Signal cuts off constantly

[king26]

I've had Dish Network for some years now (Updated to HD about 8 months ago) and lately the signal has been cutting off all the time. Like every two minutes. The receiver is connected to satellite 129 which has about a 45 signal at its highest. I've tried to switch it to satellite 119 using the Point Dish menu. The 119 satellite is constantly in the 70s in signal power, but everytime I do that, it reverts back to satellite 129. What can I do?

[garys]

Switching to another sat in the signal strength screen does not do anything to correct your problem. You probably need to reaim your 129 sat to get a higher signal.

[85MustangJeff]

To begin with a 45 signal strength is terrible. You should maintain at least a 75 or better. Your Dish needs to be re-tuned, make sure the mast is level. The tech who installed your Dish should have a trouble ticket put against him for leaving you with a signal strength that low to begin with (assuming it was a tech who installed it :-) ).

If the mast and dish are properly aligned and level it could also be a LNBF failure I did see that in the field quite often. We always got handed refurbished LNBF's.

Good Luck!

JEFF

[king26]

It was installed by a tech, but that was a long time ago. It had always maintained a good signal until now. Now all of a sudden its in the 40s 20s and ultimately 0.

[85MustangJeff]

Originally Posted by king26

It was installed by a tech, but that was a long time ago. It had always maintained a good signal until now. Now all of a sudden its in the 40s 20s and ultimately 0.

You really have a few choices.

1. You can either call Dish and have them come check the Dish for you to make certain that it is either the Dish is no longer tuned OR that the LNBF has failed.

2. Follow the cable to the from the Dish to the receiver itself. Is there a wall plate where the receiver is? If so the barrel in the wall plate could have also failed. You can always put in a new DIGITAL rated barrel (they usually have a blue center) and see if that helps your problem. Also look at the cable and make sure that it is not black in color. You want to see what I called a full cup of milk with the copper strand nice and clean.

3. If you have a DP34 switch or any other switch at the Dish the connection should have a water booty to protect the connection. That could also be a problem. I could go on and on but maybe this will give you a little bit to work with.

Please let me know if you find something.

JEFF

[weberman]

Originally Posted by 85MustangJeff

To begin with a 45 signal strength is terrible. You should maintain at least a 75 or better. Your Dish needs to be re-tuned, make sure the mast is level. The tech who installed your Dish should have a trouble ticket put against him for leaving you with a signal strength that low to begin with (assuming it was a tech who installed it :-) ).

If the mast and dish are properly aligned and level it could also be a LNBF failure I did see that in the field quite often. We always got handed refurbished LNBF's.

Good Luck!

JEFF

Dish has recently redone the signal meters in their receivers with new software. There is a message about the low signal strength on the dish alignment page where the receiver's signal meter is located.

A signal strength of 45 on the Dish receiver's signal strength meter is very acceptable. In the 50s is excellent. With a digital signal if you get a good picture at 75 or 45 on the Dish receivers signal strength meter, you will not get a better picture if it is 100. You might get less rain fade. Also the quality (amount of noise in the signal) of the signal is probably more important.

Now. if you are using a signal meter outside at the LNB a signal strength of 75 or better is needed.

Dish has caused a lot of confusion with the new receiver signal strength meter as it shows a scale up to a 125. Many people are calling complaining of low signal strength. I have been told by an upper level manager that Dish is working on new software to more correctly reflect the true signal strength (higher) on the Dish receiver to make it more like the strength with a hand held signal meter at the LNB.

[85MustangJeff]

Originally Posted by weberman

Dish has recently redone the signal meters in their receivers with new software. There is a message about the low signal strength on the dish alignment page where the receiver's signal meter is located.

A signal strength of 45 on the Dish receiver's signal strength meter is very acceptable. In the 50s is excellent. With a digital signal if you get a good picture at 75 or 45 on the Dish receivers signal strength meter, you will not get a better picture if it is 100. You might get less rain fade. Also the quality (amount of noise in the signal) of the signal is probably more important.

Now. if you are using a signal meter outside at the LNB a signal strength of 75 or better is needed.

Dish has caused a lot of confusion with the new receiver signal strength meter as it shows a scale up to a 125. Many people are calling complaining of low signal strength. I have been told by an upper level manager that Dish is working on new software to more correctly reflect the true signal strength (higher) on the Dish receiver to make it more like the strength with a hand held signal meter at the LNB.

Thanks for that information! It's been a few years since I have worked for Dish and didn't realize they had changed the software in the receivers. When I installed a Dish if I pegged a 85 on my meter it reflected that on the receiver also. We were ALWAYS instructed that at the Dish we needed to maintain a 75 or better and I can't see how that would change just like that. If they did then that is just poor field technician training IMHO.

The signal strength itself isn't going to improve picture quality, so I obviously agree with you there. Thank you again though for the software information.