Sky+ box/No satellite signal being received

Wisco

I've already phoned Sky a couple times about this, but am hoping for some advice from other users.
I'd been getting a 'no signal being received' message intermittently, and now it's there all the time (error message number 29) although it worked briefly yesterday morning for a few mins. Anyway, after trying to reset the box, unplugging, and swapping the 2 cables (on Sky's instructions) I've now been told by Sky that I need an engineer to call out (at a cost of €100!!). Anyone have any other ideas of things I can try?
BTW, when I check signal strength, it's at zero- I really don't know what else I can do.
Thanks for any ideas.

listermint

Wisco wrote: »

I've already phoned Sky a couple times about this, but am hoping for some advice from other users.
I'd been getting a 'no signal being received' message intermittently, and now it's there all the time (error message number 29) although it worked briefly yesterday morning for a few mins. Anyway, after trying to reset the box, unplugging, and swapping the 2 cables (on Sky's instructions) I've now been told by Sky that I need an engineer to call out (at a cost of €100!!). Anyone have any other ideas of things I can try?
BTW, when I check signal strength, it's at zero- I really don't know what else I can do.
Thanks for any ideas.

Please Please, check the terminations on the satt cable at the rear of the box. Those are the silver screw on bits. Chances are that is your problem, they can damage easily enough or the copper is not actually pushing into the receiver in the box.

Check this out properly first. Even try removing the silver connector and plug the cable in direct to confrim operation. Then replace with a new connector if necessary.

Wisco

I've done this a few times as I've swapped the two cables around, but will try it again and possibly remove those bits to see if it makes a difference.
Thanks for the suggestion.

Riskymove

this happened to me before and the culprit were trees!! nothing wrong with dish or cables

as they grew they began to impact on reception (especially on windy days) and I'd get intermittant problems.

Then basically one day they had grown to completely block the signal

in the end I had to take them down

so this might be worth looking at

also check if dish has moved

Wisco

No trees anywhere near the dish! But I had wondered about the dish moving as the problem seemed to start a week or two ago when it was so windy. Suggestions on how to see if it's moved? (and yes, it's still properly fixed to the wall and doesn't look to have been moved much, at least not to me.

I am pie

Yep, having tree problems as well. Had to re-position the dish to get a signal previously, trees are growing again and blocking signal. Not my trees so have limited options.

Was considering switching to cable, but don't want to loose Sky Atlantic.

Riskymove

Wisco wrote: »

No trees anywhere near the dish!

remember that its a line iof sight thing, the trees can be a good bit away but in the line between the dish and the satellite!!

But I had wondered about the dish moving as the problem seemed to start a week or two ago when it was so windy. Suggestions on how to see if it's moved? (and yes, it's still properly fixed to the wall and doesn't look to have been moved much, at least not to me.

unless you are happy getting to it and seeing if loose or moving it slightly (or using a signal finder) you might as well get it checked properly

SKY is not your only option, other contractors could do this, likely cheaper

Riskymove

I am pie wrote: »

Yep, having tree problems as well. Had to re-position the dish to get a signal previously, trees are growing again and blocking signal. Not my trees so have limited options.

luckily I managed to have offending tree removed although not mine, can you talk to owners?


you might have to put up on chimney or something like that

MrFrisp

Sounds like an LNB problem on the dish. They do tend to go after a while.

Going private may be the best/cheapest option.

That or the usual.."Tell Sky you can't afford it,so will have to cancel your sub".

Be better than a €100 call out charge.

Up until recently I've been getting the 'No satellite signal - error 25 & 29' a lot since my install, I had an engineer back out after two weeks of the install to fix the problem, didn't work, then another one out to fix it still had the same problem.
So I rang Sky again and like you Wisco I was told I would now have to pay €100 for another engineer visit. I refused and asked to speak to the manager and told him that as I was still within my 12 month contract with them and they still owned the equipment and that under the "Sales of Goods Act" they were responsible for it they sent out an engineer (this time from the north) for free.

