Problems with Channel 4 etc. freezing / skipping....

rookie76

Hi all.

I am having some issues with my sky satellite. The Channel 4 package (ie E4, More 4, Channel 4+1 etc.) are all skipping and freezing and therefore unwatchable. I have also noticed that some kids channels (Nick Jr.) are displaying message "No satellite signal being received".
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I have rang sky and they did some tests over the phone but could not sort it out and said they would ring back, but never did.

Any ideas anyone, as I don't want to call a technician if it is something I can sort out myself.

Thanks..............

bryaner

Would the dish have moved ever so slightly in the strong winds?

rookie76

This maybe the problem, but all other channels are perfect. Would like to know if there is anyway i can test that this is the case before paying a technician.
I am very wary of cowboy technicians so would like to be as informed as possible so I can't be bluffed.

bryaner

rookie76 wrote: »

This maybe the problem, but all other channels are perfect. Would like to know if there is anyway i can test that this is the case before paying a technician.
I am very wary of cowboy technicians so would like to be as informed as possible so I can't be bluffed.

Go to one of the bad channels hit services on your remote then settings then signal that should tell you your signal strength then use the same procedure on a good channel and compare both.

rookie76

Thanks. good idea, but wont be able to check until the morning as I'm at work. I'll try it then a post my results.

Alfie Noakes

I used to have this problem. It turned out to be the cordless phone interfering with the Channel 4 channels. I replaced the handset on the base and the problem disappeared. Try this or unplug the phone altogether if it still persists. If it's not the phone, it could be something else such as wifi or the like.
If you can't get to the bottom of it you can always program the channels in 'Other Channels' although you won't be able to record them.
Good luck!

mondeoman2

Alfie Noakes wrote: »

I used to have this problem. It turned out to be the cordless phone interfering with the Channel 4 channels. I replaced the handset on the base and the problem disappeared. Try this or unplug the phone altogether if it still persists. If it's not the phone, it could be something else such as wifi or the like.
If you can't get to the bottom of it you can always program the channels in 'Other Channels' although you won't be able to record them.
Good luck!

when our Baby monitor is on you cannot watch ch4 E4 etc,soon as i turn the monitor off the channels come back to normal again;)

rookie76

Thanks for all suggestions.

I checked this morning and it was fine. The problem does seem to occur in the evenings, therefore it may be some interference with phone or other electronic unit. I'll have to try a process of elimination tonight to narrow it down. If it is the phone or other, how do I solve it as I don't want to turn off the phone or wifi ever time someone in the house wants to watch the telly.

Is there any other way to confirm what is causing the interference?

Thanks again.....

rookie76

Update :

Did some tests last night and it seems the problem is the cordless phone. As it happens I got a new phone a couple of months ago and this coincides with the problem.
I switched off the phone and plugged out the base station, turned off power to sky for 5 mins. and retried it. All problem channels were ok and successfully recorded a problem late last night to check if they stayed good overnight.
They went funny again this morning when phone was back on, so it has to be the phone.
I'll keep an check on it over the weekend, but hopefully this will sort it out.

Thanks for all advice as this problem was slowly driving me crazy....

dingding

Had the same problem and disconnecting the cordless phone fixed it. Amazing.

Rippy

Moving the base station of the phone to a different location in the house can help. (Sometimes. )
You also probably have inferior satellite cable with insufficient shielding and/or un-shielded connections. Cable should be replaced with copper on copper CT100 equivalent cable. Standard belling-lee coax plugs and wall plates should not be used. Only f connectors and joiners, where necessary or properly shielded f sockets.
It is only the Irish regional version of ch4 that is affected by this.

A quick 'fix' (assuming you only want to view ch 4 live and not pause or record it ), is to add a different region to other channels by tuning in 10714 , Horizontal, 22000, 5/6.
(see sticky if you don't know how to do this)

dingding

I have CT100 cable but I have plastic faceplates and this might be the issue.

I might chage this for propper f type couplers and see if this makes any difference.

rookie76

All my wall connectors are f-type and I think the cabling is shielded (black with inner silver foil lining) so let me know if it works for you, and i'll recheck my connections

jackwogan

DECT signals effect Channel 4's unplug all wireless devices , that should solve it

rookie76

Any suggestions of a non-DECT cordless phone to prevent this problem??

Birdie086

I cancelled my subscription to sky recently and have been left with the free channels. However channel 4, e4, etc are no longer working, and my mam has them on her free to air. Does anyone if I can delete them and tune them back in again myself, and what numbers i should use


Found what I need in the stickies, opened my eyes properly and looked thanks

dingding

dingding wrote: »

I have CT100 cable but I have plastic faceplates and this might be the issue.

I might chage this for propper f type couplers and see if this makes any difference.

I changed it for propper F type couplers and there is no difference.

jackwogan

There is 2 types of channel 4's E4's etc.....English versions and Irish version. English version shows english adds and Irish version show Irish adds. And Irish channel 4 , E4 is not free to air....all you have to do is tune your box into the English version of channel 4. 10714 H 22.0 5/6 Add this channel in add channels on your sky box

dingding

The only problem is that using this solution you can't record using sky plus.

jackwogan

if your not paying sky then you wont have sky + if you are then i would move your dect phone to the other side of the room.