Question:
Since moving house last week, we've lost the following channels :
ITV (103)
ITV2 (226)
Home and Leisure +1 (134)
Hallmark (190)
Kerrang (454)
there may be others. I get a 'No satellite signal is being received' message. As usual, Sky reckon I need an engineer (at a cost of £65 to investigate). There's no problem with the box (all other channels work OK and was fine at my old address).
Don't know if this matters but I've moved to an apartment which has a communal dish.
Is there anything I can try to get these channels back ?
I've got this problem, if find that if I go to 651 then straight back to ITV it works ok.
I think its down to ***** Grundig boxes.
Those channels are all on the same transponder. I had exactly the same problem a few months ago (with the same channels) and called Sky they sent out an engineer who re-aligned the dish and then changed the LNB - all the channels are OK now. If you've had your subscription for less than a year there will be no charge. Id check with your neigbours who use the dish to see if it is a problem for them. If it is then perhaps you can club together for the repair. If it is only you that has the problem it may be worth doing a re-install from the service menu.
Originally posted by mostly
I've got this problem, if find that if I go to 651 then straight back to ITV it works ok.
I think its down to ***** Grundig boxes.
My box is a Pace for the record.
Will check with a neighbour tonight (if I can find any!! - it's a new aparrtment block and we are very lonely !)
Here is a list of what channels are on what transponders:
http://www.lyngsat.com/dig/skyuk.shtml
Looking through the list this appears to be one of the transponders you can't get:
11508 H
tp D3S
Kerrang!
Magic
Smash Hits!
Animal Planet +1
Discovery Home & Leisure UK +1
AtTheRaces
Fox News Channel
If you can get some of these channels but not others then it looks like a box problem. If you can't get any of these channels then it sounds like a dish/lnb problem.
This transponder is on Eurobird at 28.5°E, not Astra at 28.2°E. This would suggest that your dish isn't perfectly aligned, or is too small for signals from this transponder.
If you look at the chart in the link provided and can't receive anything up to 11585 H (eg bloomberg, chart show tv) then it sounds like you are not getting the lower band of a universal LNB. So you might want to get the LNB or the SMATV distribution box checked out.
Thanks Andy_C.
Having done some investigating, all the channels we can't get are on frequencies up to and including 11681. A break appears here in the listing. Does this break signify anything ?
We have the installation engineer for the building coming on Monday and I would like to be armed with info before he arrives !!
This break is very significant!
The LNB on the dishes for Sky digital pick up two different bands of signals-
low band, which stretches from 10.7GHz to 11.7GHz
and
high band which stretches from 11.7GHz to 12.75GHz.
Since you can get all the high band frequencies and none of the low band frequencies then you can safely say there is a problem with switching between the bands.
This could be your box, see <a href="http://www.btinternet.com/~c.vowles/Sat/Sky.htm#quick16">this page</a> for more information about box settings. I would say it's more likely to be a problem with the LNB, or more specifically your communal system. You need to be aware that your communal system doesn't use a 'standard' LNB.
To explain the problem, I'll need to explain how a SMATV (communal) system works. I don't know how much you know about satellite technology so don't be offended if I'm explaining stuff that is obvious to you! But here is what I think the problem is:
On a standard setup, a sky engineer will come out and put a dish on your wall. On your dish will be a single LNB with a single output. This LNB will be connected with a single bit of cable down to your digibox. Nice and simple. <a href="http://www.nasacom.ch/logos/MTISingle.jpg">Here is</a> an example of a standard LNB with one output.
As I said before, your LNB picks up two different frequency bands - low band and high band. It can't pick both bands up at the same time so the digibox has to switch the LNB between the two bands.
The LNB also picks up frequencies that are polarised either horizontally or vertically. Again, the LNB needs to be switched into vertical or horizontal polarisation.
This gives you four states that the LNB can be in - low band vertical, low band horizontal, high band vertical and high band horizontal.
When you are in one state, you can't pick up signals from any of the other 3 states.
This is all very simple for a single box connected to a single dish. Since you have only one box, it doesn't matter that the LNB can only be in one state at a time.
