Signal Quality Problem & Freezing Picture/Sound

[robertwo]

I have a problem with my setup, where the signal quality and strength keeps dropping from up in the 80-90% to 20%

This seems to be causing just about everything I watch and record to temporarily freeze (picture and sound), and then return a few seconds/minutes later.

I have installed a new 1m dish and a invacom LNB about 4 or 5 months ago in a hope to solve this problem since i am actually located on the west cost of France, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down, so i am easily still within the footprint to receive Sky.

right at this moment I have the following:

Input 1 Strength: 50%
Input 1 Quality : 90%+

Input 2 Strength: 90%+
Input 2 Quality : 0%

Both lock indicators: OK
Network ID: 0002
Transport Stream: 07d5

Usually I have 90% on everything. The weather at the moment is just light rain/drizzle and overcast.

I'm not sure if this affects ever channel - I think BBC1 is usually ok, but channels like Living, Sky1, E4 and SKy Premiere are the worst for this.

I was wondering if when the dish was installed it is producing a good signal for the specific transport stream but it is not aligned perfectly for the other channels.

Any help here would be much appreciated as it is becoming more and more frequent and increasingly annoying having just about ever program i record freeze at least once or more during playback.

I was also wondering if it could be the Sky box. It has an upgraded HDD in it, which was installed when i purchased it from new (i.e. it was a new box upgraded). I really don't watch much live TV and 90% of my viewing is done from recordings.

I have just tried to record a film on sky Premiere whilst watching Living HD. As soon as I pressed record, Living HD froze for just a moment and then carried on. The film is recording fine, but Input 2 signal Quality is still showing 0% !!! I have also tried recoding both the film and from Living HD simultaneously and both are recording ok, but upon checking the signal again I have the following:

Input 1 Strength: 75%
Input 1 Quality : 10%

Input 2 Strength: 75%
Input 2 Quality : 90%

Both lock indicators: OK
Network ID: 0002
Transport Stream: 07d5

 

[robertwo]

Quick update:

The program on Living HD stopped recording and the siganl quality on input 2 went back to 0%, and Input 1 values went back to Strength: 80% and Quality: 90%. It;s like the readings for Input 1 and 2 swapped when 2 recordings are running.

 

[satelliteman]

I would confirm the box isn't at fault first before considering the dish. Have you a replacement to borrow?

 

[robertwo]

Sorry no box to borrow, being in France they aren't quite as readily available as in the UK.

I have been thinking the same thing as this box is a model that supposedly had a fault and sky wanted to replace it, but being in France this was not possible.

does anyone know where I could purchase another box, preferably the newest model available. any advice on which models, makes, serial numbers etc to look for would be very much appreciated.

 

[Chris76]

Hi Robertwo

Have you adjusted the lnb skew for france? I sounds like a bad 2nd tuner in the sky hd box compounded by a slightly misaligned dish.did you install the dish yourself?and do you have a meter?

 

[fergyc]

Any old FTA box should do

 

[robertwo]

I did install the dish myself and do have a meter. The dish was checked with the meter and I also have another French sat box for picking up the free channels designed for a motorhome which has a built-in audio/visual meter for aligning the dish to the correct satellite when you park-up the motorhome and need to setup the dish. Both confirmed the dish was spot on and I would have thought the 90-95% readings on the Sky box for both Strength and quality would seem to confirm this.

I have also adjusted the skew to give the best possible signal and quality.

Thinking back, i am sure this problem existed before the new dish and LNB... Probably was the reason why I replaced them in the first place.

chris76, i think you might be correct about a faulty box. Do you know if the tuners can be replaced on this box? If, yes any idea where I can buy the replacement tuner?

Or, does anybody know a good dealer that can supply an up to date new version box? I don't mind replacing it if needs be and can use the HDD out of the one i already have.

 

[Chris76]

I have a perfectly good working sky hd stb without the hdd as i used it im my vu+ duo. I'm willing to send this to you for the cost of the p and p. Saying that im not sure at all if the hdd is paired to the box but you can use the usb to transfer back and forth if needed.

Chris

 

[robertwo]

Chris, that's very generous of you. If you would like to let me know how much it will cost to send it over to me I would be happy to take you up on your offer. how could I get the money to you, do you have a PayPal account? My postcode in France is 85120 which should help you calculate the cost of P&P.

thanks

Rob.

 

[davemurgtroyd]

Be aware that there are two different incompatible filing systems used on Sky+/HD boxes and it may not be a simple matter of fitting the drive. Check this page for a compatibily chart between different models (click on picture of HD box near bottom of page).

_http://www.skycopyplus.co.uk/compatibility.php#.

The free copy+ software (click on link to "Home" can be used to convert the filing system however by attaching the HDD to a PC.

 

[Chris76]

Hi robertwo..

I do have a paypal account i will pm you the details for payment of the p&p.it will be after boxing day before i pack it up and post it until then i have no idea of the cost of postage. Have a great xmas mate and lets hope this sorts your problem out. Could a mod please enable pm's for rob so i can send private details to him....tx again lad's

Chris, that's very generous of you. If you would like to let me know how much it will cost to send it over to me I would be happy to take you up on your offer. how could I get the money to you, do you have a PayPal account? My postcode in France is 85120 which should help you calculate the cost of P&P.

thanks

Rob.

 

[Topper]

Could a mod please enable pm's for rob so i can send private details to him....tx again lad's

Ok Pm's enabled for Rob

 

[Channel Hopper]

I trust you have verified it's not snow on the dish/LNB, loose f-connectors outside, and not a DECT phone somewhere nearby ?

 

[robertwo]

ok.... thankfully not a flake of snow here, but there is a DECT phone within sat 6" from the box.... Can you explain more about the DECT phone problem please?

 

[Robbo]

Frequencies affected by DECT phone.

12480 to 12500 MHz ( -10600 MHz = 1880 to 1900 )



11630 to 11650 MHz (-9750 MHz = 1880 to 1900)

DECT phone frequencies are in the range 1880 to 1900 MHz.

10600 MHz and 9750 MHz are the two local oscillators within the LNB that mix with the signal from the satellite to produce the lower frequency IF signal that runs down the coax to the receiver. It is the IF signal that can be interfered with by the DECT phone frequencies.

 

[robertwo]

Ok, I have moved the DECT phone away, although the phone was actually off as it had fallen off the charger and had a flat battery, but will see what happens. I do however have a mobile phone repeater (GSM Booster) on the wall near where the cables run in from the dish. The sky and antenna cable for the booster run through the wall in the same place, 2 separate holes but only a couple of inches apart. This is only a 900Mhz repeater (Vodaphone) so not sure if this will affect the sky.

Here is the website with the specs: _http://mobilerepeater.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=17&products_id=95&osCsid=303ae7dbf6a07bdeb3a00c8b1919482a

 

[satelliteman]

Might be worth running a loose test cable from the dish if in easy reach.