dreambox 500s

[paulajmc4]

Hi, I have had a dreambox 500s for over a year and the last two weeks it keeps freezing on EVERY channel ive checked all the connections and theyre fine has anyone got any idea what it could be the SNR goes down to 62% and then the channel goes blank...........

 

[Analoguesat]

If its being seen on the free channels it could be

Tuner failure
Misaligned dish
Damaged coax cable
External interference

or something else. You need to do some investigations

 

[paulajmc4]

thankyou :-worshipi will try and let you know if i succeed

 

[Analoguesat]

Pop the top off the box and see if there are any bulging capacitors - some of the clone 500's are spectacularly badly built.

Keep your fingers well clear of the circuit boards - some power supplies can give a lethal shock for ages after being unplugged.

 

[paulajmc4]

bulging capacitors what are they ha .......

 

[Analoguesat]

Caps are small cylindrical cans with a Y- or T- shape embossed onto the top. The tops should be flat but if the capacitor fails (common due to an incident of industrial espionage a few years ago!) gases build up inside and the top odf the can bulges outwards:

-http://www.capacitorlab.com/visible-failures/

 

[paulajmc4]

what do i do if my caps are bulging do i have to change them?

 

[Lazarus]

re: Cable Damage - this may include water ingress at the LNB end.

 

[paulajmc4]

I know im sounding stupid ha but what is the LNB end?

 

[Lazarus]

The end of the cable to the dish is connected to the LNB (Lumpy thing on dish arm). That is the prime location for water getting in. Once it does get it, capillary action lets it travel backwards towards the receiver end of the cable and it will have unpredictable effects on reception.


Anyway, despite what you originally said, are you able to receive Free To Air Channels ?

ie When you say every Channel is affected, do you really mean that - or do you mean only the Scrambled Channels are affected?

 

[paulajmc4]

:-worshipthankyou I will let you know how i get on :-righton

 

[Lazarus]

Crossed in the Post - can you answer the second part of my previous Post?

 

[paulajmc4]

every channel is affected ....including FTA channels.....

 

[Lazarus]

Ok, thanks. That rules out one possibility.

 

[paulajmc4]

i'll check the cable and let you know how I get on:-righton