Signal Strength

[IceMan5043]

Bad rain fade?

Hey guys. I have a Dish 500 system with 61.5, 110, and 119 connected to a DPP34 switch. Now, my signal levels range from 86-103 on the three satellites. I always get a perfect picture normally; however, it seems that EVERY thunderstorm knocks my Dish service out for a good 5-10 minutes! Is this normal? I'm from the NYC area, and you may or may not have heard that we've had some big t-storms in the area for the past few days. One day I think I lost my signal three times during three different t-storms. Light rain and drizzle obviously do not cause problems, but it seems that if I even see one lightning flash, I WILL lose signal for around 10 minutes sometime in the very near future - it's a virtual guarantee. I thought the Dish service was only supposed to go out during the WORST of severe weather, not every time a 20 min. downpour decides to come through! Previously, I thought my signal levels were very good, but now I'm thinking I may want to realign my dishes slightly - I have a Superdish for 110 and 119 and a 61.5 wing satellite for HD and locals. Is this a good idea, ie. worth it? Will it even improve anything? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Smith P.]

It will do a little help; using bigger dish usually help more; also check other thread about "Rain X" treat .

 

[Jim5506]

Hey, when it rains out here, we go outside and watch the rain. When it's over we go back inside and watch HDTV on Dish.

 

[Smith P.]

I'd like the attitude, man !

 

[IceMan5043]

I didn't think they made a dish larger than the Superdish!

 

[cebbigh]

Macado,

I use a Dish 500 w/ I bracket for 129 and get pretty decent signal from 129. Some of the transponders are 80%+ strength, and the poorest in the 70s. When the 129 sat does its wobble, I still do lose Rave and Monsters channel. I'm located up in the NW, west of Seattle. Not having a 1000, I cannot confirm what the signal would be with it, but from reading other posts, I would approximate the Dish 500 is 10 points higher.

Mark

This is pretty close to my experience with a 500 pointed at 129 in Mill Creek/Bothell. My weakest tp is where StarzHD is (tp10). The past few weeks have been either lucky for me or dish is managing the 129 wobble better.

 

[IceMan5043]

A "Rain X" treatment? That sounds interesting; I'll have to check up on that...