This is going to cause problems when you have more than one receiver connected to the same LNB.
For example, let's say I have a receiver connected to the same standard LNB you are using. If you select a low band vertically polarised channel then I could only recieve low band vertically polarised signals too. If you switched the LNB to high band vertical then I could only receive high band vertical channels.
The solution for flats is an SMATV system.
In an SMATV system you use a special quattro LNB. This has four outputs. Output 1 could be (for example) low band horizontal, output 2 could have low band vertical, output 3 being high band horizontal etc. <a href="http://www.tele-satellite.com/TSI/9610/Phil143.jpg">Here is</a> a picture of a quattro LNB with 4 outputs. This LNB provides a constant signal on each output across each state. Basically the LNB doesn't need switched.
The four outputs are connected to a SMATV switch which sticks the four signals together and sends them down a wire into your flat. <a href="http://www.tele-satellite.com/TSI/9610/Phil142.jpg">Here is a picture of a simple SMATV switch</a> that could provide signals for 4 receivers. Obviously you can get larger switches that do many more receivers. In this example the outputs from the LNB are connected to the plugs at the top of the switch and the outputs at the bottom of the switch are run through the building to 4 flats. <a href="http://www.tele-satellite.com/TSI/9610/Phil141.jpg">Here is</a> a picture of the LNB connected to the switch.
When your receiver selects low band horizontal, the SMATV switch justs gives you the signal from output 1 on the LNB. Someone else in the building could be watching something on high band vertical and it wouldn't matter, because the SMATV switch is supplying them with the signal.
Back to the point...
So, that's how it should operate. But your system appears to be only giving you the high band signals.
I would guess that the SMATV switch is at fault. I think it is either only designed for high band signals, or it is faulty in some way.
Before digital TV, not many (if any) SMATV set ups in the UK needed low band switching. So it's possible that an installer has used a cheap old SMATV switch to fulfill a contract.
If your box was working fine at your old place it really looks like it's this switch at fault.
Let me know what happens, hopefully it'll be easy to fix!
EDIT:
After another bit of searching people have mentioned that the <i>skew</i> of the LNB could be a factor in this. In both of these cases (the SMATV switch or LNB skew settings) the standard Sky engineer will be hopeless. In these cases, your factor should be able to arrange for a proper engineer to come out.
<a href="http://www.hall.tele2.co.uk/spaun.jpg">Here's an impressive photo</a> of a larger SMATV switch that can feed up to 10 receivers with a dual feed from two LNBs. Note that 2 quattro LNBs means signals from 8 separate bands...
Beat me to it Andy_C, although rather more briefly I was going to say: Your LNB is not switching between bands properly, search the net this is a known issue. :) :nuts:
Thanks very much guys (esp. Andy_C). Lots to read on a Monday morning !! Will see what the engineer says today (if he turns up !!).
Can you not just do another channel search?
Or a box reset?
Just read your post AndyC.
If the switch was at fault would that not mean that all the other apartments are missing channels?
Philc,
I haven't been able to ascertain if the other apts. have missing channels. Only a couple of the apartments on our floor are occupied, and the one resident I spoke to was having Sky installed this week.
It's a slow process getting this sorted !
Originally posted by Philc
Just read your post AndyC.
If the switch was at fault would that not mean that all the other apartments are missing channels?
It would. But as the receiver was fine at the previous residence and since there aren't many people living in the building (yet) it's something that is possible.
But again, the Sky digibox is not built for quality, so it could be the box that is chuffed up.
However I'm sure quite a few Sky engineers don't even know what an SMATV system is...
Any update Icebun - get it fixed??
Yep - meant to post but didn't get round to it.
I wasn't actually there when the engineer called but he reckoned there was a "faulty amplifer" that needed to be bypassed.
Anyhow, all is now back to normal, and I have the quality programming provided by ITV that I've missed so much.
Faulty amplifier?:confused:
Still, it's working now! Look at the channels you've missed... Shop Aid, The Dating Channel, Magic...
