Picture freeze - 3rd SKY+ box

ukspace

Help, very new member without a great deal of tech knowledge but I'll try and give as much as I can.

SKY+ box :
Thomson model 129e163, version 4E2139 with operating system version 1.31B07

This is connected via SCART lead to my Samsung lcd tv

My fault is that on certain channels ( Sky1, Sky2, Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports News, DMAX, Sky Movies 1 that we've noticed) the picture freezes anything from 6 to 33 seconds.

The system has been in place for 2 weeks and SKY have been very helpful, so far, replaced the SKY+ box twice and the LNB once, system rebuilds, resetting LNB without success.

During the Man U v Arsenal match on SKY Sports 1 recently during the second half 45 mins it froze 47 times accounting for just under 9 minutes of lost picture. When the engineer came out the LNB was replaced and the SKY+ box replaced for the third time but he basically said there wasn't much he could do as interference could be coming from anywhere, up to 30 ft away.

Is it true that nothing can be done as I am frustrated at paying for a service that I may not be able to recieve in an adequate level when every minute or so I lose 15 seconds of storyline.

Mark

nanochickin

Are there any trees near the dish?

I've sen this before where certain channels are ok but others play up when the dish is slightly obscured by the branches.

The other thing i need to ask is if you have a DECT cordless home phone?

If you have try switching both the handset and base unit off as its not unheard of these phones knocking out certain channels

The only other thing to try is borrowing a friends Sky box and plugging it in to see if the same problem exists. You could also try your receiver at a friends house

I would take everything a Sky engineer says with a pinch of salt as most of them (well the ones round where i live anyway) are mindless idiots who haven't got a clue what they are doing and generally give proper satellite engineers a bad name



Nano

ukspace

Okay, quick reply

No trees obscuring dish.

I did read about the phone which I have switched both phone and base unit off without success.

Is every channel on a different frequency - as we speak I can add Discovery to the list of freezing channels.

nanochickin

There are usually more than one channel per frequency

What sort of quality & power levels are you getting.

You'll find it in the services menu

ukspace

Quite good I think:

Input 1 Strength about 75% with quality of 90%
Input 2 Strength about 75% with quality of 80%

Both Lock indicators OK

nanochickin

With the exception of Sky 1 all those channels are on horizontal polarity.

Sky 1 ireland is on Horizontal but Sky 1 UK is a vertical You do have the UK package dont you?

This might sound stupid but have you tried swapping round the cables from the dish. Sometimes it works

It would be a good idea to switch the box off at the mains before you do this

Failing that i would say its an lnb fault at a rough guess

Simple to fix. You'll get a new one off Ebay for about £5

Cheaper than getting one of the monkies from Sky out for an extortionate fee

ukspace

Bravo 2 is also freezing. I should hope to have the UK version, I'm in Kent.

Would the cables being round the wrong way not effect all channels ?

nanochickin

It may be that one port is failing on the lnb

For general viewing the box only uses one lnb input for viewing and the other for recording

swapping them round can sometimes help find the fault

If the general viewing is better from the other feed that identifies the problem.

If it does fix the problem i wouldn't bother recording anything until the issue is fully rectified

ukspace

Okay now that is interesting. Obviously the recording of the football was still jumping as are the pictures I am actually watching.

When I playback a recording such as the football that jumps I don't see a 6 second pause, the picture simply jumps over it. I would see the clock indicating 67 mins 30 seconds and then 67 mins 38 seconds without the actual pause in playback.

I'm not sure what this would indicate but both input lines appear to be affected. Would this be interference of the recieved signal rather than a dish or box fault?

nanochickin

Give Robbo on the forum a shout, He operates around Kent. Think you need somebody that knows what they are looking for to diagnose the problem

It could be caused by a multitude of things which you are'nt going to find unless your there looking at it. I've said all the things i would have checked.

I probably would have found the problem quite quickly if i was there with my meter. I think Robbo is your best option at the moment, either that or calling out the muppets from Sky again

ukspace

Thanks Nano.

Will check back tomorrow if he's online

ukspace

I've been on the members list and he's not listed as being contactable. How can I get in touch with him unless there's other people with any additional checks I can do.

Otherwise it may be a further SKY visit.

rolfw

Have enabled your PM.

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Robbo

Thanks Rolf, have replied to PM received.

tmead

Mark, Any chance you can keep me posted as I'm experiencing exactly the same probs. Had the box replaced and engineers out to check signal but still picture keeps freezing on sky sports, movies & others. Thanks.

ukspace

Have got the Sky Regional supervisor due out tomorrow with an engineer to run through some more signal checks with the possibility of moving the dish around the property.

The last visit resulted in the SCART lead being changed desite the fact I believe it to be a signal input fault.

The regional supervisor thinks it could be microwaves interfering with the signal and if so will get referred to a group in Southampton ! ! ! ? !

I'll keep you all posted as to what happens.