Sky - Intermittent Reception

[themurdochs@btinternet.co]

Hi Wizards,

I have a Sky dish and receive Sky and Setanta. When I am getting a reception the system test shows Signal Strength at approx. 80% and Signal Quality at approx. 90%. When it is working it is fine. However, the picture comes and goes. It can be okay for several weeks then it can be off and on all night then it can be off for several hours. There is no pattern to it at all. The dish is well fixed, there are no obstructions and the weather is definitely not a factor. It is a mystery. Can anyone help?

Many thanks,

Jim

[kerrywez]

Get a new Dodgybox mate.

Very best regards Wez

[themurdochs@btinternet.co]

Hi Wez,

So you think it is the Sky box? I thought it had to be the dish when it said no signal being received. Should I borrow a friend's dish and see if it works okay? How much is a new box and do I get it from Sky?

Many thanks for your kind assistance.

Jim

[robbo71]

Intermitttant faults are difficult to diagnose, especially when you say it is unaffected by weather, as I would usually say the the dish may need adjusting slightly.

I suggest you try that first, and then start replacing items, cheapest first.

Also check the cable has not got wet near the connector on the LNB.

[kerrywez]

If he is getting near 90% quality it is hardly the dish out of alignment, I should have thought, unless it is happening during windy conditions. I suppose it would do no harm to look at the dish, but what I would be concerned about is that if he is getting 90% quality and he moves it he will have a job getting the quality back to where it was.

Very best regards Wez

[themurdochs@btinternet.co]

Thanks, Robbo. I'm satisfied that it is not the alignment of the dish. I will check the cable for dampness. In order, what should I replace thereafter?

There is a police station next door. Any chance of their radio signals interfering?

Many thanks again.

Jim

[robbo71]

You are probably right wez

The easiest way to check the receiver is to try it on another dish. Is it and old one?

[robbo71]

Originally Posted by themurdochs@btinternet.co

Thanks, Robbo. I'm satisfied that it is not the alignment of the dish. I will check the cable for dampness. In order, what should I replace thereafter?

There is a police station next door. Any chance of their radio signals interfering?

Many thanks again.

Jim

The LNBs are only about £5, if you shop around.
There are reports that cordless phones interfering with satellite reception, this normally occurs on the IF frequency I believe. I doubt whether a police station would cause interference, although I have not a clue what frequencies they use, and how pure the transmitter may be. But any large signals between 1 to 2 GHZ could potentially cause problems, but only over a few transponders.