EA vs WA - should I switch?

[bnewt]

I have bee with Dish for about 10 years. A few months ago, I upgraded to HD. The problem is that I am still on western arc & receive sd locals on this setup. My HD locals are on EA. I do not want a 2nd dish. During the last several weeks, I have noticed more rain fade than previously experienced. My signal strengths range from around 30 on spot beams to mid 50's & some even higher.

If I choose to change to EA - will I experience less rain fade problems? Will I experience a better/sharper picture since everything will be MPEG4?

 

[Jimmerinwi]

I have bee with Dish for about 10 years. A few months ago, I upgraded to HD. The problem is that I am still on western arc & receive sd locals on this setup. My HD locals are on EA. I do not want a 2nd dish. During the last several weeks, I have noticed more rain fade than previously experienced. My signal strengths range from around 30 on spot beams to mid 50's & some even higher.

Seems to me that the signal strengths you posted are quite low depending on where you are located. I know from installing E.A. the levels for 72.7 & 77 are generally around 50. With a 1000.2 W.A. dish, my signals are all in the mid to high 70's. You may need to have your dish re-tued for a better strength.

 

[bnewt]

That is what I am trying to decide to go that route or move to the EA to get the HD locals

 

[Peter Parker]

I recently switched to EA because of IOS issues some trees were blocking 119 for me.

Since I was not reliably receiving 119 I guess you could say that there is less rain fade but I am not true if that would be true fro someone who can reliably get 110 and 119. As for MPEG 4 helping clarity I would say that it does not. It is my understanding that the EA is a bit more compressed. i certainly so not see any difference.

 

[MikeD-C05]

Sd looks better on eastern arc compared to western arc on the same channels compared in my opinion. More cleaner and no artifacting in the backgrounds . Eastern arc is in mpeg 4 compared to western arc in mpeg 2. Hd is the same- mpeg 4 on either arc. Eastern arc is more prone to rain fade in southeast Texas than western arc , where you get signals in the 60's and 70s on all 3 sats: 110/119/129 using a 1000.2 sat dish. Here in southeast Texas I get signals in the mid to high 40s on 72.7 / 50s on 77 / 40-60 on 61.5 sat using eastern arc 1000.4 sat dish. As usual your mileage will vary .