David Lock

Signal strength is around 40% and signal quality is around 60%. Is that about right?

No recent tree growth or anything in way of dish. Only thing in way is Mars which has got a bit closer recently Tried on/off stuff again but no joy. Dish is 3/4 way up chimney breast and reasonably accessible. Have given it a prod and it seems fairly stable. What I don't understand is if dish is out of alignment then why can I get some channels and not others? Is it the dish itself that may have moved or part of the attaching mechanism (what is the lnb?) Looks like I am going to have to get alignment man in..... D

Edited to add - thanks Hammy, think I will do that first.




[Edited by David Lock - 9/2/2003 10:35:38 AM]

Da Booga

This appears an interesting read, if only because i've got a Grundig box that's about 18 months old too!

http://www.satcure.co.uk/gds200.htm

hth

[Edited by Da Booga - 9/2/2003 12:00:08 PM]

David Lock

Recently we have had a "no signal" message on some Sky channels and last night all channels disappeared. My lad phoned up Sky and after a lot of messing around and a switch off and on routine a few channels came back. Now before I get taken to the cleaners by the Sky man or local TV place has anyone had anything similar? To me it would seem to be the box playing up rather than the dish? Any ideas? Thanks, David

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

Yep, had it a few times the swicth box off thing is common and usualy sorts thing out

pbee

siwtch the box off at the wall hold the select button on the front panel, and switch back on keep holding the select button until the listings retrival screen is displayed.

soup dragon

The sky boxes Ive had are crap.
Try the usual,turn off at the plug for at least 2 minutes,check the cable connections at the box and the dish,also just check that there is nothing in the line of sight of the dish,,trees etc.
Ive had 3 boxes that were crap after a year or so,but they only seem to play up just after the warranty runs out

NACRO

What signal stength readings are you getting in the services menu?

Could be the lnb is slightly out of alignment- strong wind and even birds could have knocked it out a little.

NACRO

as far as SKy boxes go I've got one of the originals and it is still going strong- don't pay a penny to robbing rupert either!

Mufasa

Certainly sounds like either the dish has moved or something is blocking the signal path to me.

As has been said, check the signal strength.

Services -> 4 -> 6

David Lock

Very helpful replies guys - many thanks. I will get on the case and report back later. Agree with the Rupert comment - he gets enough off me already! Cheers, David

Hammy Hamster

As previously said, it could be 1)your sky box (possibly power supply or tuner malfunction), 2)dish alignment or 3)faulty LNB.

If you have a local TV/satellite repair shop (or a local enginner who works from home), take your sky box in to them and ask them to check it, before calling an engineer out to look at the LNB or dish.

Lois

Am interested to see what happens ..as I have sky with no signal problems except in extreme weather last winter maybe ..but my sister who is a mile away from me has just had it installed and has had days of no signal on all channels ...and the other day everytime it rained the channels dissapeared!but mine was ok

David Lock

Quick update.
Phoned up local TV repair place. Explained problem/s. "What make and colour is the box, sir?" Grundig, black. "It's the box then - they all do that after a while, capacitors need replacing, £60 - £70". You seem very sure about this. "We have nearly one a day to fix!" So..... Last time I bough a capacitor was for a car and probably cost about tuppence! David

STi VII

Hi David a Girl callerd Lisa Lock with a brother called David was in my class at school, she got married at 18 IIRC not your sister is she?

David Lock

Sorry STi - my dad died when I was just a few months so no sisters with Lock name. Anyway I am an old silver surfer and I expect you're just a young shaver

PS. IMHO 18 is FAR too young to get married - miss out on all the fun

D

NACRO

Before you assume it is knackered check you have latest versions of the SKY software.

Like this: "Manually downloading Sky software changes
Switch on the satellite channel on your tv in the usual way.

Now place your Sky digital receiver into standby using your handset.

Switch the receiver off at the mains.

On the front of the digital box itself (not the handset) press the button marked ‘Backup’.

With the button still depressed turn the digital receiver back on at the mains.

Keeping the ‘Backup’ button depressed, wait for all the l.e.d’s on the front of the box to light up. A message may also appear on your tv screen. This may take up to 30 seconds but you must keep the button depressed all the time and only when all the l.e.d’s all light up should you release the button.

It will take about 10-15 minutes to upgrade the software and when complete the box will automatically go into the standby mode.

Wait about a minute and you will then be able to turn the receiver on again using the handset. "

Make sure you are getting a ignal or the update will never complete- also that the poweer isn't interrupted.

David Lock

Thanks for that Nacro - I am keeping all this info in my Sky file. D

Hammy Hamster

You should be able to get in done cheaper than £60-£70. I'd shop around a bit.

Try here, or here.

David Lock

Thanks HH. Appreciate your time. Useful site. D

Poor Guy

wait - unhook the line from the dish in the back (this is what i did).

static builds up in the line blocking the signal. so if u unscrew and pull out the one that looks like and ariel wire (chosty and brown) touch it and plug it back in.


see what happens