Sky Box - Channel 4 - Breaking up when BB is on

AshtownGuy · 20-07-2010 03:27PM #1

Hi all,

Anyone else getting an issue on Sky when watching Channel 4 in the evenings? Whenever we try to watch Big Brother (or record it) the channel breaks up and skips and garbles and becomes unwatchable. I think I may have seen the same issue on C4+1, E4 or E4+1 etc but to be honest I am not sure. It may only be Channel 4. Weird thing is, it mainly seems to only occur whenever Big Brother is on. Maybe it is Sky's way of telling me I shouldn't watch this crap, but I'll be honest, I do enjoy it.

I've had the Sky Box for 2 years and this problem has only started in the last month. I used to think it was the hot weather but now it seems to happy every night. Could it be a congestion issue? Any advice appreciated.

Cheers, A

John mac · 20-07-2010 05:55PM

hands free phone in use nearby by any chance? (cordless not hands free)

greendom · 20-07-2010 08:40PM

Would be good to have this subject as a sticky - it seems to come up every month.

blueser · 20-07-2010 08:43PM

John mac wrote: »

hands free phone in use nearby by any chance?

Or a cordless landline handset? They are supposed to cause interference. I suppose the OP should thank his lucky stars; it could be happening when there's a decent programme on!

Sorry; couldn't resist!!

Rambo · 20-07-2010 08:53PM

AshtownGuy wrote: »

Hi all,

Anyone else getting an issue on Sky when watching Channel 4 in the evenings? Whenever we try to watch Big Brother (or record it) the channel breaks up and skips and garbles and becomes unwatchable. I think I may have seen the same issue on C4+1, E4 or E4+1 etc but to be honest I am not sure. It may only be Channel 4. Weird thing is, it mainly seems to only occur whenever Big Brother is on. Maybe it is Sky's way of telling me I shouldn't watch this crap, but I'll be honest, I do enjoy it.

I've had the Sky Box for 2 years and this problem has only started in the last month. I used to think it was the hot weather but now it seems to happy every night. Could it be a congestion issue? Any advice appreciated.

Cheers, A

Had this problem two ,I got it fixed by a satellite dish realignment
was only out by a fraction.

Barack Obama · 21-07-2010 12:23PM

AshtownGuy wrote: »

Hi all,

Anyone else getting an issue on Sky when watching Channel 4 in the evenings? Whenever we try to watch Big Brother (or record it) the channel breaks up and skips and garbles and becomes unwatchable. I think I may have seen the same issue on C4+1, E4 or E4+1 etc but to be honest I am not sure. It may only be Channel 4. Weird thing is, it mainly seems to only occur whenever Big Brother is on. Maybe it is Sky's way of telling me I shouldn't watch this crap, but I'll be honest, I do enjoy it.

I've had the Sky Box for 2 years and this problem has only started in the last month. I used to think it was the hot weather but now it seems to happy every night. Could it be a congestion issue? Any advice appreciated.

Cheers, A

The gods of good taste?

AshtownGuy · 21-07-2010 01:35PM

My flatmate was out late yesterday, and there was no problem with Channel 4. I'm beginning to think it may be just him. It only started when he moved in. Maybe it's his iPhone?

John mac · 21-07-2010 01:41PM

that could be it.

try turning it off when ch4 is affected.

22-07-2010 07:54PM

The Irish Channel 4 mux is on 12480 V. As the high band LNB LO is 10.6 GHz this means the frequency on the downlead is 1880 MHz. Could be a DECT cordless phone (or a GSM mobile phone on the 1800 band) if the cable is badly shielded and the phone is near the box or cable.

