Picture breaking up after new satellite install

dnme

Hi

Recently moved into house. I got a reputable installer to install a new dish for freesat channels on 28.2 and bring in 3 cables into the house. He put the dish at the back of the house where it was slightly impeded by the gable end. I'm using my own box which is a VU+Duo. So I have two cables coming into that and one cable going into the kitchen. The dish is a standard sky mesh type and size.

On the first few nights, a lot of my channels were breaking up, blocks on screen, sound glitching etc. I put it down to the bad weather last Thursday and Friday. But it kept happening so my installer returned on Saturday, moved the dish and re-cabled the lot (in fairness to him).

But last night, and again tonight I am seeing channels breaking up again. Same blocking artifacts on screen and sound glitching. It seems to be happening at random. No pattern that I can see. It'll happen for a while then clear up. Right now I'm watching the F1 highlights on BBC1 HD and its perfect.

He has the dish very well aligned. I'm getting string signals, SNR 99% and AGC 93% on BBC1 HD for example. But I need to solve this. Today and yesterday, the weather was perfect so lets rule that out. Can anyone advise me as to what in gods name is happening and what I might do about this.

Many thanks

givecredit

dnme wrote: »

Hi

Recently moved into house. I got a reputable installer to install a new dish for freesat channels on 28.2 and bring in 3 cables into the house. He put the dish at the back of the house where it was slightly impeded by the gable end. I'm using my own box which is a VU+Duo. So I have two cables coming into that and one cable going into the kitchen. The dish is a standard sky mesh type and size.

On the first few nights, a lot of my channels were breaking up, blocks on screen, sound glitching etc. I put it down to the bad weather last Thursday and Friday. But it kept happening so my installer returned on Saturday, moved the dish and re-cabled the lot (in fairness to him).

But last night, and again tonight I am seeing channels breaking up again. Same blocking artifacts on screen and sound glitching. It seems to be happening at random. No pattern that I can see. It'll happen for a while then clear up. Right now I'm watching the F1 highlights on BBC1 HD and its perfect.

He has the dish very well aligned. I'm getting string signals, SNR 99% and AGC 93% on BBC1 HD for example. But I need to solve this. Today and yesterday, the weather was perfect so lets rule that out. Can anyone advise me as to what in gods name is happening and what I might do about this.

Many thanks

Have you a Dect phone nearby. Move it away from satellite receiver.

Apogee

Are you seeing simultaneous artefacting on both the VU+ and the kitchen receiver? If yes, could it be a faulty LNBF?

zg3409

It seems as if something with the installation is wrong. Keep ringing the initial installer. Don't let him/her away with it.

As others said try to help him by getting as much information as possible. Is it happening on every TV/satellite box?

Is it on all channels or just some?
If just some keep a note of them

What is the signal on each box 1)when it is OK and 2) when it is not OK.

Also keep a record of how often it happens (times/dates length etc)

If you can get the signal on individual transponders then are some bad and some OK. For example all the horizontal ones may not be working or all high frequency ones.

dnme

I have nothing setup in the kitchen yet, so I am only using the VU+Duo in the living room. I have no phone line in the house. I have removed all clutter from the back of the tele. Plugged out the router etc and got rid of anything that might be causing interference. So it is time to start writing down channels / dates and times?

zg3409

If the system is not working get the installer back, however if he cannot identify the fault then he/she may not be able to fix it.

SalteeDog

You should see if the problem is occurring in the kitchen also. You should also check if the issue occurs on another receiver - if you have access to one (this will eliminate the Vu+ as a potential cause).

St Senan

dnme wrote: »

Hi

Recently moved into house. I got a reputable installer to install a new dish for freesat channels on 28.2 and bring in 3 cables into the house. He put the dish at the back of the house where it was slightly impeded by the gable end. I'm using my own box which is a VU+Duo. So I have two cables coming into that and one cable going into the kitchen. The dish is a standard sky mesh type and size.

