Satellite Antenna Cover

[bobg52]

I recently moved to an area where we occasionally receive heavy snow falls that may result in an accumulation on a satellite dish antenna. I have been told that at times the snow build up may interfere with the quality of the received signal. If this information is correct is there a cover available that would protect the antenna from snow build up but that would not degrade the signal?

[SolidSignal_Matt]

Snow build-up on a satellite dish is rarely an issue, unless it is a build up of heavy (wet) snow. Light, fluffy type snow, in any depth, is not dense enough to effect reception of the satellite signal on the dish surface. However, if there are varying temperatures in said area that would cause the snow to melt, then freeze on the dish surface, reception could be effected. Build up of ice on the dish surface and/or LNBs would be much more likely to cause signal loss than snow.

There are a couple potential solutions:

(1) As you said, a dish cover. They are available in a couple different sizes. We haven't come across a dish cover for the larger AU9-S and Dish1000 sized dishes, however that does not mean they don't exist. They work best when the cover is kept snug on the dish so that snow does not build up on the cover itself.

(2) Rain Shield Spray is another option. An application of Rain Shield works as a protective coating, sealing up much of the smaller (invisible to the eye) holes and cracks on the dish surface where rain and ice can build up. The idea here is if the surface is smooth then the water while run off the dish before it has a chance to freeze. This concept works the same for rain as well, since water also has a greater density than snow.

[Coffey77]

I live in the Chicago area and we get a few blizzards from time to time. I only had one time where the snow/ice mix caused some buildup on the dish. One trick from another poster was to just purchase a nice Super Soaker and spray the dish. I used a hose once or twice... I have also heard, but not tried Cooking Spray, like PAM or similar.

[bobg52]

Matt & Andy, thanks for the advice. I suspected that the snow problems might have been a bit exagerated. I live in a mountain area of Southern California where snow conditions could never rival those of Chicago. Based on your replies I plan on trying Rain Shield Spray next winter. Thanks again.

[Coffey77]

No trouble at all. The newer dishes, the AU9-S Slimline does a better job at fighting thru any snow buildup as well. There have been many reports of people getting a much better signal with little to no rain fade anymore.