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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pamSaturday 6 August 2011 1:59PM
hi i hav got upto no 6 on how to reset my sky hd and it just says it is initialising i cant go any further any suggestions, pamKB Aerials Sheffield Saturday 6 August 2011 4:19PM
Sheffield pam what prompted you to reset your sky box?
and what is it doing ? - how old is it?Peter SharpeSunday 7 August 2011 10:35AM
I have just cancelled my Sky subscription, and now I am unable to get any channels trough my skyHD box.
I only have a satellite ariel and I only have the message 'No DVB Service Found' when I turn on the box?Peter Sharpe: there are about 200 channel that are free to air are able to be receive without a sky card.
I do not recognise "No DVB Service Found'" as a Sky HD box messages. Could this be a message saying the TV is unable to find a "Freeview" signal? daz evansSunday 7 August 2011 12:42PM
Hi
my parents had sky then cancelled after 12mths so i have there sky dish and box and viewing card and have installed the dish and box in my sons room just for freeview but i keep getting the no message signal i have checked the leads over and over again and they are spoton,do i have to get sky to connect this just for freeview
any helpMazbarSunday 7 August 2011 12:58PM
Ormskirk Dave if you have taken down the dish and put it up om another house you will find it almost imposable to line it up right you will need to call out a aerial rigger to line it up for you expect to pay around £35 jb38Sunday 7 August 2011 1:25PM
daz evans: It is not necessary to contact Sky or anyone else if it comes to it "if" you align the dish up properly.
As you say you installed the dish yourself, what did you use to set it up? as if as I suspect it might have been one of these simple Sat finders, then whether LED or meter pointer type "slow motion" movements in all operations is the order of the day for success.
Plus the other thing that many make a mistake with, that being, once the satellite is found adjust the pointer / LED indications to show as low as possible, as this makes it easier to detect an increase.
MazbarSunday 7 August 2011 3:01PM
Ormskirk Mazbar: Jb38 i went to a house the other day his dish had been fitted by sky his signal strenght was at 90% but a check of signal quality this was at 10% when i finished his signal strength was at 85% but his quality was 89% on a meter not his box. Signal strength is one thing but if you want a picture that works in poor weather you need a proper meter not a thing with 5 led on them so a small charge to come out is not that bad.KB Aerials Sheffield Sunday 7 August 2011 5:21PM
Sheffield Mazbar -- Agreed - ive seen many a DIY dish installed
Generally its the long suffering wife who has had 3 or 4 weekends ruined by her husband tinkering with the dish and is amazed that I turn up set the ladders up and have it sorted within a 5 mins
Simple -- Pay someone to do a job correctly
I wouldn't install a door frame - im not a carpenter so I get a carpenter in !
The right person for the correct trade
also those little 5 led things- you could be pointing the dish at hotbird or astra 19.8 and they would show a reading in frustration altering it a few mil then checking the receiver - literally could take hours to no avail !jb38Sunday 7 August 2011 6:24PM
Mazbar: A careful methodical person can set a Sky dish up every bit as good using a simple meter as an Sky engineer or whoever with a £300.00 plus meter, the key word being "methodical", although I would generally always advise them to carry out a signal strength / quality check as a final test, as on average they should see the indications about the same @ 75% minimum, with preferably the quality leading slightly on this, although this not always being achievable depending on the LNB being used, some Sky Zinwell issue sevices having the tendancy of going downhill quality wise on vertical polarisation checks at frequencies above 11Ghz.
Being a long standing RF engineer myself I am well aware of the pitfalls of not aligning things up correctly, irrespective of whether it be a Sky dish or any other type of reception (or transmission) device, but I have to say that over a period of time I have noticed that anyone who asks advice on how to do something (or even just a pointer!) is always being advised by you "not to" and call a rigger or whoever, which, and without by any means wishing to appear offensive, gives me the impression that you are possibly more interested in plugging business rather than genuinely assisting.