Ghall · 22-07-2010 08:12PM

AshtownGuy wrote: »

Hi all,

Anyone else getting an issue on Sky when watching Channel 4 in the evenings? Whenever we try to watch Big Brother (or record it) the channel breaks up and skips and garbles and becomes unwatchable. I think I may have seen the same issue on C4+1, E4 or E4+1 etc but to be honest I am not sure. It may only be Channel 4. Weird thing is, it mainly seems to only occur whenever Big Brother is on. Maybe it is Sky's way of telling me I shouldn't watch this crap, but I'll be honest, I do enjoy it.

I've had the Sky Box for 2 years and this problem has only started in the last month. I used to think it was the hot weather but now it seems to happy every night. Could it be a congestion issue? Any advice appreciated.

Cheers, A

I had the same problem. Sky came out and moved the dish. Had no problems since.

Toxica · 23-07-2010 08:23PM

I've been having the same issue the last week or so. Totally broken up picture, mostly on E4 but tonight on Channel 4 and always at BB time or BBLB time. It's doing my head in to be quite honest! I keep getting a message to switch off the Sky Plus box for 5 minutes which sometimes works but hasn't tonight. :mad:

AshtownGuy · 26-07-2010 02:11PM

I'm beginning to believe that it truely is the God of Good Taste trying to stop me from watching BB.

Seems fine on C4 until BB starts and then gets all corrupted. Don't believe that moving the dish or turning a phone off will work as it's only when BB is on. In fact I find that it I sit in one position and my mate sits in another it works fine.

Truely baffled...

John mac · 26-07-2010 02:52PM

did you try turning the phone off?

Apogee · 26-07-2010 04:09PM

AshtownGuy wrote: »

I'm beginning to believe that it truely is the God of Good Taste trying to stop me from watching BB.

Seems fine on C4 until BB starts and then gets all corrupted. Don't believe that moving the dish or turning a phone off will work as it's only when BB is on. In fact I find that it I sit in one position and my mate sits in another it works fine.

Truely baffled...

Things to try:

1. Move the BB router to a different location
2. Check the cable connections and check that they are not loose or poorly fitted.
3. Replace the satellite cable with a type less prone to interference e.g. PH100 type.

[edit] I saw BB and thought Broadband, not that other muck.

Toxica · 26-07-2010 04:58PM

I was thinking maybe it's only the programs that I have set to record on series link? So, I've switched that off and I'm going to see if it helps tonight!

Rippy · 26-07-2010 09:30PM

as has been stated problem is caused by interference from Dect phone or Router in your own or neighbours house and poorly screened cable or outlet plate. Is there a continuous cable from the dish or is a wall plate used? If it is a standard tv coaxial socket and not a f connector this is the most likely suspect. Very common dodge of cowboy installers.
For a quick fix on channel 4 add it on other channels ( 10714 horizontal, 22000, 5/6)

Toxica · 26-07-2010 09:45PM

Actually mine has been fine since I switched off the series link record...strange indeed! Also kinda sucks if I can't record anything now!

Highway61 · 14-08-2010 11:32PM

Karsini wrote: »

The Irish Channel 4 mux is on 12480 V. As the high band LNB LO is 10.6 GHz this means the frequency on the downlead is 1880 MHz. Could be a DECT cordless phone (or a GSM mobile phone on the 1800 band) if the cable is badly shielded and the phone is near the box or cable.

Broadband modem was the problem in my case .,modem was really close to the coax feeds . moved the modem and the channels come in perfect .The problem was only ever on channel4 group .Thanks for the tip :-)

AshtownGuy · 16-08-2010 02:00PM

Thanks for everybody's help on this one. I found the source of the problem. The wires going into the Sky box were loose and there must have been interference causing the problem. Once I fixed the wires it ceased. Happy days.

tlaavtech · 16-08-2010 03:15PM

Likewise, thanks for the heads-up on DECT/WiFi. I have been trying for the last few years too sort out CH4. Was putting it down to cableing/LNB/HD box - the lot!

(Luckily, we never watched Ch4 much anyway, but at least I can fix it now!!)

Sky Box - Channel 4 - Breaking up when BB is on

Comments