Satellite Reception Digital
PROBLEM >
Digital Interference
The most common faults to digital satellite reception
are caused from insufficient signal levels or impulse
noise from electrical and mechanical devices. The
result is that they cause satellite pictures to freeze and
break up into small boxes, all of which can be subject to
the following reasons:
What can be done?
-
Check that the satellite dish is correctly aligned to
the satellite especially if the fault is apparent when it
rains.
-
Check the physical condition of the satellite dish,
ensuring it is not dented or damaged in any way. If it
is replace the dish.
-
Check that the correct size of satellite dish is being
used for its location use a solid dish as opposed to
a mesh one for reception of weak satellites.
-
If the fault occurs where there is a long cable run
between the satellite dish and receiver install a
feeder cable which is subject to less signal loss.
This will comprise of a larger cable constructed
from a centre core of 1.25mm. Another alternative
would be to install an in line amplifier, connected to
the feeder cable and is powered from the satellite
receiver.
-
If the fault has just occurred, check the dish has not
moved and that there are no local obstructions such
as building work; trees; etc. gone up or grown
noticeably taller since the dish was installed. Ensure
that there is a clear line of sight approximately 30
degrees upwards from the satellite dish position.
-
Check the signal quality by accessing the receivers
menu, using a Sky digital receiver this can be
accessed by selecting from your handset: Services;
System set-up (4); press 'Select', 'Signal test' (6)
and press 'Select'. Ensure that both the signal
strength and signal quality cursor bars are reading
more than half way. An adequate signal will then be
displayed as 'Locked' and confirmed as ok.
PROBLEM >
Pattering effect displayed over the
satellite picture
Inter-modulation patterning is the results of incorrect
UHF channel spacing between off air TV signals and
RF outputs of satellite receivers and videos that appear
as wavy lines on the screen.
What can be done?
-
Ensure that all receivers are set using the correct
spacing between channels, avoid allocating active
channels + or - 1, 5, 9 channels away. To achieve
this, adjustment of the equipments' modulator may
be necessary. This can be adjusted by either
mechanical trimmer screws at the rear of the
equipment or electronically by accessing the
equipments' menu and selecting the RF output
settings and following the instructions.
-
To totally eliminate any possibility of
inter-modulation patterning, use Scart leads to
connect between the equipment. These are
recommended as the best means of configuring
receivers to deliver stereo sound and optimum
picture quality.
PROBLEM >
Sky digital - loss of reception
Sudden loss of reception can be the result of Sky
carrying out over the air downloads these can cause a
variety of problems to Sky satellite receivers. The
effect is that receivers will lose certain settings and
services such as teletext and cause pictures to
become permanently frozen on the screen.
What can be done?
-
To resolve the fault the Sky digital receiver will
require re-booting, unplug the receiver from its 230
volt mains supply wait for one minute and then
re-plug it back again. Once the red light is
displayed on the front of the receiver wait 30
seconds before turning on.