More signal quality than strength

[leroy101]

Hi

Some sky channels are displaying 'no satellite signal being received'. BBC2, SSNEWS, for example. All others ok. What I dont understand is that the signal strength is about 50% and the quality about 60%. I would of thought with a lower signal strength that the quality would be lower. How can I increase signal strength? The cable run is about 30m, would this effect strength alone or both sig and quality?

Cheers

 

[satelliteman]

Hi, symptoms of a mis-aligned dish or failing LNb / receiver; the latter most probably.

If you can, try your receiver on a friends or neighbours dish.

 

[Robbo]

30m is OK length wise, as long as the cable is good. Ive also noticed on many occasion, that whacking on a brand new LNB to replace an ancient one, reaps rewards.

 

[Lazarus]

Also, the "Metering" on Sky Digiboxes isn't of the most reliable or meaningful nature, so the readings are only of value for local optimisation, rather than comparison with any other Sky installation.

For Digital Satellite TV, once strength exceeds a threshold any further increase in strength really only improves "rain margin".

I think your problem lies elsewhere: You don't say, for example, exactly which Receiver you are using and that could be hihkly relevant as over the years certain models are known to tend towards degradation or impending failure and can display symptoms of loss of some channels exactly as you describe.

So can you please give us more details of your kit?


Edit: I see your profile says Amstrad: Which model? Early ones displayed Tuner faults which gave rise to loss of some Channels.

 

[leroy101]

Thanks guys. think I will change the LNB.

A mate has a meter I can borrow. What are min signal and quality levels that I should be aiming for?

 

[rolfw]

Just peak it as high as you can get it. First improve the signal strength, then fine tune on quality, don't forget the skew.

 

[Channel Hopper]

The wet 'tea towel' trick works well on meters that are of the sqwark variety.

 

[benidormgary]

The wet 'tea towel' trick works well on meters that are of the sqwark variety.

I wouldnt recommend the Sainsburys "basic" one-they dont let enough signal through even when they are nearly bone dry!

 

[satelliteman]

An old analogue trick but has no real value with DVB receivers or digital measurement meters.

 

[PaulR]

An old analogue trick but has no real value with DVB receivers or digital measurement meters.

I have to disagree with you on this SM. Certainly it's not as useful as in the analogue days but, for thise without a decent meter, it still has its place for final tweaking purposes.

 

[benidormgary]

Thanks a lot for the useful information, BTW what's the problem with Sainsburys? _http://www.picmall24.com/img/Bo/BN.gif

I was only joking!