Help me solve afternoon sun mystery !!!

[Jay Roberts]

first, I have been DirecTV subscriber since 1997. I have been very adept at installation and trouble shooting. I have two HD receivers. The one in question is a three years old HR21/100. My other is an older HR20/700. Here is what happens. When late spring comes and the weather gets warmer and sunnier. After lunch around 1pm or so (if it is sunny), I will get a signal loss on Sat 2 on the HR21, therefore losing some channels.

Once evening comes around and sun starts setting, signal comes back. When I lose the signal, the other receiver is still fine, all channels good. I first thought maybe a tree issue, but this happens before the trees leaf out and after they fall. I used to have ten foot leads from the dish then then connected to cable to receivers. I have completely replaced all cables running directly to receivers from dish with newer quad shielded cables, thinking maybe I had run of the mill cables.

The dish naturally faces southwest on our garage roof thus getting hit with the sun directly as months get warmer. The only thing I haven't tried, is swapping the receivers to see what happens.

Does anyone have any clue??? I for once am dumbfounded. I don't understand how only one receiver is effected and the other is not.

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys Jay Roberts!

I would try swapping the dvrs to see if it's them or something else like a bad lnb, which is my guess.

 

[Jay Roberts]

to Satelliteguys Jay Roberts!

I would try swapping the dvrs to see if it's them out something else like a bad lnb, which is my guess.

Right, that is my plan tomorrow, supposed to be another sunny day and if the HR21 goes out, I will swap and posts results.

So how does sunlight effect an LNB. I believe I have switched the cables on the dish before to different ports and still only the HR21 effected, but I can't remember, may have to try that.

 

[CSM]

Maybe dish realignment?

 

[Jay Roberts]

Maybe dish realignment?

Why? It's fine all the other days of the year and in the morning and evenings and night. If dish was misaligned it would be effected all the time, no?

 

[Mr Tony]

easiest thing is swap receivers. If it moves with the receiver then its that
If not, then check cabling

Heat over time will kill a LNB...but usually its all, not just one output on the LNB

 

[CSM]

Why? It's fine all the other days of the year and in the morning and evenings and night. If dish was misaligned it would be effected all the time, no?

Have you checked your signal strengths?

 

[Jay Roberts]

Have you checked your signal strengths?

Yes, its 75+ On all channels when working, then low 30s or nothing when sun is out. The other receiver is consistent all the time, might drop a few during day, but not much. I will take readings tomorrow morning before it goes out.

 

[CSM]

Yes, its 75+ On all channels when working, then low 30s or nothing when sun is out. The other receiver is consistent all the time, might drop a few during day, but not much. I will take readings tomorrow morning before it goes out.

I'm not sure if most dishes should be in the 80's or above. Our dish has upper 90's and even some 100's. Might be time for a tech to come out and look at the dish. Maybe their is also something wrong with the LNB?

 

[Jay Roberts]

I'm not sure if most dishes should be in the 80's or above. Our dish has upper 90's and even some 100's. Might be time for a tech to come out and look at the dish. Maybe their is also something wrong with the LNB?

And, the sun is setting and the channels are back on....

 

[Jay Roberts]

I never thought of replacing the triple LNB on the actual dish. Might be my next solution.

 

[raoul5788]

75 is high enough to get a consistent signal in optimum conditions, but not in adverse ones. The lowest numbers should be in the high 80s or low 90s. Your dish probably needs to be realigned.

 

[Jimbo]

I'm not sure if most dishes should be in the 80's or above. Our dish has upper 90's and even some 100's. Might be time for a tech to come out and look at the dish. Maybe their is also something wrong with the LNB?

Ding, ding, ding ...
I would definitely look into changing the LNB out.

Also might consider swapping out the old dish for a SWM dish, the HR20's can handle a SWM set up so the rest should as well.

IF, your considering upgrading any recvrs, now would be a good time to do so as D* tech would come out to do the install, they will also have to swap out for a SWM dish on thier bill.

 

[whitewolf8214]

to SatelliteGuys Jay Roberts!!

 

[Mr Tony]

welcome

 

[ejb1980]

75 is high enough to get a consistent signal in optimum conditions, but not in adverse ones. The lowest numbers should be in the high 80s or low 90s. Your dish probably needs to be realigned.

A few of my "moved" locals register are 77 when it's clear and do go away when they other, even other "moved" locals from a different transponder, which are normally only 83. I guess 6 points is a lot when you really get down to it. Still, the HD version of the 77's really hold up better than I thought they would. My 119W, 103W, and all applicable 101W are 97-100 on a clear day. 99W is 94 to 97.

 

[Jimbo]

A few of my "moved" locals register are 77 when it's clear and do go away when they other, even other "moved" locals from a different transponder, which are normally only 83. I guess 6 points is a lot when you really get down to it. Still, the HD version of the 77's really hold up better than I thought they would. My 119W, 103W, and all applicable 101W are 97-100 on a clear day. 99W is 94 to 97.

Those are excellent numbers.

 

[Jay Roberts]

Those are excellent numbers.

Ok, here are the morning signal strengths:
101 tuner 1
1-8. Range of 95-99
9-16: 88-100
17-24: 83-100
25-32: 90-100

Tuner 2
1-8: 89-96
9-16: 91-99
17-24: 91-100
25-32: 87-100

When it goes out today I will post the new strengths and swap receivers just for kicks. I am leading towards new triple LNB but will do these final checks first.

 

[AZ.]

Its totally is a connection problem.....The sun heats up the fault causing resistance.....
I had this once with a DP-plus....
Either at lnb or the connections that are effected by heat or in direct sun light.....
How is it on a cloudy day? Or a cold cloudy day?

 

[Mr Tony]

Ok, here are the morning signal strengths:
101 tuner 1
1-8. Range of 95-99
9-16: 88-100
17-24: 83-100
25-32: 90-100

Tuner 2
1-8: 89-96
9-16: 91-99
17-24: 91-100
25-32: 87-100

When it goes out today I will post the new strengths and swap receivers just for kicks. I am leading towards new triple LNB but will do these final checks first.

I assume these are on the 101 satellite?