Sky digibox help, pweeese!

[Darren S]

I know how to switch on my digibox...... pick a channel and that's about it.

What I want to know is whether or not a standard digibox (not Sky+ or HD or anything) is the same - regardless of who the manufacturer is? Our Thomson unit is going ape and regularly says "No satellite signal is being received" - but always on the same channels.

Then, at random times, one of the dodgy channels just decides to work. :S Blokey at Sky tech-help said that the either the cable or digibox itself was kapput, but as we had Sky fitted in 2003, we are well out of warranty. And that we'd need to pay £65 before the engineer even came to the door.

So, I've been looking on Fleabay and similar units to ours are dirt cheap - like £10. Is it worth taking a gamble on one of these first, or is it unlikely to work?

Cheers,
D.

 

[Griff]

Out of interest what are the channels affected?

In answer to your other question regardless of make all Sky Digiboxes are essentially the same and there's no problem swapping one box for another. All you'll need to do is pair the viewing card to the replacement box.

 

[Darren S]

Sky Two doesn't work, but Sky One does. Loads from Discovery, like 520, 521, 522, etc don't work either. We also get weird situations when the standard channel works, but the +1 channel of the same name, doesn't?

D.

 

[Griff]

I had a similar problem with C4+1, some of the music channels, and some other randoms.

It turned out that the base station of my DECT phone was causing the problem. As stupid/weird as that sounds the second I turned the base station off the channels started working again.

If you don't have a DECT phone or that makes no difference then I'd try a second hand box off Ebay. As you've already said yourself they cost next to nothing and it's certainly cheaper to try that option first rather than pay £65 to Sky.

 

[jon_r]

Check your sky dish hasn't moved as well. You can perform a basic system check in the box menu.

 

[Darren S]

Griff - good point, m8. We do have a DECT phone in the house - I'll try unplugging it from the master socket and leaving Sky connected - see if that makes any difference. Certainly worth a shot!

Jon, I did think that as well. We have had some strong winds in the past few weeks, so I thought the dish may have moved slightly? However, the picture quality is spot on with all the channels - even with the ones that randomly work/don't work. I would have thought that they may go a little/lot fuzzy if the signal wasn't right?

Checked the signal strength too - seems to hover consistantly around the three-quarters mark. I'm assuming that's good?!

Thanks for the feedback - I'll have another bash tonight...

D.

 

[Rich_M]

it could be your LNB on the end of the dish.. usually fualty as it picks up a few transponders,,

some channels are one one transponder and others are on another transponder.. hence picking some channels and not others..


try taking your mains power cable out of the unit... hold down the backup button then put the power cable back in. keep hold of the backup button for approx 15-20 secs...

on your screen should display - software update !


takes up to 10minutes and the box will then switch off... this is normal, then switch it on. if you have the same problem its either a worn dish ( lack of signal relection into the lnb / bit on the end ) or a faulty LNB ( bit on the end )


hope this helps ...


rich

 

[Darren S]

it could be your LNB on the end of the dish.. usually fualty as it picks up a few transponders,,

some channels are one one transponder and others are on another transponder.. hence picking some channels and not others..


try taking your mains power cable out of the unit... hold down the backup button then put the power cable back in. keep hold of the backup button for approx 15-20 secs...

on your screen should display - software update !


takes up to 10minutes and the box will then switch off... this is normal, then switch it on. if you have the same problem its either a worn dish ( lack of signal relection into the lnb / bit on the end ) or a faulty LNB ( bit on the end )


hope this helps ...


rich

Quality! :approve:

Cheers Rich! I'll add that to the list of tests!

D.

 

[Rich_M]

no worries..

spot the ex sky engineer !

 

[Darren S]

Well, I had some success - sort of. The phone socket is very near to the TV, and the wires were bit a of a mess tbh. Sorted them out and low-and-behold, the channels were alright. Stayed the same all night last night.

Tried it again this morning (sure fire winner to feck up - Discovery on 520) and it came up with the 'ol message again.

It was never going to be as easy as my initial attempt now, was it! Griff's idea first and then onto Rich's. Back to the testing tonight....

D.

 

[Revels]

"Hi, my box is faulty but as you want to charge me £65 just to come and look after the thousands ive paid to you over the years, Ive decided id like to cancel my subscription"

See how fast £65 becomes free!

 

[Dan Page]

as revels said, blag em and you will get a service call for free.

It sounds like your LNB is on its last legs to me though, if your dish isn't too high and you feel confident enough to change it I will post you one if you paypal me a fiver.

Where in the world are ya mate?

 

[Darren S]

as revels said, blag em and you will get a service call for free.

It sounds like your LNB is on its last legs to me though, if your dish isn't too high and you feel confident enough to change it I will post you one if you paypal me a fiver.

Where in the world are ya mate?

Thanks for the offer Dan. I think it must be the LNB that's causing the issue. I've unplugged the DECT phone as Griff mentioned and did the reset procedure that Rich told me - but it still causes the same problem.

Unfortunately, the dish in on the chimney - on next door's roof! Sounds like it might be a service call that's needed...

D.

 

[Dan Page]

No probs mate.

When you call up and book the service call makes sure you tell them you need a special heights team because the dish is on the chimney! Otherwise you will get some bloke on his own who wants to just swap the box without even checking the signal