I do appreciate the point you are trying to make though, as I am fully aware that there are always a number people about who are inclined to over estimate their abilities, and likewise should really leave certain tasks alone, even for their own safety! but these type of people can very quickly be sussed out as being totally non technically inclined, as and such I would never advise anyone who I would consider comes into that category to try anything other than something relatively simple.MazbarSunday 7 August 2011 6:57PM
Ormskirk There is a reason for telling people to get a rigger it is one for there own saftey and there own time. By the way what is an rf engineer i have never heared if one of thoese, is it a radio ham like my father inlaw he knows less than he thinks he does. Doing things like tv aerials and satellite it does requier proper equipment and training even the right spanner to tighten up a bolt.DaleSunday 7 August 2011 7:45PM
Ipswich A few years ago I installed a Sky dish myself at my son's house, following instructions from the internet, and using just the signal meter on the box itself (the TV faced away from the window so actually used a mirror ro reflect the screen out of the window where I was up the ladder!). Took me around 30 mins to get the quality over 50% (and it has remained solid ever since) and I was pretty pleased with that, as I have NO skills in this area at all. Would I have rather paid £35 for a professional to do it? You bet! Unfortunately, no-one around here (Ipswich) would have done it for that price, or even double that price : you can count on a minimum £100 call-out, before they even start drilling walls etc etc.
So, my advice would be to get a professional in IF they'll stick a dish up and connect it for, say, under £50 (or if you want it somewhere awkward or dangerous to get to), BUT if it looks easily accessible and you have a neighbour's dish as a 'guide' (and you've made sure you've got clear line of sight, obviously), then it's not that hard to do.MazbarSunday 7 August 2011 8:06PM
Ormskirk Hi dale you are right i wouldn't call simeone out for thst price but here in the north west a call out charge is £25 to line up a sat it is about £35 and to fit it from scratch it is about £50 i even supply and fit the dish with a run of shotgun coax for £89 and i am quiet expencive for around here. KB Aerials Sheffield Sunday 7 August 2011 8:24PM
Sheffield I installed my First satellite dish on an my mums garden wall on an old analogue sky box i could see the tv from where i stood and it didn't take too long- yes if your methodical go ahead have a go - what were talking about though i suppose is the people who have had a go and have spent several weekends "having a go" - im losing sight of those people who have had a go and have got it right so yes - by all means go for it if you want - ive got to say for a line up I charge £45 if its local to me - Dale £100 just for a call out is in my opinion over the top
JB 34 - A question if you will
I have been called to look at a farm house where the customer is having trouble with receiving some music channels 4 music kiss and a few others ive narrowed it down to transponder 40 which is high up the sat band at 12480.00 MHZ
looking at the signal from the dish comes in at 77 db
the installer has used rg6 from the dish to the loft dont think its a long run as it loses 1db but he has then used sky wf63 through the loft and down to the lounge when its in the lounge its about 60db and there is a distinct slope from the left side of my analyser to the right where this mux is - I installed a new dish as the signal was low -this is before I tested the signal at the sat box end and realised that there were 2 joins in the cable - sorry did I not mention that the cable comes into the lounge at a back box with a blanking plate with a join behind it down to a outlet plate - the reason I assume is that the cable installer didn't know what height the customer wanted the receiver at
now--- the LNB is a Zinwell - I was going to go and try some line amps in the loft to see if that cured it - some vision ones I picked up from solutions
I have run a ct 100 direct from the dish to the receiver just to test the run was about 15 meters straight from dish to lounge - absolutely no break up on the channels - and the customer absolutely does not want any cables run externally as I know re running ct 100 from dish to receiver is a perfect cure but he has spent thousands renovating this property
So question is - do you think the line amps would work - do I need to change to a different manufacturer of LNB or even resort to putting a 60cm dish up
What would any of you professionals advise in this situation ?
