Jimbo, I would be willing to get things started. How do I go about setting up the email campaign? There appears to be several customers who are having the same problem and I think this would be a positive step forward to make us heard by DTV.
Any experience with the IceZapper® dish heater?
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Jimbo, I would be willing to get things started. How do I go about setting up the email campaign? There appears to be several customers who are having the same problem and I think this would be a positive step forward to make us heard by DTV.
I too had the AT-9 from the beginning and never had much trouble with it at all, I think maybe once or twice I had to get out there and clean it off, but that was only when we would get the heavy WET snow.
Thjis is the first year for the AU-9 (Slimline) for me anyways. I do think the 99 and 103 are more prone to trouble than the rest.
I have tried the Magic Dome and had no luck, if you've had success with it, I would be happy to send you the rest of the can I have sitting in the garage
Jimbo
I have tried the Magic Dome and had no luck, if you've had success with it, I would be happy to send you the rest of the can I have sitting in the garage
Jimbo
When I upgraded some equipment they came by and actually replaced the AT9 with the AU9 & me not knowing any different told them to go ahead. I actually liked the AT9-sidecar & think it might have handled the snow fade better though to be fair it was on a temporary non-penetrating roof mount shielded from the elements. They just left the AT9, the mount & the 4x8 switch for me to do as I please..lol.
Jim, I'd take the Magic Dome off your hands (It's like $25) as I use a lot of it around the marina but I don't think it's worth the cost of shipping here, plus I have a few cans anyway (thanks for offering). Maybe it's just psychological for me, but the thought of me on my roof & on a ladder spraying my dish is making me laugh my azz off anymore.
Wait until you see my light contraption.
When I upgraded some equipment they came by and actually replaced the AT9 with the AU9 & me not knowing any different told them to go ahead. I actually liked the AT9-sidecar & think it might have handled the snow fade better though to be fair it was on a temporary non-penetrating roof mount shielded from the elements. They just left the AT9, the mount & the 4x8 switch for me to do as I please..lol.
Jim, I'd take the Magic Dome off your hands (It's like $25) as I use a lot of it around the marina but I don't think it's worth the cost of shipping here, plus I have a few cans anyway (thanks for offering). Maybe it's just psychological for me, but the thought of me on my roof & on a ladder spraying my dish is making me laugh my azz off anymore.
Wait until you see my light contraption.
Which is safer, going up to spray the dish or replace a light bulb ?
Jimbo
Jimbo,
It took about a week. I got it from Montana Satellite & Wireless
The one thing the guy told me when trying to decide from thermostat vs. the always on option was that he had heard some complaints that the thermostatically controlled ones took a while to heat up. So, if it is 45 degrees today and snow tonight I might have some issues. In my case the cheaper option seemed like the better choice.
Great Service!
I am in KC with the slimline dish. We are due for another snow late tonight into tomorrow - I'll give you an update if we get any accumulation here.
It took about a week. I got it from Montana Satellite & Wireless
The one thing the guy told me when trying to decide from thermostat vs. the always on option was that he had heard some complaints that the thermostatically controlled ones took a while to heat up. So, if it is 45 degrees today and snow tonight I might have some issues. In my case the cheaper option seemed like the better choice.
Great Service!
I am in KC with the slimline dish. We are due for another snow late tonight into tomorrow - I'll give you an update if we get any accumulation here.
Here in WI we are going to get dumped on tonight and tomorrow. 8-14" of snow expected. We'll see what happens.
I'm not located in snow country, but reading this string did give me an idea. I've been futzing around with a discarded Direcway (now Hughesnet) dish for FTA. They are fiberglass or plastic (have seen both kinds). Wonder if they would work better in snow country since they aren't metal?
I have a spare Slimline LNB and will fashion a bracket and hang it on the old DW dish to see how well it performs signal strength and quality wise. If it is up to snuff, this might be a "non-wired" solution since I rarely read anything with snow issues on the HN sites.
Worth a try?
I have a spare Slimline LNB and will fashion a bracket and hang it on the old DW dish to see how well it performs signal strength and quality wise. If it is up to snuff, this might be a "non-wired" solution since I rarely read anything with snow issues on the HN sites.
Worth a try?
Well, got the LNB firmly attached to the modified arm (needed to cut some of the aluminum bracket housing away to get roughly the right angle) - that's when I ran out of daylight.
