Rain-X and satellite dishes

[trof]

The Dish Network guy is here, installing our system.
Someone here said that coating the dish with Rain-X helps keep down the interference from heavy rain.
The Dish guy says he never heard of this, but it might.
Anybody else tried it?
What was the result?
Thanks.

[tridim]

1. It actually works on windshields

So I assume it would work on a dish too.

[LiberalFighter]

2. That is an idea worth trying

I love how it works on my windshields. I don't have to use my wipers as much because the rain just rolls off in big beads.

[GOPisEvil]

3. It might help slightly, but the disruption in service is more related to

the signal being unable to penetrate the heavy cloud cover and the rainfall combined.

[kmla]

4. From what I understand, it's not the rain ON the dish that causes it

to lose signal. It is the atmospheric rain in between the satellite and the dish that gets in the way.

I can tell usually about 3-5 minutes ahead of time when I am about to get a heavy rain.

But that's my experience.

[hobbit709]

5. It's not blocked at the dish

Heavy rain in the line of sight between the satellite and the receiver attenuates the signal. the heavier the rain, the more signal is blocked until you have more noise than signal on that frequency. Only thing that works is get out a VHS tape or a DVD, sit back and relax.

[BigMcLargehuge]

6. won't make a difference

the problem with heavy rain is that SAT signals are in such a high frequency band that the broadcast signal attenuates as it passes through the raindrops between the satellite and the receiving antenna. Therefore, putting Rain-X on the dish may exacerbate the problem is the drops that stick there (A Rain-X'd windshield looks like it's covered with dropplets) could further scatters any attenuated signal that a smooth coating of water may not.

[trof]

8. Thanks for yours and similar answers.

It made more since to me that the interference is more from the size and density of the rain cell blocking the sat signal than actual water on the dish.
I think I'll do a before and after comparison just to see.

[benburch]

7. Most of that interference is not due to water ON the dish.

But it certainly couldn't hurt anything.

The signal has to pass through a lot of water in the form of rain to get to your dish, and that is what attenuates the signal. The film of water on the dish obviously does have an effect, but not a huge one. In the summer, leaves can have a similar effect.

[StClone]

9. Snow maybe

Snow on the dish and/or receiver is a reception problem that Rain-X may partly solve -- it may cause snow to slip off or melt. Otherwise, a pot of hot water or hose is sometimes needed!

[Cush]

10. thats why we scrapped our Dish

and went to digital cable, signal losses were becoming too frequent, got really annoying

[TlalocW]

11. It was I who said it

We were told this when I was working for DirecTV as tech support, but I never tried it because I finally got a programming job again before I got my free dish and receiver (which I didn't want in the first place). We were also told that a plastic shopping bag over the dish will help out a lot too.

If you do it, email me and let me know if my trainers were just full of bs. :)

TlalocW

[trof]

12. Thanks for the original tip.

I'm still gonna try it.
I'll let you know.

[Rambis]

13. I had snow blocking mine

I sprayed Pam on it and the snow sluffs right off and has for two years now.