Gren Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Anyone help me on this one. Over the last couple of weeks my Sky connection seems to be getting worse. Picture pixelates and freezes then sometimes I get the message about not receiving signal (blue screen message thingy). Seems to be worse when its a bit breezy so I think it may be the dish. Don't want to call anyone out if I can help it (and pay!) but I do have a guy coming round to paint the sofits/facias next week and could ask him to take a look when he's up there. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 mines been doing the same over the last two weeks(whils it has been hot) What are your signal strenth's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 sounds like an alignment problem. you can buy alignment meters if you want to sort it yourself. wind sometimes knocks them off angle a bit. you can get them from here... brymar satellite shop linky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Do you have anything on top of the Sky box? VCR, DVD etc. They really don't like things sitting on top of them and the problem you describe can be due to overheating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 If it is an alignment problem, it is possible to align the dish by hand thus avoiding the cost of calling someone out or buying a meter. I did this and it worked pretty well. Have any new building sprung up in the line-of-sight of your dish recently or are there existing trees/buildings in line of sight ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a4tdi130 Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 It could be a number of things - get over to www.satcure.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 I had something similar with mine. Best I could really find as levels were great was that some of the sensors in the LNB were starting to go. It only did it on some channels and not all which is why I got to this conclusion. I was going to get a new one and decided to upgrade to sky+ and got a new Duel LNB in the process which sorted it out for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Thanks guys! Nothing really on top of the box - DVD recorder underneath and one of those wireless video senders on top - small light plastic box. Only small trees in line of sight and not that tall - may be one but small and 20 feet away. I did think about this as the problem seems to occur when it is (even only slightly) breezy. Been up about 4 years so could be slightly out of alignment but the problem does seem more like a loose connection - I'm no expert though. Will ask this guy whos painting our tomorrow when I see him. Or even borrow his ladders to take a look myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a4tdi130 Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I'd expect the LNB - they do take a lot of abuse from the elements and a tiny drop of water inside one of them is all that's needed to cause havoc. You should be able to pick up an LNB quite cheaply and fit it youself. As long as you don't move the dish, you won't need to re-align after fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I lost recording on my SKY+ system and it was the connector to the LNB had corroded on the second cable, as I had 4 and only 3 in use, I remade the F barrel and moved it alone one position on the LNB and that cured it. Have you been into the strength meter page to see how good your signal is? Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsea Mick Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] and one of those wireless video senders on top - small light plastic box. [/ QUOTE ] Ok have you tried moving this away from the box... We had the same problem a couple of years back and the very nice TV man came round moved our cordless phone from on top of the sky box and hey presto! Done the trick Might be worth trying to move the video sender...Nothing to loose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Signal strength is about 70% (grey bar a little difficult to be exact) and static. Signal quality never gets above this and fluctuates often going down to zero - when the satellite is lost. The wireless video sender is off for the vast majority of the time. Just used when we want to watch Sky in bed - too much of a cheapskate to get a second subscription for the sake of an hour or two a week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 You don't need another subscription to watch Sky in bed. If you've got an aerial feed to the bedroom then you can plug the second RF output from the Sky box into your downstairs aerial socket (use a Y adaptor) and then tune the TV upstairs until Sky appears. Alternatively, take a proper co-ax cable out the lounge up the wall into the loft and then across to the room that wants it. You only need a second Sub when you're wanting to watch something different on each box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Yep as Sparky says no second sub needed. Get some coax into your bedroom from the sky box. Then get one of these Sky link this then allows you to control the Sky box from the bedroom. All you need then is to by a second Sky or Sky+ remote and job done. All are avaliable from Argos or Dixons/Currys etc. Only hint I would make is control it from downstairs or the bedroom, but not both at the sametime as it can make the box lock up. Sky used to advertise this feature themselves, I actually got the Sky engineer to do it for me for a few quid including the bits. But they try to get you onto a second box but there is no need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 certainly sounds like a dodgy LNB connection to me. If the the wind hits the dish and shakes it around the connection could be lost if it has been corroded, get up a ladder and check those LNB connections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Do all chanels go or just some ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 I knew that I didn't need a 2nd sub to watch the same channel but the wireless solution is a lot better than running co-ax through the house. Been up at the dish just now and wiggling the LMB seems to cause the problem- looks a bit sensitive to me. Seems like I may need a new one. All channels are affected and sorry Mick but moving the video sender didn't work - no interfernece there or overheating issue. Off to find a place that sells these things then. Lucky I'm 'working from home' today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 The LNB's are powered from the STB, so if your connecting cable is flaky into the LNB then that LNB will intermittently die, try swapping the connections at the STB end and see what happens. Maybe your recording will get screwed up like mine did and you main viewing will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Cheers will try. Have already had the wall socket in bits and re-connected everything there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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