What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'?
How to Reset a Sky Digibox when 'No Signal' appears.
Reset method 1 - Delete and Rescan
- Turn the power off at the mains socket. Either do this by pulling the plug from the socket, or using a power switch if there is one.
- Remove the viewing card from the machine. Using a dry cloth or kitchen roll, clean the gold connector on the reverse of the card. Do not use any cleaning products.
- Check cables and connectors are in good order.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- With the card still out of the machine, plug the Digibox back into the mains.
- Ignore all the messages, and wait for around a minute.
- Try 101 for BBC One, 102 for BBC Two and 103 for ITV-1.
- Insert viewing card, wait a few seconds.
- Check 104 for Channel 4 and 105 for five.
Reset Method 2 - Reset the LNB
If the above method does not work, the LNB may have a fault.
- Press the [SERVICES] button and then press [4] [0] [1] then [SELECT]
On Sky HD, press the [SERVICES] button and then press [0] [0] [1] then [SELECT]
Press the buttons in the sequence above exactly - do not atttempt to use [UP] or [DOWN]. Note that when you press the second 0 and 1 nothing happens on the screen until you press the final [SELECT]. This is a "hidden menu".
- Then press [1] to go to the RF output menu.
- Press [DOWN] three times to highlight the line 22Khz Command and then press [RIGHT] to change the value to [OFF].
- Press [DOWN] and [SELECT] to select Save New Settings.
- Press [SKY].
- Again press [SERVICES], [4], [0], [1], [SELECT]; then [1] again for the LNB Menu. (SERVICES 0 0 1 SELECT for Sky HD).
- Now press the [RED] button (reset all settings), then [DOWN] until you can select Save New Settings again.
- Press [SKY].
Reset Method 3 - Upgrade the system software
If there are still problems:
- Turn the Digibox off at the mains again and remove the viewing card.
- Whilst holding down the BACKUP key on the Digibox - NOT ON THE REMOTE - turn the mains power on.
- Keep hold of BACKUP until the screen displays a "UPGRADING SYSTEM SOFTWARE" message – this will be white text on a black screen. On some boxes this can appear as a half screen.
- Wait 10 to 20 minutes for the software to download and install. The box will restart when the process is complete.
- Ignore all the messages, and wait for around a minute.
- Try 101 for BBC One, 102 for BBC Two and 103 for ITV-1.
- Insert viewing card, wait a few seconds.
- Check 104 for Channel 4 and 105 for five.
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jatzlauckTuesday 1 April 2008 7:00PM
its been more than 20 mins... help??!!jatzlauck: It rarely takes more than ten, if it's been 20, power off. Ken MirzaMonday 28 April 2008 8:57PM
My apartment in Spain has a communal dish, the signal is scrambled or blocked by the the people in control (Polaris Telecom), the resort is La Torre Golf Resort run by Polaris World. My Sky Digibox and FTV card will receive only CH4, everything else is 'No Satellite Signal', BBC and ITV come up with 'There is a technical fault, please try later'. They want us to buy a skybox and card from them for 400 euros just to watch FTV! I know my box and card picks up all FTV channels outside of their resort, as I've tried it on a friend's dish in Almeria. Is there anyway I can overcome this? Thanks, Ken Hi Ken, I suspect this is down to dish size, i think they have you connected to a smaller dish & may only connect you to a bigger one if you pay them. It is also possible that they are blocking some frequencies. short of erecting you own dish there is nothing you can do im afraid. Mark Aberfan Aerials Ken MirzaMonday 28 April 2008 11:06PM
Thanks Mark for your answer. The problem is we are not allowed to install our own dishes so I am really caught by the short and... Cheers anyway
chrisMonday 21 July 2008 12:03PM
i just moved houses and connected my sky box.. i am able to get some channels but some channels comes up as 'no signal received' mostly the local channels do this. Pls what can i do chris: Have you tried all three of the above options? DerekTuesday 12 August 2008 4:49PM
Hi,
I have the same problem as Chris. I can receive a lot of channels on Sky, but all of the channels that are available on Freeview I cannot get on Sky i.e. all BBC, ITV, CH4, E4, More4 channels plus half of the music channels, Eurosport, Extreme Sports channel etc. (and I do have them in my Sky package).
This week, SCI-FI channel has disappeared too... that one used to work but now I get the 'No Signal' message on that channel too.
I live in rented accom and the rental agency installed the dish, but are saying that it is a communal dish so they can't do anything about it because it would affect everyone in the building. Sky say they can't look at it cos they didn't install the dish!
I've tried installing a signal amplifier at the digibox end, I've tried updating the software and I've tried all the reset options listed above.
