Oh My Tech: Keep Utah's Snow Off Your Satellite Dish

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By Vince Horiuchi Tribune Columnist

· November 22, 2010 5:56 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

My question is what to do about snow collecting on my DirecTV HDTV satellite dish. When I started with DirecTV, the dish was on the front of the house and easily accessible. Occasionally, it would collect snow and interfere with the reception. Two years ago, I converted to HDTV and the installer insisted that the new dish be on the roof. The new dish seems to collect snow more often than the old one and is difficult to reach to clean off. — John Bywater

This is certainly one of the downsides to owning a satellite dish. When my dad had a satellite system, we used to occasionally whack the dish with a broom whenever it accumulated snow. Of course, that would knock it out of alignment. Then we'd have to call a satellite guy to readjust it, and I'd end up missing "The Greatest American Hero."

But there are some preventive measures you can take that will help keep the snow from sticking to the dish.

This may sound ridiculous, but several dish installers, as well as Internet posters, recommend applying a can of cooking spray (like Pam) to the dish. The vegetable oil on the dish can help make the face of it slick enough for the snow to fall off. It's an inexpensive option, but some installers claim this home remedy only works for a short time.

At least your dish will bake into a golden-brown layer (and with none of the cholesterol).

Another option is putting a garbage bag over the dish. That won't interfere with the signal, but it will make your home uglier (than it already is with a silver dish on the roof).

Some have complained that the snow can pull the bag off, so beware.

Finally, you can go the super-expensive route.

Satellite installers sell heat tape that you connect to a small-voltage battery that helps keep the snow off the dish. One local satellite company says that can cost more than a hundred dollars. For that price, you can hire the neighbor kid to go up on the roof and risk his/her life to wipe the snow off the dish.

Finally, there's a good solution for when the snow is already on the dish. One installer said to fill one of those Super Soaker water guns with hot water, and shoot the snow off the dish. And with the newer dishes and mounts that are more secure, you don't have to worry about throwing the dish out of alignment. Plus, it's a great way to take it out on your dish for bringing you "Jersey Shore."

Send your tech puzzlers to Vince Horiuchi at [email protected].

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