When the engineer called and inspected my dish/cabling it turned out that the dish was not secured properly and that all the previous engineers that were out had failed to put a seal on the cable where it connects to the dish. As a result water was getting in and was causing the problem. I asked the engineer about all the previous visits to fix the problem and what his take was on it, he replied "I'm from the north and have been fixing a lot of these substandard southern installs". Problem for me has been fixed and this engineer gave me a 3 month warranty on his work too, none of the others said or gave that.

kbell

So he replaced the entire cable and lnb for you??
Or just cut it back enough, safe in the knowledge that the problem wouldn't present itself for more than 3 months as we're getting into the warmer weather..

Wisco

Thanks everyone for the info.
I went out tonight and checked everything I could (my dish is within reach for me and fortunately not on a rooftop!) but still no luck.
Sadly for me, I'm past my 1 year warranty, but they'll be getting another irate phone call from me tomorrow and I'll see what they can offer me. I am quite interested to hear the bit about 'substandard installations' here in the republic- hope I'm not a victim of one, but I have to say, I've had no problems for the year and a half I've been in this place.
Perhaps I will be cancelling after all- stupid to pay 100 euro for some guy to come out for what will probably be 5 minutes to twiddle with a wire or something. I'll have to ring around for some local quotes too I guess. I just want the stupid thing to work already!!!

kbell

kbell wrote: »

So he replaced the entire cable and lnb for you??
Or just cut it back enough, safe in the knowledge that the problem wouldn't present itself for more than 3 months as we're getting into the warmer weather..

Replaced the LNB, ran a check on the cable and just needed cutting back and sealed everything up, and secured the dish.

Wisco wrote: »

I am quite interested to hear the bit about 'substandard installations' here in the republic- hope I'm not a victim of one

In my case I believe what he said to be true as I had problems with my install from day one. Also before this engineer called I had two other engineers out to look at everything and they couldn't find a problem :rolleyes:. As soon as this guy seen the error numbers straight away he knew what the problem was and got to fixing it and it's been working ever since.

lamcc

Having the very same "tree" problem - again not my tree it’s on common land so not mine to tamper with - although the last Sky "Engineer" turned tree surgeon told me to cut them down, seems Sky are not very eco-friendly well at least the advice of their "qualified" €100/half hour "Engineers" are not - it is beyond frustrating to be paying for a non-service and then threatened with paying an engineer every time there is an issue (I fought my way out of paying that one thank god) - I have been told that I own the satellite dish so shouldn’t expect them to fix it for free - My reply was there is nothing wrong with the dish and I don’t own the satellite - if I did I would position it where my dish can get at it - also I don’t own the tree - nor do I own the incompetent engineer to placed a dish right in line of said tree - if I did I would sack him – I have another engineer coming out this week to help with my problem for free – seems if you stand your ground and threaten to move to NTL Sky are a little more helpful - let’s hope I don’t open the door to the same Sky Engineer turned tree surgeon wielding a chainsaw - although if it was a quicker option and gets him home on time for dinner I wouldn’t be surprised!!!!

Wisco

Well I got my problem resolved- after saying I'd cancel my subscription they sent the engineer out for free and he said it was just some loose wires on the dish. I had checked that and they didn't seem loose, but what would I know? Anyway, glad I didn't pay the €100 fee or I'd have been pretty annoyed as it took the guy about 5 minutes to fix it.

aramush

listermint wrote: »

Please Please, check the terminations on the satt cable at the rear of the box. Those are the silver screw on bits. Chances are that is your problem, they can damage easily enough or the copper is not actually pushing into the receiver in the box.

Check this out properly first. Even try removing the silver connector and plug the cable in direct to confrim operation. Then replace with a new connector if necessary.

I know this is an old topic, but was in a similar situation myself yesterday and trawled boards for a solution, your advice worked perfectly. Thanks a million!