Is it possible that the wrong type of dish/LNB could be installed? I would have thought I'd either get no channels or all of them... not some of them. It's also very suspicious that it's the ones that are available on Freeview that I can't receive... Are they all on similar frequencies or something?Derek: From your description, my first thought would be that the issue might be with the Sky box. I don't know what type of 'signal amplifier' you have tried, but that sounds like a terrible idea for a satellite connection. If you are using a communial dish, I would contact whoever you are paying to provide this and get them to test the connection to the system with a proper signal tester. The channels you have listed are on lots of different satellites and transponders and polarization. If you can't do anything else, try borrowing a satellite receiver from someone else to see if it works, as this will emilimate the box problem. Also, get rid of the "booster" and just use a single good piece of satellite-grade coaxial cable to connect to receiver to the wall socket. DerekTuesday 12 August 2008 6:45PM
Hi Brian, thanks for your comment. The signal amplifier is literally a signal booster that you plug into the aerial cable then connect to the digibox. I know it probably does nothing more than increase the noise in relation to the original signal, but I thought it was worth a try to see if the problems were due to poor signal. It didn't help at all tho!
The problem with my absurd situation here is that the management company that run the flats got an aerial guy to come and install the satellite dish when they took over the management of the property. Unfortunately, they are paid by the letting agent and I have no contact with them. I pay my rent to the letting agent. No-one is actually paying anyone for the provision of the dish - it was just a selling point of the flat that it was already connected for sky. However, the letting agent say that it is not their problem because they are not actually liable for supplying sky tv capability. The management company say it's not their problem because they're a useless bunch of no-hopers (the letting agent even had the cheek to say to me that the management company didn't have the money to get an aerial guy in to check it out!!! - as if that's my problem! Maybe they should be running their business better!). Anyway... sky say it's not their problem because they didn't install the dish!!
So... the situation is even more ridiculous because I took the flat on the basis that sky tv was installed already and I would only have to get a subscription. Now the annoying thing is that if I had just taken out a sky subscription as normal, sky would have come and installed the dish (for no additional cost) and I would probably have a working setup. But because the letting agent told me that it was already installed, I told sky that I already had the dish and just needed the digibox and the subscription!
Nightmare!! So I'm stuck up the creek without a paddle because of everyone's incompetence!
I don't think it's a box problem because it's a new box and i've tried it with an old one and the same problem was evident. The booster makes no difference, on or off apart from putting the signal strength up to max on the setup pages.
If the dish and LNB were particularly old, would that cause a problem? Has the technology changed say in the past 10 years to make older equipment incompatible with new, or would that cause all channels to be lost rather than just some?
Or could it just be slightly misaligned?DerekTuesday 12 August 2008 6:51PM
I had to laugh at the letting agent.... I had an argument over the phone with her about this and she said 'But... have you got BBC and ITV???' I said, 'Well, yes, through the normal aerial, but not through Sky' and she said, 'well... we're only liable to supply you with a connection to get you BBC and ITV - just the normal channels, which you are getting, so there's not much we can do about it... You know.... I don't have Sky TV in my house.... and there are lots of other people out there that don't have Sky TV.....'!!!!!!!!!!!!
As if that was supposed to make me feel better!!!! Maybe you don't have Sky because you either don't want it, or don't want to pay for it! But that doesn't change the fact that I DO want it and I AM PAYING for it... but I'm not GETTING it because of your crap flat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unreal!Derek: Right... if you are not sharing a dish then I would surmise that either it has become slightly misaligned or the LNB is failing (if it's not your box, of course). You have the right under Section 143 of the Communications Act 2003 "that no person should unreasonably be denied access to an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services." which I suggest you point out to the agency who tell you otherwise. Why don't you get a non-Sky local installer to come and fix it for you Nick ClarkTuesday 9 September 2008 12:10PM
Hi there, sorry if this is posted in the wrong place but hoped you experts might help!
I have a sky dish on my house and am looking at installing Freesat. I borrowed my parents Panasonic sky digibox (with viewer card) and hooked it up to my dish (correctly as far as I can ascertain) but always received the 'no signal' error.
Is there a likely solution to this problem? I merely want to check that the connection from the dish to the living room is live and suitable for Freesat. Am I missing anything?!
Any help would be very much appreciated!
Thanks!
NCsteve, bedworthTuesday 9 September 2008 1:09PM
depends on how old the cable is nick. You may need to check that the cable is attached to the dish first. Next attach it to the box, then go into services on remote and look for system set up, then signal test. This will tell you what signal strength you have. If it is reasonable, you can leave it on that screen and go to dish and move it gently to the left or right by about an inch and then see if it has improved.
although this would not be recommended by most on here. I have a dish and had to move mine gently to get a better qaulity signal. sky wanted to charge me 50 odd quid to come and do it.
