Sky RF Outlet (Magic Eye) Channel Interference

one ill cat

I have the Sky World HD package with the 2TB HD+ box. Obviously, with so many channels & available storage, I got the magic eye set up when the sky was installed to get the most value for money.

Well I loved my set up until recently when all of a sudden I appear to get constant interference on the upstairs tv in the evening time. I've researched this online & a lot of forums have suggested changing the RF channel to a lower one & keeping the sound setting at 'I'.

I've worked my way through pretty much all the channels & can't seem to find one that remains uninterrupted for anything more than a day or so. At the risk of driving myself nuts I've ordered a converter type thing to convert coax feed to a HDMI so I can use a direct input to the tv upstairs that doesn't require tuning in. That said I've no idea if it'll work, but it's annoying me that much I thought it was worth a try.

If anyone has encountered this problem or could suggest a fix I'd be really grateful.

Peter Rhea

Would you not be better off trying to find the source of the interference?

If it's only there in the evening, you could probably trace it to a dodgy heating system or streetlight, to name a couple of possibilities.

Can you provide a link to info. on the 'converter type thing'?

one ill cat

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Would you not be better off trying to find the source of the interference?

If it's only there in the evening, you could probably trace it to a dodgy heating system or streetlight, to name a couple of possibilities.

Can you provide a link to info. on the 'converter type thing'?

Thanks for replying.

Tbh I've no idea what the sources for such interference could even be so I've never really put any thought into what could be causing this particular problem.

Do you think whatever is calling the problem would be near the tv upstairs as opposed to Sky box downstairs? Or would it not need to be in the same room as either? We have oil heating which is programmed to come on 6-7am & 5-7pm. It's usually after 8pm when the feed starts to play up.

The device I was looking at is something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281033407947?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Peter Rhea

What does the interference look like? Would it show up in a photo?

The interference is more than likely being picked up on the cable between the Sky box & tv, assuming it isn't due to a fault in either device.

That converter you linked to won't do what you think it will, the 'coax.' part refers to audio only, for use with component video signals.

Antenna

Is there a TV aerial connected up also?
If so does the problem disappear if the TV aerial is disconnected from the Aerial input of the Sky box ?

Is there an aerial amplifier? (it could be faulty)

one ill cat

Peter Rhea wrote: »

What does the interference look like? Would it show up in a photo?

The interference is more than likely being picked up on the cable between the Sky box & tv, assuming it isn't due to a fault in either device.

That converter you linked to won't do what you think it will, the 'coax.' part refers to audio only, for use with component video signals.

I tried taking a photo but it doesn't capture the full effect. The first thing that tends to go is the sound, in fact sometimes the picture is near perfect but there's a pop sort of a noise & the sound just completely cuts out. Other times there is a fuzzy sort of noise in the background along with a fuzzy picture.

The sky box is downstairs in the living room, therefore there's a cable that runs up the outside of the house & in to the bedroom directly above. The Sky contractor installed the whole thing himself & when it was first set up it worked perfectly. I can only assume the interference is down to a change in something since then, as surely whatever is causing it wouldn't have just started causing it unless there was a change?

How likely is it that a wifi router could be causing this? That's the only thing I can think of that is in the vicinity. But as the router is on 24/7, I would have assumed that it can't be that causing the problem.

theblueirish

It might be worth connecting a fly lead between the magic eye and the TV. this sometimes helps.

one ill cat

Antenna wrote: »

Is there a TV aerial connected up also?
If so does the problem disappear if the TV aerial is disconnected from the Aerial input of the Sky box ?

Is there an aerial amplifier? (it could be faulty)

There's only one lead connected up to the tv, & that's the lead from the sky box downstairs. It goes from the RF socket in the sky box to the aerial socket on the tv. I don't have any splitters or boosters if that's what you're asking?

one ill cat

theblueirish wrote: »

It might be worth connecting a fly lead between the magic eye and the TV. this sometimes helps.

Thanks for the suggestion. Sorry to be dumb, but what is a fly lead? Where can I get one?

Peter Rhea

I would think Antenna is referring to the Sky box RF-in connection: this is where you would connect a terrestrial aerial & this signal would also be present on RF1 & 2, for the 'local' & 'remote' tvs.

Presumably you have nothing connected to RF-in, all you have is the cable from RF2 to the bedroom ('remote') tv?

one ill cat

Peter Rhea wrote: »

I would think Antenna is referring to the Sky box RF-in connection: this is where you would connect a terrestrial aerial & this signal would also be present on RF1 & 2, for the 'local' & 'remote' tvs.

Presumably you have nothing connected to RF-in, all you have is the cable from RF2 to the bedroom ('remote') tv?

Yeah, we don't have any additional aerials. The only source for channels for the tv is the sky box & whatever way that is connected to the dish.

Peter Rhea

I suppose you could try eliminating a few possible causes: maybe try a different tv in the bedroom, try switching off the router when the problem appears.

Does retuning the tv, even back on the same channel, fix the problem?

one ill cat

Peter Rhea wrote: »

I suppose you could try eliminating a few possible causes: maybe try a different tv in the bedroom, try switching off the router when the problem appears.

Does retuning the tv, even back on the same channel, fix the problem?

Tbh this is the 2nd tv we've tried. I foolishly thought the tv was playing up initially. We were planning on upgrading the tv downstairs anyway, but it certainly expedited that process. So the Sony Bravia has been moved to the bedroom, & the exact same thing is happening. This tv worked perfectly downstairs a few weeks ago.

I'll try the router the next time it happens. That will be tough to move though as there is an Ethernet printer attached to it in the corner of the room so it would be an awkward thing to have to move.

Re-tuning the tv doesn't work unfortunately. I have had nights where I've literally gone through every channel between 21-69 to try find a reception without interference to no avail. It's like the most depressing way to spend an evening

Ronnie Raygun

Also include the "magic eye" in any process of elimination.

Antenna

If the upsairs TV is connected to the RF1 output instead of RF2, is the reception any different??

(you will not be able to use a Skybox remote control via a magic eye in the other room using RF1, but do this to rule out a problem with RF2)


If no change, try connecting the TV in the same room as the Skybox to the RF1 output (to aerial input of the TV) and tune it in on its analogue tuning as a test. If the reception via RF is still faulty doing that, it seems you have a faulty modulator in the Skybox

adox

I had interference on my tv upstairs after using a magic eye for a good few years. Every time the remote was used I would get huge interference on screen.

Replaced the magic eye with a new one and it sorted it out. Not the same symptoms as you but Id recommend disconnecting the magic eye and see if that is the issue.

necstandards

Not sure if this helps, but i see you have the cable running outside the house.. Might be worth checking this.. I've had a similar set up, couldnt understand why i was getting a bad signal upstairs.. almost cancelled sky altogether (luck i couldn’t find the contact number & had called them).. anyway the dog had chewed the cable outside..

alansilly

hi is the co-axil cable any where near a phone line or broadband box,