D* receiver(s) "resetting" themselves?

I know I am going to sound like a complete fool trying to describe this, but really, I have subscribed to D* since about it's second year of service. So - Currently have a Samsung unit in the living room. I do have two other receivers in the house but they rarely, if ever, have done this. Before the Samsung, I had a basic Hughes box. I believe whatever receiver is in the living room has always been the "main" unit in D*'s eyes.


Every now and then, clear weather/ bad weather, doesn't matter, the picture will fragment into a multitude of "squares", large pixels if you will. The sound gets "screechy/squeaky" (told you I'd sound like a fool...). Have to mute the tv because it is very ear piercing. The picture continues to "break down" into smaller and smaller squares. Eventually screen goes black. After a few seconds some white boxes "move" across the bottom of screen. Finally the "downloading advanced program guide" comes on screen. Once that is done - back to normal.


My son usually has his box on at the same time and never has it happen there. There is no "searching for satellite" message, just what I describe above. So is this some kind of "resetting" of the main unit by D* at random times? I don't think it is the model, as other brands in this room, have done the same thing. If it is "resetting", what is actually happening during this time. Watching the picture instantly fragment is kind of cool....but annoying at inopportune times of course.