Weak signal for UK channels (BBC etc)

ikoonman

Hi

Apologies if this is covered in an earlier post

I recently cancelled my Sky account as I didn't find their basic service worth the effort. I then dug out an (old'ish) satellite receiver and for kicks connected it to the dish to see if I it still works. (The dish is a fairly new installation so it has the 2 LNB's for Sky's new decoder.)

I selected Astra 2, and scanned for channels. It found a whole bunch of UK channels (teleshopping etc) which seems perfect, except for the BBC channels - which the receiver reports as "weak signal". I thought this would work. I verified one of the BBC channel's frequencies with a site on the web, and it all seems to be correct.

Have these channels become paid (aka need a subscription for it), or is it simply because my decoder/receiver is too old (I've had it for about 8 years), or am I pointing at the wrong satellite?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Atlantic Dawn

I'd look at the cable going in to the box first seeing as you had no problem with Sky box on the same dish, make sure it's secure and fully connected.

emaherx

ikoonman wrote: »

Hi

Apologies if this is covered in an earlier post

I recently cancelled my Sky account as I didn't find their basic service worth the effort. I then dug out an (old'ish) satellite receiver and for kicks connected it to the dish to see if I it still works. (The dish is a fairly new installation so it has the 2 LNB's for Sky's new decoder.)

I selected Astra 2, and scanned for channels. It found a whole bunch of UK channels (teleshopping etc) which seems perfect, except for the BBC channels - which the receiver reports as "weak signal". I thought this would work. I verified one of the BBC channel's frequencies with a site on the web, and it all seems to be correct.

Have these channels become paid (aka need a subscription for it), or is it simply because my decoder/receiver is too old (I've had it for about 8 years), or am I pointing at the wrong satellite?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Was the dish for Sky Q? If so you may have to replace your LNB, unless you specified a hybrid LNB during the install.

Ger Roe

In answer to your specific question, the BBC channels have not gone to subscription and if you are getting other UK channels and were receiving sky on the same setup, then you are not pointing at the wrong sat.

Only for the fact that you said that you have checked that the missing BBC channel frequencies are still valid, I would have bet on a re-scan being required as channels might have changed freq since the box was last used. Are you positive that the frequencies you checked are still current and correct?

As previously suggested, it's no harm to check your cable connections, but other than that if all else is OK, then you might be looking at a slight dish movement.

How long is it since you were receiving Sky through the same dish and cable and how long since your current box was last used? It's age is probably not as important a consideration as the length of time since a channel scan was last undertaken.

exaisle

Ger Roe wrote: »

As previously suggested, it's no harm to check your cable connections, but other than that if all else is OK, then you might be looking at a slight dish movement.

If I was a betting man, that's what my few bob would be on....

The Cush

ikoonman wrote: »

(The dish is a fairly new installation so it has the 2 LNB's for Sky's new decoder.)

Clarify what you mean by new decoder, SkyQ as emaherx mentions above or a new install SkyHD+ box. Different LNBs types required for each box, the new SkyQ LNB won't work properly with a legacy receiver unless it's a hybrid type.

ikoonman

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'd look at the cable going in to the box first seeing as you had no problem with Sky box on the same dish, make sure it's secure and fully connected.

I think the antenna cable is seated correctly as I receive other channels (Dave/Sky news etc) perfectly.

ikoonman

emaherx wrote: »

Was the dish for Sky Q? If so you may have to replace your LNB, unless you specified a hybrid LNB during the install.

Yes - Sky Q the head is a dual LNB I think, because the cable coming into the house have 2 heads. Do you suspect this is the reason I can receive other channels, but none of the BBC ones?

ikoonman

The Cush wrote: »

Clarify what you mean by new decoder, SkyQ as emaherx mentions above or a new install SkyHD+ box. Different LNBs types required for each box, the new SkyQ LNB won't work properly with a legacy receiver unless it's a hybrid type.

My apologies - I meant Sky Q. I just assumed (in my limited knowledge) that the LNB would be sufficient for receiving BBC, so what you and others say now make sense.

flaneur

Check you don't have any poor connections like for example non satellite grade cables or wall sockets will cause certain channels to get screwed up.

One group of channels definitely gets wiped out by DECT cordless phone signals if the wiring isn't shielded.

Remember your LNB down converts frequencies. The radio signals going from the dish to the Sky box are actually between 950–2150 MHz and not the original very high frequencies used by the satellites.

So, you'll get interference from other devices operating within that frequency band which would include DECT, WiFi, 2G, 3G and 4G phone networks etc.
That's why you absolutely need to keep your wiring properly shielded.

ikoonman

Ger Roe wrote: »

Only for the fact that you said that you have checked that the missing BBC channel frequencies are still valid, I would have bet on a re-scan being required as channels might have changed freq since the box was last used. Are you positive that the frequencies you checked are still current and correct?

