Snowstorm/HD channel question

[christo76]

I live just outside Milwaukee, WI and we are currently getting a good bit of snowfall. Initially today I got the searching for signal message, so I went out and knocked the snow that had stuck to the dish, That worked for nearly every channel, except the new mpeg4 channels (like NGCHD, SCIFIHD, DiscHD. Local Mpeg4 still work)

Is there a reason why just the mpeg4 counterparts won't come in? When I check signal strength I get high levels (60s-80's) and all sats except 103c where I am in the mid 20's. During good weather I get mid-90's on all sats. Is 103c just more affected. OR is 103c even the one responsible for the mpeg4 channels?

When knocking off the snow, the pole did bump the sidecar, which seemed to shake, but not really move. Could it have been moved slight enough that it would knock out the mpeg4 but nothing else?

I am thinking it may just be the storm, but figured I would like to find out from a more knowledgeable source here.

Thanks
Chris

[Scooter22]

I'll give you the short non-technical answer. The new MPEG4 channels are much more susceptible to rain and snow fade.

Scooter

[1948GG]

Originally Posted by Scooter22

I'll give you the short non-technical answer. The new MPEG4 channels are much more susceptible to rain and snow fade.

Scooter

That is sooooo untrue, it beggers the mind; what (other than pulling it out your... you get the picture), did you come up with this one?

It has nothing, of course, to do with Mpeg4. The fact you used this 'designation' shows you know next to nothing (or maybe nothing) about satellite tv and DirecTV in particular.

The 'new' HD channels are transmitted via Ka-band. However, the link budget (and the power output of the satellites) is far above the old Ku/DBS band, and in fact are, at the receive site (your dish), several db hotter than the old Ku/DBS signal (the dish/reflector and the Ka-band LNB's of course also figure into this).

In extensive tests, both static (with both 'off axis' reception and db reducers), and live testing (during rain and snow storms), the Ka signals (both spot=beams from the Spaceways and the nationals from DirecTV10) have proven more robust than any of the Ku/DBS signals, including Ku/DBS spot beams (versus the the Ka-band spots of course).

If it doesn't at your dish/setup, I'd suggest some basic maintenance is in order, i.e., dish alignment or other problems. This is like letting your auto gas run out, then blaming the car maker! ANY user that sees their Ka-band signals 'wigging out' before the Ku/DBS ones needs an alignment, most probably.

[Canis Lupus]

Yep - possibly moved if the dish was not quite secure enough, or if the LNB sidecar mount was not quite secure.. Post your signal strengths for the 103b for both tuners and let's have a look.

Originally Posted by christo76

I live just outside Milwaukee, WI and we are currently getting a good bit of snowfall. Initially today I got the searching for signal message, so I went out and knocked the snow that had stuck to the dish, That worked for nearly every channel, except the new mpeg4 channels (like NGCHD, SCIFIHD, DiscHD. Local Mpeg4 still work)

Is there a reason why just the mpeg4 counterparts won't come in? When I check signal strength I get high levels (60s-80's) and all sats except 103c where I am in the mid 20's. During good weather I get mid-90's on all sats. Is 103c just more affected. OR is 103c even the one responsible for the mpeg4 channels?

When knocking off the snow, the pole did bump the sidecar, which seemed to shake, but not really move. Could it have been moved slight enough that it would knock out the mpeg4 but nothing else?

I am thinking it may just be the storm, but figured I would like to find out from a more knowledgeable source here.

Thanks
Chris

[wavemaster]

The KU band is narrower but more powerful.

So aim is more critical, but when it is aimed dead-nuts it is a much stronger signal.

For me in the northeast, the new D10 channels are the last ones to go and I have been very impressed with the weather it works through.

[Gonesouth]

Originally Posted by 1948GG

That is sooooo untrue, it beggers the mind; what (other than pulling it out your... you get the picture), did you come up with this one?

It has nothing, of course, to do with Mpeg4. The fact you used this 'designation' shows you know next to nothing (or maybe nothing) about satellite tv and DirecTV in particular.

The 'new' HD channels are transmitted via Ka-band. However, the link budget (and the power output of the satellites) is far above the old Ku/DBS band, and in fact are, at the receive site (your dish), several db hotter than the old Ku/DBS signal (the dish/reflector and the Ka-band LNB's of course also figure into this).

