I see a lot of people complaining about the EA birds having more drop-outs. This was not the case when I had service from EA, but a lot of people say it is the case.
Eastern arc vs Western arc
- Thread starter littlecloud319
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Interesting... is this due to lower signal levels, or ??
Also, is there a list somewhere which states what kind of signal levels one should be getting in their area? It seems Dish has signal levels in the 50's and 60's where AT&T you want all 90's and perhaps 80's on some.
Also, is there a list somewhere which states what kind of signal levels one should be getting in their area? It seems Dish has signal levels in the 50's and 60's where AT&T you want all 90's and perhaps 80's on some.
Not entirely sure I understand why this would be the case. Where I live the EA birds are higher in the sky, so I would assume that means less atmosphere for the signal to traverse and therefore a stronger signal. As you move to the west, I guess that would change to eventually favor the WA birds, but I see people from the northeast US complaining, so I don't know.
Dish and Direct show optimal signal strengths differently. The attached screenshot shows ideal signals for EA
Well, I did some looking at these maps:
https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/database/Subscription/images/E16_Conus.jpg <- 61.5
https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/database/Subscription/images/NIMIQ5_72.jpg <- 72.7
https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/database/Subscription/images/Quetzsat1_Conus.jpg <- 77
and I am definitely within or very close to being in the white line (whatever that denotes), so perhaps I am just getting that much better signal than the folks to the north of me.
Not entirely sure how those compare to the WA birds though as there are no white lines on their maps:
https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/database/Subscription/images/E11_CONUS.jpg <- 110
https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/database/Subscription/images/E14_CONUS.jpg <- 119
https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/database/Subscription/images/CIEL2_CONUS.jpg <- 129
From my location here are the elevations of the Dish satellites:
61.5 - 32 deg.
72.7 - 40 deg
110 - 50 deg
119 - 46 deg
129 - 41.4 deg
So even 129 which I was able to get a signal meter strength in the mid to upper 60's is higher in the sky than 72.7 and especially higher than 61.5.
I rarely had drop outs when on WA, but EA, a heavy cloud even with no rain can drop my reception.
My signal strength on 72 is about 45, 61.5 is 51.
61.5 - 32 deg.
72.7 - 40 deg
110 - 50 deg
119 - 46 deg
129 - 41.4 deg
So even 129 which I was able to get a signal meter strength in the mid to upper 60's is higher in the sky than 72.7 and especially higher than 61.5.
I rarely had drop outs when on WA, but EA, a heavy cloud even with no rain can drop my reception.
My signal strength on 72 is about 45, 61.5 is 51.
Very interesting. Thanks much for all the information. Considering AT&T is approximately 41 for me, the EA on Dish would be approximately 39 and WA would be 33.
After receiver, LNB replacement and realign, I'm getting a solid low-50s on 61.5, high-50s on 72.7 and 77 on 77. 
Where are you located? EA is like that for me, just wondering if near the same area.
Edit:
Just checked and both EA and WA elevations are in the 30’s
Probably Tampa8 will come in here any minute and claim WA is better (from FL?) than EA. But here in northern VA, when I was on mixed arc, the WA sats suffered far more dropouts, I think, simply because the elevation angle was so low that there was a greater probability of storms getting in the way.
Now, my Bradford pear is growing into the way.
Now, my Bradford pear is growing into the way.
WA is much better for rain fade in Tampa without question. DISH even changed the official ARC for Tampa years ago to WA from EA. Otherwise either ARC works fine. WA is better for rain fade in Ct too for me but not as a dramatic difference.
Along with anyone else who wants to answer this question, when your picture drops out, is it like AT&T where it's for 10-15 minutes, unless it's one of those train storms where one thunderstorm after another comes pouring through?
So maybe a few minutes in difference between WA and EA, or are you talking a lot longer?
I guess which direction storms rolls through in a particular area will make the biggest difference.
I've never really seen a difference in duration (yes 10-15 min is typical, and storm size/intensity plays a factor), but just seems to have a lower threshold on the EA.
I have DirecTV now and I would say it is about the same as the Dish EA was before it, at least where I live.
I’m on EA and all it takes is a cloudy sky. There doesn’t even have to be rain in the forecast. I already had dish re align my dish and that did absolutely nothing. It was only 5 degrees off and it’s still just as bad as before.
I compared the channel lists for EA and WA and I wouldn’t lose any channels if I switch to WA and I have LOS. I would just have to get a OTA adapter so I can have locals in HD. Plus I would save $10/month by dropping locals.
Well I have the advantage, or disadvantage, depending how you look at it, to use both Arcs depending where in the country I am based upon where the HD Locals are. I don't find either one drops more than the other when there is rain. I think on the WA, the rain disturbance can be farther away (no rain here).
I use a DPP 1000.2 with Hybrid LNBF heads.
I use a DPP 1000.2 with Hybrid LNBF heads.
