500 for a 5th SD receiver. I would have preferred to aim it at 110 & 129 peking them and use the 500 for 61.5.

Dish 1000 gets mid 60"s on 129, mid 70's on 110 and low 90's on 119.

Sacramento, CA