Skybox F5s tuning problems

[jondee]

Hi all,

I have a brand new F5s with all the latest updates and it is driving me mad with its erratic behavior.

The problem is tuning into certain channels. If I try to tune into say Discovery HD or Film4 HD for example it will not tune in unless I first go to another channel that does not have a signal and then go back to said channels where it will tune in perfectly with a really strong signal. This also works if I turn the box off and on again when the channel is then tuned in.

If I then do a bit of channel hopping and then go back to the certain channels they will not tune in unless I either go to a channel that my box cannot receive i.e. no signal, or I switch the box off and on again.

This only happens with certain channels, usually HD channels, but also certain SD channels, but always the same channels.

If anyone can shed any light on this problem I would be very grateful as it makes using the box very frustrating.

Thanks.

[Nobby Nutz]

Have you got another box connected if so try powering it off and unplug it if your F5S bursts into life you need the "No Signal Fix" or a decent LNB. If this isn't the fault are all your FTA channels OK.

[jondee]

No there is no other box fitted. If I undo the F connector and just break the signal very slightly as if to give a faulty connection then the channel will tune in without having to swap channels or reboot.

I live in Spain so the only channels I can get are the Sky Uk 28A broadcasts. Most of the FTA channels work apart from one or two really obscure ones.

Whats frustrating is the fact that I can get these problem channels really well once I have gone round the houses to get them to tune in, but when I go to certain other channels and then go back to say Discovery HD I have to go round the houses again to tune them in again.

Once one is tuned in then they are all tuned in until they go again.

[jondee]

Also what is the "No Signal Fix"?

[digicon]

Also what is the "No Signal Fix"?

Dont worry about that its not applicable in your case as you have no other official receivers attached and from your location i highly doubt you have a zone1 dish with a Zinwell LNB, That last part was a joke.

Could be a faulty tuner on the box or it could be getting swamped form a nearby frequency

[jondee]

Update: I have now found a pattern to the tuning problem. It only happens when I go from a horizontal channel to a vertical channel and nearly always on PTV channels.

If I hop between V channels (once they are tuned in) it will load all channels no problem. As soon as I go to a H channel and then go back to a V channel that channel will not tune in.

This is not the case with all V channels, but it seems to be concentrated around the PTV channels although it does happen on a couple of FTA V channels.

Any ideas?

[digicon]

Looks like there could be an intermittent fault on the Tuner in the box concerning sending the Voltage over to switch from Vertical to Horizontal

[jondee]

Looks like there could be an intermittent fault on the Tuner in the box concerning sending the Voltage over to switch from Vertical to Horizontal

Yes, not a fault as such, but the voltage at the LNB for switching over to Vertical was above the spec's for that particular LNB. Fit a 1N4002 in series with the signal conductor and all channels are loading as they should.

Sometimes the simplest problems are the hardest to find.