Freezing channels and very blocky - stuttery

[djbobeb]

Hi all

I have had a problem with Sky now for quite sometime where just specific channels keep freezing, becoming very pixely and stuttery, etc. This issue happens mostly with some of the premier movie channels, history channel, and sky one......but all other channels though seem to be fine.

Sky have said they want to charge me to come and check the issue and also they they suggest I buy a new sky box (I have got the basic amstrad box that I was given when I first joined about 3 and a half years ago.

Any ideas how to resolve it and whether it is the box itself which they seem to be telling me it is?

I don't want to spend anymore money on it as I am paying £55 for the all in one package anyway and it ain't worth upgrading my box for £100 just to get a few odd channels.

I have also done some checks over the phone with sky such as rescanning all of the channels, full reset, etc, and it is still the same with the same channels doing the freezing, etc.

[penrhyn]

There are only two components that can cause you problems, the LNB and/or your Sky box.

If it were me I'd downgrade to a basic package at say £22 for the rest of the summer and get Sky out, they will rplace your box and or LNB for £65, and you will save that much in 3 months.

Or upgrade to Sky +

[djbobeb]

Thanks, I think I shall stick with the fault as the money I am paying is for the sports and movie channels, sky itself, phone and also broadband. Obviously if I get the cash available and decide to upgrade to Sky+, then a new box may do the job

[welshie87]

Can you please say what the weather conditions were. Because of all the thunder around the UK in the last few days theres alot of static in the air. This can cause a distortion with your sound and picture. In some cases with thunder you can actually lose a signal for a few hours please take this into consideration before deciding anything.

[djbobeb]

Can you please say what the weather conditions were. Because of all the thunder around the UK in the last few days theres alot of static in the air. This can cause a distortion with your sound and picture. In some cases with thunder you can actually lose a signal for a few hours please take this into consideration before deciding anything.

Hi Welshie, the weather does make it freeze and jumd and stuff, but this issue is there permanently 24/7 what-ever the weather unfortunately.

[MR Pieman]

Hi
I had the same symptoms a few months ago, I discovered that interference from a cordless phone plugged into the same socket as the sky box line, I move the phone hey presto the channels returned to normal. I searched this forum and found the solution after I had sorted it but nevetheless worth a try. Most of the Sky engineers aren't aware of this as a problem.

Hope it sorts it
Pieman

[djbobeb]

Hi, tried what you suggested as I do have a cordless phone plugged into the same connector as the sky, however, upon removal and trying the history channel and a few other channels that have the problem, they are still freezing. Thanks anyway

[penrhyn]

Can you beg or borrow a spare Sky Box to try, car boots may have them as a lot of folks have upgraded to Sky+ and have a spare to sell.

[Smithy99]

Pick the worst channel and then go into the services menu and then the signal test. Keep an eye on the signal levels and see if they are steady, the higher the better.

It could be that the dish is slightly off line and would also explain why they get worse during bad weather.

If so you can call a local company to come and have a look.

If you can get to the dish you could always try it yourself, just get someone infront of the TV, if you cannot hear them shouting from there, then get them to ring you on your mobile.

Don't undo anything, just flex the dish left-right & up-down and see if there is any improvement either in strenght or quality. If there is then see if you can give it a bit of a shove in the right direction, you only need to move it a fraction.

[djbobeb]

Hi thanks everyone, I may try and borrow a box from a family member if they are willing to part with it for a bit, but I may also give the dish flex a go too sometime soon. I think the borrowing of a box may be the first point of call. I shall keep you posted.