LPB on 87w Problems?

[Keith Brannen]

Just an update.

Over the weekend the Florida Channel was there every time I checked, low SQ. but still receivable.

The LPB Feeds channel I only got a hint of a signal once over the weekend, but today I am getting it, not very strong at 42-43 on the AZBox, but is stable, so far.

Just as I was typing this, the LPB mux, which I didn't get even a hint of over the weekend, is finally trying to come in! Signal is fluctuating between 0-36, 36-38, and heavy pixelation. But it is trying! Still needs a good boost!

 

[cyberham]

LPB channels were missing for me over the weekend. Even in the evenings when they are normally strongest. Now their channels are SQ 55% even in the rain. Quite watchable like this. Florida is in at SQ 60%.

 

[Keith Brannen]

LPB channels were missing for me over the weekend. Even in the evenings when they are normally strongest. Now their channels are SQ 55% even in the rain. Quite watchable like this. Florida is in at SQ 60%.

Lost them again, now just the odd blip up to 36, LPB Feed channel still fine.

Will take longer and a bit more SQ for me on my 75e, than on your dish. But it really needs a big boost to previous levels (a month or two ago) and not sure that is going to happen.

 

[Pepper]

Will take longer and a bit more SQ for me on my 75e

Heh, my 87W is an old DirecTV slimline. CNN stuff and FL lottery still there but LPB and Florida not so much, they were all just fine when I put it up a couple months ago.

 

[cyberham]

LPB is back up to SQ 60% and the channels are clear. Maybe not coincidental that the sun is now shining.

 

[one_db_compression]

LPB color bars are sitting consistently at 6.0 dB via 1.2 m CM.

 

[Keith Brannen]

My LPB SQ is now at 38-40 (with occasion gusts to 42!) on the AZBox, strong enough so there is no pixelation, but obviously don't much leeway if the signal degrades at all. Cloudy day, had a bit of rain a while ago.

Better than nothing, but an added 10 or 20 per cent would be nice!

 

[cyberham]

I think most will see LPB is strong this morning. The best it's been for a while.

 

[Keith Brannen]

Up to 44-45 on the AZBox, definitely higher than my previous reading (38-40), but needs another 5 or 10 to make me happy! LPB feeds is also up to 54-55 (wish that was the LPB mux readings).

Big question is will it last or fall away like it did last week.

 

[N5XZS]

Getting Louisiana PBS at 44 to 46 % here in New Mexico, CNN's feeds at 85 % Florida channel at 64% and Lottery-HD at 71 %.

I think Louisiana's weather is more related to tropical rainy weather down there more than anything else.

 

[primestar31]

LPB has done this fade out for MANY years, it's nothing new.

 

[Keith Brannen]

LPB has done this fade out for MANY years, it's nothing new.

Yes, I linked to the thread in my first post of the last time we had problems.
Unfortunately, every time it seems they eventually come back at a reduced level from their previous level.
Wasn't too many years ago that I was able to get LPB on a 60e dish!

EDIT: And I have lost the signal again!

 

[Mr Tony]

LPB has done this fade out for MANY years, it's nothing new.

Yup. A post from 2009 with same issues

It's 8:15 and I still have LPBS

It's 8:15 and I still have LPBS on AMC21, new record for me. Usually once the Sun sets, so does that signal.

www.satelliteguys.us

 

[cyberham]

After successfully touching up my motorized dish, I now have LPB at 7.6 dB and it's staying all day long.

I discovered my dish wasn't perfectly centred on the motor arm. It was noticeable by eye but only a very small amount. Once I loosened the four nuts a little, I could push the dish to be exactly centred on the motor arm. Now I can track the arc much better. This was even more important than getting the tripod mast perfectly vertical.

 

[TVHabit]

Is anyone (other than me) having problems with LPB on 87w? Or can anyone tell me if they have seen a substantial reduction in SQ lately? For the last few days I have had no signal on it or on the LPB feeds transponder (which has always been slightly higher than the LPB transponder).

