Rain fade ...

Rain fade is what it has been called, and we are getting it really bad on TV1 and TV2 channels, but we don't get it on TV3 / 4 etc. This is since we have purchased the S8200 SatBox from our old Topfield when we used to get it only on Prime.

It is so bad, for instance, tonight we started watching Corro at 8.30pm and (ofcourse) it started raining at 8.31pm, a slow and steady downpour - but nothing unusual. It is now 8.50pm and out of the last 20mins we have seen about 3mins TV. The picture freezes the sound comes through disjointed, and that's all we get.

What's going on with this ??

What can be done about it ??

Help ...

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Permalink Reply by willis on August 8, 2015 at 23:17

re align your dish and/or replace the lnb at the end of the dish arm

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Permalink Reply by Biggles on August 9, 2015 at 9:36

Replace your LNB.

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Permalink Reply by Gwenyth Richards on August 9, 2015 at 18:09

Hi Willis,

Thanks for responding, and this fits with what I was thinking, to re align the dish, and I'm looking into getting this done this week. How will replacing the LNB cut down the rain fade? That bit I don't get ...

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Permalink Reply by Gwenyth Richards on August 9, 2015 at 18:12

Hi Biggles,

Thanks, I was wondering what you might come up with :) and your reply ties in with Willis to replace the LNB - so this is looking like a good way forward. is it that a new LNB picks up a better signal and this helps with the rain fade, or something else?

It will be so much better if we can watch, without stressing if its going to rain!

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Permalink Reply by Biggles on August 9, 2015 at 21:50

LNBs lose their sensitivity over time (causing loss of signal when rain blocks the signal from the satellite) and also can become temperature sensitive (loss of signal when they get hot in midday/afternoon sun). They are operating in a hostile environment (all weather conditions) with minimal protection located in front of the dish. Early symptoms are the loss of some channels usually at one end of their frequency range. Usually seems to be TV1 and TV2 that disappear first followed by others. Due to poor quality mass production these days they can last anywhere from a short time to many years. Only to be expected as they have become a cheap throw away item.

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Permalink Reply by willis on August 10, 2015 at 0:53

and over time the plastic cap can disintegrate letting water in

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Permalink Reply by Gwenyth Richards on August 10, 2015 at 11:00

Hi Biggles, and Willis,

Thanks so much you guys.

Your replies are really helpful, even though I am a newbie to this stuff I really like to know how things work and if the aren't, then why not!

What you have outlined here makes real sense to what is happening with our signal loss with the early signs being the disappearance of TV1 & TV2, as we are already experiencing.

How right you are Biggles, that these items are operating in a hostile environment! Additionally, we live on a hostile part of coastal Taranaki exposed to not only rain, but a salt laden Westerly coming of the Tasman Sea!!

Many thanks, I will be getting a replacement LNB this week :)