Sky Signal issues (with VIDEO)

[fosman]

Hello,

YouTube - ‪Sky signal issues‬‏

I've been having this issue for a couple of months now, with no solution forthcoming. I have ANOTHER engineer booked to come out from Love Digital, but in the mean time, I wanted to see if the hive mind might have a solution to my problem. I've also manged to capture the issue on video, the link can be found below.

I am getting messages saying no Satellite Signal is being recieved - however, this only occurs when I try to flick to a HD channel. Flicking back to some other channels means I get a signal again. A hard reset loses everything.

I think that it occurs (although it's not consistant) when I come out of a recorded programme and onto a HD channel. The only way to recieve a signal again is by doing a full hard reset (ie, pulling the power out for a couple of minutes).

I've tried planner rebuilds, software updates, freeing up harddrive space, the works. The problem still occurs.

A Sky/Love Digital engineer came round, did a planner rebuild/software update (again) said 'nothing's wrong') and left fairly abruptly. This morning, the issue presists.

Here's a video of what I got this AM. As you'll notice, I have a picture on a number of channels, then when I flick to a one, it knocks out the signal. Flick back to a working channel, and I seem to get signal back on Input 2. A soft reset kills everything, planner, second signal, services etc. Hard reset means I get both signals back.

Any ideas?!

Issue: YouTube - ‪Sky signal issues‬‏
After Soft reset: YouTube - ‪Sky signal issues‬‏
(PS, sorry for the rotation of the vid, it was before the morning coffee hit!)

Thanks in advance for any advice.

f

[Scubbie]

The satellite input to #1 is not registering.

I would suspect that either:

• the STB is faulty
• the coax is not correctly connected
• the F-Plug is not correctly fitted
• there is a problem with the coax lead or
• the LNB port has gone down

To confirm that it is not the STB, swap the satellite feeds and see if the issue transfers to the 2nd input.

If it does transfer, then read through this link and check the connector:
How to fit F Connectors to coaxial cable

With regards to the coax & LNB, these will take a little extra work. Carefully inspect the entire length of the coax lead and look for anything that is broken or piercing the coax.

The LNB may be as simple as swapping the coax from one port to another, provided that you have a spare port. Sky used to install only 2-Port LNBs, but current practise appears to be to install a 4-port LNB as the norm.

[fosman]

Sorry, to clarify:

Normally, I get signal into both channels with no problem at all.

A hard reset fixes the issue. If you look at the second video, it shows both signals going down. The connections are fine (have been checked, swapped etc) and this occurs ONLY when switching to some HD channels after viewing something on the planner.

I'm not sure it's an issue with the signal/cabling, as hard reset picks everything up again.

It feels like a software issue to me - but I could be wrong?

[Scubbie]

Specifically which model STB do you have?

The model number will be on the rear and sometimes it is underneath as well.

[Kenedin]

Well known software fault with Darwin on certain Amstrads, mainly. I think the box is too quick to register a 'No Satellite Signal' error when switching polarity and/or band on older LNB's, or maybe just certain makes. That's just a theory. I mentioned this on the Sky Help Forum a few weeks ago. No response.

[Old_nick]

I agree. I think a new LNB could fix it. Older LNBs can be slow to lock.

[fosman]

Hi all,

I posted a while back to try and resolve this problem and it seemed to correct itself. However - the problem has now come back.

Few updates:
I'm watching Sky now - majority of HD channels read "No satellite signal is being received" (25). Most SD channels work fine.
There seems to be a pattern in the error - between midnight at 11am, I get a full service - it starts failing at other times.
If I try to hard reset, I lose everything and have to keep hard resetting until it finds any signal.
I've had a number of engineers come round, all of whom have been stumped.
I now have TWO sky boxes - when the error occurs, I swap the boxes around and the problem exists on both boxes.

So, I'm guessing it's an environmental disturbance with the dish, cables or signal, not with my box.

I live in a block of flats, but unfortunately, I'm the only one that has sky even though it's from a communal dish. I'm thinking that I have a problem with birds, that are landing or nesting on the dish. I'm about to go out and buy some spike strips so see if that helps, but can anyone think of any other issues - or even if birds landing on a dish would impact signal in this way?

I would really appreciate some help, this has driven me crazy for over a year!

Best,

f

[Kenedin]

I think you need the dish re-aligned, maybe even replaced. How old is it? And the LNB? Cabling? If you're the only person on the system, it often means it's gone unserviced for many moons.