Cordless Phone interfering with Sky

Bugatti

Anyone else have problems with cordless phones interfering with Sky. We have 2 boxes, Sky Plus and a regular Sky box. Whenever we receive a call the phone affects the signal of certain channels such as Comedy Central, Channel 4 and E4. But this only happens with the regular box. Sky Plus is fine. And its not the box thats faulty because we got that replaced. Just wondering is this a common fault?

SpaceTime

Is your sky satellite cable connected via a socket on the wall?

Many of these aren't insulated properly

Play To Kill

Its a common fault but if you move the base for the phone away from the standard box it should stop. Usually happens when the base is in the same room as the box.

Bugatti

The base is actually in the same room as the Sky Plus box and doesnt affected that! The cable isnt connected to a socket, it goes directly into the attic.

domel

Have you tried to replace SCART lead? maybe it is acting like small aerial, also disconnect all other devices (apart form TV and SKY box) and see is there any change, you can also try to swap boxes and see is the same happens on sky+ box.

SpaceTime

It's a shielding issue with something in your system.

The simplest solution is to move the DECT base until the interference disappears.

Failing that, check for any loose connections or exposure of the satellite cable. A bad connection or poorly shielded cable can allow other signals to leak into the cable.

Make sure that the mesh on the outside of the satellite cable isn't touching the wire in the centre at any of the F Connectors.

Make certain that the connectors are fully inserted and tightened into place correctly.

It could even be the internal shielding in the sky box itself. Some seem to be more susceptible to it than others.

The problem is that the transponder broadcasting the group of channels being interfered with is using a similar frequency to DECT cordless phones. I think the DECT systems in Europe use 1880-1900 MHz

Peter Rhea

domel wrote: »

Have you tried to replace SCART lead? maybe it is acting like small aerial, also disconnect all other devices (apart form TV and SKY box) and see is there any change, you can also try to swap boxes and see is the same happens on sky+ box.

Nothing to do with the scart lead & no point disconnecting & swapping stuff. As mentioned already, it's a shielding issue with the input to the tuner(s), most likely poor quality cable between dish & receiver.

SpaceTime wrote: »

The problem is that the transponder broadcasting the group of channels being interfered with is using a similar frequency to DECT cordless phones. I think the DECT systems in Europe use 1880-1900 MHz

The satellite transponder downlink frequency is 12480 MHz. The problem is the intermediate frequency (IF) after downconversion in the lnb (12480 - 10600 = 1880).

SpaceTime

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Nothing to do with the scart lead & no point disconnecting & swapping stuff. As mentioned already, it's a shielding issue with the input to the tuner(s), most likely poor quality cable between dish & receiver.



The satellite transponder downlink frequency is 12480 MHz. The problem is the intermediate frequency (IF) after downconversion in the lnb (12480 - 10600 = 1880).

I meant with the down-conversion applied!

Either way the issue is with the wiring between the LNB and the tuner.

It shouldn't be happening if the shielding is working and intact.

Bugatti

Thanks guys, I'll try out those suggestions and report back!

The Cush

I also had the same problem previously with unshielded satellite wallplates being affected by a dect phone in the room downstairs, replaced the wallplates and problem solved.

Bugatti

The Cush wrote: »

I also had the same problem previously with unshielded satellite wallplates being affected by a dect phone in the room downstairs, replaced the wallplates and problem solved.

Is it simple to replace the wallplates? I think thats my problem as well?

Seamus1964

Lidl sells at the moment dual phone kit (30 euro?) what will not interference with your sat tv.
Old Eircom Dect phones are disaster, or any cheap brand really (remember "True Movies" issue couple of years back?)
Good quality phones do not give much trouble in that area

The Cush

Bugatti wrote: »

Is it simple to replace the wallplates? I think thats my problem as well?

Yes they're easy enough to replace.

Before you buy you'll need to know what type of wallplate you require, satellite (1 or 2 feeds), terrestrial, combined feeds etc.

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/wall_plates.htm
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/wallplates.htm
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/wall_plates.htm

Peter Rhea

Bugatti wrote: »

Is it simple to replace the wallplates? I think thats my problem as well?

