771 Satellite loss, DIY?

[zim2dive]

Not enough to get a pattern yet, but getting 771 errors when the weather doesn't really seem to be bad enough to warrant (always get these during heavy rain)

Signal strength #'s on various satellites

101 : everything is 95+ except for
18: 59
26: 0

The #'s on the flavors of 99 and 103 are all pretty low.

These 771 messages are popping up when there is not noticeable channel being lost.. ie. when they pop up when there's a storm and the TV show also freezes.. makes sense... these are popping up mid-day and the show no display is continuing just fine.

anything I can check before calling for a service call?

 

[raoul5788]

What are the ss numbers on 99C/A and 103C/A during clear weather?

 

[Jimbo]

Not enough to get a pattern yet, but getting 771 errors when the weather doesn't really seem to be bad enough to warrant (always get these during heavy rain)

Signal strength #'s on various satellites

101 : everything is 95+ except for
18: 59
26: 0

The #'s on the flavors of 99 and 103 are all pretty low.

These 771 messages are popping up when there is not noticeable channel being lost.. ie. when they pop up when there's a storm and the TV show also freezes.. makes sense... these are popping up mid-day and the show no display is continuing just fine.

anything I can check before calling for a service call?

IF your a do it yourself person, you say the 99 and 103 Sats are low ... (slightly low or like 50 and under low) ... I would look at the Tilt adjustment seeing the 101 is where it should be.

Elevation could be off slightly as well.

What I do is with someone there to watch the recvr signal strenth readings ... I go out to the dish and put a little pressure on the top or bottom of the dish and see if that I proves those numbers ... 1 will help and the other will be worse. .. then adjust accordingly.

Providing I don't have access to a meter

 

[zim2dive]

What are the ss numbers on 99C/A and 103C/A during clear weather?

today is overcast light rain expected

99 ranges 40-60
99 cb ranges 42-68
99s I didn't wait for it to fill in, but was only seeing 0's
103s 0-46
103ca 19-62
103cb 54-77

EDIT: I got out the ladder and tweaked the up/down pitch(?).. going up 2 of the marks..

99 went from 40-60 to 66-80
99cb went from 42-69 to 69-82
99s still pretty bad, but I saw #'s as high as 35 before moving on (better than the 0's)
103s 0 0 0 64
103ca went from 19-62 up to 69-85
103cb went from 54-77 to 79-89

how much better should I expect (middle of NC in case it matters)

 

[raoul5788]

For the two C/A sats, you should be all in the 90s. The S sats are for spotbeams and only your area matters. Many of the transponders will be at zero. If you are properly aligned for the C/A sats, the S sats will be fine. You definitely aren't properly aligned.

 

[zim2dive]

I scheduled a service call.. .when I went on the roof I found that one of the 4 mounting bolts to the roof was loose, so I'm thinking the mount needs to be moved a foot away or so to get a solid mount again, and then the dish re-aligned. (the dish wasn't leaning, so I don't think that was the source of the poor alignment, but thinking long term that is either a leak waiting to happen, or a dish getting blown off). thanks all for the info.

 

[vazhog]

If you had to leave the ladder to get to your dish - I hope you can get a D* installer to fix it- you may have to relocate your Dish (which) a service call can make happen -good luck

 

[zim2dive]

If you had to leave the ladder to get to your dish - I hope you can get a D* installer to fix it- you may have to relocate your Dish (which) a service call can make happen -good luck

Nope.. easy reach from the ladder.. but amazing (in retrospect) that the original install included 0 support arms for a roof dish mounted on an angle. Properly fixed now.

 

[Techiefan]

Problem ticket opened

771 this morning, after a thorough investigation it was determined my dish was blocked by some white stuff that fell on the first day of spring

Issue was cleared with a good swipe of the hand

Problem ticket closed

Thread makes me think of what issues I would have been dealing with if the dish was mounted on the roof, I am glad to have it ground level, just not so visually pleasing but oh well. This is the second time this has happened.

 

[Jimbo]

Problem ticket opened

771 this morning, after a thorough investigation it was determined my dish was blocked by some white stuff that fell on the first day of spring

Issue was cleared with a good swipe of the hand

Problem ticket closed

Thread makes me think of what issues I would have been dealing with if the dish was mounted on the roof, I am glad to have it ground level, just not so visually pleasing but oh well. This is the second time this has happened.

Ahh yes, the dreaded Wet Snow ....

Thats about the Only time I ever have an issue, when the wet snow comes and we have a lot of it.
I've had the dish covered and thought, no way will I have a signal, but I did .... as long as its not wet ....

I'm gonna hope your on the North side of the USA !

 

[Techiefan]

Ahh yes, the dreaded Wet Snow ....

Thats about the Only time I ever have an issue, when the wet snow comes and we have a lot of it.
I've had the dish covered and thought, no way will I have a signal, but I did .... as long as its not wet ....

I'm gonna hope your on the North side of the USA !

Yup, North East, it actually happened twice, second time some channels worked but most didn't. Since the dish is easily accessible it's a quick fix. If it wasn't this time around the sun would have melted it by early morning anyway. Prior storm no way, was too much snow and still was cold during the day.