ITV (103)
ITV2 (226)
Home and Leisure +1 (134)
Hallmark (190)
Kerrang (454)
there may be others. I get a 'No satellite signal is being received' message. As usual, Sky reckon I need an engineer (at a cost of £65 to investigate). There's no problem with the box (all other channels work OK and was fine at my old address).
Don't know if this matters but I've moved to an apartment which has a communal dish.
Is there anything I can try to get these channels back ?
Answers:
I've got this problem, if find that if I go to 651 then straight back to ITV it works ok.
I think its down to ***** Grundig boxes.
Answers:
Those channels are all on the same transponder. I had exactly the same problem a few months ago (with the same channels) and called Sky they sent out an engineer who re-aligned the dish and then changed the LNB - all the channels are OK now. If you've had your subscription for less than a year there will be no charge. Id check with your neigbours who use the dish to see if it is a problem for them. If it is then perhaps you can club together for the repair. If it is only you that has the problem it may be worth doing a re-install from the service menu.
Answers:
Originally posted by mostly
I've got this problem, if find that if I go to 651 then straight back to ITV it works ok.
I think its down to ***** Grundig boxes.
My box is a Pace for the record.
Will check with a neighbour tonight (if I can find any!! - it's a new aparrtment block and we are very lonely !)
Answers:
Here is a list of what channels are on what transponders:
http://www.lyngsat.com/dig/skyuk.shtml
Looking through the list this appears to be one of the transponders you can't get:
11508 H
tp D3S
Kerrang!
Magic
Smash Hits!
Animal Planet +1
Discovery Home & Leisure UK +1
AtTheRaces
Fox News Channel
If you can get some of these channels but not others then it looks like a box problem. If you can't get any of these channels then it sounds like a dish/lnb problem.
This transponder is on Eurobird at 28.5°E, not Astra at 28.2°E. This would suggest that your dish isn't perfectly aligned, or is too small for signals from this transponder.
If you look at the chart in the link provided and can't receive anything up to 11585 H (eg bloomberg, chart show tv) then it sounds like you are not getting the lower band of a universal LNB. So you might want to get the LNB or the SMATV distribution box checked out.
Answers:
Thanks Andy_C.
Having done some investigating, all the channels we can't get are on frequencies up to and including 11681. A break appears here in the listing. Does this break signify anything ?
We have the installation engineer for the building coming on Monday and I would like to be armed with info before he arrives !!
Answers:
This break is very significant!
The LNB on the dishes for Sky digital pick up two different bands of signals-
low band, which stretches from 10.7GHz to 11.7GHz
and
high band which stretches from 11.7GHz to 12.75GHz.
Since you can get all the high band frequencies and none of the low band frequencies then you can safely say there is a problem with switching between the bands.
This could be your box, see <a href="http://www.btinternet.com/~c.vowles/Sat/Sky.htm#quick16">this page</a> for more information about box settings. I would say it's more likely to be a problem with the LNB, or more specifically your communal system. You need to be aware that your communal system doesn't use a 'standard' LNB.
To explain the problem, I'll need to explain how a SMATV (communal) system works. I don't know how much you know about satellite technology so don't be offended if I'm explaining stuff that is obvious to you! But here is what I think the problem is:
On a standard setup, a sky engineer will come out and put a dish on your wall. On your dish will be a single LNB with a single output. This LNB will be connected with a single bit of cable down to your digibox. Nice and simple. <a href="http://www.nasacom.ch/logos/MTISingle.jpg">Here is</a> an example of a standard LNB with one output.
As I said before, your LNB picks up two different frequency bands - low band and high band. It can't pick both bands up at the same time so the digibox has to switch the LNB between the two bands.
The LNB also picks up frequencies that are polarised either horizontally or vertically. Again, the LNB needs to be switched into vertical or horizontal polarisation.
This gives you four states that the LNB can be in - low band vertical, low band horizontal, high band vertical and high band horizontal.
When you are in one state, you can't pick up signals from any of the other 3 states.
This is all very simple for a single box connected to a single dish. Since you have only one box, it doesn't matter that the LNB can only be in one state at a time.
