Anyone Have Direct TV?

Barrythevic · 10-25-2009, 02:10 PM

Actually, the problem with rain is not due to the size of the dish.

Obviously a larger dish will receive a higher signal strength than a smaller one. But there are diminishing returns on dish size.

Almost all small dish systems, including Direc TV utilize a higher frequency of satellite service called KU band. The older large home dishes, 8 to 15 foot mostly used C band which uses lower frequencies. The lower the frequency, the larger the corresponding dish size is required for the same receive signal level.

The higher KU band frequency is susceptible to rain fade. At these frequencies large rain drops cause loss of signal as the size of the drop corresponds to the wavelength of the signal. The more intense the rain storm, the less signal gets to the receive dish. As the signals are digital, they usual work until it goes out, or the amount of data is below the threshold of the receiver to decode the signal.

If you are really interested in rain fade, here is a good explanation in English as opposed to techno geek talk. It also has a map of areas in the US where rain fade is experienced. I have no affiliation with Spacecom, they just published what I think is a pretty good explanation.

http://www.spacecom.com/customer_too..._rain_fade.htm

Snow or ice on the other hand hardly affects signal strength in the atmosphere. Usually the only problem snow or ice will create is when too much of it lines your satellite dish. This deforms the focus point of the dish and thus lowers the received or transmit level of the signal. Several companies make dish covers and or heaters to eliminate icing for all of you in snowbound locations.

10-25-2009, 02:10 PM	#26
Barrythevic Just another FOG! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 380 Trading: (2)	Re: Anyone Have Direct TV? Actually, the problem with rain is not due to the size of the dish. Obviously a larger dish will receive a higher signal strength than a smaller one. But there are diminishing returns on dish size. Almost all small dish systems, including Direc TV utilize a higher frequency of satellite service called KU band. The older large home dishes, 8 to 15 foot mostly used C band which uses lower frequencies. The lower the frequency, the larger the corresponding dish size is required for the same receive signal level. The higher KU band frequency is susceptible to rain fade. At these frequencies large rain drops cause loss of signal as the size of the drop corresponds to the wavelength of the signal. The more intense the rain storm, the less signal gets to the receive dish. As the signals are digital, they usual work until it goes out, or the amount of data is below the threshold of the receiver to decode the signal. If you are really interested in rain fade, here is a good explanation in English as opposed to techno geek talk. It also has a map of areas in the US where rain fade is experienced. I have no affiliation with Spacecom, they just published what I think is a pretty good explanation. http://www.spacecom.com/customer_too..._rain_fade.htm Snow or ice on the other hand hardly affects signal strength in the atmosphere. Usually the only problem snow or ice will create is when too much of it lines your satellite dish. This deforms the focus point of the dish and thus lowers the received or transmit level of the signal. Several companies make dish covers and or heaters to eliminate icing for all of you in snowbound locations.