No channels found yesterday evening and today, ok previously

[roncrump]

I am borrowing a relative's house, so don't know too much about the setup of the system here, but I'm having a problem.

The Freesat (via a Panasonic Viera with built-in Freesat) was working fine until yesterday evening, then when we switched it on it came up:
"No channel found.
Check connections and dish alignment.
Press OK to start Auto Setup"

So I've tried reconnecting the cable at the TV (with and without fully switching off the TV), and have had a look out at the satellite dish, and that looks solid. Going into set-up, initially it says no satellite found, then that it has Astra 2, but doesn't seem to find any channels when asked to do so (there is no progress showing on the bar after a number of minutes and all counters are 0).

Being a bit new to this (just moved back from Aus), I may have messed up by pressing a random button, but can't think why it wouldn't just be corrected by going through the set-up process.

The BT Vision is working, so we aren't completely TV-less, but my limited understanding is that that is a completely separate system.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Ron.

 

[Mickha]

It's one of those where you have to check everything, from the cable connections, both ends, to the LNB, and the dish.
Usually when it's a receiver you just take it to a friends house and see if it works there, a lot more difficult when it's a TV involved.
Can you borrow a satellite receiver to check if there is a signal from your dish?

 

[roncrump]

It's one of those where you have to check everything, from the cable connections, both ends, to the LNB, and the dish.
Usually when it's a receiver you just take it to a friends house and see if it works there, a lot more difficult when it's a TV involved.
Can you borrow a satellite receiver to check if there is a signal from your dish?

I had assumed there was a signal from the dish since it does say it is finding Astra 2, and then once asked to search for channels the signal strength and quality are fluctuating, which to my mind indicates something is getting through. Maybe?

What is the LNB and where would I find it?

The owners of the house have a Sky box they sometimes bring to this house, I'll get them to bring it up next time they visit, if nothing miraculous has happened in the meantime.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Ron.

 

[Mickha]

The LNB is the part that sends the signal from the dish.

 

[satelliteman]

I had assumed there was a signal from the dish since it does say it is finding Astra 2, and then once asked to search for channels the signal strength and quality are fluctuating, which to my mind indicates something is getting through. Maybe?

Hi, might be a line of sight issue, possible tree growth blocking the dish. This would certainly cause a 'fluctuating of signal' effect.

 

[roncrump]

Hi, might be a line of sight issue, possible tree growth blocking the dish. This would certainly cause a 'fluctuating of signal' effect.

Got up this morning. No miraculous Freesat recovery. However, there is a Sky Digibox in another room (runs off the same dish) which is receiving channels.

So I doubt the line of sight thing can be that bad. I will wander down the garden and take a look to see if there are any obviously new obstructions, but mostly there is an empty paddock.

The Digibox working makes me think it is specific to the setup in that room, so I will move the digibox into there and see if that works off the Freesat's cable.

Ron.

 

[roncrump]

Hi, might be a line of sight issue, possible tree growth blocking the dish. This would certainly cause a 'fluctuating of signal' effect.

Got up this morning, no miraculous Freesat recovery.

Anyway, remembered that there is a Digibox in another room (same dish). That is receiving channels.

I will try moving the Digibox into the lounge later to see whether it works off of that cable.

Given that the Digibox is working, I presume line of sight isn't the problem?

Ron.

 

[sonnetpete]

Hi Ron,

With this new info, I would firstly look at the dish and see if there are two leads coming from the LNB, (I suspect there may be) If so, one should go to the digibox and one to the Freesat tv. Check your Freesat cable again making sure there is no shorting between the inner solid copper core and the braid and that the inner is sufficiently long enough to make contact in the tv cable socket. Other than that you should check in a similar manner at the LNB but it will depend on how easily you can get to the dish.

However, if there is only one cable running from the LNB it would suggest that there may be some sort of splitter arrangement. To check, trace the cable back from the digibox and see if there is a box with one cable coming in from the dish and two going out. It may be a switched splitter and it's simply been switched over from the Freesat to the other room. If this isn't the case in the "digibox" room, check to see if there is a similar arrangement in the "Freesat" room.

Of course the digibox could be running off another dish, in which case moving it to test in the "Freesat" room won't really help. Looks like you will be chasing cables!!