No satelite signal is being received

M

manager1

Member
My Satellite Setup
Thompson 286_534
My Location
France
Hi,
Desparate Mum (non technical) being hassled by children as for the last month we have been getting "No satelite signal is being received" when changing channels. I've looked on the forum but most talk about other sky boxes, I have a Thompson 286_534.
Signam quality is about 3/4 and quality over 1/2.
We've not touched the dish nor the box and it was working fine for ages.
Can you let me know how I can resolve the problem.
 
Could be several things, the signal strength and quality reading only applies to the default transponder, so may not indicate that dish alignment or LNB (the bit on the end of the dish which has cables connected) are OK.

If you were in the UK, we'd just advise that you try your receiver on a known working dish, or borrow a neighbour's working Sky digibox to try on your dish, but appreciate that this may not be possible where you are.

So it could be alignment of the dish, could be a faulty LNB (easy and cheap to replace), could be a damaged cable run or could be the receiver gradually deteriorating, or perhaps overheating.

Could even be the connectors on the cable, make sure they are tight and making a proper connection.
 
Switch your box off at the mains, take out the card, clean chip on card then replace switch box back on, if that doesn,t work try a software upgrade:- hold in back up button on box ( keep button held in) switch off box at mains, switch back on and when all lights illuminate release back up button, should take about 10 mins message on tv should say DO NOT etc etc.

regards Dave
 
manager1 said:
Hi,

Can you let me know how I can resolve the problem.
Click to expand...

Do you subscribe to Sky, or are you just using the box for free channels?
 
As its a Thompson box it could also be the old Thompson/Grundig problem with the power supply capacitors going out of tolerance and destroying reception on some channels.
 
Were testing it out at the moment but as it was not a constant problem want to give it a few hours before we can say the holding of backup button while switching off & back on has worked. We got the message plug in telephone line but this doesn't work from France so hopefully a download happens from the satelite and not the phoneline. Will let you know how we get on!
Thanks for you assistance so far.
 
manager1 said:
Were testing it out at the moment but as it was not a constant problem want to give it a few hours before we can say the holding of backup button while switching off & back on has worked. We got the message plug in telephone line but this doesn't work from France so hopefully a download happens from the satelite and not the phoneline. Will let you know how we get on!
Thanks for you assistance so far.
Click to expand...

You are right to assume that firmware downloads come via Satellite.

The phone line is irrelevant :)
 
So having tested it out for a few days the problem persists. Funny it only seems to be present on the channels we used the most particularly BBC radio 5 and Sky sports.
We don't think it is the LNB nor cabling (although I have got a new double LNB but don't want to add to the problem installing it as the dish is up high on the wall of the house a roof level and I'm concerned about getting the angle exactly right).
The children are now pushing for a box that records but I'm not sure if I can just order one and simply put in the card? Any advice please, I really appreciate your help?
 
For a skyplus box you will need the twin LNB and another cable run as the box has two tuners and you WILL have to call sky to transfer the card to the skyplus box and to activate the recording facility.
If you attempt to change the LNB make a note of the angle of the old one and make sure the new one is the same,and do not put weight on the dish in case it moves off alignment.Did you check the cable?
 
So, if I install another cable, a twin LNB and buy a skyplus box, will Sky accept my call from Europe? Once I called and they wouldn't help as their phone system displayed I was calling from France.
Has anyone had the same problems and if so how did you get over calling from France?
 
Don't call from a landline,they will know where you are calling from.
Over here we call from a mobile phone,so far they have never said anything. Just speak to them as if you were in the UK and have all the details with you(full address,phone details,passwords etc and make sure the new box is on with the card inserted)
Or if you know anybody who uses a british mobile number abroad.
 
Zorba said:
Don't call from a landline,they will know where you are calling from.
Over here we call from a mobile phone,so far they have never said anything. Just speak to them as if you were in the UK and have all the details with you(full address,phone details,passwords etc and make sure the new box is on with the card inserted)
Or if you know anybody who uses a british mobile number abroad.
Click to expand...







or call them using skype ;)
 
does any one know how to reset my pin number as I have tried the last number on my card but that did not work can some one help me. ps I have the same make as this Thompson model number 286 534.
 
Sometimes the pin number is the last four numbers of the previous card that was married to the receiver. Or you will have to call sky to give it to you or reset it.
 
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