Does snow effect satellite feed?

[Andrew1]

We've pretty much decided to dump cable and get a satellite dish (*C) but I still have one concern.

When I lived in the U.K. a friend who had a dish lost all channels for a day one time when it snowed. He had to get up and remove the landed snow from parts of the dish - something that would be difficult for us to do given where the dish would be on our high roof. (A part of the house that has some cover from weather is blocked by a tree and so no good for the dish.)

Has anyone had problems in this respect? If so, how often?

Given how many people have satellite I figure it can't be that much of a problem but before I make the big purchase I'd like to know more.

Thanks
Andrew

[57]

It does happen. Do a search for "Snow Fade" or "rain fade" - lots of previous threads on the subject. There are "covers" that can be put on dishes to lessen the snow buildup. Severe snow or rain can also block the signal, but it depends on the amount of precipitation, the size of your dish, your location, etc. It's mostly a non-issue, until you miss your favourite programme...

Please put your (new) location in your profile. It'll help us help you.

[Nuje]

I think snow is really only an issue when it's wet and sticky glop - the dry prairie snow shouldn't be an issue.
Living on the West Coast, the typical snow we get is the huge muffin-sized snow-bombs, so when it does snow, I'm taking a broom to the dish every half-hour or so.
(Thanks to global warming....didn't have to do that once this past winter )

[MAXAM]

Originally Posted by Nuje

I think snow is really only an issue when it's wet and sticky glop - the dry prairie snow shouldn't be an issue.
Living on the West Coast, the typical snow we get is the huge muffin-sized snow-bombs, so when it does snow, I'm taking a broom to the dish every half-hour or so.
(Thanks to global warming....didn't have to do that once this past winter )

When I had the 10ft. diametre C-Band dish, I use to use the broom to sweep and knock the snow off the dish. One day the snow had frozen to the dish so I had to hit it fairly hard to dislodge it. Unfortunately, I knocked out two of the wedge shaped mesh sections and spent two days trying to fit them back into the grooves without having to take the whole thing apart.
When my son lived at home, his mini-dish never had a problem with snow collecting on it as it would just slide of the slick aluminum surface. Seems to me he use to spray it with Pam to prevent the snow sticking but it could have been some special stuff that came in a spray can.

[jbracing24]

Originally Posted by MAXAM

I use to use the broom to sweep and knock the snow off the dish

The best advice is, install the dish where you can get at it with a broom without climbing (unless you have the proper cover). I see these dishes up on top of the roof and wonder what is done when the snow collects. As above, the wet sticky stuff is the worst. So, you might find, during a heavy or long snow fall that the receiver puts up a "red dish" signal, time to get out the broom. Generally though, the sky has to be really "heavy" as in a blizzard or a thunder storm to get signal fade.

[MAXAM]

Fortunately, the C-Band dish was installed on the concrete patio at the rear of the house so cleaning off the snow was no problem. If you didn't remove the snow, the signal would not be reflected back to the LNB and you wouldn't get a picture. Occasionally, when it rained heavily, you'd get "sparkles" similar to pixelation.

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

Unless it cannot be avoided, do not mount a dish on the roof. Roofs have several disadvantages for mounting dishes. If it must be on the roof, mount it near the outside edge. On the side of the building on a solid surface is the best spot. Placing it 8'-10' off the ground allows for easy maintenance. Really wet snow will stick to the dish and block the signal. It can be wiped off (before freezing) easily. How often it happens depends on where you live, about 1 or 2 times a year here. Apply Rain Guard to the dish surface to reduce the possibility of snow sticking.

[Andrew1]

Thanks for the helpful replies.

"Snow fade" - I knew there must be a technical phrase for it! I'll do a search. Thanks.

[que3jxp]

When I had *C I only had problems with snow the first year. The reason for this is I was MONDO stupid.

I mounted it in a location that turned out to be a prime part of the roof for snow drifts.

That next spring I changed it to the highest peak of the roof and put it right near the edge. I never had a single problem with snow fade after that and New Brunswick usually gets whipped by old man winter pretty hard.

[sox]

Am out in Chilliwack BC and just got a 9" dump....had get out the step ladder and broom for the dish...

[Snoman]

If your aim is good a tennis ball works too.

[4issquared]

and 60' up in the air, so no tv for me until we have a bit of relief from the unending snow here on the sunshine coast. When I turn on my STB, all I get is the time on the front of the box freezing on the display, and a black screen on my LCD Tv. oh well, should rain by the weekend and clean out the dish... ahh, this is not my favorite time for choosing satellite over cable. When it's on though, I love it.