How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox?
Press the [SERVICES] button and then press [4] [0] [1] then [SELECT]
Then press [4] to go to the RF output menu.
You can now change the value so that it does not clash with an analogue TV channel or a Freeview multiplex.
HD and "new EPG" boxes
If you have a HD box, press [SERVICES] button and then press [0] [0] [1] then [SELECT]. Nothing is shown on the TV screen until you press the Select button.
Then use the [RIGHT] arrow button on the remote until this screen is shown, and press SELECT to change the values:
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JAMESSunday 15 July 2012 8:39AM
Market Drayton JB38 i wanted to add that i am also feeding a Freeview signal through the Sky boxes normal aerial socket for purposes of viewing either Freeview or Sky in the other room . my post code is TF9 4HY, is there a particular TV or RF channel i should be using, i have used 46 for RF on tv channel 2. Thanks again and look forward to your replyjb38Sunday 15 July 2012 9:35AM
JAMES: No, avoid Ch42 as thats used for the SDN mux (ITV3 etc) by the high powered Sutton Coldfield transmitter, and on checking the various stations that you are predicted as being able to receive (in theory anyway!)Ch63 upwards looks to be the best range to use for the boxes RF output. jb38Sunday 15 July 2012 9:38AM
JAMES: Correction, its used by the ITV1 mux at Sutton Coldfield and not SDN.jb38Sunday 15 July 2012 10:08AM
JAMES: The other ranges that would appear a safe bet are from Ch32 - Ch37, I only mention this as "some" boxes RF modulators give a slightly higher output in lower ranges and likewise a less grainy image, and so if Ch63 upwards has a tendency to be grainy try the lower range.
And by the way just to confirm Ch42 and Ch46 are both used by Sutton Coldfield, albeit I mistakenly thought you had mentioned Ch42 due to my laptop battery having failed and "thought" that I had remembered the number.
But as I mentioned in a much earlier reply, if the sound is distorted when viewing Sky via the RF output from the Sky box and it still does it when you take the normal aerial out of the Sky box, then it suggests that the actual TV is defective, and although its not entirely impossible for a fault like that to originate within the Sky boxes modulator, in the somewhat lengthy period of time I have been involved with devices such as that I have never experienced this sort of problem.
Of course the positive way of proving if it is the TV or not is to borrow another set, even if just analogue, and try a test using that once the sound becomes distorted on the LG.NickyMonday 16 July 2012 10:11PM
Just wondering if anyone had some advice... I am trying to get sky HD to run to two tv's. This has been done via a hdmi splitter, but we are obviously unable to change channel.... Can I use a magic eye or similiar device?jb38Monday 16 July 2012 11:36PM
Nicky: No! as you cannot change channels via HDMI connections any more that you could do if it was twin scart sockets that you were using.
A Sky magic eye is a device that only works via a Sky boxes RF2 analogue RF output socket, likewise the TV its fed into from the RF socket having to be set on analogue to receive the signal if its a dual standard Freeview / analogue set, the actual main TV that the Sky box is connected into via an HDMI lead not coming into the equation as the eye only changes the channels on the Sky box and not the TV.
I am unaware if the HDMI connections are being used to get HD on the second TV? if not though then you should use a normal coax link between the Sky box and the second TV as you can then use the magic eye referred to, the picture obtained this way being normal SD even although it might be HD on the main TV.
You can of course get HD versions of wireless video senders that work from the HDMI socket but these are generally over £200, whereas a magic eye and a length of coax etc is under £10.00
Please note though, that is provided that the Sky box is not an Amstrad DRX 595 as these are not fitted with RF modulators.
JAMESTuesday 17 July 2012 8:50AM
Market Drayton Thanks JB38, I actually had LG come and change the TV which they did and unfortunately it still did had sound distortion on the sky. I will try the lower range as you recommend, i got the 45,46 option from typing my post code in the box at the top of the page. Its weird it seems to work for a few hours and then just go, if i power off the sky box wait 10 seconds and then switch back on it works fine again. I have also put the sky on channel 2 now on the TV, is it worth trying any other TV channels to put the sky on does that have any effect at all. I really appreciate your help and patience on this. Thanksjb38Tuesday 17 July 2012 5:36PM
JAMES: If indeed you did see 45-46 indicated as being suitable for setting the Sky boxes modulators output to "on your post code" then I am afraid that's an error, as both these channels have high powered digital signals on them from Sutton Coldfield.