In post #4, you said there was no 'socket'.

Peter Rhea

Seamus1964 wrote: »

Good quality phones do not give much trouble in that area

They all have to signal between base & handset, on the frequencies that affect the 'Irish' Channel 4 lineup (1880-1900 MHz). You can't suppress the actual working frequencies.

No doubt some poor quality phones also emit spurious radiation on other freqs.

SpaceTime

Seamus1964 wrote: »

Lidl sells at the moment dual phone kit (30 euro?) what will not interference with your sat tv.
Old Eircom Dect phones are disaster, or any cheap brand really (remember "True Movies" issue couple of years back?)
Good quality phones do not give much trouble in that area

The old Eircom DECT phones were generally very high quality Siemens ones usually.

If there's more interference, it's most likely that the phone is just outputting more power i.e. has better range.

Cordless phone DECT channels are licensed spectrum so it's not like the phones shouldn't be there, rather your satellite equipment must be sufficiently shielded not to pick them up on the internal wiring.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

I have a problem at the moment with my Sky HD box and i was wondering would my dec phone be causing the problem. II'm getting a no signal message on the frequency 11.426 V and H. I had two engineers out to check the box and tney said that the signal on both imputs is very strong and that there was no need to check the dish or lmb. All other frequencies are working fine so i was wondering if it was tne dec phone was interfering with that frequency.

Slippin Jimmy

natashaob6 wrote: »

I have a problem at the moment with my Sky HD box and i was wondering would my dec phone be causing the problem. II'm getting a no signal message on the frequency 11.426 V and H. I had two engineers out to check the box and tney said that the signal on both imputs is very strong and that there was no need to check the dish or lmb. All other frequencies are working fine so i was wondering if it was tne dec phone was interfering with that frequency.

Switch off the phone and see??

Thurston?

natashaob6 wrote: »

... I had two engineers out to check the box and tney said that the signal on both imputs is very strong and that there was no need to check the dish or lmb.

Did either of these 'engineers' have any suggestion as to what might be causing the problem, as opposed to what they don't think is wrong?

Seamus1964

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

Switch off the phone and see??

+1

:D:D

NegativeOne

Having the same problem at the moment. Its definetly the phone alright. Only solution is to move the phone as far away as possible from the sky box

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Thurston? wrote: »

Did either of these 'engineers' have any suggestion as to what might be causing the problem, as opposed to what they don't think is wrong?

They said it might have something to do with the updates that Sky are sending out. 11.426 V is the only frequency that is affected.

Thurston?

natashaob6 wrote: »

They said it might have something to do with the updates that Sky are sending out. 11.426 V is the only frequency that is affected.

So they checked that particular frequency, & were happy enough with the signal?

I don't know much about Sky, & if it's possible for the EPG to still be looking for channels on their old frequency, once they've moved. It's a pity they couldn't provide a better answer than 'might have'.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Thurston? wrote: »

So they checked that particular frequency, & were happy enough with the signal?

I don't know much about Sky, & if it's possible for the EPG to still be looking for channels on their old frequency, once they've moved. It's a pity they couldn't provide a better answer than 'might have'.

infact one of tnem wondered why I called him out at all as the channels I have lost he said were not worth worrying about. Ah well I will just have to do without them.

Slippin Jimmy

natashaob6 wrote: »

infact one of tnem wondered why I called him out at all as the channels I have lost he said were not worth worrying about. Ah well I will just have to do without them.

If you're paying for them you should have them. Ring sky again and get them to sort it.

Thurston?

natashaob6 wrote: »

Thurston? wrote: »

So they checked that particular frequency, & were happy enough with the signal?

I don't know much about Sky, & if it's possible for the EPG to still be looking for channels on their old frequency, once they've moved. It's a pity they couldn't provide a better answer than 'might have'.

infact one of tnem wondered why I called him out at all as the channels I have lost he said were not worth worrying about. Ah well I will just have to do without them.

Did you say in another thread that you tried tuning them in 'other channels' too?