This is going to cause problems when you have more than one receiver connected to the same LNB.
For example, let's say I have a receiver connected to the same standard LNB you are using. If you select a low band vertically polarised channel then I could only recieve low band vertically polarised signals too. If you switched the LNB to high band vertical then I could only receive high band vertical channels.
The solution for flats is an SMATV system.
In an SMATV system you use a special quattro LNB. This has four outputs. Output 1 could be (for example) low band horizontal, output 2 could have low band vertical, output 3 being high band horizontal etc. <a href="http://www.tele-satellite.com/TSI/9610/Phil143.jpg">Here is</a> a picture of a quattro LNB with 4 outputs. This LNB provides a constant signal on each output across each state. Basically the LNB doesn't need switched.
The four outputs are connected to a SMATV switch which sticks the four signals together and sends them down a wire into your flat. <a href="http://www.tele-satellite.com/TSI/9610/Phil142.jpg">Here is a picture of a simple SMATV switch</a> that could provide signals for 4 receivers. Obviously you can get larger switches that do many more receivers. In this example the outputs from the LNB are connected to the plugs at the top of the switch and the outputs at the bottom of the switch are run through the building to 4 flats. <a href="http://www.tele-satellite.com/TSI/9610/Phil141.jpg">Here is</a> a picture of the LNB connected to the switch.
When your receiver selects low band horizontal, the SMATV switch justs gives you the signal from output 1 on the LNB. Someone else in the building could be watching something on high band vertical and it wouldn't matter, because the SMATV switch is supplying them with the signal.
Back to the point...
So, that's how it should operate. But your system appears to be only giving you the high band signals.
I would guess that the SMATV switch is at fault. I think it is either only designed for high band signals, or it is faulty in some way.
Before digital TV, not many (if any) SMATV set ups in the UK needed low band switching. So it's possible that an installer has used a cheap old SMATV switch to fulfill a contract.
If your box was working fine at your old place it really looks like it's this switch at fault.
Let me know what happens, hopefully it'll be easy to fix!
EDIT:
After another bit of searching people have mentioned that the <i>skew</i> of the LNB could be a factor in this. In both of these cases (the SMATV switch or LNB skew settings) the standard Sky engineer will be hopeless. In these cases, your factor should be able to arrange for a proper engineer to come out.
<a href="http://www.hall.tele2.co.uk/spaun.jpg">Here's an impressive photo</a> of a larger SMATV switch that can feed up to 10 receivers with a dual feed from two LNBs. Note that 2 quattro LNBs means signals from 8 separate bands...
Answers:
Beat me to it Andy_C, although rather more briefly I was going to say: Your LNB is not switching between bands properly, search the net this is a known issue. :) :nuts:
Answers:
Thanks very much guys (esp. Andy_C). Lots to read on a Monday morning !! Will see what the engineer says today (if he turns up !!).
Answers:
Can you not just do another channel search?
Or a box reset?
Answers:
Just read your post AndyC.
If the switch was at fault would that not mean that all the other apartments are missing channels?
Answers:
Philc,
I haven't been able to ascertain if the other apts. have missing channels. Only a couple of the apartments on our floor are occupied, and the one resident I spoke to was having Sky installed this week.
It's a slow process getting this sorted !
Answers:
Originally posted by Philc
Just read your post AndyC.
If the switch was at fault would that not mean that all the other apartments are missing channels?
It would. But as the receiver was fine at the previous residence and since there aren't many people living in the building (yet) it's something that is possible.
But again, the Sky digibox is not built for quality, so it could be the box that is chuffed up.
However I'm sure quite a few Sky engineers don't even know what an SMATV system is...
Answers:
Any update Icebun - get it fixed??
Answers:
Yep - meant to post but didn't get round to it.
I wasn't actually there when the engineer called but he reckoned there was a "faulty amplifer" that needed to be bypassed.
Anyhow, all is now back to normal, and I have the quality programming provided by ITV that I've missed so much.
Answers:
Faulty amplifier?:confused:
Still, it's working now! Look at the channels you've missed... Shop Aid, The Dating Channel, Magic...
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