Another option would be to buy the fresat box and try it out, you can always take it back.
One important thing which I am awaiting an answer for off brian, is if you want the hd option on freesat I believe you need two cables, but I am not 100% sure of yet.Nick ClarkTuesday 9 September 2008 2:42PM
Edinburgh Steve,
Many, many thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!
I think the time has come to shimmy up a ladder and check. Everything looks good from ground level with regards to the dish alignment, cable connection, LNB etc. and the cable seems okay but I just am not getting any signal (according to the Sky box).
It is the HD flavour of Freesat I am interested in so may just go buy it and then check with the FS box. Then again, I may look to get an expert in to sort it once and for all!
Many thanks once again!
Nicksteve,bedworthTuesday 9 September 2008 6:11PM
if you are getting a hd variety, I am sure there is something about having two cables coming from the dish. but not 100% certainNottsUKTuesday 9 September 2008 7:16PM
steve, bedworth; You do not need two cables to watch HD on Freesat. If you take a look at the rear panel of the new Goodmans GFSAT200HD receiver there is only one LNB input. I have been watching BBC HD for almost a year now and there is only one cable connected to my HD receiver. I believe the only time you need two cables is if the receiver as two tuners. steve,bedworth: Two connections are only required when there are two tuners to connect to, as with Sky+ or Freesat+ NottsUK: The need for two cables to dual LNB outputs is because the LNB is powered from the receiver and switches from horizontal to vertical mode by a signal that cannot be shared. Terrestrial signals are always in a single polarization. AfyWednesday 10 September 2008 9:54PM
Can rain make the Degi boxes LNB foulty? because my box aint got no signal. and sky want to send a engineer out.Afy: Very Heavy rain will block the signal from the satellite on occasions, but often for ten minutes or less. But if water gets into the LNB or cables, they will fail. steve,bedworthThursday 11 September 2008 4:27PM
thanks brian and notts uk. I have virgin at the moment, but when my 12 mths is up I will look at the market and see if the freesat hd will suit me.steve,bedworthThursday 11 September 2008 4:31PM
As a matter of course brian . dores two cablews come from the lnb all the way through the house or do you have two converging into one, then splitting into two again inside the home, a bit like this ?
>>> <<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>> <<<
pardon my excuse for a drawing lolsteve,bedworth: The cables are independent of each other. steve,bedworth: I should probably do an online comparison thingy... Gail WatsonMonday 15 September 2008 3:34PM
Hi, I live in Spain, have a 1.9 dish and receive free view tv via sky digibox.
I seem to have lost channel 4 and film 4, can anyone help me to track them down, did they just move, and if so, cant i get them back, or did some gremlin jump in and eat ém while i was asleep? in which case can we kill the gremlins...
any info would help,
regards......lonelyfor4steve,bedworthMonday 15 September 2008 6:10PM
wow,that post above looks like I was drunk.!!
it should have been
<<< >>>
<<<<<<<<<<<
<<< >>>
still never mind you got the idea of what I was trying to say
Gail Watson: They have all moved to the Astra 2D satellite. You'll need to rescan to get them back. GailMonday 15 September 2008 9:28PM
Oakham my post did not seem to go, sorry.....
Briantist... thank you for you post, much appreciated, sadly i do not know how to rescan, and it sounds too technical for me haha, unless you can tell me in words of one sylable that i can understand, but thanks anyway. might i need to get someone in to do it?
I did used to have a motorised dish in the 80´s in uk, and could scan away to my hearts content, but sky i just dont understand, i cant even manage to get any german channels, so maybe its my box.
regardsGail: Without knowing the make and model of your equipment, I can't really say anything other then "rescan" for channels. If you have a Sky box, the system will do this for you, there is no need to do anything. GailTuesday 16 September 2008 9:25AM
Oakham Briantist
thanks very much, i have also been in touch with the man who fitted the sat. and box, and yes it is a sky digibox, he says if i ring him, its so easy he can talk me through it on the phone,so will do that shortly,
thanks very much for your help, you got me started on the right track.
lol dont suppose you know anything about computers and why i cant send my emails, but can receive them haha?
regards.....Gail: Always happy to help. Not sure if I can help with your email problems, though. MikeSaturday 20 September 2008 4:06PM
Iam trying to setup 2 sky boxes in my mothers house, i have one dish. With a single LNB, so one cable from this into the house, i bought a satellite splitter from Maplins, cable from dish into splitter, one cable from splitter goes into first sky box, this works fine, second cable from splitter goes upstairs to second sky box but all i get is ' there is a technical fault' message on that box, can u help ? Mike: The "splitter" will not work with the Sky boxes. Remove the splitter and fit a quad-LNB to the dish, and run a cable to receiver from each LNB output.