I am experiencing similar problems seen in this thread (especially my comment!) again.

LPB/PBS No Signal

I used to watch PBS on 87w LPB. LPB no longer has a signal. Other transponders on 87w are fine. I can not receive PBS on 125w due to the forest. Is there any other bird where I can find PBS aedk46r

www.satelliteguys.us

Last week I was losing LPB fairly often, or getting a very low SQ on it, as well as on the LPB feeds transponder. I had noticed it had been reducing in SQ before that, but was getting it in without pixelation. NOTE: I am using a 75e dish for 87w.

I did a very slight re-point last week, but the dish is pretty much spot on, could only do a slight boost of about 2% increase on both transponders. Anyhow, it has now become worst, and have not got it to come in for the past for days whenever I have checked (which is fairly often). I really don't want to go up on the roof and try another attempt at a re-point when I don't think it will help.

Unlike the previous thread, I am also experiencing a similar problem with the Florida Channel, way lower than my last readings, and at times is gone, or pixelated, other times better but not as high as it was.

All other transponders seem pretty close in SQ to when I last did a re-point and kept notes of SQ (2023). Some are down a bit, but nothing substantial. On the AZBox, two data transponders (11780 V 4999 and 11796 V 4999) are around mid-80s, and 12099 V 1036 high 80's to low 90s.

The CNN Newsource transponder (11961 H 2997) is around 90.

LPB used to have 3 good, strong channels - tricky to tune but solid when you got them locked. Not lately. Must be something going on because all of them are MIA. CNN is strong but LPB is just gone. Oddly, one of the CNN feeds today (12-5-24) had the Bourbon Street cam. It was raining...

 

[cyberham]

LPB used to have 3 good, strong channels - tricky to tune but solid when you got them locked...

LPB channels are 6.6 dB right now and solid. But last night at midnight, I tried to record a good show and sure enough the signal faded just enough for lots of pixelation. The recording stopped automatically after 23 minutes I guess due to a missing signal. The NS channels are 11.9 dB, a little weaker than typical when they can reach 12.6 dB for me.

 

[comfortably_numb]

LPB used to have 3 good, strong channels - tricky to tune but solid when you got them locked. Not lately. Must be something going on because all of them are MIA. CNN is strong but LPB is just gone. Oddly, one of the CNN feeds today (12-5-24) had the Bourbon Street cam. It was raining...

Why not use the National PBS feeds on 99 KU instead? They are nice and strong 24/7/365.

 

[cyberham]

Why not use the National PBS feeds on 99 KU instead?

I agree. But I've never figured out the schedules for 99W PBS. The LPB schedule is simple to read and they have lots of good shows at this time of year.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I agree. But I've never figured out the schedules for 99W PBS. The LPB schedule is simple to read and they have lots of good shows at this time of year.

The schedule is here:

https://www.directv.com/guide/channels/PBSNET-ch389-92eb7112-07ed-48cf-aa1e-ac9bf75d3cbe

 

[Keith Brannen]

LPB used to have 3 good, strong channels - tricky to tune but solid when you got them locked. Not lately. Must be something going on because all of them are MIA. CNN is strong but LPB is just gone. Oddly, one of the CNN feeds today (12-5-24) had the Bourbon Street cam. It was raining...

After this last outage, the signal came back for me in the mid to low 50s on the AZBox, (Nov 14-15) and has continued to be good since then whenever I have checked SQ. Currently it is at 54-55, and that is after I just cleaned off the dish after the sh*t-ton of snow we have had today (the joys of lake effect snow) and it is still snowing!

I have notes from March 2023 which (after their last problem was corrected) have the SQ typically in the mid 60s, so it has dropped from the 60s to the 50s as its typical SQ, and IIRC it use to be higher than that before 2023. It seems every time they have problems they return will slightly less SQ power.