Sky knackered..

[Kudos]

The missus told me earlier she could hear Sky dish banging off the wall in the wind, so I went out and moved the dish by a very small amount.

Signal disappeared, message "no Signal being received, error 28". Went out and tried getting it back. Rebooted box, getting error 29, no signal being received.

Been back and forth moving dish by a small amount. Do I need to reboot box every time I do this?

Do I have the pleasure of a sky service call?

Might be an opportunity to threaten to cancel and get free HD.

[Mr AJ]

Local aerial guy will probably re-align it for you for beer money. You'll struggle to line it up on your own without a proper meter if you don't really know what your doing. You don't need to keep resetting the box though, If you go into Services -> 4 -> 6 it should show you a signal test page. That will display the signal of the last channel you was watching in near-enough real time. Fiddle around and you might get lucky. Remember to do it very very slowly and every mm counts. 5mm either way is enough to go from an excellent signal to sweet f.a.

You'll need a 10mm spanner to tighten the bolts back up again, 13mm possible if its mounted on a pole.

[headcase]

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

[Kudos]

thanks folks.

Bugger, I thought it would be straightforward. Didn't realise the dish had to be so precise. Thought if it was pointing in the general direction it would be ok.

I think the father in law has an alignment device, will get him over.

[illmonkey]

headcase said:

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

I've setup a few boxes over the past few years and they all show real time info. One of them being 6 years ago.

The annoying this is the menu will turn off and go back to a channel. So if its just you looking at the TV moving it, you need to keep going through the menus. Get someone around 'Ye, nono, left, no right, yes, got it..."

[Kudos]

illmonkey said:

headcase said:

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

I've setup a few boxes over the past few years and they all show real time info. One of them being 6 years ago.

The annoying this is the menu will turn off and go back to a channel. So if its just you looking at the TV moving it, you need to keep going through the menus. Get someone around 'Ye, nono, left, no right, yes, got it..."

Last night, in the wind and rain, I was up a ladder, moved it a bit, down the ladder, in the house then check the TV. No luck, back out, up the ladder, move a bit, down the ladder, in the house and check TV. No luck. Repeated about 15 times until I nearly fired the Sky box in the bin.

[illmonkey]

Kudos said:

illmonkey said:

headcase said:

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

I've setup a few boxes over the past few years and they all show real time info. One of them being 6 years ago.

The annoying this is the menu will turn off and go back to a channel. So if its just you looking at the TV moving it, you need to keep going through the menus. Get someone around 'Ye, nono, left, no right, yes, got it..."

Last night, in the wind and rain, I was up a ladder, moved it a bit, down the ladder, in the house then check the TV. No luck, back out, up the ladder, move a bit, down the ladder, in the house and check TV. No luck. Repeated about 15 times until I nearly fired the Sky box in the bin.

Can you not move the TV so you can see it from the ladder? Get the missus to shout at you?

It's frustrating, but worth saving the cost of a 'engineer' to come out.

[Kudos]

illmonkey said:

Kudos said:

illmonkey said:

headcase said:

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

I've setup a few boxes over the past few years and they all show real time info. One of them being 6 years ago.

The annoying this is the menu will turn off and go back to a channel. So if its just you looking at the TV moving it, you need to keep going through the menus. Get someone around 'Ye, nono, left, no right, yes, got it..."

Last night, in the wind and rain, I was up a ladder, moved it a bit, down the ladder, in the house then check the TV. No luck, back out, up the ladder, move a bit, down the ladder, in the house and check TV. No luck. Repeated about 15 times until I nearly fired the Sky box in the bin.

Can you not move the TV so you can see it from the ladder? Get the missus to shout at you?

It's frustrating, but worth saving the cost of a 'engineer' to come out.

The missus was doing plenty of shouting when she saw what happened just in time for The Apprentice. Once I explained situation, rationally of course, that it was her fault for commenting on the banging noise, she was "all picture, no sound". Suprisingly, up the ladder in the wind and rain was much more peaceful.

[Mr AJ]

headcase said:

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

Been realtime for a few years now, Well there is a delay of a few seconds... but its better than it was!.

I had to do this with my Parents dish earlier in the week after the wind knocked theirs about and i don't have a Sat meter anymore! Only took a few minutes but i suppose i've had alot more practice than your average joe. Wouldn't like to try it on my own because its far too easy to overshoot if your not used to it!.

Did amuse me watching my Romanian neighbours trying to realign their 75cm dish t'other day using a broom and a portable TV outside though... They gave up after an hour and rang what i can only assume is a Romanian satellite specialist - who turned up with stepladders and a shorter broom!.

Seriously though Kudos, If your struggling give a few aerial lads a ring you'd be surprised how cheap someone will do it if they're passing by..!

[JONSCZ]

I've got 2 words to say to anyone going to fix dish / aerial in this weather -

ROD HULL ........!

HTH, Jon

[Kudos]

JONSCZ said:

I've got 2 words to say to anyone going to fix dish / aerial in this weather -

ROD HULL ........!

HTH, Jon

Good call. The father in law will be over later with his satellite finder. Think I'll let him go up the ladder.

[headcase]

Mr AJ said:

headcase said:

Unless it a HD box with the new EPG then the signal strength is not real time you need to go out of that menu and back in for an update (unless of course its had a software update since then)

Been realtime for a few years now, Well there is a delay of a few seconds... but its better than it was!.

Okydokey, its been a while since I fiddled with one, the last one I did didnt update unless I exeted the menu and then went back in (new epg only, the old one has always been real time)

[Kudos]

Update.

Got the father in law's satellite meter. That was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Got thick, called Sky tech support and tried to get an engineer out. Lot of ballsing around, earliest would be 10 days. Told them I'd like to cancel. Asked why, said can't wait that long (granted it was my fault) and as had been thinking of getting HD would go to Virgin. Agreed a deal whereby get TV half price for 6 months, £5/month for HD for 6 months, free box and free install. Problem was install date was 2 weeks away, so said wasn't interested. She said could send me box and I could install myself.

Sky lady said she'd call local installers today to see if could do it sooner.

Got a call today, "no, can't do it sooner". I said fine, can I go ahead and cancel?. More tooing and frooing, same deal as last night but this time with £15 install charge. I say "but you are sending me the box, I am installing myself so no install required?. Also, last night there was no £15 charge". Yes she says, if we send an engineer out there will be no charge, but if we send the box out and you install there will be a £15 charge. I clarified - if I install there will be a £15 charge, if you send an engineer out there will be no charge? Yes she replies.

Now, I've been around a while and done a few foolish things (including moving a satellite dish which was making a small noise against my wall the other night), but explain the logic in that to me?

Bunch of tools. Told them to keep it, cancelled the lot and moving to Virgin for 2/3rds the price.