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johanson / Moderator

Apr 11, 2009, 6:25 PM

Post #1 of 2 (1953 views)

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DISH Signals lakeside

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As many of you know, the rumors are rampant that soon the signals from all of the satellites from DISH Network won't reach central Mexico anymore. The rumor started when the satellite at 110 degrees West was replaced by a satellite that had a footprint that was much stronger in all of the US, but less signal bled over the border and only perhaps 40% of the channels from that satellite could be received here in the Lake Chapala area.

Well, good news I thought. The satellite at 129 degrees West, was replaced by a new satellite, and yes, the signals are better than before, but not much. Shown below are the results I got from a 2.4 meter dish installed by some very professional folks working for Satellite Systems of Ajijic. Here are the results I got. Rather poor I think. Does anyone else have comparative data from this area of Mexico (Lake Chapala)? The results are pretty bad and if this is the best anyone can get, it looks like at least a 10 foot in diameter or larger dish is needed for 129 degrees West.

UPDATE BY TRANSPONDER
Trans..Channel... Sig strength
17------208--------13
17------214--------13
20------194--------18-9
23------108--------15
24------139--------21
26------200--------13-5
26------176--------14
26------180--------14
27------118--------15
28------160--------15
28------168--------16
28------205--------16
28------170--------15
30------110--------19
30------112--------18
31------120--------14

The above data sucks. I sure hope the reason the signal strength is so bad is not because of the footprint but because of something we have done wrong here. Also, it is very interesting that when I test at night in clear weather, the signal strength is worse.

Have any of you gotten better results?

May you all have a great Easter weekend.

(This post was edited by johanson on Apr 11, 2009, 6:35 PM)

johanson / Moderator

Apr 13, 2009, 6:21 PM

Post #2 of 2 (1922 views)

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Re: [johanson] DISH Signals lakeside

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Gee. I am talking to myself. I have checked the setup and just maybe the LNB could be a little off center. I am told by a sat dealer whom I trust, that yes the system should be getting a stronger signal and he will be sending the experts back but that here lakeside one needs a larger dish than my 2.4 meter Ku Band to get a good signal from 129 degrees West. My next move will be to experiment with my 12 foot almost Ku, C band dish and see what I can do with it.

The trouble is, I'm heading north soon. I'm a snowbird.

That same dealer says that even under best conditions one doesn't get that good of a signal lakeside from 129 W especially at night when the signal usually is so weak that it fails