Diagnosis?

tiffin3665

I've recently moved into an apartment I've discovered has a satellite signal. I duly attached an old Sky box, hoping principally to get the BBC channels. While I can get all BBC radio on the Sky EPG, the only BBC TV channel I can get is Parliament.

Curiously, I can get all the ITV channels, and while I can't get C4, I can get C4+1!

I'd be grateful for any thoughts on what the issue might be and how I could get BBC TV?

Many thanks.

Apogee

It might be that the polarity switching in the LNB is busted, and you can only receive channels on vertical (eg most versions of C4 are on H, but most of C4+1 are on V).

You can test this with the following channels:

Horizontal:
CBS Action
BET UK

Vertical:
CBS Drama
Revelation TV

tiffin3665

Many thanks! You are probably a genius, as the test you suggest is spot on: Vertical working - Horizontal not!

As a follow on, is it an easy fix? What part needs to be changed and is it easy?

Thanks again!

kbell

If the apartment is on a communal satellite system, the feed to your apartment might be 'DC' blocked.
Its a small fitting connected to the output of the Multiswitch that feeds your apartment that will allow a terrestrial signal to pass, but blocks dc, in your case the H channels.
Removing it, will allow both V and H to pass.

Apogee

I missed the reference to apartment.

Can you check out whether the system is a communal system with one dish serving all apartments or if you have a separate dish attached to the outside of your apartment by a previous occupant?

You should also check that the Sky box is functioning OK i.e. is it sending out 13Volts when switched to a V channel, or 18Volts when switched to H channel. Either swap with a known functioning receiver, or connect the Sky box to a dish which you know is OK.

Alt. use a multimeter to measure voltage out.

tiffin3665

I'll try these things, and hey, I really do appreciate your help.

Many thanks!