Strange "No Signal" issues.

[MrCh1p]

I've had a Skybox F5, for a couple of weeks now, and am generally fairly happy with it - it basically does what it says on the tin.


The last couple of days however, I've noticed that sometimes I will lose a load of channels with "no signal". The strange thing is though, it's always the same channels, and a mixture of FTA and PPV ones. Eg BBC 1 and BBC 2 no signal, and yet ITV1, channel 5, SKY 1 fine ..........


The same with for example movie channels, some will show "no signal" and others will be fine.

Then a few hours later, or next time I turn on the box, everything will be ok.


I've checked all connections, my Sky+ HD stb that is on the same feed (all ok), and cannot understand what it might be.


I've also considered my provider, but most of the time it's all rock solid, and is only some mixture of channels?


I am considering updating to a twin tuner box in the near future, now I have a grasp on this hobby, but would like to be sure I wouldn't suffer similar problems with a different box!


Or do I put it down to F5 foibles and cheap build quality :-)


Any help appreciated.

[mahrkpat]

The manufacturing of these Chinese boxes is atrocious because it is a intermittent fault , I think it might be a dry joint that some component is losing contact when the box heats up, one other thing it might be is failing psu. Spend a bit more cash and get a better box and most of your problems will disappear even though there might be a little more setting up required.

[emmaian]

When this happens try to take note of the channels because it could be that they are all H or V and it may be a switching fault on the LNB, just a thought as i have lost channels all on H before and it was LNB. Fitted a new one and all has been ok since.

[digicon]

Try using the F5 on the Dish by itself for a couple of days and monitor its behaviour, Could be another case of a clash with the original box and F5 on the same LNB

[cactikid]

aye cheap build is correct,there was an ebay cable fix but it was a diy fix [botch job] so i wont put the link up.have copied this from another place.

The Original S9/S10/S11/S12/F3 Box 'No Signal' Fault Fix This device will fix the fault that occurs on certain channels when using a Universal LNB with your box. This also works on Blade boxes too!!

This device is designed for boxes that will have a perfect signal on around two thirds of your channels (for instance S*ySportsHD1) but displays 'No Signal' on other channels (commonly S*ySportsHD3 & E*PN HD amongst others). If your box has 'No Signal' on every channel or only 1 or 2 channels then this device will not help you, you may need to realign or replace your dish, LNB, cable or connections.
The easiest way to confirm that you have the Polarization selection issue is to go in to your box menu, then Installation, then LNB power setting and change this to 'Off'. If you can now view the channels previously displaying the 'No Signal' message (SSHD3) but not the other channels that were previously working fine (SSHD1) then this device will work for you!

A basic explanation of why this occurs is the LNB on your satellite dish requires a low voltage for vertical polarized channels (around 13 volts) and a high voltage for horizontal polarized channels (around 18 volts). A standard cheap sky quad or universal LNB will operate with the low voltage range as somewhere between 10-15 volts and high voltage as somewhere between 16-20 volts. The problem is the box puts out a voltage of around 16-17 volts for low and 20-21 volts for high which means that the polarization remains horizontal even when it should switch to vertical. A decent quality LNB (like that in a motorized dish) will operate with low voltage as anything below 18 volts and high as anything above 18 volts hence why the box works fine on some set-ups, but not others. Our device corrects this voltage differential without adding any potentially damaging extra resistance to the tuner circuit, such as that caused by in-line amps (which can also lead to you losing other channels in some cases). Using our device means the box will then work properly as the LNB can differentiate between high and low voltage, and in turn vertical and horizontal polarization.

Our device is constructed using high quality RG6 cable and F-plugs and so won't degrade the quality of your signal and comes fully assembled with easy to follow instructions. You may request black or white cabling however this depends on stock levels. Simply disconnect your satellite feed from your box and connect it to the device then connect the device to your box. If you have any questions we are more than happy to help and will provide full support if required.
that sounds like the fix that was posted from ebay recently

[MrCh1p]

Hello ago cactikid ;-)

Thanks all for your input guys.

Having had another look at everything, it seems that when I remove the loop connection, everything is fine. (I have a feed going into both F5 and Sly box, with the loop connected from F5 to sly, to enable recording + watching on sly for wife!)


Think I will sort another dedicated feed for the F5 box to sort issue properly.

[slugworth]

the loop connection was meant for test equipment,not other receivers

[MrCh1p]

the loop connection was meant for test equipment,not other receivers

Not according to plenty of other people and various topics I have read about it isn't!

I had it setup with the loop through going to second lnb on Sky+ HD box. This enabled me to view different channels at the same time on each box. I could also use the full recording and time shift options on Sky+ HD box also.

Only recently have I had the issue of "no signal" on SOME channels, and would also happen while I was watching one of the said channels for some time (that's what seems weird).

[Hadron]

You must have been extremely lucky in the past, in that the tuner in the Sky+ box which was connected to the loop through of the F5, was tuned to a channel with the same polarisation & same band as the channel you were watching on the F5.

For example, if the Sky+ box wanted a low band, Vertical setting & the F5 wanted a high band, horizontal setting, then there's no way that you could receive both.

For 3 seperate tuners, you must have 3 seperate connections to the LNB.

[cactikid]

or in the past everything was simple,but now channels are racing all over the place changing position ,checked hotbird yesterday half the page is red with new movements

[DW190]

I have used the loop to another unit without any problems. However you must put the prmary box into standby for the loop to work and the reveiving box into standby to stop the knock effect that the op hase experienced.

Basically you can use the loop but not at the same time on both units.

[MrCh1p]

Again thanks guys. I agree it appears it must have been pure luck, watching 2 different channels! Like I said, I've only had the box a couple of weeks, with the Sky+ HD box playing upstairs via a video sender.

What I still cannot get my head around though, is that the way I had it set up, with loop through connected, everything was working fine, (with only the F5 on), and I was watching an HD channel for some time before it went "no signal", and then the same channels are affected, until I either remove the loop through, or wait some time and restart F5.

[cactikid]

we will be waiting for part 2 guys still in trouble

[digicon]

The LNB Loopout facility on any satellite receiver is not for test equipment, It was put there so you could feed the LNB signal to another receiver in the chain so to speak and for this to work correctly the first receiver in the chain must be in standby

[DW190]

The LNB Loopout facility on any satellite receiver is not for test equipment, It was put there so you could feed the LNB signal to another receiver in the chain so to speak and for this to work correctly the first receiver in the chain must be in standby

I must agree with the Honourable Gentleman.