Freesat picture loss when sky +hd box connected to same dish

[rw4948]

Hi, I recently cut the cord and got rid of my sky subscription in favour of freesat. Using the existing sat dish, I replaced the sky lnb with a hybrid 6 output lnb which has 2 x wideband and 4 x quad connections. I have been using a freesat recorder successfully for the last few months. Recently I have added a sky +hd box to use as freesat in the bedroom and since doing this, I have lost the signal to my freesat box. This only happens if the sky box is powered up. The freesat box works fine if the sky box is not turned on and the sky box works fine even when the freesat box is on! Any ideas how to solve this problem so both setups work all the time?

 

[Terryl]

Make and model of the LNB would help......Sounds like the outputs on the LNB are not independent for some reason,(bad LNB???) each output should be isolated from each other to prevent one receiver affecting another. You are using two independent coaxes aren't you? Are any DISEQC control settings needed?

 

[davemurgtroyd]

What maake and model of Sky bo?

 

[rw4948]

The LNB is a VisibleWave, 6 output hybrid. Model no VHK6. I am using independent coaxes and apologise for not knowing what DISEQC means. The Sky box is an Amstrad DRX890. Interestingly, when I connect a satellite signal finder to the coaxes supplying the freesat box, I get a good signal registering on both feeds even when the sky box is on. This makes me think the issue is with the freesat box settings?

 

[ozumo]

Swap the boxes around and see if you get the same effect.

Which Freesat box are you using? If it's one of the 4K boxes you can use either the wideband or legacy quad connections on the LNB.

 

[Terryl]

From what I've seen on the install guides for that LNB the 2 wide band outputs are for SKY Q boxes, the other 4 outputs are linear with DC voltage switching, try the wide band outputs to just the SKY box, and the other (4 quad outputs) to the free-sat box.

It says that the SKY-Q box may need both the wide band outputs, this info found here....

https://www.alltrade.co.uk/shop/visiblewave-hybrid-lnb-6-output

 

[Terryl]

The LNB is a VisibleWave, 6 output hybrid. Model no VHK6. I am using independent coaxes and apologise for not knowing what DISEQC means. The Sky box is an Amstrad DRX890. Interestingly, when I connect a satellite signal finder to the coaxes supplying the freesat box, I get a good signal registering on both feeds even when the sky box is on. This makes me think the issue is with the freesat box settings?

Diseqc is a switching mode some times used for more then one LNB, or LNB's with more then one internal LNB, here stateside we use LNB's with 2, or 4 internal LNB's, that use a diseqc switch setup to go between them.

 

[rw4948]

Thanks for the replies. its a sky +hd box so cant use the wideband connections. When both boxes are connected to the quad side they work fine but means I lose some of the multiple record options on the freesat box. I have managed to get a signal to the freesat box from wideband side by swapping the connections round but it deteriorates when the sky box is powered up and still can't figure out why. The freesat box is a ARRIS UHD-4X-500 btw.

 

[ozumo]

Sounds like an LNB problem. Either put up with only using the legacy quad connections or try a different LNB.

You could try putting the Sky box into Single Feed Mode

Press services button on the remote, then 0 0 1 select. Change Single Feed Mode to ON, then press green to save. There's no reason why this would fix anything but you never know.

 

[rw4948]

Sounds like an LNB problem. Either put up with only using the legacy quad connections or try a different LNB.

You could try putting the Sky box into Single Feed Mode

Press services button on the remote, then 0 0 1 select. Change Single Feed Mode to ON, then press green to save. There's no reason why this would fix anything but you never know.

Thanks for the advice. Do you know what effect single feed mode will have on the sky box?

 

[ozumo]

If it's been used without a Sky subscription there will be virtually no difference. If it is, you'll only be able to record the channel you are watching. It can always be changed back to dual feed mode.

 

[mickwig]

Sounds like a problem with LNB power. Try to turn off LNB power on the sky box. Or vice versa.

 

[ozumo]

I thought about that but how would the Sky box be able to select polarity? Also I don't think the Freesat 4K boxes allow you turn LNB power off. Perhaps doing a factory reset on the Freesat box while the Sky box is switched on might do it