- Jan 17, 2001
- 2,528
- 10
- 81
I recently made the leap out from under the oppression of my local cable giant (Time Warner) to Directv (should have made the move sooner MUCH better picture and sound...etc...)
Anyway - the one big complaint I had with my RCA receivers was their sensitivity to power drops. Within a week of installation, my wife and I were enjoying one of her favorite shows on TLC when the lights in my house flickered just barely enough to be noticed. This mini voltage dropoff was enough to make the receiver lose its calibration with the satellite. Instead of the show, we were treated to a screen stating "searching for Satellite Signal" and a percent meter that S L O W L Y progressed from 0 to 100. The whole process took about 90 - 120 seconds (an ETERNITY when you are missing a good program). Two weeks later the same thing occurued during a "garden variety" (IE not severe) thunderstorm that managed only a few rumbles and barely made my lights blink. The power blips did nothing to my TV, just the receivers.
My solution - small office APC UPS devices (BE500 and BE350). These little "computer data savers" work great on my satellite receivers. For little more than a quality surge supressor (a big THANKS to those crafty AT "Hot Deals" forum posters scouting out the deals and rebates!) I scored and APC BE500 (500VA) and a BE350(350VA) for under $50 for both after MIR. In both of my setups, I have the RCA satellite receivers, TV sets, and DVD/VCR in the three battery outlets, and the audio receivers and components in the the three surge outlets. I charged them up and gave it the "leap of faith" test and unplugged the APC from the wall. The result? - As expected the audio went bye-bye, but the TV picture and Satellite receiver were chugging along fine. I let it go for 45 seconds (27-inch TV!) and it was still going. I am now spike and dropoff proof! Hooray!
i am in no way under the delusion that I will be able to watch TV in a blackout. However, since the majority of power lapses in my home are of the 3 minute or less duration (many are a few seconds or just a "light blinker") I am free from the 2 minute "searching for satellite" interruption!
Anyway - the one big complaint I had with my RCA receivers was their sensitivity to power drops. Within a week of installation, my wife and I were enjoying one of her favorite shows on TLC when the lights in my house flickered just barely enough to be noticed. This mini voltage dropoff was enough to make the receiver lose its calibration with the satellite. Instead of the show, we were treated to a screen stating "searching for Satellite Signal" and a percent meter that S L O W L Y progressed from 0 to 100. The whole process took about 90 - 120 seconds (an ETERNITY when you are missing a good program). Two weeks later the same thing occurued during a "garden variety" (IE not severe) thunderstorm that managed only a few rumbles and barely made my lights blink. The power blips did nothing to my TV, just the receivers.
My solution - small office APC UPS devices (BE500 and BE350). These little "computer data savers" work great on my satellite receivers. For little more than a quality surge supressor (a big THANKS to those crafty AT "Hot Deals" forum posters scouting out the deals and rebates!) I scored and APC BE500 (500VA) and a BE350(350VA) for under $50 for both after MIR. In both of my setups, I have the RCA satellite receivers, TV sets, and DVD/VCR in the three battery outlets, and the audio receivers and components in the the three surge outlets. I charged them up and gave it the "leap of faith" test and unplugged the APC from the wall. The result? - As expected the audio went bye-bye, but the TV picture and Satellite receiver were chugging along fine. I let it go for 45 seconds (27-inch TV!) and it was still going. I am now spike and dropoff proof! Hooray!
i am in no way under the delusion that I will be able to watch TV in a blackout. However, since the majority of power lapses in my home are of the 3 minute or less duration (many are a few seconds or just a "light blinker") I am free from the 2 minute "searching for satellite" interruption!
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