As a matter of fact you have a number of transmitters to contend with when selecting a suitable RF output on the box with the total number to avoid being 21, the stations involved being Sutton Coldfield / Winter Hill / The Wrekin and finally Fenton, as on the reception predictor "all" are indicated as being possible to receive on the code provided, although Sutton Coldfield has the edge on the rest as far as avoiding its channels are concerned.
That said, an absolutely positive way of sussing out the cause of the problem is simply by NOT having your normal aerial connected into the Sky box, and leaving the LG running on its analogue input from the Sky box for as long as you can, because should you hear the distortion you refer to occur at any time when using this procedure then it "has" to be the Sky boxes modulator at fault if the TV had been changed, as although as aforementioned in my previous reply that I have never at any time experienced a modulator having developed a problem of that nature, I suppose there has to be a first time for everything.
This is assuming that the boxes RF output is fed directly to the LG's aerial socket and doesn't go through any other devices.
Could you also please let me have the model number of the LG involved.
JAMESTuesday 17 July 2012 7:55PM
Market Drayton Hi JB38, Yes this is what it shows TF9 4HD
Winter Hill
Spare RF: C45 C46
Yes aerial goes straight to TV through magic eye but i changed that as well just to be sure
TV is LG32LV550T
I tried 32-37 with no joy so i have it on 68 at the moment, lets see how that works out
Thanks
JAMESjb38Tuesday 17 July 2012 9:38PM
JAMES: Yes, these channels would of course be perfectly OK if only Winter Hill was being received and which I will agree is the only station being indicated on the terrain predictor, but DUK's trade reception predictor indicates Sutton Coldfield to be a "slightly" better bet and as such will most likely be received whether your aerial is pointing to it or not, Sutton.C not only being closer to you (34 mls / 137 degrees) but transmitting on 200Kw, whereas Winter Hill (@ 46 mls / 354 degrees) is only transmitting on 100Kw.
If on testing you found that Ch's 32 - 37 weren't satisfactory then it certainly indicates that there is a problem with your equipment, if you have done as suggested and NOT connected the normal aerial into the Sky box, as these channels mentioned should have been perfectly OK.
Thanks for the model number of the TV, although unfortunately I wont be able to check this out until tomorrow when I can have access to the service info / list of known problems, because the analogue side of most modern TV's could suffer from some form of defect which would never be revealed because analogue has nearly faded away, and its only when used with an RF modulator that any type of defect would show up.
Isn't it possible for you to borrow an old analogue 14" portable or similar? as this would be really handy for verifying "if" it was the boxes modulator at fault, because if you pre-tuned the portable to the RF channel used on the box then as soon as you heard the distortion start don't touch the box or the LG, but simply change the aerial from it (the LG) into the borrowed box, as to be quite honest about it I cant see any other way forward except by bringing another device into the equation, that being another TV.
By the way you can check the predictors indications for yourself simply by clicking on "Digital UK trade view" on the four line list seen on the right hand side of your posting, and where you will see all the channels that's used by the stations mentioned.
JAMESThursday 19 July 2012 8:46AM
Market Drayton Hi Jb38, 37 worked for a while but then again dropped out, 32-36 didn't work (picture is great on all of them, but sound is distorted). Tried all this without the aerial in as recommended. 68 seems to work best for a while, but then next day gone again, if i switch sky box off for 10 seconds then switch back on again it is okay for a while.
I will try and borrow a portable to test via this route, other than that i am totally out of ideas. it worked for 6 months prior with no problems at all then about 6 weeks ago started this
Does it suggest there is a problem with cable or connectors somewhere, but as i say picture is fine?
Can the TV channel that is on effect it anyway, its back on 1 now
running out of ideas now, thanks again for your helpjb38Thursday 19 July 2012 5:54PM
JAMES: Thanks for the update, the content of strongly suggesting that it could indeed be some really odd "never before heard of" problem that's developing in the box after it has been running a while, this being a classic sign of a component defect.
