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My Sky box has a "no signal message" - what do I do?

My Sky box has a "no signal message" - what do I do?

My Sky box has a  no signal message  - what do I do?
published on UK Free TV

If you are getting the message "no signal" this would indicate that there is a problem with the signal from your dish into your box. Even without a card inserted into a Sky Digibox, if there is a signal, you will always get Sky Guide and the free channels.

Try powering off your box, remove the card, check carefully the cables, especially the connection to the dish, reapply the power and then when asked to insert your card you should then be able to see (for example) Sky News on 501 and the BBC News channel on 503.

Once you can see any channel, reinsert your card. This should, after about one minute, give you the channels you expect, such as 103, 104 and 105.

There are three ways you can attempt to reset your box. Please see What can my do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' ?.

If you continue to get "No signal", you dish may have been misaligned, or there may be a fault with the cables and connectors, or a problem with the Digibox. You can see the signal strength by pressing SERVICES, then 4-SYSTEM SETUP and 6-SIGNAL STRENGTH.



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Comments
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:34 PM

jan: I suspected thats what you might have been meaning, the LNB inputs are the two connections from the dish on the rear of the box, just carefully unscrew them by only holding the nut type retainer (not the barrel) and swap them over, because if when you do this "no signal" is seen right away then the "ex" LNB2 input from the dish thats now connected into the LNB1 is faulty, and with the most likely reason being that water has entered the connector on the dishes LNB.

If this is found to apply then it requires the connector to be unscrewed from the LNB on the dish and then further unscrewed from the coax for purposes of drying out with a tissue, than after smearing the inside of the plug with some Vaseline the connector should be screwed back onto the cable again, but before doing so making sure that all strands of the braiding wire have been pulled back over the coax's outer cover, then finally screw the connector with cable back onto the LNB.

It should really then have a layer of self amalgamating tape wrapped around it for waterproofing purposes, although if the LNB is the type with a pull down shroud that partially covers the connectors it should be OK.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
M
Mick
10:40 AM

Hi,

I am an idiot.

During heavy snow on Monday we got the no signal message, could not reach with a brush but using a rather long stick managed to remove snow from dish and signal returned.

1 hour later got the same message, more snow had stuck to the dish, so this time I gently tapped the rear of the dish with said stick to dislodge the snow, this worked but for some reason the bracket which holds the LNB to the dish snapped(could have been the cold plus the trauma of dish being struck).

I went up ladder and replaced the bracket last night and cleaned the dish but still no signal.

All connections seem to be intact and tight, any advice for a stupid bloke who should not hit things with sticks?

link to this comment
Mick's 3 posts US flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:03 AM

Mick: The position is absolutely critical. See here where Bob had the same issue and management to rescue it without the services of a professional:

No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellite - general | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

I'm not a professional myself. However, I am wondering whether you may be struggling as it needs aligned both horizontally and vertically and you could potentially be here until the hot summer trying all positions. Then again, you may strike lucky.

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
M
Mick
11:21 AM

Thanks Dave,

I have no Strengh or quality at all, juast empty bars.

The dish is pretty tight so to go from 80% to zero seems strange.

Could moisture have affected the ports on LNB?

link to this comment
Mick's 3 posts US flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:32 AM

Mick: I can't help you any more as I'm not a professional and have never even used a satellite receiver!

The only thing I will say is that if it was Bob's pole that moved, then the elevation would not have been altered because his dish was bolted to the pole. Therefore he only had to set the azimuth by gradually rotating the pole.

As you have taken the dish down then your task would appear to be far more complex.

I don't know whether something like this might help:

Sky Dish Alignment & Installation Guide, Aligning Sky Satellite Dish

One of the professionals will hopefully be along soon.

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
M
Mick
11:37 AM

I haven't taken the dish down, the snapped bracket was the one between the LNB and the steel arm, I replaced that in situ.

I honestly don't think the dish has moved much(if at all) thats why I think it could be something else.

Thanks for your your advice.

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Mick's 3 posts US flag
Saturday, 26 January 2013
W
William Bean
10:49 AM

having to switch off box regularly remove card wipe it and then restart set again does this mean i need the veiwing card renewed looks well worn now

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William Bean's 1 post GB flag
Sunday, 27 January 2013
B
Brenda Little
5:26 PM

No signal properly for 7 days.Fed up now cant get programs we like.

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Brenda Little's 1 post GB flag
Monday, 28 January 2013
L
Liz peacock
5:24 PM
Plymouth

Signal input 1and quality input 1 keep dropping out, going from locked to not locked, been like this for some time now, help pls.

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Liz peacock's 1 post GB flag
Liz's: mapL's Freeview map terrainL's terrain plot wavesL's frequency data L's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 4 February 2013
Y
Yvonne Elliot
2:57 PM

I've been with sky for 6months, since then I get messages saying no signal an I check everything which they tell me to do , such switch off tight everything which is not loose . I watch tv then it breaks up I don't no what else to do whether the weather I shouldn't be paying £32 month an that's just for basic package , no broadband can you help thanks

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Yvonne Elliot's 8 posts GB flag
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