Cable service goes out when it rains - WTF?

I wasn't sure if this forum or the TV forum was the right place for this, so if a mod feels it should be moved, sorry and please do so. I subscribed to True Visions a couple of months ago. Every time it starts raining, the cable goes out. Sometimes for only a couple of minutes, but often for extended periods - upwards of 30 minutes. I get a bit miffed at the thought of paying for the privilege of staring at "SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL". I'm not a TV junkie. I went without a TV for over 10 years before I moved here and didn't miss it much at all. But now that I have a TV, when I want to watch something and I'm paying for the supposed ability to do so, I damned well better be able to watch it! [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/drama.gif] So anyway, after this happened a couple of times, I asked the Thai guy at the front desk in my condo about the cable going out when it rains. He told me that it's common here, and has nothing to do with the main connection to the building. In other words, the cable is hooked up properly, there are no problems with wiring in the building or whatnot. That's just the way it is here with cable. [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/banghead.gif] Now when I get answers like this, my bullshit alarm goes off. I'm more inclined to think that someone did a shitty job of installing the main cable that leads to the building. So I turn to you, O Forumites! Is this really something I just have to say "mai bpen rai" about, or is there some way to approach this and get it fixed?

Heavy rain and clouds affect the satellite's signal. Cheers

Um, OK, thanks. So the cable that leads from my room doesn't hook up ultimately to some cable leading into the building but to a satellite receiver box, eh?

The signal will most likely pass through at satellite link at some point on it's way to you. Your satellite dish or a "cable" TV provider's dish. At some point it's going that way

Quote Originally Posted by A. Merlin View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/computers-technology-and-the-internet-in-thailand/58215-cable-service-goes-out-when-it-rains-wtf.html#post1550715) Um, OK, thanks. So the cable that leads from my room doesn't hook up ultimately to some cable leading into the building but to a satellite receiver box, eh? Yes; either that or the cable company has a central satellite and it runs the cables from there. Cheers.

its the sattelite welcome to the third world

It's the satellite if you have a dish. Nothing you can do about it mate. I have cable (no dish). Sometimes it goes off or the signal lowers in very bad weather but generally it is fine.

Moved to technology forum

It's the satellite, always happens when it rains out here Welcome to the Thai way

Quote Originally Posted by Bangkok Phil View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/computers-technology-and-the-internet-in-thailand/58215-cable-service-goes-out-when-it-rains-wtf.html#post1550968) Moved to technology forum But it's not a technology issue as such...more of a cultural issue stemming from the lack of public pressure on corporations to upgrade equipment due to an aversion to confrontation...

I case you're not sure yet, it's the satellite.

But it's not a technology issue as such...more of a cultural issue stemming from the lack of public pressure on corporations to upgrade equipment due to an aversion to confrontation... There's much more to that. What do you think would fix the problem? Better satellite? It's not cheap to launch a satellite, and when you consider the size of English speaking Thai market you'd wonder if it's worth having two satellites covering it at all, especially if you are going to finance the second one yourself. If it's the dish, you can get reception from Filipino and Malaysian satellites as well - do they black out in the rain just the same? If they do, good luck investing millions of dollars to provide a better reception when it rains, I really hope it covers your expenses. ---Update--- Few weeks ago a local channel went down for a few hours due to the satellite problem. Half the country thought it was another coup. Did anyone think "I would launch my own satellite to provide more stable coverage?" No, it's just not worth it.

Quote Originally Posted by trep View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/computers-technology-and-the-internet-in-thailand/58215-cable-service-goes-out-when-it-rains-wtf.html#post1551242) It's not cheap to launch a satellite Not cheap - but check out my back garden. The Icarus Rocket is on the pad, being fuelled and ready for launch. Coronation Street guaranteed.

You are weird.

Quote Originally Posted by trep View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/computers-technology-and-the-internet-in-thailand/58215-cable-service-goes-out-when-it-rains-wtf.html#post1551257) You are weird. I think he was joking...