KeithMazbarSunday 7 August 2011 8:35PM
Ormskirk Kb the two joins are the one's you can see. If the coax is in the walls could the plasterer have nicked the coax. You will have changed the joins for f conectors back to backs. Is the loss at the first join if it is the problem is between the loft and the first join. No help but to say to the customer that if he wants good signal the coax needs changing. You say 60 db loss is quality ok if it is the 20db in line amp might help but this will insert noise and that could be worse. MazbarSunday 7 August 2011 8:58PM
Ormskirk Keith one other thing have you checked the cable through out the loft for any other breaks just in case you never know. KB Aerials Sheffield Monday 8 August 2011 7:19AM
Sheffield im wondering wether to run ct 100 from the dish right through the loft to the furtherest point i can join it to the wf63 which is where it starts to head down the wall to the lounge
i wouldn't have thought that wf63 would have lost this much signal - but talking to Bill Wright he says that it might be the receiver that cant cope with having such a slope from the muxes arriving at lower frequencies which work fine as 60db in theory should work - the vision amps have got slope equalisation on them so this might help to level the playing field jb38Monday 8 August 2011 8:09AM
KB Aerials Sheffield: Regarding yuor query, I would try at all costs to avoid using an in-line amplifier in an attempt to compensate for a deficiency in a section of cabling, the deficiency being in the name of the inferior WF63, that is when used in applications involving the higher end of UHF frequencies such as from an LNB output.
I fully understand what you mean about the property owners objections to any new external cabling, but have you thoroughly investigated whether its possible (or not) to use this WF63 as a pull through wire for a new length of CT100 ? although if the WF63 was already there before the renovations took place it might well be clipped in quite a few places making it difficult, if not impossible, to be used for this purpose.
The other point about all this being, that if the test you made using the CT100 was with a length of cable roughly similar to that of the offending WF63, then you have the confidence of knowing that by simply doing this you would be solving the problem without any other measures being necessary, something I would be rather assertive (but nicely!) about when explaining this fact to the property owner.
However, if cable replacement is just out of the question then you obviously have no option but to use the in-line amp, this being installed at the dish end, as you wouldn't really be using it for the same purpose that its intended for, that is to help compensate for an excessively long cable run, as then they are usually installed about half way along the cable.
Regarding the dish / LNB, if you hadn't already installed the dish I would have recommended fitting a Zone 2 (60cm) type as used in Scottish installations, as when used in the South they give that little bit extra signal strength which gives protection against signal break up in heavy downpours, matter of fact I use one myself!
KB Aerials Sheffield:
Just a thought from me....
I find that where I am 12480 is one of the frequencies (along with 11642 V) that can be affected by DECT phone or other wireless items in the vicinity of the cable or receiver. Turning those wireless itmes off and the "interferance" and pixelation goes, turn them on and it returns! A number of channels (True Movies and Chart Show TV) actually run adverts saying MOVE DECT phones away from cabling!
KB Aerials Sheffield Monday 8 August 2011 6:14PM
Sheffield JB34
Thank you - why the hell didn't think of a Zone 2 dish - Ive got a load in stock so wouldn't be too difficult swapping that out - might just cure it - I really don't want to use line amps
do I go for a 2 minute simple fix and fit the amplifiers first as fitting the line amps would be an hour quicker - and end of day its not my fault !
or - replace the Zone 1 With zone 2 - re cable with ct 100 through the loft and join at the furthest possible point that I could
Thanks guys!
MazbarMonday 8 August 2011 7:23PM
Ormskirk Kb remember the coax could still be faulty in the wall. How many times have you been to a new build and found the coax faulty in the wall a nail or a badly kinked cable or the spark had two short runs of coax and a join sh@t happens but just smile you will work it outjb38Monday 8 August 2011 9:14PM
KB Aerials Sheffield: Without hesitation, I would advise you to re-cable from the loft using CT100 to replace the totally inferior WF63, as this is likely to give much more of an improvement over changing to a Zone 2 dish.
Regarding the CT100 cable, although you will no doubt be already aware of this, but exercise caution if fitting CT100 through a back box to terminate on a wall plate, as if its bent too sharply it can collapse the air spacing only leaving the thinnest of spacing between the inner core and the braiding, this being why WF100 is probably used more often than CT100 by many, as it doesn't suffer quite so badly on excessively sharp bends, the performance characteristics of both types being very similar to each other. (That is good!)
