Sky tv reception problem,

cli70488 · 28-11-2010, 10:37

In addition to having VM TV XL I have a Sky pack with Sky Films, and the reception is OK with a few exceptions. There are about six channels including CBS Action and CBS Reality and True Movies 1 and 2 which are unobtainable and just break-up if selected.

Can anyone inform me whether this is due to the Sky Receiver being the problem or is it the reception from the dish, and would it be possible to improve the signal with a Booster before it enters the Box, or should a Booster be applied after the Box.

I have not asked Sky Service for information as to do so may involve a change to my subscription which, is in fact, a Half Price arrangement offered to me as a previous customer using the old existing Box and Dish, both of which were in use before Sky + or HD were available.

Sasha222 · 28-11-2010, 11:00

Wether you phone them up or not when your special offer on your subscription is up your package will be changed again. Better to phone them up and tell them what the problem is and all it might need for them to do is reboost your box or it could just be to do with the weather your having. How long is it like that for and is there snow in your area?

cli70488 · 28-11-2010, 11:30

defirish, many thanks for your reply. The arrangement is for a whole year as I only took it up 2 weeks ago, hence my concern. Yes we have a very cold period and a little snow but I agree a simple call to Sky could be the answer. As the bulk of the channels are OK, numbering dozens, I will wait for the weather to improve. Thanks again.

Sasha222 · 28-11-2010, 11:42

Your more than welcome. You could also turn of the box and plug it out and give it a few mins and then plug it back in again and see will that help also.

---------- Post added at 11:42 ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by cli70488

defirish, many thanks for your reply. The arrangement is for a whole year as I only took it up 2 weeks ago, hence my concern. Yes we have a very cold period and a little snow but I agree a simple call to Sky could be the answer. As the bulk of the channels are OK, numbering dozens, I will wait for the weather to improve. Thanks again.

I dont understand why you would be worried to call them if your contract is for a year. They will be able to help you in telling you if it is the weather that is causing the problem or if It's a fault with the box and they can sort it from there end. If the problem presists then they will book and engineer for free for you so it can be sorted. No point in paying out for what you cant watch properly.

**Chris** · 28-11-2010, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by cli70488

defirish, many thanks for your reply. The arrangement is for a whole year as I only took it up 2 weeks ago, hence my concern. Yes we have a very cold period and a little snow but I agree a simple call to Sky could be the answer. As the bulk of the channels are OK, numbering dozens, I will wait for the weather to improve. Thanks again.

You say you have had this package for a couple of weeks now. It has been snowing for perhaps 3-4 days at most. Have you had the problem on CBS channels from the outset, or just since the snow started?

It might just be the snow (our sky reception has gone completely this morning, but we're having the worst snow I've ever seen since moving here), or it might be that the old dish has shifted slightly out of alignment, or the old cable has deteriorated.

Wait until the skies clear and then try your channels again. If they are still breaking up then your installation still needs looking at. Sky will not do this free of charge for you; remember you can always get a local, independent aerial installer to check it out for you - it may be quicker and cheaper.

cli70488 · 28-11-2010, 15:19

Chris, It seems that a Tree in a garden of a house nearby may be affecting the signal but as only so few of the channels are giving the problem this seems to be unlikely. The tree, of course is bare of all foliage at this time of year ,but I will contact someone locally to check, as when the leaves return in the Spring the signal could be blocked. Thankyou.

**Chris** · 28-11-2010, 15:25

Slight signal blockage due to an obstruction could easily cause the symptoms you have. Not all the channels you received come from the same satellite. They come from a cluster and your dish is pointed at the best compromise position to receive from all of them. Depending on the nature of the blockage, it could easily affect some channels more than others. Additionally, not all channels are broadcast at the same power.

**Kymmy** · 28-11-2010, 20:56

If just a few channels are effected then it's normally the transponder for those channels has been set to low power, combine that with the adverse weather and the channels suffer

cli70488 · 29-11-2010, 11:04

Chris and Kymmy, very many thanks for the info. The possibility of the affected channels being possibly on low power seems to a very possible cause of them breaking-up, especially with the possibility that the tree could also partially reduce the signal. I don't think the weather is a factor in this case as the problem was evident from the time the connection was made when the weather was OK. As I actually get a picture when selecting the channels and then it gets distorted and disappears indicates low power, as all other channels give perfect reception. Again my best wishes and thanks.

MikeyB · 01-12-2010, 12:32

The problem channels you list are actually not on the Astra 2D satellites that people usually think of when talking about Sky, but are on Eurobird 1 which is close by.
Astra 2D being at 28.2°E, Eurobird 1 is at 28.5°E
http://www.flysat.com/28east.php

So your dish could need re-alligning a touch, usually Sky dishes point so they pickup both sets of satellites.

cli70488 · 02-12-2010, 11:20

Thanks MikeyB. I used to have a Motorised system which would have have been perfect for the purpose but due to the Trees in the area I dismantled it.I shall get a local aerial rigger to move the Sky dish to a higher point when weather conditions are improved and the reset will probably cure the problem. Again many thanks for your reply.

**Chris** · 02-12-2010, 11:33

Moving the dish higher is definitely a good option. I wouldn't waste your time with a motorized system just so you can get Freesat channels intended for the UK. As Mikey says, they are not all on the same sat, but they are all close together in the sky. A well-placed and aimed dish will pick them all up perfectly satisfactorily.

**Kymmy** · 02-12-2010, 11:45

For 28.2 and 28.5 you should be able to set the dish to get both at once.. The angle of radiation on a standard dish should easily cover the 0.3 degrees of seperation

cli70488 · 10-12-2010, 14:40

As the Sky Box shows the Signal to be strong and the Quality of the Signal to be over three quarters of the way across the indicator, I suspect that the poor reception could possibly be the Coax cable breaking down, due to the age of it, and as it has been in place for nine years it would seem to be time it was replaced. This is my intention as soon as weather conditions improve and who knows, this could be a solution to the problem.