What is the windshield symbol on DIRECTV?

The Windshield Symbol on DIRECTV Receivers

In case you are using the DIRECTV receiver to watch TV, you may come across a translucent windshield icon at one point or another. This symbol is usually located in one of the corners and means that your receiver is having some trouble with the reception of the satellite signal. The reasons for getting this windshield symbol are not clear, though there could be a few of them.

Satellite Signal Interference

The most probable cause of the windshield icon appearing in the DIRECTV receiver is that the unit has interference in terms of receiving the satellite signal. The satellite dish outside should be able to point directly to the southern sky to receive the signal from the DIRECTV satellites. If there is an object like a tree branch, telephone pole, or even the clouds in the path of the signal, then it can hamper the signal quality and hamper the signal.

The windshield symbol is your receiver’s way of letting you know that it is having issues acquiring enough satellite signals to give you the best picture quality. If the interference is only temporary, the symbol could be gone in a few days or weeks as the external circumstance that is blocking the symbol will also pass. If something more permanent is in front of the satellite dish, then it might require to have the satellite dish moved back in position or have other structures like trees cut back.

Incorrect Satellite Dish Alignment

Another possibility that you may spot the windshield symbol on your DIRECTV is that your satellite dish may be out of alignment. The dish has to be aimed at the southern sky in a way that it can ‘look’ at the DIRECTV satellites while they are flying over. While using the dish, events such as weather changes, the sogginess of the house, or even slight impacts on the dish may cause it to shift out of alignment.

If the alignment is off slightly, then the quality of the signal will be impacted, and the windshield symbol will be the outcome. Just as in the case of the DIRECTV technician realigning your dish, this would often be enough to fix your picture quality. He or she will then switch on the electronic dials that help in inputting the right alignment coordinates to position the dish properly.

Issues Inside the Home

When it comes to the windshield symbol on the DIRECTV boxes, the primary reasons are satellite signal interference or improper positioning of dishes; however, the issue might lie with internal wiring or connections at times. Problems like having cables that are loose or corroded, bad splitters, or connectors that have become worn can affect the signal that gets to your receiver. The windshield symbol could appear as a result of it.

If you have to twist cables to make your DIRECTV receiver function or observe routes within the home that lack service, this may point to wiring problems. A check of all the cabling and splitters in your house may help you identify the issue. Replacing faulty splitter and connector hardware can solve inner wiring problems associated with the windshield symbol error.

Receiver Not Getting Power

DIRECTV satellite dishes have incorporated a low-noise block converter (LNB) that is powered by the receiver. This enables the LNB to boost the very weak satellite signals into your home. It is important; for example, if the receiver is having problems providing consistent power through the coaxial cable to your dish, the signal quality can be impacted. Losing this power may lead to the windshield symbol being displayed.

Interference with the receiver’s satellite tuners, problems with the motherboard located in the box, or a defective power supply can be some of the reasons why power may not be correctly supplied to power up the LNB. Your provider may be able to help you reset the receiver or update the software to address the problem. Otherwise, they may have to change the faulty part, which is the root of the issue in the first place.

Dish Hardware Failure: As the name suggests, this kind of failure occurs in the dish or the receiver used for satellite communications.

At times, the windshield symbol may be caused by some hardware issues in the satellite dish assembly or even the DIRECTV receiver. Some of the issues that hinder signal reception and decoding include faulty LNB components in the dish, improper cabling, or issues with the internal components of the receiver. Such failures must be addressed by replacing the faulty components with the following:

Whether the problems are on the dish equipment outside or inside the receiver box, technicians of DIRECTV can locate the problem. Measuring signal levels on the site allows for identifying the areas that require improvement. Sometimes, it is required to replace defective receiver boxes, satellite dishes, wiring, or any of the LNB parts.

What to Do if You See the Windshield Symbol

The windshield symbol is your indication that there is something that is hindering or some other obstacles that prevent your DIRECTV receiver from receiving a smooth signal from the satellite.

Here are some tips on steps to take: 

• Make sure that there are no temporary obstacles, such as trees or poles, that are obscuring the dish’s reception of the southern sky, and then wait as the obstacle moves and possibly the symbol will also disappear.

• Ask your DIRECTV provider to send a reset signal to your receiver box to reset satellite communication parameters if this helps address the problem.

• Perform the Check Signal steps on the receiver box menu to view the signal levels of the satellites and troubleshoot problems.

• Call a technician to conduct vigorous wiring and satellite dish equipment checks; reposition, change, or fix anything that has a poor signal and the windshield symbol.

When to Worry About the Windshield Symbol

The windshield symbol should not be visible all the time. It is intended to appear briefly anytime conditions outside the car disrupt signals from satellites. But if it reoccurs, then it probably means that there are hardware issues with the computer.

The two issues that came up are the same, where the signal fades often, and the windshield icon should be corrected immediately. Apart from this, it will bring back the true picture quality on your DIRECTV, while in the long run equipment problems could degenerate to a stage where they will need a major fix or new installation. If you act fast and make the necessary identification and remedy, you will have a clear, crisp TV image in no time.

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