Sky tv

[DC_FC]

With sky tv you have a satellite dish to get their tv channels, i take it things like buildings can blcok the signal to the satellite dish on the house

[HWKE]

Yes even clouds will interrupt the signal if they are dense enough.
When you have it fitted the engineer will ensure that it is positioned correctly.

[vehelpfulguy]

Yes, you have to have direct line of site from the dish to the satellite.

So other buildings, trees, and so on can restrict the line of sight.

Remember a tree may not block it in winter (after it loses its leaves) but could block it in summer if in full leaf.

[agamad]

Mine goes in heavy rain too but, as HWKE points out, it's probably due to heavily laden clouds dumping on my house!

[HWKE]

You're right agamad. Rain alone without clouds to intefere will cause 'rain fade' as the signal passes through the droplets of water. Some of the signal is converted to heat (absorbed), some is diffracted and some is refracted away from the receiver.