It's not often we get snow in Vancouver, but we did last night in some areas (including mine). It makes me wish my dish was under cover, because even a little bit of our sticky wet snow clinging to the dish is enough to disrupt the Starchoice signal. Of course Murphy's law functioned as usual - it was in the middle of a program I was recording. This usually happens about once per winter season - I have to get out there on the ladder and brush the snow off the dish. :)

Last year out in Chilliwack we had more than our usuall amount of snow and as I remember would only have to broom off the snow after an inch or two. Last night it was every ten minutes for even a light dusting. Very annoying.

I use a telescoping pole that is commonly used for window washing, with a brush on the end of it. I got it from Lee Valley for around $25, I think.

I just send the Wife out with a ladder and hand brush, makes my life much easier......lol

In reality I put Dish Covers on all my Dish's last year and have yet to see any problems with Snow accumulation.

I have 1 Dish with no cover just as a control and it was snowed in last night here in Southern Ontario.

Has anyone ever used a spray on application to stop snow and ice from sticking to the dish? If so, what product did you use and how were the results?
I did a search on the internet and saw one product called King's Rain Shield.

I have tried spraying windshield washer antifreeze on the dish when I have to make a trip outside to clean the snow off, and it is effective for the rest of the night, avoiding the need for repeat visits.

Some previous threads on the topic of snow fade

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=45218&highlight=snow+fade

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=70306&highlight=snow+fade

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=69326&highlight=snow+fade

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=41758&highlight=snow+fade

I do wish you could get a block heater installed.

Spray applications I have heard of being used include WD 40, or any other spray lubricant, and PAM (Lemon Flavour)

I do wish you could get a block heater installed.
You mean like this..........lol


http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb213/Nimiq_1/DishHeater.jpg

Uses a spare Coax feed for the 24 volt supply.

Snow on Dish? Remind me, I forget what snow is.

Best regards ;)

My dish is mounted close to the ground. I can go at it with my gloved hand, a normal un-extended broom, or windshield brush. Then again, I have the luxury of an open souther sky to be able to install the dish that low.

It was definitely a pain. First snow fall of the year for Surrey and even with a little snow on the dish it knocked out the High Def Channels, the SD equivalents still worked. I think this 8PSK sucks for rain and snow fade. I never had a problem all last year until there was heavy accumulation on the dish (ie. completely covered). During this snow fall there was barely any accumulation on the dish yet no HD until I cleared it completely.

Thats what I was getting at Lumpy! Exactly the same out here in the Wack....Just a dusting and down it goes. Last year it took a couple of inches. Also the blackouts are back.....

Moisture content of the snow determines how fast you lose reception, therefore wet snow reception goes quick, dry snow I've had up to 4 inches without a problem.. And as always a well tuned dish will maintain reception better than one not well tuned!

I could probably count on one hand the amount of times snow has been a problem for us....and we live in Southern Manitoba! We've had *C for about 8 yrs now.

Starbudder, I dont buy that at all. The majority of the snow we gwt is WET. Not powder like in the praires. There is something else at work here and its not about a well tuned dish.

My dish was on the garage roof and i can reach it from the upstairs window with the broom. I used to get the kids to brush it off.

Recently, replaced the single 20" dual LNB dish with two 33" dishes. Got lots more signal.!! No rain fade on the last storm we had and i don't expect snow to be an issue.

My only worry is that if snow is a problem, I'll need a longer broom handle to reach the second dish. I guess we'll find out soon. They're calling for freezeing rain for friday morning!

Starbudder is correct. I am a installer in Sask and we have only had a handful of snowfalls in the 10 years that I have been installing that caused a problem, because we do not get the damp sticky snow that you get on the coasts. I know it is a problem on the eastern sea coast however because of the moisture in the snow.

So it may be -35 here and snowing today - but hey its a dry snow!!

Hey Huddy, did you read Lumpys or my posts? I guess not.