Do you prefer to work on your FTA system in the cold or the heat

[Mr Tony]

Pretty simple question.

Some of us have been known to work on our FTA system when its 90+ out and when its below zero out. And yes, sometimes we are crazy because we do that. So now I ask

Would you rather work on your FTA system outside in the cold or heat?
Cold is less than 20 degrees F and Heat is above 85F.

Now obviously some areas dont have as much humidity as others but lets see what people think

 

[Mr Tony]

I prefer the cold because of a few reasons
-I'm a big guy
-Cold weather here in MN is more of the year than warm weather
-you can always bundle up when its cold...you can only take off so many clothes...then it becomes illegal...and you're still hot

The only drawbacks of the cold
-your hands can stick to metal (masts, wrenches, dish)
-dropping a wrench in the snow can be a bugger to find (especially if its a snowdrift)
-you have to take shorter trips outside and keep coming in to warm up (although if I know its only going to be 15 minutes I stay out there)

The reason I brought this up is I just had to go change a multiswitch outside and its about 22 with a windchill of around 0

 

[digiblur]

What is this snow thing you speak of?

 

[qwert1515]

What is this snow thing you speak of?

Like Digiblur I am confused by the word "snow"

I am in Los Angeles, it's 71 degrees and I am cold

So I like the "Heat (85F and above)" Can we add no wind to that

 

[SatinKzo]

Cold for me! I used to live in the Keewenaw area (Town of Houghton) of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Anything above 40 outside, it's t-shirt time. I cannot deal with anything above 85 well at all.

The only problem I have with FTA stuff and cold is usually the work is meticulous and fine tuning and with gloves on it's hard to feel and then you take them off and shortly your hands are cold too and it is hard again to do the little stuff.

 

[Anole]

I'll go with warm.

But I don't want . . .
- No rain.
- No snow.
- No bugs.
- No wind.
- No humidity.

 

[linuxman]

Like Iceberg, I have done both.

I've been on the roof working on my FTA equipment when my fingers were numb from the cold, and have been scorched from the heat.

I think I will go with the heat. I seem to recover faster from heat than getting really chilled. I have done that a time or two, and it takes several hours and sometimes overnight to get warmed back up again.

Fred

 

[colbec]

In the cold. Surprisingly the signals seem to penetrate the snow much better than liquid water. Even though you may have to dig your way to the dish farm to make adjustments at least you know you aint goin nowheres with 3' snow on the road and you're not worried about perhaps you should water the garden first or swattin at deer flies. And in a blizzard you can always follow your RG6 back to the house.

 

[vfrjim]

I hate the cold, give me 80 degrees F anyday

 

[turbosat]

It's funny what we can become accustomed to, if necessary. If the weather here were to start staying in the 20's, I would prob start packing lol. And here, taking off is ok, rather than piling on more clothes. Nobody can see me, unless they are in a plane or a helicopter. There's diff hazards though, at diff times of year. Mosquitoes sometimes, chiggers(redbugs), snakes. The lizards don't bite but the few cactus I have will if I drop a wrench into it and forget when I grab for it. We have ladybug attacks right now as the cold approaches-they begin to look for places to overwinter, like inside any opening in the framework or tubing of the dishes, feedhorn covers etc.

 

[BarneyBean]

My neighbor thought I lost it when she saw me outside in the snow with my TV and reciever trying to set up my primestar dish, in fact she even called her daughter to the window to watch. I prefer the warmth but when you gotta make an adjustment it dosent matter what the weather is. It just seems that it happens more when its cold.

 

[VinceT3]

I prefer the cold in my area.. like it is now.. 70's.. 60's..

 

[Sadoun]

Even though I like cold weather & snow ( I like skiing), but I voted for warm weather. It is much better to install satellite systems during the summer.

The days are longer
Faster to get parts from the truck
Safer to climb a wall/roof

BTW, weather in Columbus has been mild the last few years.

 

[Keith Brannen]

I've done adjustments/setups in just about all types of weather, and even in the dark! Only thing I avoid is rain (but have done a quick adjustment in drizzle).

I voted for cold, as I seem plan out my changes in greater detail beforehand and get things done faster (before I freeze to death). I also like using a coat to hold tools and other accessories so as to minimize trips up and down the ladder.

As Iceberg mentioned, there are drawbacks (especially when there is snow on the ground), but for me it usually isn't a wrench or a tool I drop in the snow, it's a nut or bolt. And I have found that the chance of dropping a nut or bolt in the snow increases exponentially if it happens to be the last one you have available at the time!

 

[rv1pop]

My answer is NO!

My vote, however, is warm. Not hot though. With almost constant 30+ MPH winds, At 18 degrees, the wind chill is COLD. My hands quit working. Layering enough to stay almost comfortable, means I can not climb the ladder.

In the summer, on a tin roof, at 126 degrees, can you say convection oven? You have to wear clothes so you don't burn... 85 to 90 is too hot, but workable.

 

[KE4EST]

I like the cold better also.

 

[dfergie]

Heat, I can drink a cold glass of tea or a beer and wait till it cools off...(but it is usually not that humid here)factor that in and I will take a fall day

 

[Pepper]

My preference is between 65 and 75 degrees.

my answer to the poll is cold; during hot weather here the mosquitos will suck you dry before you ever get anything done.

 

[mikekohl]

I don't prefer either of those extremes---but necessity is the mother of invention, and you deal with the current situation if you want signals to
play.

At 50 below in Siberia...it's painful and dangerous, but I've done it.
And work is very slow to accomplish.

At least above 90 degrees you can sometimes hide in the shade behind
the dish, or work in the dark at night. But bugs are always a problem in
the heat. Just try to stay out of midday sun if you are working in hot weather.

 

[dfergie]

Desert...Dark complexion so sun is not as much of a problem and not as many bugs as some of you face, but still Yellow Jackets will get ya!