But though a test using another portable will nail the source of the problem once and for all, as if that also distorts after a while and it still does it when you take the normal aerial out of the Sky boxes input then it "is" the box. Wendy BlackThursday 2 August 2012 1:46PM
Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me please? I have just plugged the router into my Sky+ HD box to be able to receive Anytime+. This has knocked all three Sky eyes out in the house and now the sky remotes will only turn the TVs on and off and mute/unmute. Everything else I need to point the remote at the sky box in the cupboard in the hall. Any ideas? I have tried changing the RF channel with no success.
jb38Sunday 12 August 2012 9:03PM
Gerry C.: On checking the channels used by the stations mentioned indications are that anything from 66 upwards as being perfectly OK for the Sky+ boxes RF output to be set to, as the highest channel number used by any of the transmitters is Camlough on Ch64 analogue.
Should however you wish to use lower numbers then 21 - 37 appears OK for your reception area including when changes take place from October 10th. JawZMonday 13 August 2012 7:29PM
Now able to setup Mother-in-Law's telly in the kitchen. Just got to run the cables, thank god it's a bungalow.
CheersWendyWednesday 22 August 2012 4:34PM
Southend-on-sea Hi we had a tv in the bedroom that picked up the sky tv from the lounge via a magic eye prior to the switchover. We have now purchased a new LED tv with built in freeview, we would like to be able to have things as they were. ie: We could watch terrestial tv, then if wanted to watch a sky program just put the tv on channel 6 is this posible on the new set. Because at present we only have the freeview channel and cannot find a spare channel to watch sky on. Any help appreciated.
Many Thanks
WendyWendy: You can only watch the output of your Sky box "if" your new TV is capable of receiving an analogue signal. In such circumstances you will probably need to switch between digital mode (for Freeview) and analogue mode (for the Sky box).
With the knowledge of the make and model number of the TV in question, we can look at its specifications to determine whether this is a possibility. WendyWednesday 22 August 2012 4:58PM
Southend-on-sea The make and model is a LG 42LS3400. When you say switch between, do you mean if i had another coax from my tv socket on the wall and switch this from the magic eye between sky and freeview.
Thanks WendyWendy: The TV has an analogue tuner built-in (in addition to a digital one). This means that it can receive the signal from the Sky box.
You feed the aerial lead into the TV just as you did before.
You need to switch to analogue TV mode on the TV. The user manual appears not to cover this, instead it being stored within the TV:
LG 42LS3400 Support: Find Manuals & Warranty Info | LG UK
Looking at the remote, I guess that the "Input" button may be the one that needs to be pressed to change between digital and analogue modes. Wendy: You need to press Input until it is in analogue mode (I say "until" because I have no idea whether it needs to be pressed once or multiple times).
Then, ensure that the Sky box is on, and go into the menu and select Settings > Setup > Auto Tuning.
As there are no other analogue channels, you might as well leave the Sky box on number 1. jb38Wednesday 22 August 2012 8:05PM
Wendy: LG manuals really do leave a lot to be desired as they are not dedicated to a particular model but of few of them within the range, "if" no joy with what has been said try pressing the very top right hand button on the TV's remote control marked TV / Rad and select TV (not DTV) and if your TV has analogue capabilities then it should be accessible on that choice, then just follow the advice already given regarding carrying out an auto-tune on the analogue mode whilst the Sky box is turned on and with its RF2 linked to the LG's aerial input socket via the magic eye.
You have to remember that the Sky boxes RF output is "analogue" mode just like the older TV system and not digital, this being why you cannot find it.
WendyFriday 24 August 2012 5:58PM
Southend-on-sea Thank you very much for your help in this matter. WendyPeteWednesday 29 August 2012 10:11PM
Help
I have a sky HD box and have run a coax to the TV upstairs.I can watch sky and change sky channels via a magic eye no problem.
My issue is I cannot pick up any freeview channels.If I unplug the aerial from the skybox and plug it straight into the TV down stairs I get the freeview channels but as soon as I plug the aerial into the skybox I cannot get the freeview channels.