The "splitter" only allows one box to provide power to the LNB, and only this "master" can therefore switch the polirity.
The Sky boxes do not understand this limitation to their reception and will fail. Nick ClarkMonday 22 September 2008 10:08AM
Edinburgh HI All,
Thanks for the feedback from everyone - turns out my LNB was faulty...bring on the Freesat HD!
Appreciate all the interest...
Nick Clark
steve jMonday 22 September 2008 11:20PM
Hi all,just relocated to the coast of murcia in spain,bought our digi box from home and was wondering if it would work here and pick up a few channels.If so,what wold we need to accomplish this,many thanks in advance.steve j: If you have a Freeview box, you can watch Spanish digital TV with it.
If you have a satellite box, you will need a large aerial (1.5m to 2m) to receive the same UK services on the box as you did in the UK. Such a dish will need to point at the Astra 2 satellite cluster. Nick Clark: I'm pleased you found the fault! steve jWednesday 24 September 2008 7:30PM
Many thanks,will try it out.steve jLewThursday 25 September 2008 5:40PM
HI,
I am trying to self install a sky box.
I already have sky+ and another sky box connected.
I have connected to the spare connection on the quad LNB. And everthing seems fine but i am unable to get a lock signal on the new box.
The exisitng boxes both have a signal and are working fine.
I have tried swapping the cables around at the LNB but that hasn't sorted the problem.
The cable i have just installed was brand new and there are no kinks or damage on it.
Any suggestions?
Lew: Are you sure that the newest Sky box works? Rob StevensonSaturday 4 October 2008 8:26AM
Hi, I am in Spain and I have a motorised system and can pick up 500 channels when pointed at astra 2 cluster (NOT BBC OR ITV THOUGH BUT NOT WORRIED) I was hoping to get my parents to activae a sky card for me so I can get sky sports (can get them but encripted). When I plug my sky box in, I get the "no signal being received".
I know there is as when I plug my Technomate in I still get the 500 cahnnels.
Does the Sky receiver need to pick up certain channels to become active?
Or any other ideas?
RobRob StevensonSaturday 4 October 2008 9:30AM
Sat and thought it over, Default transponder is a UK only beam, therefore my dish that does not pick up bbc1 etc does not get a signal on this transponder.
i picked one that I get a strong signal with, (11222, H, 27500 2/3).
Switch off box, took ot card and hey presto it works.
Hope this helps anyone else in the same boat.
Alan BrownSaturday 4 October 2008 10:54AM
Northampton I'm new to the satelite game although we inherited a sky dish when my son moved out.
Currently using a Thomson Freeview box which has problems that don't seem to be resolved despite going through to help desk.Its going back.
I am able to use old sky box and dish however whilst looking to upgrade to say Sky + I came across boxes that you could use to get programmes off other satelites as well as Sky.
Is there any advantage in buying one of these units, are some channels in need of decoding and requiring a card, Is there a list of channels free for all to view without a subscription?
The advantage of having a different manufacturer from the standard sky box is that you can delete channels that you do not want, saving you the trouble of scrolling through 500 channels to get the one you want. Then for a small investment in a new dish you can get hundreds of interesting channels from other satellites. Les NicolSunday 5 October 2008 2:28PM
Alan Brown The Humax HD DTR receiver due for release next month will be capable (unlike the Sky plus box) of being motorized. ie: it will have the necessary Diseqc software that will allow connection to a motorized dish. A word of caution it can be an expensive undertaking unless you are skilled and capable of setting this up yourself. Your site and location are critical. Thus said if you can set up on a ground location then if you are reasonable skilled then it could be straightforward enough.. Never attempt this if you have to mount on a building -- get a professional installer in. As Brian has posted, you will require a 90cm Dish a Quad quality LNB and a suitable Diseqc motor dual core cable and fixings -- An additional £250 to £300 and if you are not doing this yourself be prepared for another £250 - £300 to set it up.Les NicolSunday 5 October 2008 2:47PM
Alan Brown - As an alternative less expensive solution - you could simply increase your dish size and fit an additonal LNB(s). This (these) are fitted to specially designed bracket that has a set angle(s) that is trained on Satellites in close proximity to the Astra group and Eurobird at 28.5 degrees.Les NicolSunday 5 October 2008 2:58PM
Rob Stevenson - Someone else at an earlier point posted that they could get The Humax Foxsat HD box to work OK in Spain. I suppose this might to depend on location and dish size.Alan Brown: Or, if you only want to get one additional satellite in addition to Astra 2A/B/C/D, planning law allows for two dishes to be fitted to a property which is a cheaper option. Rob Stevenson: Not showing channels you can't watch is certainly an advantage for Freesat! 
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