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Sun fade?

Discussion in 'DirecTV TiVo Powered PVRs & Receivers' started by Bugkillah, Sep 8, 2007.

  1. Sep 8, 2007 #1 of 7
    Bugkillah

    Bugkillah New Member

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    Nov 18, 2005
    For the last couple of years, sporadically I'll lose sat 1 and sat 2 simultaneously through the afternoon. It lasts anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. (It's never been a real problem cause it happens while I'm at work when I don't have anything recording. I usually notice it on the weekends, as I work during the week.)

    But today I'm watching college football, and about 7pm I noticed the sun light up the dining room window as it emerged from a cloud, and at the same time I get "No signal on sat 1/sat 2". I take a broom and go out the back door and put a shadow on the lnb's on the dish on the roof. Signal returns with shadow on lnb, fades with sunlight. I was able to repeat this over and over for a minute, then the signal just stayed on. It seems that it takes certain angles of sunlight, so it only happens at certain times of the day.

    Anyone else notice this sort of "sun fade"? (I have an hr 10-250, 5X8 switch, 3 satellite dish with extra dish for sd locals. Most of this equipment is 7 years old. Was origanally a 2 satellite, I added the sat c kit.)
     
  2. Sep 8, 2007 #2 of 7
    stevel

    stevel Dumb Blond TCF Club

    37,383
    8,434
    Aug 23, 2000
    Nashua, NH
    What does your signal strength show? My dish is in full sun most of the afternoon and I have no problems.
     
  3. Sep 8, 2007 #3 of 7
    JimSpence

    JimSpence Just hangin'

    30,905
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    Sep 19, 2001
    Binghamton, NY
    Make sure the connections are tight. Maybe the heat from the sunlight is expanding a connection causing it to open.
     
  4. Sep 8, 2007 #4 of 7
    Bugkillah

    Bugkillah New Member

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    Nov 18, 2005
    When getting signal, I have upper 90's on sats a, b, & 72.5, and upper 80's on c.
     
  5. Sep 9, 2007 #5 of 7
    litzdog911

    litzdog911 TechKnow Guide

    12,027
    1
    Oct 18, 2002
    Mill Creek,...
    A cracked or defective LNB can cause these symptoms also. If your signal readings look good when everything is working, then suspect the LNBs. Probably best to arrange a replacement with DirecTV.
     
  6. Sep 9, 2007 #6 of 7
    MisterEd

    MisterEd Very Large Member

    645
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    Jun 6, 2001
    TV Land
    You should try some of this on the LNB's (repeat after it rains): http://aordan.trustpass.alibaba.co...Cream_For_High_Protection_SPF_45/showimg.html


     
  7. Sep 9, 2007 #7 of 7
    TyroneShoes

    TyroneShoes HD evangelist

    3,604
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    Sep 6, 2004
    It must be something other than sun fade. Sun fade for this season hasn't yet begun.

    Sun fade is when the sun is briefly lined up directly with the sat and your antenna, and the sun's RF energy overpowers the energy from the sat and swamps the amp in your LNBF. This happens to every sat signal, but only for two periods each year, in October and May. Sun fade typically starts about the 3rd of October and goes for 10 days, and is only severe for a couple of days around the 8th. It affects reception for up to 20 minutes, and happens from about noon to 4 PM, depending upon your location and what sat you are looking at. Broadcasters regulary hopscotch their signals to avoid it, but consumers don't have the luxury of multiple paths to choose from (for a particular signal).
     

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