Do you protect your satellite dish from snow?

RedDirt · Jan 22, 2008

Having endured slow dial-up for over ten years I bit the bullet and upgraded to a satellite connection last summer. Now when it snows I loose my connection. I spray off the dish with a water hose if I need to hook up before it melts off (I telecommute).

Has anyone rigged some type of snow protection for their dish? My thoughts are a permanent sprinkler, electric heat tape (the type used for keeping pipes from freezing), or a roof/umbrella assembly. My dish is mounted on a gable roof eave.

hwp · Jan 22, 2008

I don't do anything to protect my satellite dishes - I have two - one with two LNBs for 110W and 119W and the other is a single for 92W. I haven't had any problems with snow intereference after several years of operation and we get a lot of snow.

DreaminGreen · Jan 22, 2008

No protection, a quick swoosh with a long handled broom and we are good to go. The heat tape sounds interesting just make sure its on the back of the dish, so it does not interfere with the satellite reception.

Dial up is cheap, but it is slooowww how is the speed on the internet connection with a dish?

WayneB · Jan 22, 2008

what is your normal dish signal strength? Snow will effect it, but seems like you might be getting a marginal signal??

ragkar · Jan 22, 2008

What system are you using? There are over two thousand posts on this topic here
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.dbs.echostar/topics
using the search keyword 'snow'

WVBill · Jan 22, 2008

I don't have any problem with the snow on my TV satellite receiver dish but snow on my hughesnet dish wipes out my internet connection.

I took a snow brush made for cars and taped it to the end of an 8 foot pole and brushed the snow off.

I'm thinking about the heat tape on the back of the dish idea...

WVBill

JazzDad · Jan 22, 2008

I deal with it by living in Texas!

I didn't go to that thread, but has anyone tried spraying the dish with silicone?

MossRoad · Jan 22, 2008

The reason people up north that get more snowfall, yet have fewer snow accumulating on the dish related problems is that the satellites are over the equator. The farther south you go, the more your dish has to point up, thus creating more of a "bird bath" bowl for snow to accumulate in. The farther north you go, the more you angle your dish down and the snow is more likely to slip off on its own.

They make dish heaters that work very well. I would look into one of those if I was forced to mount my dish in an unaccessible location.

I installed mine in an easy to reach location because we get wet, heavy snow. I can reach it with a regular broom and have to sweep it off a couple/three times a year.