Big improvement in picture quality

[mark]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On Tue, 10 May 2005 11:00:02 GMT, Jack Zwick <jzwick4@mindspring.com>
wrote:

>In article <0p6v71daf4e62g2ctdt4ktm8nvnmv8bftj@4ax.com>,
> Scott <spam784@spam.spam> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 07 May 2005 04:06:29 GMT, "RichG" <rich99sue@sbcxxxglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>> >Somebody's got to find a better way to deliver the signal. Satellite dishes
>> >go out in storms; cable can't get it right...seems like there is room for
>> >improvement here.
>>
>> I've got both, (basic cable comes "free" with Cable Internet access),
>> have had them both for about 4.5 years now. I live in Seattle, we gets
>> lots of rain. I have a TiVo, so it is recording at all sorts of random
>> times.
>>
>> On DirecTV I see some weather-related pixelation for about 10-30sec
>> about once every 2 weeks. I get an actual signal loss of 15-40sec
>> about once every 6 months.
>>
>> On cable I get one outage of 1+hrs about once a month. These will
>> occasionally cause me to miss aan entire program, the DirecTV problems
>> have never caused me to miss more than a few minutes of a broadcast.
>>
>> The digital sound seems much better on DirecTV as well.
>
>Cable varies with the local franchise.
>
>DirecTv gets better the farther South you live. It's GREAT in Houston.

Better how? You either get the signal or you don't. A 50% signal strength
looks no different than a 100% signal strength.

I happen to be in one of the farthest areas for reception, yet I still get
high 90's and a few 100%'s on just about every channel.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

> Better how? You either get the signal or you don't. A 50% signal strength
> looks no different than a 100% signal strength.
>
> I happen to be in one of the farthest areas for reception, yet I still get
> high 90's and a few 100%'s on just about every channel.

I think he means that the farther south you are, the less attenuation
you will experience from rain or snow fall (obviously from snow
accumulation as well, but for different reasons ;-) ). Since the angle
to the satellite is shallower, the path through a cloud zone is longer
and will attenuate the signal more in more northern installations. IOW,
more southern installations will experience rain-fade less often on
average. Other than that, there really shouldn't be much difference,
normal weather reception should be as good everywhere since normal
atmospheric attenuation is not that significant.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

> >DirecTv gets better the farther South you live. It's GREAT in Houston.
>
> Better how? You either get the signal or you don't. A 50% signal
strength
> looks no different than a 100% signal strength.
>
> I happen to be in one of the farthest areas for reception, yet I still get
> high 90's and a few 100%'s on just about every channel.

Maybe on a nice sunny day they are the same. However, if is light storm
comes in that would drop your signal strength 15-20%, then 50% and 100% are
no longer the same thing. The stronger signal you have, the more adverse
conditions you can face before losing your acceptable signal.

When setting up your dish, don't just be happy if you've achieved a good
enough signal. Spend a little time to maximize and get the best possible
signal level. That will minimize your down times.

Jim

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <U9vge.1052$bm5.620@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
"Scooby" <mmscooby1@removeme.earthlink.net> wrote:

>
> > >DirecTv gets better the farther South you live. It's GREAT in Houston.
> >
> > Better how? You either get the signal or you don't. A 50% signal
> strength
> > looks no different than a 100% signal strength.
> >
> > I happen to be in one of the farthest areas for reception, yet I still get
> > high 90's and a few 100%'s on just about every channel.
>
> Maybe on a nice sunny day they are the same. However, if is light storm
> comes in that would drop your signal strength 15-20%, then 50% and 100% are
> no longer the same thing. The stronger signal you have, the more adverse
> conditions you can face before losing your acceptable signal.
>
> When setting up your dish, don't just be happy if you've achieved a good
> enough signal. Spend a little time to maximize and get the best possible
> signal level. That will minimize your down times.

Simple Geometry. If the bird is low in the sky to you because you live
up in Seattle (for instance), you're looking through far more
atmosphere, (and thus more susceptable to distant storms reducing
reception) than if its high in the sky, as in South Texas.