All Five Channels Lost - Page 3 - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

18pcs · 08-11-07, 08:32 PM

I tested my Skybox at a installers place and all the channels worked nothing missing including Five. The installer came to my place and tried manually tuning all channels and except the lower channels all other channels worked. He then connected a decoder and smaller TV directly to the LNB with a shorter cable and all the channels appeared including Five. So the fault was pinpointed to the cable. This cable runs from a 6 storey building terrace to the ground floor. My question is that if the cable is faulty then why would only the lower frequency channels disappear. If the quality of the cable has got spoilt due to time, then shouldnt all channels disappear, why only the lower frequencies ? Does the length of the cable affect in any way the lower frequencies ? There is no way to change the cable from the terrace as it is concealed and the only option available to me now is to install another smaller 90cms dish in the balcony. But before I do that would appreciate some comments from experienced users. Thanks.

Allchemist · 08-11-07, 08:55 PM

It looks like the cable has some ( or a lot of ) dampness in it.
It is best to renew the cable!
However:-
If you knew dampness had got in at the LNB and you could do without the cable for a while it may be possible to partially dry the cable by sticking the open cable through a gland in a bottle top into anhydrous magnesium carbonate. Then just leave it there for a few days. The anhydrous magnesium carbonate absorbs the water moisture which should then return some of the isolation shielding to the copper core.

I have never tried it on a cable and to be honest I am not sure where you would get the magnesium carbonate since most pharmacists only stock such chemicals in prepared medications. The chemical is also best dried out in an oven at 180+ deg C. It's usually done in our lab at 500Deg C.

As to the explanation as to why only channel 5. You will need an expert!

08-11-07, 08:32 PM	#21 (permalink)
18pcs Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: All Five Channels Lost I tested my Skybox at a installers place and all the channels worked nothing missing including Five. The installer came to my place and tried manually tuning all channels and except the lower channels all other channels worked. He then connected a decoder and smaller TV directly to the LNB with a shorter cable and all the channels appeared including Five. So the fault was pinpointed to the cable. This cable runs from a 6 storey building terrace to the ground floor. My question is that if the cable is faulty then why would only the lower frequency channels disappear. If the quality of the cable has got spoilt due to time, then shouldnt all channels disappear, why only the lower frequencies ? Does the length of the cable affect in any way the lower frequencies ? There is no way to change the cable from the terrace as it is concealed and the only option available to me now is to install another smaller 90cms dish in the balcony. But before I do that would appreciate some comments from experienced users. Thanks.

08-11-07, 08:55 PM	#22 (permalink)
Allchemist Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mid Scotland Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: All Five Channels Lost It looks like the cable has some ( or a lot of ) dampness in it. It is best to renew the cable! However:- If you knew dampness had got in at the LNB and you could do without the cable for a while it may be possible to partially dry the cable by sticking the open cable through a gland in a bottle top into anhydrous magnesium carbonate. Then just leave it there for a few days. The anhydrous magnesium carbonate absorbs the water moisture which should then return some of the isolation shielding to the copper core. I have never tried it on a cable and to be honest I am not sure where you would get the magnesium carbonate since most pharmacists only stock such chemicals in prepared medications. The chemical is also best dried out in an oven at 180+ deg C. It's usually done in our lab at 500Deg C. As to the explanation as to why only channel 5. You will need an expert!