Sky HD - constant glitches, picture break-up, loss of sound

James Hunt

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why my picture is constantly glitchy.

What happens is that the sound breaks up and green (usually) pixelated boxes appear randomly all over the screen.

This started last Wednesday night, and was so bad at one stage that the 'No satellite signal being received' error came up. The only time I've lost signal before was when there was an unmerciful downpour lasting about half an hour, but conditions have been clear (North Dublin) throughout the past week.

Programmes recorded prior to last week are fine on playback.

Anyone have any suggestions why this might be happening?

Many thanks in advance.

Tony

I'd say dish/lnb or possibly box power supply problem. What does your signal strength and quality show on the menu?

James Hunt

Thanks Tony,

Input 1 Signal Strength - about 80%
Input 1 Signal Quality - about 80%

Input 2 Signal Strength - about 80%
Input 2 Signal Quality - looks to be 100%

I've just given the percentages because there's a strength bar that doesn't give any figures, just a graphic.

Is that what you mean?

Tony

They look ok but without testing or swapping out individual components its hard to say what the problem is i'm afraid.

James Hunt wrote: »

Thanks Tony,

Input 1 Signal Strength - about 80%
Input 1 Signal Quality - about 80%

Input 2 Signal Strength - about 80%
Input 2 Signal Quality - looks to be 100%

I've just given the percentages because there's a strength bar that doesn't give any figures, just a graphic.

Is that what you mean?

James Hunt

Thanks Tony, I'll have to ring Sky if it persists much longer.

It's not unwatchable, but for €50+ a month, it's not on.

byte

Is it a Thomson box perchance?

James Hunt

byte wrote: »

Is it a Thomson box perchance?

Nope, Amstrad.

Tony

Yep if you have it less than 12 months sky should be obliged to fix it for you.

James Hunt wrote: »

Thanks Tony, I'll have to ring Sky if it persists much longer.

It's not unwatchable, but for €50+ a month, it's not on.

James Hunt

Its completely busted now, no signal for most of last night and the menus won't even load up now.

Ringing SKY, something tells me (previous experience) that this is going to be a pain in the arse.

gebbel

Turn it off at the mains and then on again. See if that works.

James Hunt

Thanks gebbel, tried that...no joy.

Went through the troubleshooting procedure on the phone with SKY, no joy either. Engineer coming out on Tuesday.

James Hunt

Just by way of update,

Sky man came last Tuesday (16 Feb), I wasn't here, but apparently he looked into the box and fixed some loose part or other, took about 10 mins all told. At that speed, I'd say he knew what he was looking for.

Anyway, all was well until today, and its gone again. Same as last time. Rang Sky, no phone help this time, just engineer visit this weekend.

6 days without last time, at least 3 days this time.

It's exactly the pain in the arse I predicted it would be.

James Hunt

By way of update....

Engineer came Saturday (27th Feb), box replaced, all well.

Until Sunday.

Same problem, unwatchable glitchy picture followed by complete loss of signal. It improved a bit during the week, but went completely again last night. Rang Sky. Troubleshooting on the phone. If I wiggle the cable at the back, the picture blacks out. There's a dodgy connection there surely.

No engineer until Wednesday at the earliest says Sky Man.

Not good enough says me. No problem, Customer Care will ring within 24 hrs says Sky Man.

Obviously they didn't.....


Well, I did say it would be pain in the arse.

James Hunt

And on it goes....

Engineer visit no.4 today.

Update: the picture is still breaking up. It's still unwatchable.

James Hunt

Engineer no. 5 last week.

It actually seems to be......working.

adox

James Hunt wrote: »

Engineer no. 5 last week.

It actually seems to be......working.

Did they say what the cause was?

James Hunt

Apparently, the problem was identified by Engineer no. 4 as being water damage to the cable from the dish to the box. He then proceeded to botch the repair.

Engineer no.5 diagnosed the same thing, but seems to have fixed it properly.

All good so far.

Sky are waiving this months charge as a result of the loss of service. I'll have to try and fake my surprise when, as I predict, they take the direct debit regardless.