Sky Movies

[MartinL]

Hi,

I've noticed over the past couple of weeks my Sky+ box (Pace) is having picture problems with Sky Movie channels 301,302, 309, 312. The picture breaks up, pixelates and the sound is intermittent.

When I checked the signal test page I've noticed the Signal strength on both inputs is always over 70-80% but the signal quality varies between 50-60% (wasn't particularly windy or raining when I checked).

I phoned Sky Support and they ran through power cycling the Sky+ box and a TV planner reset which didn't resolve the problem they then advised an Engineer would need to be sent out at a cost of £65.

The fault then seemed to resolve itself but after about a week is back again.

We've had the Sky+ 5 years and had one LNB replaced in that time(when it was in warranty).

Is this likely to be a faulty LNB or out of alignment dish? It seems odd that it only affects these specific channel and not more.

Thanks
Martin

[NewsreadeR]

Whilst not sure of the technical side of things, I have had success before by ringing cancellations and asking to cancel as my box was faulty and so was no point in paying Sky any money each month. I was offered a free service call and they then swapped my box.

The other option is, do you fancy getting a HD box? They are free at the moment and would give you a bigger recording space and the same Sky+ features.

Standard set-up of Sky+HD box with the HD Pack is £30 for new Sky TV customers (free if you join online), £60 for existing customers (£30 with a new Multiroom subscription and free with Multiroom if buying online).

Sky+HD: Excludes existing Sky+HD households. £10 pm for the HD Pack. HD channels received depend on your Sky TV package. Free Sky+HD box when you join Sky TV with the HD Pack and pay for set-up (£30 for standard set up, free if joining online). One free box per household. Sky+HD box up to £199 if you are not eligible for discounted price (Sky TV subscription required). A Sky+HD box can store an average of 60 hours of HD or 185 hours of standard definition programmes. HD ready TV required. Luxe TV HD, Channel 4 HD and BBC HD are available without subscription. Channel 4 HD requires a viewing card.

If you go with the HD subscription, then it would cost an extra £10 per month.

[Kenedin]

Hi,

I've noticed over the past couple of weeks my Sky+ box (Pace) is having picture problems with Sky Movie channels 301,302, 309, 312. The picture breaks up, pixelates and the sound is intermittent.

When I checked the signal test page I've noticed the Signal strength on both inputs is always over 70-80% but the signal quality varies between 50-60% (wasn't particularly windy or raining when I checked).

I phoned Sky Support and they ran through power cycling the Sky+ box and a TV planner reset which didn't resolve the problem they then advised an Engineer would need to be sent out at a cost of £65.

The fault then seemed to resolve itself but after about a week is back again.

We've had the Sky+ 5 years and had one LNB replaced in that time(when it was in warranty).

Is this likely to be a faulty LNB or out of alignment dish? It seems odd that it only affects these specific channel and not more.

Thanks
Martin

The channels you mention are all beamed from one transponder on Eurobird 28.5E, 11603Mhz, and three things are possible:

Dish has moved slightly off beam for Eurobird
LNB has a problem with this frequency
Intermittent transponder/uplink issue.

Check out some other channels on Eurobird.

LinowSat @ 28.5°East

The Signal Strength menu on your digibox measures the Default Transponder on Astra 2, so will not detect any issues with Eurobird. Bad weather and atmospherics can affect a signal if the dish is marginally out of alignment.

[Proppinupthebar]

If you record two of the affected channels at the same time and do the signal check then it is forced to check the transponders you are tuned to.

[MartinL]

Thanks a lot guys, I just tried recording two of the channels mentioned at the same time and instead of the signal quality and strength being acceptable (as it was without this) one input is showing no signal and quality with "no lock" and the other is showing very low signal strength (~10%).

From what's been said it either looks like the dish has moved or the LNB is faulty.

Thanks again, very much appreciated.

Martin