Advice Needed Are LNB rain protectors worth getting?

[dankargo]

With the amount of rain we've had over the past few weeks, I've noticed a drop in signal on my motorised dish. For example right now, where I used to get around 82% signal on the TRT bouquet on 42.0E, I'm now receiving 78%. I know that's only a 5% decrease but it's caused some of the weaker transponders to break up occassionally.

Having had a look outside, there's no rainfall or snow but the LNB is covered in rain droplets and the dish is too high to reach from a window. I saw this product on Amazon and wondered whether they are beneficial?I can't say I've noticed many houses with these attached to the dish but thought I'd pose the question before buying.

Can the weather affect the signal on-route to the satellite or would it be based purely at my location? (i.e. If let's say its snowing up north or in Germany but fine here in South London, could that also cause a drop in the signal?)

 

[wod]

It can affect the signal.

I've been told a bit of furniture polish rubbed on lnb can stop water gathering on lnb cap but never tried it.

42e should be pretty strong so I wouldn't worry about it unless there's a monsoon of rain which will knock out the signal totally anyway.

 

[4wd]

Droplets on the lnb cap can equal 'no signal' here on 28e UK when signal is at it's weakest, rain hood mandatory to keep a picture through any rainy evening.

Also helps keeping snow from accumulating. Am still using the test-hood that was put up a year ago. For strong sats am not bothering, but hood would of course be useful against snow.

here's the beautiful sawblade and waterbottle creation:O)
https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/attachments/rain1-jpg.70729/,

 

[dmaavrigdo]

A cover is essential here too.Mine is made from a part of 5 litre water bottle and some metal strip.

 

[TJExcalibur]

I think they are and help deflect some of the suns rays. I have a Fibo dish but I do not think I could fit one that easily so I have sprayed the dish and parts with a few coats of silicone spray, the rain seems to drain off very quickly.

 

[benwiddowson82]

A cover is essential here too.Mine is made from a part of 5 litre water bottle and some metal strip.

Could you post a picture?

 

[dmaavrigdo]

https://goo.gl/photos/fo1Tge5kRXs65ktJ7

 

[Terryl]

We in broadcasting have tried everything known to stop rain/snow/ice fade, the only thing that worked were bigger dishes, a total enclosure for the dish to keep the snow/ice off (radomes) or heated dishes and LNB's.

The bigger dish was the best solution, and putting something like furniture polish or car wax on the dish/LNB eye did nothing but collect dirt and make things tougher for the jr engineer that had to go out and clean them off.

You have several tons of water vapor or ice crystals in those dark clouds between you and the dish, how can you keep that off the dish/LNB?

At cable TV head ends you will see some very big dishes, these are to prevent rain/snow fade outs.

One solution for a small dish that worked good for rain and snow was a black leaf trash bag slipped over the dish and taped off with duct tape, made a very effective radome.

For snow and ice problems a 40 watt light bulb in a drop light was inserted up into the bag and strapped to the dish LNB arm (out of the way of the LNB eye) then a heat tape thermostat can be used to turn it on (and off) when it gets to freezing.