Picture Problems with Sky

Raistlin · 25-04-2008, 09:29

Morning All,

As I inadvertantly (sp?) let slip yesterday, I'm a Sky customer (and fairly happy with the service).

Over the last couple of days the picture has been really crappy though, it's happened previously (but usually just with one channel), but now I'm getting it across most of the channels.

What's happening is that the picture keeps going slightly blocky in places, sometimes it freezes, and the audio is similarly affected.

Switching the box off/on seems to help for a short while (less than a minute), but I don't know if that's connected or not. I've checked all the connections to televisions and the box and can't find anything loose.

Anybody know if this is likely to be an indicator that the box is failing, or is it just one of those things?

Ta

iain_herts · 25-04-2008, 10:14

hi Raistlin.

if the picture looks like it is pixelating and sound jumping then there could be a number of reasons for this.
1)box could be failing
2)LNB could also be failing
3)the cabling from the dish to the box
4)dish alignment my be out
5)dish could be slightly warped(sp)
6)even a tree maybe blocking the dish

foreverwar · 25-04-2008, 11:33

It's probably VM's fault, somehow (thought I would say this before anyone else does

).

Seriously, though - have you had high winds, bad rain, could anything have affected the alignment (fat crow sitting on it)?

the-cable-guy · 25-04-2008, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raistlin

Morning All,

As I inadvertantly (sp?) let slip yesterday, I'm a Sky customer (and fairly happy with the service).

Over the last couple of days the picture has been really crappy though, it's happened previously (but usually just with one channel), but now I'm getting it across most of the channels.

What's happening is that the picture keeps going slightly blocky in places, sometimes it freezes, and the audio is similarly affected.

Switching the box off/on seems to help for a short while (less than a minute), but I don't know if that's connected or not. I've checked all the connections to televisions and the box and can't find anything loose.

Anybody know if this is likely to be an indicator that the box is failing, or is it just one of those things?

Ta

? is the picture pixaled ?

Raistlin · 25-04-2008, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_herts

hi Raistlin.

if the picture looks like it is pixelating and sound jumping then there could be a number of reasons for this.
1)box could be failing
2)LNB could also be failing
3)the cabling from the dish to the box
4)dish alignment my be out
5)dish could be slightly warped(sp)
6)even a tree maybe blocking the dish

Ok, I can check the connections on the cabling, but beyond that there's not a lot I can do other than change it. Nothing's happened recently to change the dish alignment. There are trees around, but they've always been there and this has only just started getting really bad.

I guess I start by remaking the connections, and then replace the cable if there's still no improvement. Then I change the LNB (that's the bit on the front of the dish yes?). Then I change the box. Then I change the Dish.

Does that sound about right?

---------- Post added at 20:52 ---------- Previous post was at 20:51 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Seriously, though - have you had high winds, bad rain, could anything have affected the alignment (fat crow sitting on it)?

Always a little windy here, nothing out of the ordinary though. Nothing that I can think of that could have upset the alignment either.

---------- Post added at 20:53 ---------- Previous post was at 20:52 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

? is the picture pixaled ?

Yarp.

Losttheplot · 25-04-2008, 21:07

Its always best to take your box to someone elses house and see if it behaves the same, and bring someone elses box to your house. You rule out your box if it works at someone elses house, your cabling, dish and LNB if someone elses box works at yours.
My moneys on a failing power supply in the STB.

the-cable-guy · 26-04-2008, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raistlin

Ok, I can check the connections on the cabling, but beyond that there's not a lot I can do other than change it. Nothing's happened recently to change the dish alignment. There are trees around, but they've always been there and this has only just started getting really bad.

I guess I start by remaking the connections, and then replace the cable if there's still no improvement. Then I change the LNB (that's the bit on the front of the dish yes?). Then I change the box. Then I change the Dish.

Does that sound about right?

---------- Post added at 20:52 ---------- Previous post was at 20:51 ----------

Always a little windy here, nothing out of the ordinary though. Nothing that I can think of that could have upset the alignment either.

---------- Post added at 20:53 ---------- Previous post was at 20:52 ----------

Yarp.

ok then as said above its most likely a dish alignment issue or your Digibox has had its day. either way id ring Sky if i was you.

Raistlin · 26-04-2008, 08:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

ok then as said above its most likely a dish alignment issue or your Digibox has had its day. either way id ring Sky if i was you.

I think if I ring Sky I'm gonna have a long argument with them.
The contract is past the 12 month point so the box belongs to me (apparently

).

TheBlueRaja · 26-04-2008, 08:57

Is it an HD box?

Roughly how old is it?

What are your signal levels like?

And never, ever be afraid to tell everyone on here your a Sky customer, personally i like to mention it as much as possible, they hate it...

the-cable-guy · 26-04-2008, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raistlin

I think if I ring Sky I'm gonna have a long argument with them.
The contract is past the 12 month point so the box belongs to me (apparently

).

lol the receiver belongs to you from day one. id still ask em tho, if worst comes to worst buy one from eBay & get your viewing card paired, after all Sky will pair them for free :o)

---------- Post added at 09:19 ---------- Previous post was at 09:18 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Is it an HD box?

Roughly how old is it?

What are your signal levels like?

And never, ever be afraid to tell everyone on here your a Sky customer, personally i like to mention it as much as possible, they hate it...

Sky is a hell of alot better then VM.

iain_herts · 26-04-2008, 10:25

i would say 70% ur problem will be the LNB the bit at the end of the dish.

also if it is a skyHD receiver i would recommend upgrading the dish to a 60cm (a sky zone 2 dish)the HD receivers are very picky with there signal and a 60cm dish will just give it that little bit more signal.

foreverwar · 26-04-2008, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Is it an HD box?

Roughly how old is it?

What are your signal levels like?

And never, ever be afraid to tell everyone on here your a Sky customer, personally i like to mention it as much as possible, they hate it...

I think you will find they don't hate Sky customers - just some of them, and their attitudes.......

TheBlueRaja · 26-04-2008, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

I think you will find they don't hate Sky customers - just some of them, and their attitudes.......

Tell it to someone who cares..

foreverwar · 26-04-2008, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

I think you will find they don't hate Sky customers - just some of them, and their attitudes.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Tell it to someone who cares..

And there rests the case, m'lud.......

Raistlin · 26-04-2008, 19:19

It's a standard box (not HD), I haven't got a clue how old it is - knowing Sky I'm guessing it was a re-furb so it could be any age.

I'll try playing with cables/connections etc and see how that goes, failing that I'll pester Sky and get them to sort it.

How do I check the signal levels?