I was wondering if the signal wasn't strong enough when connected through the skybox and maybe buy a booster.I am switching between the analogue tuner to watch sky and digital tuner for freeview
would be grateful for any ideas
Thanks Petejb38Thursday 30 August 2012 12:20AM
Pete: Although a weak Freeview signal can cause difficulties if passing it through a Sky box, another possible reason for your problem could be that the RF output channel used on the Sky box is the same as is used by Freeview, although that would only have a serious effect on a particular range of Freeview channels.
I would normally have advised you regarding the RF output channels NOT to use, but knowledge of your location (post code or one from nearby) is necessary to be able to do that.
Could you also mention the model of Sky box that you are using? PeteThursday 30 August 2012 7:03PM
Manchester Hi JB38 sorry for the delay and thanks for the reply.The sky box model is DRX890-Z and the post code is m342wl
Thanks againjb38Thursday 30 August 2012 11:30PM
Pete: No problem! and checking on your Freeview reception possibilities for the area given suggests that its best to keep your Sky boxes RF output channel to between Ch's 64 - 69 as Winter Hill's highest mux channel is Ch62, this station being indicated as providing an excellent level of signal at your location.
You should also try a test without using the magic eye, but before doing so change the lead from your Sky box over to the RF1 output socket so as "not" to have the 9 volts power from the RF2 output going into your TV, as the latter "might" short circuit the power depending on the TV's input circuitry.
If though the problem still persists then the final test you can try is to temporarily place the 2nd set near to the Sky box and with a jumper lead coupling the two together.
As far as a weak signal is concerned, as aforementioned you are indicated as being able to have good reception from Winter Hill, but though just to get an idea of what the reception is like connect the aerial straight through to the 2nd TV then carry out a signal strength / quality check whilst on either BBC1 or ITV1, as if your aerial is slightly deficient in any way or you have some local obstruction to the signal path from the transmitter, this might be causing you to receive a level of signal that's hovering just above the threshold for reception whereby the slightest obstruction to this (i.e: through Sky box) is taking it under the threshold referred to.
By the way you should be able to carry out the same test even if the screen is blank so long as you have BBC1 or ITV1 selected, because even although the screen is blank the signal will still be there but just under the cut off point as far as resolving a picture is concerned.
PeteFriday 31 August 2012 7:26PM
Manchester JB 38
Thankyou very much for all your help.I will try what you have said and hopefully get a result
Thanks again
PetemarkSunday 2 September 2012 10:25AM
Hello,
I have a sky+hd box in the front room i wanted to get sky im my bedroom so i acquired another hd+ box and used a coaxil splitter and run it into the bedroom, it does not seem to work there is no signal in the bedroom but i am still gettin signal in the front room.... any ideas??PaulFriday 7 September 2012 10:52AM
I bought a new smart TV for my living room and moved my older plasma to my bedroom with a TV extender for SKY Digital.
But the old panasonic plasma cant be set to UK sound so I get a perfect picture but white noise sound. I'm assuming this is because it can't receive PAL I analogue sound? Any ideas of a work around or a bit of kit I can buy to recode the sound?
PNicTuesday 18 September 2012 9:41AM
I am unable to get my sky remote to work via the sky ir eye on my second tv upstairs. we can view sky without any problems on thia tv but we are unable to get the remote to work!!jb38Tuesday 18 September 2012 2:38PM
Nic: This problem can be caused by either the upstairs box being faulty or the eye, and so to determine which you can either swap the boxes over keeping the eye upstairs, or alternatively connect the eye into the downstairs boxes RF2 and make sure that you have covered the front of the box with a thick towel or similar so as to eliminate any possibility of the boxes IR sensor changing channels rather than the eye.
Either procedure being used will pinpoint the cause of the problem. Pauline ToddSaturday 22 September 2012 9:33AM
Mayfield Tn20 6ub
Hi,
I have been using a sky magic eye for a couple of years to get sky on a second tv in bedroom. After the digital switchover, i can still get sky on the second tv but the magic eye will not work to control the sky box to change channels etc. i have bought a new eye in case the original has developed a fault but the same problem exists. This problem definately dates from the digital switchover. Any help please.