Need to be gone all day tomorrow (Tuesday) but will mount tweak and test this puppy on Wednesday.
Mod looks strange - but it's secure - and it's only a test anyway (right?).
WAY too much time on my retired hands I guess!
Need to be gone all day tomorrow (Tuesday) but will mount tweak and test this puppy on Wednesday.
Mod looks strange - but it's secure - and it's only a test anyway (right?).
WAY too much time on my retired hands I guess!
You make a good point ....
eeing I don't want it on all the time during the winter, I think the always ON one might be the better idea, that way I can plug it in when I think I'll need it.
Have you checked to see how long it takes to heat the dish yet ?
How warm does it actually get ?
Jimbo
Anything is worth a try, particularly if you already have it and not buying it for this experiment.
I was just wondering if the reflector is in the same shape, so that the focal points would line up correctly, I would guess that they are NOT the same, but give it a try anyways !
Jimbo
You can get one direct from the manufacturer at http://www.icezapper.com/, even though their site suggests contacting a local dealer through their "Buy Now" link. I live in PA and I called the nearest dealer listed only to find they don't (and never did) carry IceZappers. So I called their toll-free # and was told no problem, I could buy one direct from them.
If I recall, I was quoted a price of about $65 for the "always on" model.
I really don't see the need to spend the extra $ for the one with the built-in t-stat since I didn't plan on leaving it plugged in all the time anyway. Besides, those inline t-stats tend to fail and aren't easily replaced. I figure I only need to plug it in when it's actually coated with snow/ice.
I would suggest for those using any kind of electric heater to get the always on model and then if you want a thermostat just get one of these.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-TC-3-Thermocube-Energy-Saver/dp/B0006U2HD2]Amazon.com: Thermo Cube LTD. TC-3 Thermocube Energy Saver: Automotive[/ame]
I use one on my weather station's rain gauge heater and it works well. As long as the thermocube is outside where it's as cold as it will be at the item to be heated. You can get them darn near anywhere, they're targeted towards farmers with stock tank heaters. They're cheap enough where if it quits working, you can just replace it. You can also just unplug it if it's going to be cold but there isn't any forecast precipitation.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-TC-3-Thermocube-Energy-Saver/dp/B0006U2HD2]Amazon.com: Thermo Cube LTD. TC-3 Thermocube Energy Saver: Automotive[/ame]
I use one on my weather station's rain gauge heater and it works well. As long as the thermocube is outside where it's as cold as it will be at the item to be heated. You can get them darn near anywhere, they're targeted towards farmers with stock tank heaters. They're cheap enough where if it quits working, you can just replace it. You can also just unplug it if it's going to be cold but there isn't any forecast precipitation.
On the cheap...You could use a heating tape for a pipe 12-15' long wrapped on the back of the dish with some type of heat resistant adhesive. Run an extension cord to your roof hiding the cord (white cord if your house is white etc) from a ground fault outlet outside.
A heat tape costs (around here) about 20-25 dollars.
Some adhesive to line the rear of the dish with the heated cable part of it. The heat tape's thermostat would kick it on and off according to temp.
A heat tape costs (around here) about 20-25 dollars.
Some adhesive to line the rear of the dish with the heated cable part of it. The heat tape's thermostat would kick it on and off according to temp.
Just god awful weather here in Chicago (-16) & my modified dish heater (Yes Jimbo, I promised a picture) has turned my dish into a giant block of ice similar to the tree squirrel in the Ice Age movies. When it's this cold, just like ice damning warmers for gutters, it's better to leave them off.
Ironically, I'm getting the HD channels & it's a scattering of SD stuff that I'm missing....Military, Encore, etc. Thankfully, I didn't lose all the 101's or I'd be reading a good book tonight.
End rant.
Ironically, I'm getting the HD channels & it's a scattering of SD stuff that I'm missing....Military, Encore, etc. Thankfully, I didn't lose all the 101's or I'd be reading a good book tonight.
End rant.
Being in Chicagoland, we use a heater called the HOT SHOT. I put them on all of my commercial accounts. I charge $200 for the product and the installation. They have to be put on the Slimline before the dish is assembled due to the hole patterns and warming the entire dish. They due have a thermostat built in and I tell my customers to turn them on in late November and turn them off in March.
