Goldberg74

About a week ago, some of the channels on my DirecTV started to pixelate, go rather blocky and then fall apart freezing the screen.

Anyone ever had this problem?

Got an easy remedy (other that call DirecTV)?

Jeremy517

What is your signal strength at? Chances are, it is getting low.

If so, check the obvious things first. Ice on the dish, tree branches that have grown and now partially obscure the dish, leaves on the dish, etc.

IDrinkMolson

Outside of the usual, check your connections, and check the dish to make sure no nuts and bolts came loose and changed your angle, no.

Check your signal strength, should be over 80% at least.

ChrisHicks

I had a similar problem not too long ago - pixilation, freezing, and sometimes a complete loss of picture during a very light rain(signals would drop to almost nothing). come to find out, a few of the connections on my multiswitch worked their way loose. a quick tightening and signals were back up in the 90+ range.

Goldberg74

I did a check on the signal strength. Satellite #1 was at 78% and Satellite #2 was at 32%. I'll check the connections in the morning.

Thanks.

BigDave

DirecTivo? If so, you're hard drive may be going bad.

Brian Shannon

Check to make sure that there is not any water in your connections anywhere and that they are tight. Then check to see if the dish is being obstructed. Normally in the winter if you live where the trees drop leaves your signal should get better if it is partially blocked.

Any storms that moved the dish?

Groucho

If nothing's obstructing your dish, it could have been knocked off-kilter.

Goldberg74

I'm gonna have to call DirecTV and have them come and look at it. According to the set up, the Zip Code was wrong (last two digits) and the signal from Sat A has 8 of 32 responders getting a signal, Sat B is like 3 of 10, and Sat C is 0 for 3.

It looks like a bird may have flown into it, or the bing winds we've had might have done it. I recently did some work on the opposite side of the deck from where it is, but I don't think that that did anything... but it might have.

Anyways, of to call them (since I can't watch TV until it works).

Goldberg74

I called them... and they basically told me to reposition the satellite myself. So I tried on Friday, but it was too freakin' cold outside.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Y2K Falcon

It was much warmer today.

Actually, it was quite gorgeous (man, that word looks wrong) beautiful out today. Guess you were out of town for a couple days. Should be ok tomorrow as well, but get it done soon before the next front barrels through right before New Years.

Goldberg74

Nah... wasn't gone... TV was the last thing on my mind. Got enough video games and DVDs to keep me busy. But I am going to try again today. Should be beautiful.

Goldberg74

Wow, was it off by a long shot.

The azimuth was off by about 3 degrees, the elevation by 5 degrees and the tilt was right on.

Something must have slammed into it (a bird?) to get it to move that much... or a really big wind storm.

Anyways, its working again and getting a very strong 90+ signal on all three satellites.