Why do Sky charge €100 to replace a broken/damaged dish?

Sleeper12

TheAnalyst_ wrote:

It's a piece of piss to align it yourself unless it's in a horribly inaccessible area. Maybe pay the 100 if you think you're going to break your neck. Tip - if you can't see your tv get someone to do a video call of the tv showing signal strength whilst you fiddle with alignment.

I used to install dishes as a hobby/nixer type thing 15/20 years ago when sky was analogue. This was, as you say a piece of piss however I'm not so sure it's easy for digital without the correct equipment.
With analogue it was like tuning a tv. Weak snowy picture, move dish slightly and it improves. I haven't done a digital set up but was under the impression that there is no weak signal to see. If doing it visually there is either signal or no signal, or so I've been told.

TheAnalyst_

I've done a few modern digitals there is a decent margin of error before its completely blank. All sat boxes will show signal quality and strength so its a matter of honing in on the sweet spot. LNB angle also important. 

There are apps for allignment using augmented reality. I like to use online maps showing satellite imagery overlayed with the satellite direction. I find a reference point like a church spire or tree and point it towards that.

UrbanFret

K.C wrote: »

My dish moved in the wind last night. All channels seem ok except for rte1+2,sky 1 and a couple more strangely. Bad timing with the rugby on Saturday. I wonder is there much to moving it yourself, trial and error. Anyone ever fixed this problem themselves?

If it's only a few channels i wouldn't even loosen the bolts. Make sure the receiver is on the channel you're missing then mark the current position of the dish. Use a bit of force to move it slightly left or right,It could be you need to move it up or down slightly as the elevation might be slightly off.

Sleeper12

TheAnalyst_ wrote:

I've done a few modern digitals there is a decent margin of error before its completely blank. All sat boxes will show signal quality and strength so its a matter of honing in on the sweet spot. LNB angle also important.

Thanks for that. For the analogue I used to hang a soaking wet bath towel over the dish. If you got a good signal without any spots of snow you had a perfect signal. The wet towel simulates heavy rain.
Ah the good old days.

UrbanFret

this is a super piece of kit, at least i think it is.:D

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hengda%C2%AE-WS-6906-Satellite-Digital-SATlink/dp/B01IQWV7ZU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1487875355&sr=8-3&keywords=satlink+satellite+meter

Copper_pipe

Have one of these, Very handy.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Satellite-Signal-Finder-Meter-for-Free-to-air-FTA-Installation-DIY-Satfinder-/251054331618?hash=item3a740116e2:g:c04AAOSw65FXsdmf

decor58

Copper_pipe wrote:

Have one of these, Very handy.[/quot
Powercity sell those at the same price, very handy to have, don't know how many times its been borrowed. Adjustment might only be very slight, very often dish clicks back into place with minimal effort.

danjo-xx

I have one of those in case I need it. But what would be a fair price to pay
for re-alignment or adjustment of an ex sky dish.

Atlantic Dawn

Older rusting dishes are a pain in the hole to align as the bolts and brackets will be rusted to bits, might be easier to just stick up a new one while your at it.

Heisenberg1

Do SKY still charge €100 call out? I'm a Q customer since last November but I was under the impression that SKY own the equipment so any repairs are free of charge.

NUTZZ

Heisenberg1 wrote: »

Do SKY still charge €100 call out? I'm a Q customer since last November but I was under the impression that SKY own the equipment so any repairs are free of charge.

SKY own the receivers (Sky Q Box and Sky Q Hub), but the satellite dish becomes the customers property once installed.

Heisenberg1

NUTZZ wrote: »

SKY own the receivers (Sky Q Box and Sky Q Hub), but the satellite dish becomes the customers property once installed.

Thanks, SKY rep never mentioned a call out charge when I contacted them today. The dish moved with the wind last night and the TV isn't working. So I guess I'll have to pay the €100.

byte

I'd expect that they'd have mentioned the charge if they were to charge you. The fact you're a relatively new customer may mean they'll cover it.

EverythingGood

Heisenberg1 wrote: »

Thanks, SKY rep never mentioned a call out charge when I contacted them today. The dish moved with the wind last night and the TV isn't working. So I guess I'll have to pay the €100.

SKy Q is calls out are free, forever, regardless of the issue.

Aquos76

salamanca22 wrote: »

New rust proof dishes can be got from €25, that price is definitely too high unless he was installing something top of the range.

That does not include the price of a quad lnb and a wall bracket, btw, also many independent installers have to pay public liability insurance, they have to travel out to the job, the time it takes to do the job, often the cable will need to be replaced also, along with the F connectors at the lnb, wear and tear on their van, they need ladders plus their tools and satellite meters. In my opinion €100 to €120 is a fair price. Im including the price of a new dish in this by the way.

blue_blue

A cheap hack of re-aligning your dish if you have two iOS devices. Make a Facetime video call between them - point one at the telly, keep the other in your hand whilst you nudge the dish.