And further to your reference regarding the dish, if you wanted to give that little extra finishing touch to the job then by all means change the dish as well, as if it was me involved I certainly would! as to use the catch phrase associated with a supermarket advert, "every little helps!"
KB Aerials Sheffield Monday 8 August 2011 9:36PM
Sheffield JB 34 - I always use Foam filled cable - not even seen air spaced in years (that I install) but still call it CT 100
yeah think your right - re cable through the loft and join to the WF 63 near where it drops down the wall
- I use WF 63 on standard sky dish installs as its so convenient - I have never noticed this amount of loss before but cant remember ever running it this far
its generally install the dish drop it down the wall and straight through to the receiver I bet most runs are less than 8-10 meters in wf 63
Any how - thanks for your guys help on this - always learning in this industry
I will let you know how I get on - got to figure out what day to go - school hols don't help! JamesFriday 12 August 2011 8:38PM
hello everyone, We have sky hd in our living room and a second hd box in the bedroom, Our first hd box in th eliving room is working fine but the second one has a message on screen, This card does not belong to this box.. we are confident that it is, cause we have never had sky service in our home before, and these are the only 2 cards in the house.
Should I call sky or will this problem go away by itself?
Stragely we never really use the second box but has always been switched on standby, could this have something to do with it?
Thanks for your helpKB Aerials Sheffield Saturday 13 August 2011 8:02AM
Sheffield HI yes a call to sky should resolve the problem - its not just magically going to disappear
Mazbar JB
Was pushed for time at the property with the missing/breaking up channels on transponder 40 so went for the quick option of popping line amps in
Worked a treat the channels were working perfect Chris ConwayTuesday 16 August 2011 12:15PM
Sky + box over 5 years old I am having issues with the signal quality the picture and sound degrade. If i power off the box it works for about ten minutes and a message appears on screen indicating signal has been lost it then comes and goes.
I have reversed the two input cables thinking it might be a connection issue but it continues to fail. It implies an issue with the box. Any ideas i could try the reset as indicated in previous questions but i ahve a lot of recordings on planner so would like to make sure i am going down the right path. Help would be appreciatedDenny BoyTuesday 16 August 2011 12:31PM
I'm a new customer of SKY (changed over from VIRGIN CABLE TV) for less than ONE week and I'm not a happy bunny. My Main Box is perfectly ok, apart from not being able to obtain Channel 5 (105) but my biggest moan is my MultiBox has decided to pack up working in such a short space of time with the NO SIGNAL being displayed.
I think I may have to consider going back to VIRGIN CABLE TV as I never had any probs with their service. But before I do that how do I go about giving SKY at least a try to sort things out.Denny Boy: Sky have, if I remember correctly, a 30 day money back period. I would contact them urgently if you are unhappy. Chris Conway: The above procedure does not delete any recordings from a Sky+ box, but you will need to re-create your future recordings. kB Aerials Sheffield Tuesday 16 August 2011 5:36PM
Denny Boy - Unusual for new equipment
Give sky a chance to rectify the situation
Chris Conway -- Sounds like your power supply is overheating try putting a desk fan blowing cool air into it and see if it lasts longer than 10 mins
its a fix of about £50 for a new psu - alternatively upgrade to sky HD and sky will supply you a new hd box - would have to check their prices as they constantly change deals CarlWednesday 17 August 2011 7:37PM
I'm a Sky+ subscriber and my equipment is working fine but I come from the East Midlands and would like to receive their local I.T.V. News on "Add another channel"on my Sky Box but I don't know the Frequency numbers to input could you help? KMJ,DerbyFriday 19 August 2011 11:17PM
Duncan Ross: The power of the SDN mux is now 50kW, it was only 10kW before switchover. The "low" power status is only relative to the generous 150kW now used by the PSB muxes. If you were able to receive Mux1 (BBC1 etc) with good reception before switchover you should have no difficulty with Mux SDN which has changed frequency to C30-. Did you do a factory reset to clear the channel list before scanning for channels?Carl:
ITV1 Central South is on 11973 V 27.5 2/3 - sky card required
ITV1 Central East is on 11973 V 27.5 2/3 - sky card required
ITV1 Central West is on 10758 V 22 5/6
ITV1 Central South West is on 12420 V 27.5 2/3 - sky card required.