Pauline
jb38Saturday 22 September 2012 11:18PM
Pauline Todd: The switch over you refer to is not connected in any way whatsoever with satellite reception whether it be Sky or Freesat, and so the problem you have is purely coincidental, however you should take the normal aerial out of the Sky boxes aerial input and check if this allows the eye to work again, further info dependant on the result of the test.
If though it still doesnt work then go into the installers menu and check that the power is still enabled for the Sky boxes RF2 output, if a standard Sky box press "services - 4" then 0 - 1 - select and press on RF outlets.Pauline ToddSunday 23 September 2012 12:05PM
Many thanks. Having tried a few things, it seems that the eye and sky box are working ok in themselves. My problem arises when i connect the eye to the aerial cable which is in turn connected to the digibox which I have to use with my old analogue tv. Hopefully the problem will go away when I eventually replace my old tv but if there is anything you can suggest in the meantime, i would be most grateful.
Paulinejenny belteMonday 24 September 2012 9:23AM
no rf outlets on drop down menu sky 401 to allow me to turn onjb38Monday 24 September 2012 2:37PM
Pauline Todd: Well although its usually more normal for a second TV to be capable of Freeview as well as analogue and with the latter facility mentioned enabling the Sky boxes RF2 signal to be viewed by switching the TV from DVB to analogue, the fact that you are using a separate box should not change anything as far as the magic eye operation is concerned.
What I wondered was whether or not the magic eye works when connected to the end of the coax that comes from the Sky boxes RF2? and with the eye's output connected directly into the analogue TV? ie: by-passing the Freeview box.
If its found that the eye's LED is still not illuminated then is it when its (the eye's) "output" jumper lead to the analogue TV's aerial socket is removed? jb38Monday 24 September 2012 11:00PM
jenny belte: If you have a standard Sky box you press: services - 4 followed by pressing 0 - 1 - select and you will then see the installers menu, select RF outlets - power.
If you have a Sky+ box press "services" and you will then see the main menu with "options" being highlighted, using the right arrow button to highlight the "settings" menu and press select, then choose RF outlets.
By the way Amstrad DRX595 Sky+ boxes do not have RF modulators and likewise do not have RF outlets mentioned on the menu.
Pauline ToddThursday 27 September 2012 5:18PM
Hi again.
After your insistence that the digibox should not affect the magic eye, I tried a few more combinations. I had forgotten that the eye and tv used to be in a different bedroom so I moved everything back and lo and behold, it all works. So it works in one bedroom but not the other. It would seem that the problem lies with my cabling or wall sockets and , as you said, is nothing to do with the digibox.
Many thanks
PS any ideas now?jb38Thursday 27 September 2012 9:01PM
Pauline Todd: Well a problem thats sometimes experienced when feeding a Sky boxes RF2 into another room when using the buildings pre-installed internal coax link is that the eye's LED is found not to be illuminated.
This is nearly always caused by the wall plate fitted by the installer being of the isolated variety whereby any voltage on the rear of the socket will not be present on the sockets output, and of course being exactly the reverse of what's required as voltage on the sockets output is essential.
Maybe you could confirm, or not as the case may be, if non illumination of the eye is what you are experiencing? because if it is you will not get over the problem except by purchasing a "straight through" (non-isolated) wall plate and swapping them over.
Pauline ToddThursday 27 September 2012 10:57PM
Hi. You are right in that the red light on the eye is not illuminated when using some wallplates. They look the same from the outside but will I be able to tell thr diference if i unscrew the cover?
jb38Thursday 27 September 2012 11:25PM
Pauline Todd: You might be able to tell depending on whether or not the plate fitted is just modified standard type, and so look at the back of the plate where you see the coax from the wall being terminated and you can also see the rear of the output socket, if anything other than a normal wire is linking these two points mentioned then whatever (a capacitor) requires the device being bridged with a thin piece of wire, as that will then allow the eyes 9 volt supply to get through.
Important!! if on a communal satellite / aerial system then do NOT carry this procedure out.
