Old Sky customer but Freesat not working - Error 29

[nstofberg]

Hi all,

First post here and I hoping you can help.

I used to be a Sky customer up until 2 years ago (just normal Sky with the older rounded box).
After that I had Freesat from Sky by doing nothing. Anyways, I then got a Freeview box to get the 'best of both worlds'.

Pretty much then never used the Freesat so unplugged it. A couple months ago we had some bad weather and the Freeview was struggling so I decided to see if I could get some channels at least through Freesat. Thats when I first got the 'No Satellite signal is being received - Error 29'
Didn't think anything of it given the weather and went back to Freeview.

Now yesterday, I reprogrammed / scanned my Freeview box for the digital switch over but now I can't get quite a few channels for some reason (but thats for another forum). So again I decide to try my Sky box for Freesat.

But I still get the same message. All the connections seem fine. I've tried forcing a software download as its been off for sometime, I've gone into the Installer menu and reset the settings and obviously called Sky who only want to send someone out for £65 - no real offer of help.

When I go into the settings the signal and strength show nothing. But after playing with the settings, and going straight to 103 (ITV1), it worked and I can see the TV guide and some channels so at least I get past that initial screen with the error 29 message.

But... I do get the following channels, so not sure why I don't get all of them that I should get with Freesat.
103 ITV1
118 ITV2
119 ITV3
120 ITV4
135 CH4+1
136 E4
137 E4+1
138 MORE 4
149 CBS DRAMA
168 BBC ALBA
180 ITV3+1
190 MEN&MOVIES
195 PROPELLER
321 TRUE MOVIES 1
322 TRUE MOVIES 2
323 MOVIES4MEN
324 MOV4MEN+1
325 MOVIES4MEN2
326 MOVIES4MEN2 +1

This is where I stopped.
Anybody got any ideas on what I should do to get the channels that are missing like BBC, Channel 4, etc?

Many thanks

[NewsreadeR]

Hopefully someone will give you some help shortly.

[Scubbie]

Is it possible that since the LNB hasn't been used that it has got damp inside or some other weather damage?

Do check the Coax too, to ensure that water hasn't got into it. Check for any damage to the outer insulation or any sharp bends too.

Also I would be inclined to check the alignment of the dish. It is possible that some bad weather could have disturbed it.

Looking around error 29 is to do with the signal strength.

[hoolers]

I am getting the same problem. I am a canceled sky plus user and everything was fine for a couple of weeks, then overnight i started having this issue. I have the same channel problems, but i can for example view BBC One HD, but not BBC One!

I dont see any error codes, just simply states no satalite signal being received. There is a numerical code on the right, that is 25.

[dms05]

OP - You're only getting Vertical polarised low frequency transponders.

Firstly, check LNB power and tone are enabled (in the installer menu).

If it is, try a different box. If that doesn't work then replace the LNB. Could always be the coax is full of water of course.....

[hoolers]

bump.....

[dms05]

I am getting the same problem. I am a canceled sky plus user and everything was fine for a couple of weeks, then overnight i started having this issue. I have the same channel problems, but i can for example view BBC One HD, but not BBC One!

I dont see any error codes, just simply states no satalite signal being received. There is a numerical code on the right, that is 25.

BBC One HD is a low frequency Vertically polarised transponder so it doesn't fit the pattern. BBC One SD is regional and the transponder you receive from is fixed in the EPG by Sky who work it out based on your location. So I'd need to know which Region you receive to see if it's Horizontally polarised (it will be one of the very low frequency transponders). Essentially which BBC Local News bulletin do you receive?

In any case it looks as if you have some form of equipment problem unrelated to Sky. First of all check all the 'F' connections on the back of the Sky box and if possible check them at the LNB. If you can try attaching your Sky box to a friends Sky dish to see if it works OK, if it does then the problem is with the dish/LNB/coax cable. If it doesn't work at another location (where other Sky equipment does) then you have a faulty Sky box.

Hope this helps.

[hoolers]

Hi mate, thats cool i'll have a crack at that, one question though sorry what does LNB mean? oh and btw my news is BBC London.

[Scubbie]

LNB = Low-noise block downconverter - Low-noise block downconverter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a picture of an LNB:

[dms05]

Hi mate, thats cool i'll have a crack at that, one question though sorry what does LNB mean? oh and btw my news is BBC London.

BBC1 London is Horizontal Polarisation. So you have a mix of V and H problems. The same transponder that carries BBC1 London also carries BBC2 and BBC3 as well as CBBC - so you shouldn't be able to receive them either.

Can you try your Sky box on another working system?