Poor picture on some sky channels

MACHEAD

Anyone had aproblem like this ?

I'm distributing the RF output from my Sky box through a dist. amp in the attic, and the basic channels are all ok i.e. RTE, BBC, TV3, Channel 6 etc. However other channels Ch 4, Film 4, Sky 1, 2, Sky News, Sports News etc have poor grainy pictures. I've allready tried moving the RF output frequency (though there's precious little room on band IV/V now!). I've even tried pulling the rerrestrial aerial alltogether, even on Satellite feed only, same problem. Any ideas or sugestions greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Machead.

byte

What's the signal like at the TV where the Sky box is? I'd expect the cable signal to go there first, before then being sent back up to distribution point again.

Would it be a specific frequency range that's affected, eg upper UHF?

steveon

U havent specified the type of cable used in your home or if u are using a Digital Or analog Distribution System. Most digital Distribution Systems are powered directly by the Sky Box ie. no need to plug them in. If it is a digital amp, have u got a lite on it and if is it working? If not go into the rf outlet menu and turn on the rf power.

If you are running your RTE's throught the sky box are you using a Masthead amplifiier on the aerial? If so an adjustable attenuator might help isolite the rte from the sky box, as the sky box tuner cannot handly a signal higher than about 60db silly but true.

watty

Don't use textspeak "steveon". There is no extra charge for complete words. I think its actually mentioned in the rules.

Welcome to the Forums (formerly ICDG Irish Cable and Digital Guide)


I find that if the aerial signal is too strong the Sky Modulator/Combiner overloads. See what it is like with aerial unplugged. If OK, then fit a 6dB or 12dB attenuator inline on the Sky RF in.

MACHEAD

Thanks for the replies folks, I'm not sure an attenuator would help. I've tried the system with the terrestrial aerial removed alltogether from Sky's RF input and results are still the same. The output is the same on both RF outlets, so even with the distribution system removed the same channels are poor on the main TV beside the Sky box. There's no problem with the RGB signal only RF is affected, have asked a couple of aerial installers about this and they have'nt come across one like this before, so no help there then! Oh and it's an annalogue UHF distribution amp I'm using

Bummer

Did you or anybody else have problems watching the match last night on sky.....my signal started to break up and it got annoying so i went back to terrestrial....

5h4mr0(k

Had the same problem on Chorus MMDS during the first half. Saw the same problem from Sky dish in the 2nd half.

Must have been a lot of pigeons around Croke park!

steveon

Not sure if u have tried connecting the RF2 output of ur sky box directly to a room whilst bypassing your amplifier and seeing what the picture is like? Also what form of terrestrial aerial are u using? i.e. VHf or UHF?

Let me know,
Steve

MACHEAD

Re: Poor picture on some Sky channels.

I've tried moving the 'RF out' frequency around again and eventually found a channel (42) where the pictures are much improved, still not perfect by any means but the fact that changing the freq changed things points to that being the problem. I suppose the no. of UHF channels in use now on Clarmont Carn & Divis means that finding a 'free space' is just going to become even more difficult from now on. And on that note anybody like to reccomend a good UHF Digisender?

Tony

Does the signal get better as you lower the output channel of the sky box? If so it sounds like you are losing signal strength somewhere along the system as the higher the frequency output the more the loss will show up. I would check your connections and the amplifier again. What type of cable are you using?

MACHEAD

Hi Tony,

Did'nt consider that, perhaps there's signal loss further up the band !
Though TG4 signal through the terrestrial aerial is very good (Ch 68 Claremont!) and thats right at the top end of the band. I've been told though that the RF modulators in most Sky boxes are the very cheapest possible to source so maybe the output is dropping off at the upper end of band V. When I get time I'll try and find a channel lower down in band IV.

Regards,

Machead.

Tony

I would disconnect the aerial input and set the digibox to ch21 for test purposes

MACHEAD

Tony wrote:

I would disconnect the aerial input and set the digibox to ch21 for test purposes

Thanks Tony, I'll have a go at that when I get the chance.

Tony

My pleasure