Good signal strength, but still randomly loose channels

[Fum]

Hi, I've been having this problem for a long time, but never got around to doing anything about it until now (sort of...). The problem is seemingly randomly loosing more then half of my channels completely, while the rest still come in fine, and my signal strength still stays around 70-80. This normally lasts for a day, sometimes two, and happens around once a month. It would make sense to me if I lost everything in storms and such, but this happens to only a good handful of select channels, and I'm not certain if only in cloudy weather or not. I'm not too experienced with satellites, but I assume all the channels are coming from one satellite (as I have only one dish), so what would be causing me to lose only a few channels and not all? Especially if I'm being told I have good signal?

Thanks allot guys,
Fum

 

[korsjs]

welcome to satellite guys. glad you found the site.

go out to where your dish is. look at where your dish is pointing. look a little bit up and a tad to your left. is there anything like a tree that could be getting in the way? if you do have a clear view, maybe one of your lnbs are going bad.

don't be a stranger around here. visit often.

 

[Mike500]

Sounds more like water intrusion into the "F" connectors. You don't provide any information on your configuration. If you have a multiswitch shorting out one side inclusing either the odd or even transponders, thereby, causing a drop off on half of the channels on the screen.

The answer would be to examine and replace the offending. Long term viability, however, would be best secured with a high quality connector like these Snap-N-Seal ones in ebay;


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5756548368&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

 

[joshnoel]

Sounds more like water intrusion into the "F" connectors. You don't provide any information on your configuration. If you have a multiswitch shorting out one side inclusing either the odd or even transponders, thereby, causing a drop off on half of the channels on the screen.

The answer would be to examine and replace the offending. Long term viability, however, would be best secured with a high quality connector like these Snap-N-Seal ones in ebay;


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5756548368&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Simple fix check software version pull smart card look for software version
go to dishnetwork.com then go to customer care then go to bottom of screen it will say current software versions & download software inst that should fix it i get calls all day for same problem and this has fixed 90% of problems

 

[Fum]

Thanks guys, a whole lot of that shot right over my head, but thanks. First off, there's nothing near in the way of the direction my dish is facing. One other thing, I did the 'check switches' thing in the installation menu while I was having this problem, and the second of the four options was all X's (1 odd, or something), though I have no idea what this means...or what these 'switches' even are....

Water intrusion seems like a likely bet to me, as I live in New England, and most of the wiring is encased in ice, or at least covered in snow. I went up on my roof earlier tonight and pulled up the wiring (dual thick cables fused together, if that means anything) out of the snow and knocked some of the ice off the wiring, and all around kicked stuff around (that's how I'm used to fixing most electronics). At first this killed most all of the channels, and the last three of the four switches were X's in the 'check switches' test, but I went up and tinkered around for a bit more, and now at last everything is working. Sort of. Some channels are cracking and phasing out of signal now and then, but better then before.

But one thing is that after running 'check switches' test again, I get all X's on the last two options. But everything is mostly working, so I don't know.

If anyone can draw any kind of explanation out of this mess of information, I'd be very appreciative. I really want to know what's going on and what I should do to make things better. Thanks again.

 

[rcbridge]

I would start with the easiest things such as grabbing the connector to the sat receiver and wiggle it looking for drop outs and try the same with all connections that are easy to get at. If this proves nothing you need to look outside and follow the advice given above.
Good luck!!

 

[SimpleSimon]

But one thing is that after running 'check switches' test again, I get all X's on the last two options. But everything is mostly working, so I don't know.

Sounds like you're missing the 110 satellite. Depends on your programming as to how much you're actually losing. Got your locals OK?

 

[Fum]

Sounds like you're missing the 110 satellite. Depends on your programming as to how much you're actually losing. Got your locals OK?

Yeah, it's the 110 satellite, I've got the 119 (I think) in fine. Locals are coming in, but at about 37 signal strength, and cutting out every now and then. Most everything else is fine, as far as I can tell (I haven't checked PPV yet, though).

Are these 'switches' physical things, like something to do with my cabling, or what? Because they were fluctuating allot when I wiggle the wires on the roof around.

joshnoel, I tried what you said, found what receiver I have, and followed the instructions given on the website, but nothing seemed to happen. I would set my receiver to receive updates without my permission, save, then turn the thing off for fifteen minutes, but I got nothing when I turned it back on.... But, is this likely to be a software issue, anyways?

 

[SimpleSimon]

Wiggling cables affecting signal strength means bad connections.

You may or may not have an external switch. What's the "Check Switch" screen say?
Twin, DP34, Quad, DPP44, something else?

Don't worry about your software level - run through the menus and if you find a checkbox having to do with software updates, make sure it's checked.