Yes. I receive other channels such as Sky News and Dave (and numerous drama/teleshopping channels) perfectly.

Ger Roe wrote: »

How long is it since you were receiving Sky through the same dish and cable and how long since your current box was last used? It's age is probably not as important a consideration as the length of time since a channel scan was last undertaken.

A couple of months, but the receiver I dug out from the attic is a bit older so it might be that that is the problem

ikoonman

flaneur wrote: »

Check you don't have any poor connections like for example non satellite grade cables or wall sockets will cause certain channels to get screwed up.

One group of channels definitely gets wiped out by DECT cordless phone signals if the wiring isn't shielded.

Yeah all connections seems solid and securely seated. Fortunately I don't have a home phone so that rules out that possibility.

flaneur

I'm not sure exactly what frequencies those channels are on. Do you know the multiplex frequency?
Perhaps someone can do the honours of calculating the down converted frequency, then we could give you an idea of what's interfering.

ikoonman

flaneur wrote: »

I'm not sure exactly what frequencies those channels are on. Do you know the multiplex frequency?
Perhaps someone can do the honours of calculating the down converted frequency, then we could give you an idea of what's interfering.

I used this to verify the frequencies: https://www.lyngsat.com/packages/Sky-UK.html

flaneur

Which multiplex is it though?
BBC channels are on several different muxes.

If it's just impacting one group of channels, that sounds like you've something interfering with one frequency only. You would need to be specific about which TV channels or the actual frequency the sat box is tuned to.

A slightly loose F connector can do it.

Also are you using any wall plates / wall sockets to connect the satellite cable? Some or these are sold and are totally unsuitable for sat use as they're just not designed to provide adequate shielding. I've had problems myself with those sockets picking up all sorts of interference.

Also bear in mind BBC uses spot beams which aim to reduce overspill into other countries. They can't do much to avoid broadcasting into immediately neighbouring countries like Ireland, part of France and the Netherlands etc but the signal becomes weaker sooner than others.

I'm just curious what size dish are you using? 60cm is needed for astra 2E reception here. You'll get away with smaller diameter dishes in England.

emaherx

Standard Sky Q LNB will not work with your old satellite receiver. This is absolutely your issue and what you are describing as your issue is exactly how I'd expect your equipment to work.

Get a standard quad LNB and swap, easy fix.

http://www.freetv.ie/satellite/dishes/lnbs/

You can get a single (cheaper) if you only want 1 tv with no recording. Or the hybrid SKY Q if you want to return to SKY Q in the future.

The Cush

ikoonman wrote: »

Yes - Sky Q the head is a dual LNB I think, because the cable coming into the house have 2 heads.

The SkyQ LNB is a new wideband type which sends the full frequency range 230 MHz to 2359 MHz down 2 cables, Vertical signals down one cable, Horizontal down the other. A legacy receiver connected to it will only see a small selection of the frequency range.

You will require a replacement Sky LNB - http://www.freetv.ie/quad-lnb/

ikoonman

flaneur wrote: »

I'm just curious what size dish are you using? 60cm is needed for astra 2E reception here. You'll get away with smaller diameter dishes in England.

I am just using the dish Sky installed

ikoonman

emaherx wrote: »

Standard Sky Q LNB will not work with your old satellite receiver. This is absolutely your issue and what you are describing as your issue is exactly how I'd expect your equipment to work.

Get a standard quad LNB and swap, easy fix.

http://www.freetv.ie/satellite/dishes/lnbs/

You can get a single (cheaper) if you only want 1 tv with no recording. Or the hybrid SKY Q if you want to return to SKY Q in the future.

Fortunately I have an old dish in the shed which I can try. But I pretty much suspected what you are saying - now I just need to figure out if it is worth the effort getting on the roof and replacing the Sky Q dish with the older. Thanks for the help regardless

emaherx

ikoonman wrote: »

Fortunately I have an old dish in the shed which I can try. But I pretty much suspected what you are saying - now I just need to figure out if it is worth the effort getting on the roof and replacing the Sky Q dish with the older. Thanks for the help regardless

Don't swap the whole dish it is already aligned. Just the LNB. Might need an adapter if old dish is really old. Or just get the new LNB they are cheap. But if you take down the new dish you may struggle to align the old one.

St Senan

There is no need to change your satellite dish, just do what emaherx and The Cush said, You will require a replacement Sky LNB take off the SkyQ twin lnb and change that for the LNB that emaherx and The Cush linked to you in posts 16 and 17.