On the first few nights, a lot of my channels were breaking up, blocks on screen, sound glitching etc. I put it down to the bad weather last Thursday and Friday. But it kept happening so my installer returned on Saturday, moved the dish and re-cabled the lot (in fairness to him).

But last night, and again tonight I am seeing channels breaking up again. Same blocking artifacts on screen and sound glitching. It seems to be happening at random. No pattern that I can see. It'll happen for a while then clear up. Right now I'm watching the F1 highlights on BBC1 HD and its perfect.

He has the dish very well aligned. I'm getting string signals, SNR 99% and AGC 93% on BBC1 HD for example. But I need to solve this. Today and yesterday, the weather was perfect so lets rule that out. Can anyone advise me as to what in gods name is happening and what I might do about this.

Many thanks

Here are a just few things that your installer needs to check.

Dect Interference,
Signal been slightly blocked by Buildings/trees,
LNB not properly Skewed,
Slight dent in Dish,
Internal cable in house is not of good quality (not Isolated cable)
F connectors Joiners Problems if cable is connected in Attic.
Kink in cable/cable damage
Wall plates
Try a different Box on the same cable and on the same TV channels to see what happens.

Its a of Process of Elimination for him to find the problem.

dnme

I have an old sky box that I can connect up, although this is old analog scart connector so I dont think it can reproduce the behavior of a digital breakup, i.e.mpeg artifacts, blocks and glitching, or can it? In other words, How will the fault look on the old sky box?

dnme

Just to note also, the installer is a reputable proper installer. Insured etc He has already been back, moved the dish and recabled. He used good compression type F Connectors. He is able to measure db loss at junctions etc. So I'm doubly confused. Ive never had an issue with satellite signals before. And I have to say that in the two years that Ive owned th ebox (VU+Duo) it has been as stable as a rock.

zg3409

dnme wrote: »

I have an old sky box that I can connect up, although this is old analog scart connector so I dont think it can reproduce the behavior of a digital breakup, i.e.mpeg artifacts, blocks and glitching, or can it? In other words, How will the fault look on the old sky box?

It will be the exact same via scart. You will get digital breakup via a scart lead. Yes defininitely setup the old Sky box, leave both on all the time you are at home and check both if any sign of problems.

This will help the installer troubleshoot.

Liameter

dnme wrote: »

He put the dish at the back of the house where it was slightly impeded by the gable end.

If you mean "the line of sight was partly blocked" then that would explain your symptoms.

dnme

Liameter wrote: »

If you mean "the line of sight was partly blocked" then that would explain your symptoms.

No it doesn't explain the symptoms because as stated, he has since moved the dish to clear obstructions and the problem remains intermittently.

Liameter

dnme wrote: »

The dish is a standard sky mesh type and size.

Sky dishes are perforated steel, not wire mesh.

Please do as previous poster suggested and test with another receiver. If that's the same then you can be sure it's an installation problem or interference.

Interference can come from ground-based microwave transmissions and the simplest way to minimise them is to place the dish at ground level, screened by walls and fences, with a clear line of sight of the satellites. If that cures the problem, the installer will have to position the dish where it is shielded from the unwanted interference.

This situation is rare but I've come across it several times. It might just be the answer if you can find no other cause.

zg3409

Liameter wrote: »

Interference can come from ground-based microwave transmissions .

I heard of a case where the dish was on the same roof as a mobile phone mast. Some of the transponders had interference, some none. All sorts of electronics at your home or nearby could be a cause but it's rare.

dnme

Thanks everyone for the responses. When I say the dish is a mesh type, I mean perforated steel or whatever.....the bog standard dish that sky would install.

I have started my own set of tests internally. First I will connect only one cable for a day on tuner A. Then move that cable to tuner B for a day. Then repeat with the second cable. I will note down all instances of interference such as channel, transponder, polarity etc. I'll see what transpires.