Poor signal on sky

Forums › Sky, Neon › Poor signal on sky

mikelday

143 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 67718 7-Sep-2010 16:44

Hi all, I can usually get an awesome signal on sky. Refer to picture: http://i51.tinypic.com/14bozmu.jpg

but lately its dropped to 76 on the strength and around 1.5 on the quality. maybe my LNB needs replacing? will sky come out and fix it for free?

Cheers

Niel

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Reply # 377732 8-Sep-2010 06:00

Mine also did in the last week or so. I believe there was a software upgrade. My small silver box was resetting on channel changes, got replaced, new one still did it, magically a week later issue went away same time as My Sky upgrade disaster last week.

The tech that replaced it said they were having lots of issues with that box. Perhaps one of the fixes were correct interfacing with the tuner module and now the signal strength correctly shows as 75%. I don't believe the signal strength should ever show 100% (I know it has since I got it~3 years ago) because then you get into clipping/saturation and usually get bit errors. It is similar to your ADSL modem will report line attenuation, it will never show maximum signal.

You can never have enough Volvos!

danixer

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 380191 15-Sep-2010 15:33

The best way to check signal is to look at the bit error rate. if it goes below E-05 /E-04 then you will have problems

manaia

264 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 380248 15-Sep-2010 17:24

As Danixer says, it is more about your BER and your actual service quality, i.e. whether you're seeing rainfade or picture breakup, than your signal level, though of course that can point to a problem like a misaligned dish or a failing LNB. If you see service problems you think are due to the signal level then call SKY and they will tell you if you you need a tech visit (on SKY).

Niel: Mine also did in the last week or so. I believe there was a software upgrade. My small silver box was resetting on channel changes, got replaced, new one still did it, magically a week later issue went away same time as My Sky upgrade disaster last week.

The tech that replaced it said they were having lots of issues with that box. Perhaps one of the fixes were correct interfacing with the tuner module and now the signal strength correctly shows as 75%. I don't believe the signal strength should ever show 100% (I know it has since I got it~3 years ago) because then you get into clipping/saturation and usually get bit errors. It is similar to your ADSL modem will report line attenuation, it will never show maximum signal.

There were some new issues found with non-MySKY boxes around channel changes. They were addressed in a software update (at about the same time as the failed MySKY update) which is why your problem went away then. I don't think there were any changes around tuners in this release.

danixer

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 380253 15-Sep-2010 17:32

dont be afraid to call sky if you have a problem there is no charge for a callout. the only time you get charged is if you have caused the problem

Niel

3267 posts

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Reply # 380778 16-Sep-2010 17:27

manaia: There were some new issues found with non-MySKY boxes around channel changes. They were addressed in a software update (at about the same time as the failed MySKY update) which is why your problem went away then.

Thanks. About once or twice a week I still see the channel change issue. A new issue is that the volume goes to maximum. Happens a few times a day. If this continues then I'll have to re-consider getting a tuner and card reader for my PC...

You can never have enough Volvos!

mikelday

143 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 380862 16-Sep-2010 20:33

Niel:
manaia: There were some new issues found with non-MySKY boxes around channel changes. They were addressed in a software update (at about the same time as the failed MySKY update) which is why your problem went away then.

Thanks. About once or twice a week I still see the channel change issue. A new issue is that the volume goes to maximum. Happens a few times a day. If this continues then I'll have to re-consider getting a tuner and card reader for my PC...

If you dont mind my asking what do you mean by tuner and card reader?
is there some way i can have sky on my pc?

BrettCooper

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

Reply # 380864 16-Sep-2010 20:38

yes you can have sky on your computer, get a dvb-t s2 card and you can have win win sky for a long time pretty much yea. I do it at home and i get free hd sky with my normal sky, thats pretty cool aye. My kids love it, its quite wicked.

Anyone up for a game of unreal 2003 over hamachi?

mikelday

143 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 380866 16-Sep-2010 20:42

Hii brettcooper could you explain a little bit about the setup your running? eg your basic PC specs the dvb-s2 card you using and are you using the jaycar smartcard reader? also what software are you using? sorry for all the questions but this looks like something i would like to try.

BrettCooper

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

Reply # 380868 16-Sep-2010 20:49

mikelday: Hii brettcooper could you explain a little bit about the setup your running? eg your basic PC specs the dvb-s2 card you using and are you using the jaycar smartcard reader? also what software are you using? sorry for all the questions but this looks like something i would like to try.

Hi matey, sure thing.

I have Happauge PVR-350, using mediaportal on windows 7. My pc has 4mb of ram for decoding the images and i have a .. im not sure about this a core2quad 2.95 mhz cpu.

I have 2 gtx 9800 running in sli

P.S sorry about the cpu info, my son build this computer I have just thrown some pieces in there.

If you want a full description i can help you, its just im slow to typing. SOrry!

mikelday

143 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 380872 16-Sep-2010 20:52

Thats ok how are you decoding the sky signals? are you using the jaycar smartcard reader? and what software are you using with it.

cheers

Niel

3267 posts

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Reply # 380904 16-Sep-2010 21:40

Watching Sky with a valid/legal subscription is extensively discussed in the HTPC forum and should be continued there, else this thread might get locked. We are off topic.

You can never have enough Volvos!

mikelday

143 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 380906 16-Sep-2010 21:41

Sorry ill go and have a look.

Jaxson

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Reply # 381197 17-Sep-2010 12:22

Whoa, easy buddy, not on these forums.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Reply # 381539 18-Sep-2010 09:00

I have banned BrettCooper and deleted his post because he already had a warning this week, and posted information about card sharing, which is not allowed to be discussed on Geekzone.

Back on topic please.

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mikelday

143 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 381693 18-Sep-2010 21:01

freitasm: I have banned BrettCooper and deleted his post because he already had a warning this week, and posted information about card sharing, which is not allowed to be discussed on Geekzone.

Back on topic please.

Cheers i didnt want this thread heading that way as its not really got anything to do with my original post.

ps can anyone (who is willing to) tell me what there sky signal details are if you have the small silver box?

Thanks