Dreambox 500C in different location gets no channels at all :(

[Binman_UK]

Hi,

I live in Liverpool and have had two Dreambox 500Cs for ages now. I recently upgraded them both to the Digital Kaos 1.1 and tested them both in my house and they work 100% fine.

I've now taken one of those boxes to my g/f's house (a couple of miles down the road), who also has virgin broadband + no tv package, and added a splitter.

However I can't get any channels at all and the scans don't pick up any transponders at all. It is picking up something though because the scan displays Snr 53%, Agc 99% and Ber 1658880 but no lock or sync. I've tried everything, including plugging it directly into the cable outlet (bypassing the splitter) but can't get it working.. any suggestions?

Many thanks,
Binny

[Derekwd]

Even though its only a couple of miles away she could be on different settings from you, try the other liverpool ones to see if you get anything.

Derek

[dreadfand]

Do a brute force scan if you still don't pic up any transponders then your signal is probably too low with using a splitter........ in which case you'll need to add a signal amplifier, which you can pickup from maplin or wherever.

Dreadfand

[Binman_UK]

Hi,

I've tried both a brute force and north/south liverpool scans and it hasn't worked. I tried plugging the dreambox directly into the cable socket on the wall (no splitter) but that didn't help either.

She lives on the top/3rd floor of a block of apartments.. it could be possible that the cable is split off to other apartments, which I suppose could be the issue?

Is there any particular amplifier that you recommend? I imagine they can differ in strength/quality. I don't particularly want to spend a lot of money if I can avoid it (i.e. will probably buy off ebay to save some money as Maplin's quite expensive).

Binny.

[Derekwd]

If she only got the broadband then virmin could have put a filter somewhere in the loop that stops the tv signal coming through,is there a box what the cable feed comes out of, if so have a look in there.

Derek

[Binman_UK]

If she only got the broadband then virmin could have put a filter somewhere in the loop that stops the tv signal coming through,is there a box what the cable feed comes out of, if so have a look in there.

Derek

Do they actually do this though? I haven't heard of it happening before.
The cable box/outlet inside the house is an older Telewest one, but the service is now with Virgin. Did Telewest used to filter out TV historically or something?

Cheers,
Binny

[cgscott]

No they dont have a filter.

They can only disconnect and this is done manually.

There must be a signal issue.

[HoaxKey]

i am having a similar issue. I have just purchased a 500c from satsun and it arrived with some "enigma" software on it.

Under Transponder Scan i get 2 options:
SR6900
SR6875

when i perform the automatic scan the SNR ranges between 48% to 99%
AGC approx 50% but often 99%
BER alters between 1654560 and 0485750

trying with both SR options i get the message

"All known trnasponders have been tried. but no lock was possible. Verify antenna/cable setup or try another sattelite/network"

I dont know when this house last subscribed to a cable service but it might have been a year ago. Is this likely a software problem or am i doing something wrong?

[bugaloo41]

Binman could be a signal issue. Your ber is far too high should normally be between 0-20. Even if you need a booster normally you should be picking up some channels.

Hoaxkey - get another image on the box. Use the dk image and update the roms then rescan you should be ok after that.

[dreadfand]

to the original poster

maybe you could try taking the box round to a friends house and running a scan on there cable connection?...... that way if you find the channels/transponders you'll know that its a signal issue and not a faulty tuner/hardware.

[Binman_UK]

Hi,

I've managed to get some channels now - turned out to be a loose connection in one of the wires. I still don't get some channels and the picture breaks up on others - so I guess I still need a booster. Am gonna get one of the yellow Konig and that should hopefully fix the issue.

Cheers.

[del18463]

hi

ive got a signal issue as well, got 500c with digiworldz 2 image all of a sudden wldnt pick up any channels, have redone box with neutrino and only get bbc1 and 2 itv chan 4 and 5 , but using old chipped ntl box on same cable get all the channels , hasmy dreambox tuner failed?

[dreadfand]

have you got the new roms and keys on your enigma image? if not that is probably why your only getting free to air channels....get the new dkv1.1 image and add roms and keys and you should be ok

[macjst35]

Hi peeps sounds deff signal prob you won't go wrong with the konig (yellow brick ) it works a treat .

[Binman_UK]

Cheers for all the suggestions. Turned out to be a cabling issue - I replaced one of them and it started working.
I needed to get a yellow brick booster to improve the signal, but that worked a treat.

Binny.