Faulty box (advice)

SCOOP 64

My mother in laws free to air box has gone faulty,need replacement,

1. would a freesat box be better
2. can you use a standard sky box

thanks

Peter Rhea

What way has it gone faulty? Are you sure it's actually the box to blame?

SCOOP 64

Peter Rhea wrote: »

What way has it gone faulty? Are you sure it's actually the box to blame?

good question, her son looked at it last night thinks its the box, new led tv installed last week for soarview, cuts out or goes black and white. its a fairly old box.

Capt'n Midnight

If you live close to the north argos do a freesat box for less than thirty quid. It's not High Definition though.

Yes you can use a standard sky box. Without a card it will default to London regions (BBC NI will be up around 952 or somewhere)

What make / model is the FTA box - some have known faults and it may be on the way out - how old is it ?


First power down everything. Check the satellite cable is attached and no stray wires. Look at the dish in case something happened to it. ( Colleague of mine was trying to diagnose a problem connecting to a sever, long story short a thief had disconnected the server and was wheeling it out of the data centre )

Check the SCART cables are in tight at both ends, ( this may explain B&W ) bring a spare when you visit.

On the FTA box check that video output is set to RGB and 16:9
( if it's set to CVBS then you can loose colour signal) Note some TV's can choose RGB or CVBS signal when presented to them - check this too.

Unlikey to be the LNB, but can test that by bringing another satellite box.

SCOOP 64

Thanks for advice, box is 8/9 yrs old, not sure what make, but i have a sky box im not using, so i can connect this to. i was not sure. and still get the same channels?
thks

Peter Rhea

Yes, you can use the Sky box. You should be able to make a favourites list which will save having to flick through all the encrypted channels.

The problem you describe with the current receiver is nothing to do with the dish, lnb or associated cables. As already mentioned, check the connection from receiver to tv.

SCOOP 64

Tried the sky box, but on screen, "no signal unplug receiver for 5 mins and try again" done this several times. no joy,
i plugged in the free to air box picture fine so i know its not dish/lnb. the free to air box goes black and white and picture lost, its intermiten, switching the on/off switch on back puts picture back , so i believe a faulty box.

dont understand why i cant get a signal on the sky box?
do i have to do something else besides just plug it in?

Liameter

Yes, make sure it has the latest firmware.

SCOOP 64

Liameter wrote: »

Yes, make sure it has the latest firmware.

unplug and pressed backup,came up with firmware update wait 10mins, after 6 mins screen went blank, turn off and on still no signal, tried on my box at home ,still no signal, plug my box back its fine,thinking this replacement box is faulty.

Liameter

Did you reboot the Digibox after downloading the firmware?
Have you checked the secret "Installer Setup Menu" to ensure that LNB power is on and all settings are factory defaults? It's not uncommon for these to get changed by somebody fiddling or during a mains power "brown out".

Capt'n Midnight

Oh its a sky box ?

rule #1 don't every try a firmware update unless you have a good reliable signal, otherwise you are asking for it to be bricked.


If the SKY box has been offline for a long time then try a different default transponder perhaps , it this works file it under voodoo

NB unless it is unplugged from them mains a sky box will send power to the LNB so while it's possible to short out the tuner power supply if you fiddle with the connections while the box is in "standby"

How to change the Default Transponder Frequency Setting on a Sky, or Sky+ Digibox

1. Remove the power cable from the Sky Digibox only. This can be found on the back of the Sky Digibox, and is normally a black cable on either the extreme left or right of the Sky Digibox. Reinsert the power cable after 30 seconds.

2. Turn on the Sky Digibox.

3. On the Sky remote control press the SERVICES button

4. On the Sky remote control press 401 (four zero one) and then the SELECT button. Note that when pressing 0 and 1 (zero and one) nothing will happen on screen). The screen will change when the select button is pressed.

5. If the above has been done correctly you should see the Sky "secret" Installer Setup Menu screen. If you do not see the Installer Setup Menu screen then start this process again.

6. Press “2” on your Sky remote control, to go into the Default Transponder Frequency screen.

7. If done correctly should be looking at the Default Transponder screen.

8. On the Sky remote control press 12207 (one two one two nine). This will change the default FREQUENCY to 12.207.

9. Ensure that the default POLARIZATION is “V”.

10. Ensure that the default SYMBOL RATE is “27.5”.

11. Ensure that the default FEC is “2/3”.

12. On the Sky remote control press the DOWN ARROW button to highlight "SAVE NEW SETTINGS". Press SELECT. This will SAVE NEW SETTINGS and return you to the Installer Setup Menu screen.

11. On the Sky remote control press the BACK UP button until you exit all the menus.

12. If this process has been done correctly the time will appear on the white programme information banner. Eventually channel information for Sky channel 998 will appear.

13. Once this programme information for Sky Channel 998 has appeared your other channels should now be available. Test this by trying Sky Channel 501 -Sky News.

....

In most cases, after a successful download the default transponder frequency setting will return to 11778. This is normal, and you should not really expect the Sky digibox to keep the default transponder frequency setting you have manually input.

SCOOP 64

too late tried the firmware update, dont know if i have knackered it,the box has not been use for 6/7 months, was working fine before this so i was told,
then tried the, 401 select,
"On the Sky remote control press 12207 On the Sky remote control press 12207 (one two one two nine). This will change the default FREQUENCY to 12.207.. This will change the default FREQUENCY to 12.207."

not sure what this is (one two one two nine) just press 12207 on remote , i saved it, but back to "no signal 29"

Capt'n Midnight

check the services menu for signal strength and quality


http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/sky_fire_hazard.htm

There are several reasons for leaving a Sky Digibox powered:

1. To keep the LNB temperature stable in order to minimise frequency drift, which could cause the dreaded "No satellite TV signal is being received" message to appear.

2. To allow Sky to send firmware and programme updates.

3. To allow "Sky Anytime" to download programmes.

4. To allow timed recordings.

5. To allow Sky access to your card. (It needs to receive a "keep alive" signal every few days.)

Should have mentioned earlier if the SKY box has been out of use for a few months leave it plugged in overnight. And check signal strength again.

SCOOP 64

ill leave on standby overnight and see what happens.

SCOOP 64

No joy .still the same this morning,no signal, must be a faulty box,have to look for another one,thanks for all advice.