Further info dependant on reply.Ant BSunday 30 September 2012 6:23PM
Hi, having read a lot of the responses in this forum I am close but still struggling to fix my problem.
I have recently purchased a new LG tv for the downstairs room, I've moved the position of the tv and therefore ran the cables round to my sky hd box, having only to extend one, the aerial input from the roof, all other cables reached and are in the same plugs.
I have a tv link to the tv in the bedroom which still works for sky, however I used to be able to watch freeview up there also by switching settings between air and cable. I have re-tuned but still no luck.
Also the sky picture downstairs now randomly gives me white lines and fuzzy picture. I can get freeview downstairs if I take the aerial from the roof directly to the tv.
The ideal situation would be to have sky and freeview on both tv's with no interference or second to that sky and freeview on one and sky on the other with no fuzziness etc...
Is this possible?
jb38Sunday 30 September 2012 7:11PM
Ant B: When you say that you have a TV link to the bedroom for viewing Sky but you cannot now get Freeview, this is inclined to point to either the feed from the main aerial not being connected into the Sky boxes aerial input, or if this is the one you extended? you have possibly accidentally caught a strand of the coax braiding around the middle core when you were fitting the coax plug socket thereby killing the main aerial feed into the box, you should check this out. Brian EglesFriday 5 October 2012 11:28PM
We just changed to a Digihome LED23911HDDVD and cannot get sound when connected as a second TV to Sky HD box in KT22 postal area.
Tries various RF2 out channels (68, 67, 21, 37,45) all with decent(ish) picture but no sound.
The TV does not have a button on the remote for analog v digital - the analog channels seem to get stored as 901, 902 etc and labelled as C68, C67 when the scan finds them. The details for manual tune say C, BG, 68 etc. Any idea why no sound?Brian EglesSaturday 6 October 2012 12:24AM
Channel 45 with I now OK, thanks.
Picture not quite as good as the freeview but I guess that is a function of analog v digital and the relatively long cable between the Sky box and the second TV. Certainly useable...Ant BMonday 8 October 2012 6:27PM
Thank you for your response jb38, I've managed to get the freeview working upstairs although I am still getting the white lines on the sky downstairs..
I've disconnected everything but the sky and I've changed the scart lead... Also the sky upstairs does not have this problem.. I am confused as to why this only happens on the new tv.. can anyone suggest a fix please?
jb38Monday 8 October 2012 8:33PM
Ant B: If the Sky link to the upstairs TV is now working OK and you can now get either Sky or Freeview, then lines referred to on the main TV downstairs has to be caused by something associated with your scart connection, as the Sky boxes modulator is internally tagged onto the analogue circuit in the Sky box and if anything was wrong there it would also appear on the modulators output.
I realise that you have changed the scart lead and which was the correct thing to do as far as eliminating the lead is concerned, but though what I would like you to do is whilst viewing a picture via the lead wiggle the plug slightly from side to side first on the box and then on the TV, this is just to check that there isn't a bad joint on the rear of the scart socket pins, this being something that can happen.
The other point being, as your Sky box is an HD type then it must have an HDMI connection, so does your new TV not also have one? (cant check as model unknown) because if it has then you should use an HDMI connection between the box and the TV and do away with the scart lead. Joe CondronWednesday 24 October 2012 4:10PM
hi i have my magic eye set up on channel 68 like it told me and theres no pic, it's only a jumping blank screen could u tel me how to fix this problem.Cheersjb38Wednesday 24 October 2012 4:54PM
Joe Condron: Have you ensured that the remotely positioned TV is set to "analogue" and "not" DVB before scanning to pick up the Sky boxes signal? also if you are using a magic eye then for test purposes temporarily connect the feed from the Sky box directly into the TV being used for the Sky link and use the Sky boxes RF1 output which isn't powered.
If that works OK then reconnect the eye and revert to using the Sky boxes RF2 put.janiceWednesday 24 October 2012 9:48PM
Rugeley ws15 1af. aerial on roof. we have sky tv hd box, the tv upstairs is connected to this, on purchasing a digital tv for upstairs we can only get sky and not digital.
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