fortec star fs4200 just stopped working completely. Snow?

P

phantomnl

Member
My Satellite Setup
Fortec Star
My Location
Scotland
Our fortec star satellite dish (freesat) just stopped working completely. I was listening to the radio and suddenly the signal changed to hissing only and I couldn't switch of the box. Had to do it by unplugging it. Now plugged in again, it won't start up. We have lots of snow here. Is it linked or is the receiver ready for the bin??

Cheers
 
If snow has built up on the lnb at the end of the arm its quite possible its knocked the reception out.

If you can safely reach the dish brush the snow off the face and the lnb. If not tap the arm GENTLY with a broom handle or use a supersoaker to spray warm water at the dish face / lnb

Or wait for the thaw.....
 
I'm concerned about the symptoms with the box itself ................. It is not unheard of for water that has got into the cable somewhere to travel by capillary action all the way to the receiver. Some boxes have protection to combat the effects of short circuits, but not all.

You might benefit from clagging the box onto someone else's dish: If it then boots, you have a re-cabling job to do on your system. If it doesn't boot, the box may well be goosed ................ and you'd still need to consider re-cabling to prevent a replacement box being damaged too.
 
we've had snow build-up on the dish before and you're right, clearing the snow worked. However, this time round there's just no signal or lights or anything on the box. Yes, I almost wondered if it was a fuse or something. Usually if the snow covers the dish it says "no signal". Currently, it's doing nothing at all! The only thing that happens when I press the on-button on the box itself is a green light shows, when pressing the button. But it doesn't do anything else (doesn't show time or anything either). I'm thinking of buying a new box ;-) that could just be any brand couldn't it? Doesn't have to be fortec star again?
 
Don't forget, if you do get a new box, you still ought to check out the cabling, because it's quite possible there is a related sequence of events here.
 
yes that's true. This morning the box shows a number 8 when I press the power button, but nothing else happens. Weird... Could I get any new box or does it need to be Fortec Star again? Could I consider getting an HD one? We don't currently have that but our tv can support it. Might as well really, if we're getting a new one....
 
As stated, before fitting a new box, you really need to consider the state of the cabling: If it is affected by water ingress, you'll just goose any new box you attach.

As for a replacement, this certainly would be an opportunity to get an HD one, yes.
 
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