Sprays can help PAM, slick 50 etc but if get a sticky wet snow blowing out of the south, you'll end up with a snow build up.
Here's a tip! Get a super squirter (giant squirt gun) fill it with wiper Fluid that has ice melting added. Shot your dish if you can ( they can reach 20 ft+ vertically) and it won't be long till the snow drops off.
I've been in this for twenty years, good luck.
Jimmy the Dish
Southwest Satellite Inc
Crest Hill, Il
Sprays can help PAM, slick 50 etc but if get a sticky wet snow blowing out of the south, you'll end up with a snow build up.
Here's a tip! Get a super squirter (giant squirt gun) fill it with wiper Fluid that has ice melting added. Shot your dish if you can ( they can reach 20 ft+ vertically) and it won't be long till the snow drops off.
I've been in this for twenty years, good luck.
Jimmy the Dish
Southwest Satellite Inc
Crest Hill, Il
This is actually a good way of doing it if you have 20ft line of sight to the dish; unfortunately, I don't. I'll get you a picture of it when it's safe for me to mount a ladder to get on my roof, but it's a simple setup that wouldn't cost more than $20. It's a modified flood light hooked up to a 2x4 that I use to light up my Christmas wreaths over the holidays. I noticed the light melted the snow around the wreath (about 3 ft circumference) & the rest is history. Upgrading the light to a heat lamp (like what you see in fancy bathrooms hooked up to timers) improved the range to about 8ft.
Dish heater experience
I have followed this thread and a couple of others each winter looking for solutions to clear my dish of snow. I live in Colorado and have signal strengths in high 70’s and 80’s, but if I get about a quarter inch on snow on the dish I loose HD signal. I use to use the hose with a high power nozzle to knock the snow off, but when it’s really coming down I have to do that about every 45 minutes – plus there is nothing worst than having to do that first thing in the morning. Didn’t want to use any other fluid than water so as not to introduce it into the water table or our dogs which have eaten stranger things. So I finally decided to try a dish heater. I went with the ice zapper 2, because it’s cheap ($69) and only use 120 watts (1 amp). It has two rectangular heating elements and attaches to the back of the dish.
Last night out first storm came in and I lost the signal when about a quarter inch of snow had stuck to the dish face. Plugged in the heater and got the signal back in less than 3 minutes. I got the model without the thermostat and just plan on turning it on when I need it. I plan on hooking it up to a plug with a switch inside so turn it on when needed, maybe a timer, but on days like today when it is going to come down all day the timer might be more of a pain that it worth. I have attached a couple of pics from this morning, we got about 3-4 inches of snow overnight and the temperature is right about 30 degrees. I am interested in seeing how it performs once the temperatures really drop, although at temps where I think it might have problems keeping the dish clear would be too cold to snow. Just wanted to relay my experience so far hoping it helps others dealing with this same problem.
Hope this helps.
I have followed this thread and a couple of others each winter looking for solutions to clear my dish of snow. I live in Colorado and have signal strengths in high 70’s and 80’s, but if I get about a quarter inch on snow on the dish I loose HD signal. I use to use the hose with a high power nozzle to knock the snow off, but when it’s really coming down I have to do that about every 45 minutes – plus there is nothing worst than having to do that first thing in the morning. Didn’t want to use any other fluid than water so as not to introduce it into the water table or our dogs which have eaten stranger things. So I finally decided to try a dish heater. I went with the ice zapper 2, because it’s cheap ($69) and only use 120 watts (1 amp). It has two rectangular heating elements and attaches to the back of the dish.
Last night out first storm came in and I lost the signal when about a quarter inch of snow had stuck to the dish face. Plugged in the heater and got the signal back in less than 3 minutes. I got the model without the thermostat and just plan on turning it on when I need it. I plan on hooking it up to a plug with a switch inside so turn it on when needed, maybe a timer, but on days like today when it is going to come down all day the timer might be more of a pain that it worth. I have attached a couple of pics from this morning, we got about 3-4 inches of snow overnight and the temperature is right about 30 degrees. I am interested in seeing how it performs once the temperatures really drop, although at temps where I think it might have problems keeping the dish clear would be too cold to snow. Just wanted to relay my experience so far hoping it helps others dealing with this same problem.
Hope this helps.
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In the time being you search for a Dish Heater you can try applying some RainX or a light layer of Pam. I've heard good results but not tried it myself.
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