menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Archive (2002-)

 

 

Click to see updates

All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


David Potter: As you have now verified that both LNB input sockets on the box are indeed powered, and that the LNB settings match up with the check list and yet no signal is received / indicated on input 1 nomatter which of the two input cables are connected into that input, this then makes your options somewhat limited to carrying out either a "new install", or, the more dastardly "system reset".

The reason for describing the latter as such, is that although it's the most effective way of eliminating any glitches which "may" have developed in the boxes operating system by returning it to its original "out of the box" condition, it does so at the expense of deleting everything stored in the hard drive including your recordings.

Of course in saying that, if a "component" fault has developed in the tuner used by dish input 1 rather than some odd form of glitch, then resetting the box is unlikely to resolve the situation, and so if "new install" does not make any difference to the situation and you have a number of favourite programmes recorded in the hard drive, you will really have to choose if it's worth deleting them in an attempt to overcome the tuner problem.

The only other way of getting over that difficulty being to record programmes stored in the hard drive onto a separate recorder, the snag being that it has to be done in "real time", as there is no way of speeding it up.

link to this comment
GB flag

David Potter: Well, it certainly doesn't look too promising, but nothing to worry about regarding the "new install" option, as it "is" simply achieved by selecting and pressing on it then following any instructions that might appear on the screen.

On the subject of a software upgrade, there would be no harm in trying it so long as you didn't attempt to alter anything whilst it was being carried out, as in some cases it can take a considerable time giving the impression that the box has locked up. Undermentioned is a link explaining the procedure dependant on the model being used.

Updating the software on your Sky box - Sky Community

By the way, in your original posting you mentioned having rebooted your box, are you meaning that you disconnected it from the mains after having placed it in standby? should you not have done, then try that as well.

Procedure used to select "new install".

1 : Press "Services" on your Sky remote and you'll see the "Options" menu
highlighted.

2 : Press the right arrow to select "Settings" then press on.

3 : Press (in smooth succession) 0 - 1 - Select then you will see the
set up screen.

4 : Press the right arrows to highlight "Install" which then changes to New
Install when you do this - press "select".

5: Follow the instructions on your TV screen until you see the message
"Installation Complete" is displayed then press select.


link to this comment
GB flag

David Potter: Re: reference to "one good signal", you have to look at it from the point of view that the signal on "both inputs" from the dish must be OK, because if your problem was caused by a fault in the coax (or the LNB port on the dish) feeding into the boxes LNB1, then the signal would have returned when you swapped the boxes two inputs over, the fact that it didn't, indicating that the tuner associated with LNB1's input socket is the reason for your problem.

That said, the thing that still puzzles me about your problem is the fact that any signal at all is being indicated, that is "if" your rebooting exercise involved disconnecting the box from the mains, (which it should have done) the reason for saying that being, LNB1 is the main input on a Sky box, LNB2 being secondary, therefore the box cannot be tuned up unless a signal is being received on LNB1's input, and yet you have reported a signal being indicated on LNB2.

Therefore I would like you to try one final test "without switching the box off". Go into the signal test screen on the box checking that a signal is still being indicated on the LNB2 input, the next stage is to remove the "F" connector on LNB1's input and leave it aside, now unscrew the "F" connector going into the boxes LNB2 and connect it into LNB1 and see if anything is indicated on No1's signal indicator bar.

By the way, signals can on occasions take about 10/15 seconds or so to appear, so don't rush this test.

Regarding a non+ box / Freesat box, Sky (or ex Sky) dishes and leads from are 100% compatible with all Freesat devices, the same rules apply as with Sky+, insomuch that a single lead is only suitable for use with a receiver, whereas a twin tuner Freesat PVR (recorder) requires twin feeds.

link to this comment
GB flag

Hill: No! as you are referring to two completely different operating systems, insomuch that satellite reception can only be achieved via a dish, whereas aerials are only suitable for use with "freeview" devices.

link to this comment
GB flag

David Potter: Well, now that the LHS/RHS aspect has been clarified (your reply on the 5th @10.54am having somewhat swayed me) then yes!, as the tuner associated with LNB2/dish 2's input would appear to be defective. However, the various tests you carried were not necessarily a waste of time, as they are applicable to "both" tuners used in the box.

That said, there is one (and only one) procedure that can be carried out where one tuner can be singled out from the other, that being by selecting "single input mode" on the box, this procedure killing the power supply on dish input 2's side of the box, then "after" completion of the process reverting the box back to normal, the idea being that this might possibly shock the tuner into operation again, if though it doesn't, then I'm afraid that there isn't anything else to try.

By the way, the single input mode as you have possibly noticed, is in the LNB set up screen.

Just in case you were wondering, the single input mode is not really of any assistance to you "if" you are wishing the record programmes, as you can only record a programme being broadcast on the same transponder (satellite equivalent of a Freeview multiplex) as you might be viewing.




link to this comment
GB flag

keith Blackham : If, as you have said, others in your area are also experiencing similar problems with reception then the reason for is obviously outwith your control, that is unless an alternative station is found as providing a more stable signal.

As far as your aerials direction is concerned, a rooftop aerial check (via Google) in your area indicates aerials as being vertically mounted matching up with the polarity of the local Bromsgrove transmitter, but though, according to your post code, located at an angle of 190 degrees, the Ridge Hill transmitter being at an angle of 217 degrees but which is a horizontally polarised transmitter.

You can of course study this for yourself by opening the undermentioned link, this giving details of the various stations and the Mux channels used said stations, as this will enable you to check where a channel is being received from.

It will also be noticed that the channels used by Bromsgrove are also used by two other stations, namely Larke Stoke and The Wrekin, this under certain atmospheric conditions being something which "might" cause problems with reception.


Coverage Checker - Detailed View



link to this comment
GB flag

Dave Lindsay: Sorry for the delay in replying, this being due to working in another area which involved an overnight stay. However as far as your query is concerned, yes! in the majority of cases they do, and with no problems whatsoever being experienced with reception, that is provided none of the transmitters involved are only being received via diffraction and why I had mentioned "atmospheric conditions, as signals received under these conditions can suffer from elements of data corruption, which on its own is neither here nor there, but not if the signal is part of a synchronised SFN network.

My main thoughts being centred on The Wrekin, that is even although DUK indicates that reception from this transmitter is possible in B61, as I personally have my doubts about whether or not it can actually be received in Keith's B61 location, albeit with this being well-nigh impossible to confirm without a series of mobile checks being made.

link to this comment
GB flag

kelly gray: Unfortunately there isnt any way of knowing if the dish is fully operational or not without testing it out by borrowing someone else's receiver, which of course can either be a Sky or Freesat box,

link to this comment
GB flag

Brian Porter : The best way to test if 4G is responsible for your problem is simply by temporarily removing the aerial from your sky boxes "aerial input" socket.

If the problem vanishes, then it could be that either 4G is responsible, or that your Sky boxes RF modulator is set on a channel used by a Freeview transmitter, unable to advise on the best channel to use as you haven't provided your location, this preferably being in the form of a post code or one from nearby, i.e: a shop / post office.

link to this comment
GB flag
J
Full technical details of Freeview
Wednesday 10 June 2015 12:42AM

Andy: Apart from anything else said, you should also keep in mind that engineering work is presently being carried out at the Winter Hill transmitter, the work having started on the 8th, a notice to this effect of "possible weak signal" having been posted on the engineering page.

link to this comment
GB flag