In extensive tests, both static (with both 'off axis' reception and db reducers), and live testing (during rain and snow storms), the Ka signals (both spot=beams from the Spaceways and the nationals from DirecTV10) have proven more robust than any of the Ku/DBS signals, including Ku/DBS spot beams (versus the the Ka-band spots of course).

If it doesn't at your dish/setup, I'd suggest some basic maintenance is in order, i.e., dish alignment or other problems. This is like letting your auto gas run out, then blaming the car maker! ANY user that sees their Ka-band signals 'wigging out' before the Ku/DBS ones needs an alignment, most probably.

1948GG,

Your answer was good and informative. You could leave off the remarks in the first two sentences. I do not think this is what the fourm is about. If I am wrong, correct me.

[alaskahill]

Originally Posted by Gonesouth

1948GG,

Your answer was good and informative. You could leave off the remarks in the first two sentences. I do not think this is what the fourm is about. If I am wrong, correct me.

Hey I think you are right....

[aramus8]

When I got a heavy wet snow on the dish a couple of weeks ago, I lost 110 which I normally receive with 95 on all three transponders, but the signals on 103 were still usable even though they were down in the 30's. Fortunately the dish is located just outside our back door for snow removal purposes.

[dettxw]

For what it's worth my recent weather experience - I got my dish re-aligned to get the Ka signal strengths up into the 90s just before the big ice storm hit here. While a 1/2 inch of ice on the dish cut the readings down into the 80s they were still better than what I had before the alignment and the HD channels looked great, that is until the TV went black. But it helps if you have power.

[tzphotos.com]

I was still receiving the new HD channels, while the old analog channels were lost during a recent rain storm.

[K4SMX]

You guys must have "different rain clouds" from what we have in Florida. We get to make frequent "observations." I have mostly mid- to high-90's on all the D10 CONUS tp's, and when the rain clouds arrive, those strengths drop much more severely than those of the Ku satellites. While it is true that reception is possible at lower indicated "signal strengths" (higher BER's) than with the KU satellites, the D10 signals will go to "0," while the Ku's are still in the 50's and 60's, and zero is zero.

[harsh]

Originally Posted by 1948GG

That is sooooo untrue, it beggers the mind; what (other than pulling it out your... you get the picture), did you come up with this one?

In that all DIRECTV MPEG4 channels are Ka band at this point, Scooter22's answer was true. Using MPEG4 instead of Ka band was a mistake and MPEG4 should not be blamed for increased fade potential.

It is you that are sooooo wrong because what Scooter22 said was true; just not for the implied reason.

I firmly believe that, in the long term, Ka band for video is going to prove to have been a mistake.

[GlennDio]

Originally Posted by K4SMX

You guys must have "different rain clouds" from what we have in Florida. We get to make frequent "observations." I have mostly mid- to high-90's on all the D10 CONUS tp's, and when the rain clouds arrive, those strengths drop much more severely than those of the Ku satellites. While it is true that reception is possible at lower indicated "signal strengths" (higher BER's) than with the KU satellites, the D10 signals will go to "0," while the Ku's are still in the 50's and 60's, and zero is zero.

+1 in Tampa .... not that it is horrible by any means but my unscientific tests have led me to notice Signals from D10 out before SD signals ( I know that isn't the right way to say it but you get my drift)

[christo76]

All the channels are back now. My only assumption is that I missed a small patch of snow that more directly affected the mpeg4 channels. Once I went back out later (after all channels seemed to drop out) and did a more thorough cleaning, or at least as thorough as possible when you can only see the side of the dish, everything came back in great.

thanks again for the comments and help.

[K4SMX]

Good goin' christo76!

Originally Posted by GlennDio

+1 in Tampa .... not that it is horrible by any means but my unscientific tests have led me to notice Signals from D10 out before SD signals ( I know that isn't the right way to say it but you get my drift)

My tests have been highly scientific! When the D10 Ka channels go away first, followed by the Spaceway 1 Ka HD locals, and the Ku HD's are still hangin' in there, I have completed my test of Ka versus Ku.