DirectTV with Tivo outage every day 2pm ~5pm

[GrondramB]

Its on all four DirecTivos.


I'm missing the close of the stock market every day. My Comcast cable modem comes with analog cable at no extra cost but that doesn't get me news channels or pause and rewind.

The signal on all transponders drops to zero sometime between 1:30 and 2:30 PM each day but is always back on by evening. It started in December and it happens every day.

DirecTV has no idea what could cause it. They suggested I call the small airport 5 miles away and ask them if they are blocking my signal at certain times of the day...

Has anybody seen a problem like this or have an idea how to investigate?

[rminsk]

It could be one of the LNBs failing in the hot sunlight. Have you had the dish/LNBs replaced?

[GrondramB]

It could be one of the LNBs failing in the hot sunlight. Have you had the dish/LNBs replaced?


No I haven't... I thought about a variety of sun related questions but the sun is in a different part of the sky now than it was in December but the outage time remains the same. I'm curious about whether the daily outage will adjust for daylight savings time.

In any case, DirecTV is taking the position that I own the dish so its my responsibility. I get closer every day to just dropping DirecTV in spite of love of the integrated Tivo.

[HomieG]

It's my experience that this type of behavior is related to either a heat problem, or some local interference. It's going to be hard to track this down. Perhaps there's a qualified local installer with a spectrum analyzer who could help you hunt down the cause. DirecTV should provide better service than that, but I guess its no surprise they don't.

[drew2k]

If you have four DirecTiVos ... you have a multiswitch. Is the switch on the roof in direct sunlight?

[GrondramB]

It's my experience that this type of behavior is related to either a heat problem, or some local interference. It's going to be hard to track this down. Perhaps there's a qualified local installer with a spectrum analyzer who could help you hunt down the cause. DirecTV should provide better service than that, but I guess its no surprise they don't.

There is a Cell tower 4 houses away... and there's the airport ~ 5 miles away but I can't think of anything that would boost its power enough to drop my signal strength for 99 to 0 so fast....Hmmm.

[rbtravis]

Maybe your multiswitch is going bad. I have had that happen to me. Suddenly you only have one satellite feed and pixcellation. Good Luck

[GrondramB]

If you have four DirecTiVos ... you have a multiswitch. Is the switch on the roof in direct sunlight?

Good thinking.

The multiswitch is in the unheated, uncooled but insulated attic. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that 2 pm is when the attic gets the hottest. But December is a weird time to start having attic heat problems and it happens at about the same time whether the outdoor temperature is 20 degree or 70.

But it wouldn't be hard to touch the multiswitch and see if it feels warm or even to bypass it and run directly to one reciever.

I appreciate that thinking.

Naturally, since I posted this thread, it came back on early today - 4:47 EST. I'm gonna check your idea tomorrow when it goes out, though... thank you.


Also, if its anything related to the sun the time should shift by an hour after Sunday. If it follows man's time then it should adjust for daylights savings...

[JimSpence]

Try bypassing the multiswitch to see what happens.

[GrondramB]

Try bypassing the multiswitch to see what happens.

Thanks Jim. It certainly won't hurt... Sadly I've "missed" the outage for today. I like your title.

[kenr]

I once had a problem where I was losing signal strength every evening around prime time. This was in the summer and I was losing the signal when the outside temperature was dropping. I eventually solved the problem by reseating and tightening my coax connections on my multiswitch which was in my attic.

You may also have some connection that becomes intermittent at certain temperatures. I'd start by reseating every coax connection you can reach easily. If that doesn't work you could start reseating the hard to reach connections such as on your dish's LNB.

[kenr]

There is a Cell tower 4 houses away... and there's the airport ~ 5 miles away but I can't think of anything that would boost its power enough to drop my signal strength for 99 to 0 so fast....Hmmm.Cell towers are usually always broadcasting some cell information even when there's no user traffic. It's hard to believe it's a cell tower.

[GrondramB]

Thanks Kens. I waiting for the outage today. It comes like clockwork. I'm actually afraid the outage won't happen today since I'm standing by waiting for it with a ladder and tools.

I think you are right about the cell tower - but I'm trying to brainstorm and not reject anything out of hand.

[Jon J]

It's not an immediate solution, but you could sign up for the Protection Plan, wait the required 30 days and then call for service which should included sending a tech to diagnose your problem.

[GrondramB]

It's not an immediate solution, but you could sign up for the Protection Plan, wait the required 30 days and then call for service which should included sending a tech to diagnose your problem.

Interesting. DirecTV told me on the phone that the protection plan came with a 12 month commitment to keep DirecTV. I'm too unhappy with them to commit to anything right now.

[drew2k]

Thanks Kens. I waiting for the outage today. It comes like clockwork. I'm actually afraid the outage won't happen today since I'm standing by waiting for it with a ladder and tools.

I think you are right about the cell tower - but I'm trying to brainstorm and not reject anything out of hand.One other thing you may want to try is to drive around the neighborhood and look for other DirecTV dishes, and then go cold-calling.
Ask the homeowner if they have interruptions over the same time period as you.

If so, time to organize some community action and speak to the airport manager or the provider for the cell tower.

(It's a lot of work, but if you can't isolate the problem in your equipment, it may have to come to this!)

[GrondramB]

Its 9 minutes to three and the picture is usually out by 2pm. In three months we've noever gotten to 3 pm without an outage.

DirecTV emailed me last night in response to my complaint and told me I should call customer support. I wrote back and said my experience with customer support had led me to give up on help from DirecTV and I was likely to soon replace them with Comcast.

I wonder if it is possible that they then fixed something remotely.

Of course it will probably just go out tomorrow.

Edit 4:16 pm - first day since December without an outage - I can tell even when I'm not here since recordings don't happen with no signal.

[vigfoot]

Its 9 minutes to three and the picture is usually out by 2pm. In three months we've noever gotten to 3 pm without an outage.

DirecTV emailed me last night in response to my complaint and told me I should call customer support. I wrote back and said my experience with customer support had led me to give up on help from DirecTV and I was likely to soon replace them with Comcast.

I wonder if it is possible that they then fixed something remotely.

Of course it will probably just go out tomorrow.

Edit 4:16 pm - first day since December without an outage - I can tell even when I'm not here since recordings don't happen with no signal.



i'm on the edge of my seat...what's the latest?!

[classicsat]

It is Solar Transit you are being affected by. Nobody's hardware is weak or broken. It is just that the sun, in its natural progression across the sky approaching equinox, and during the day, will be in a position where it will be directly behind satellites, and overpowering the receiving antenna with its radiation.

Solar Transit is just a fact of life with satellite communications.

[John T Smith]

It is Solar Transit you are being affected by
If that is so... why only this one person, and not everyone?

[JimSpence]

Others may not be reporting this because they are blaming it on the sun. Also, maybe a check on the dish alignment is in order. Getting higher signal strengths may help alleviate the problem

[classicsat]

If that is so... why only this one person, and not everyone?
Because that person is watching live at that time, most people don't, don't watch programming recorded from that time, know about solar transit, or just chock it up as some sun/heat issue, or at least don't report it on message boards.