DIShNET or DIRECTV REPAIR GUIDE

Satellite install and repair is not brain surgeryor even close to rocket science !
Any homeowner can troubleshoot and repair Direc-tv and Dishnetwork satellite systems with most of the tools they already own .
I installed and did service work on these systems for 4 years and most of the problems were cable or lnb,(end of the dish)related and almost every one has to do with satellite signal strength.
First thing , what is the problem? no signal at all , signal gees and goes, out for very long time after a rain ,some channels work others don't!
NO SIGNAL /SIGNAL geES AND GOES--
The first thing to do is check the position of the dish,(has it been moved?) even the smallest movements can have massive effects on signal quality!Anything in front of the dish? (trees, bushes, that sort of thing.) Check your grounding block and lnb cableconnectors for corrosion or rust, this happens when low gradeconnectors are used thatlet moisture get inside. Check the cable , is it the right size? RG-6 should be used for all satellite systems , this isthe best cable to use smaller size cablesuch asRG-59 will work forsome time but you will see signalproblems later!!! Check the cable for any way water can get inside,cuts , cracks , dog bites (yes dog bites! For some reason dogs love satellite cable though after one time they usually don't do it again after they get shocked by 18 volts dcin the mouth!!)
SIGNAL OUT FOR A VERY LONG TME AFTER A RAIN --
This is aclassic sign , check the LNB lens for a crack or bad seal , water may be inside of LNB , if so replace the LNB. check the cable and connectorsas described under no signal.
SOME CHANNELS WORK OTHERS DONT--
Check your receivers installation menu under signal check that you are getting signal on even and odd numbered transponders and on all satellites, dishnetwork 110 , 119 and direc-tv 101 ,110 ,119. if not check your LNB as described above. rarely is it the cable, but it is not impossible , most times this is theLNB or the receiver.
If you can troubleshoot a system then you should have no problem installing one!
JUST MAKE SURE THE DISH MOUNT IS LEVEL!then follow the instructions in the manual that came with your system,mainly the grounding of the system . This is the most often overlooked part of satellite install but probably the most important, not just for system protection but forhome protection from lightning strike!!!
USE A SURGE PROTECTOR! (bet you have one on your $500 geputer , what about your $1000- $2000 home entertainment system? Panamax has in my opinion the best surge protectors on the market !
USE geMON SENSE , IF YOU DONT THINK ITS RIGHT LOOK AT THE MANUAL
Another tool that make homeowner repair easy is a cheap satellite meter from okay , Better than running back and forth from dish to television or the old "how about now " buddy system !!
That is the basics of satellite repair, this should help point you in the right direction to your problem, but there are times when the pro's getstumped , there was only 1 system that I could not make work in my 4 years and that was a Primestar to Direc-tv change over (remember those?) the primestar worked perfect but the direc-tv would not even after awhole new system was installed and I mean theentire system . I eventually gave up and reinstalled the primestar and turned it over to technical support , turnes out they lived very close to a radiostation and it was over powering the direc-tv .
Did the guide help ? at the bottom please answer yes or no .
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY okayING!