Although these may change frequencies when if / when the sky card versions move to Astra 1n, the new satellite for 28 east...
kB Aerials Sheffield Saturday 20 August 2011 9:48AM
Sat and PC guy would carl have to add these channels through the add channels feature of the sky box or are they available already on a specific channel number ?
Keith
KB aerials KevMonday 22 August 2011 6:05PM
I have a sky box and use the analogue out cable to serve a splitter in my loft, and then on to other tellies. Consequently I can get sky on channel 35 on all tellies. Everything is great except that BBC1 and BBC2 on the digital channel (not sky, or analogue) don't work. All other digital channels are fine. It's just BBC 1 and 2. If I plug the TV aerial straight into the splitter it's fine. Any ideas?shaunMonday 22 August 2011 6:29PM
hi i put my old sky digital box upstairs after having a new one put in it worked fine then moved it to other room and now says no signal 29 i plugged it into the new cable downstairs and it worked ok but now back upstairs back to no signal any ideas coaxial cable and scart to telly should there be any other cables also veiwing card not in but still should get signal i thinkkb Aerials Sheffield Monday 22 August 2011 11:37PM
Kev - its likely that your sky output is wiping the signal - what transmitter are you on?
alter the rf output of your sky box to another channel and retune the other tv's in the house to sky - you should find that the multiplex you wiped out now works!kb Aerials Sheffield Monday 22 August 2011 11:40PM
Shaun make sure the feed from the sky dish isnt shorted
a single strand of outer braid touching the inner core will do this
unscrew the connector fold back the outer braid look real close as a single strand wrapped around the inner core is easy to miss
Keith
If not maybe there is another problem with the cable
from the dish to the receiver steveTuesday 23 August 2011 10:19AM
Hi Brian I am missing a hell of a lot of channels including bbc2 channel 4 and 5 comedy central...sky sports 1 3 4 and news ... amongst others. Have done all re installation options available except system restore as. i. Don't wanna loose my recordings david chandlerTuesday 23 August 2011 10:36AM
Banbury on the roofP.T.WhiteTuesday 23 August 2011 11:54AM
Broadstairs Have Freesat box Bush BFSAT01SD,
dish mounted on exterior wall,no siginal
on all channels.Any ideas?
Thank you.
lesnicolTuesday 23 August 2011 12:31PM
P.T.White - Check the cable connection to the receiver to make sure it's sound and hasn't loosened. - If that's sound and still no signal your dish may have moved off signal or the receiver may have a fault. You can check the receiver if you can connect to another dish through a relative or friend. If it that's OK then your left with the probality of a problem at the dish end either through movement of dish - cabling issue or faulty LNB.steve: You only remove the recordings if you choose that particular option in the menu, nothing above will remove anything from the hard drive. SkyelinerWednesday 24 August 2011 2:33AM
Wiring Tip
If you are installing a new faceplate and are worried about crunching the coax cable behind it,an easy solution it to feed an f-connector to the downlead and then attach a right angle F-connector, remove the guts from the faceplate, fit an f-barrel with accompanying nut and washer on inside and nut on outside and hey presto, a kink free sat connection!
Solves many wiring probs when trying to get an RF2 signal up to another location.
If you are skilled, all you need to construct your own faceplate is a blank plate and 10mm drill bit as well as the F's.SkyelinerWednesday 24 August 2011 2:54AM
Technical Fault Notice. A basic remedy.
ALWAYS SWITCH OFF AT WALL FIRST, NEVER REMOVE POWER LEAD FROM DIGIBOX FIRST.
1) Switch off at wall socket.
2) Remove plug from wall socket and/or socket adapter.
3)Remove other end of power lead from digibox.
4)Immediately, replace power lead back in digibox.
5) Replace plug into wall socket/adapter, if used.
6) Switch on and go to Services/4/6 for Standard sky box or Services,0 4 for Sky+HD boxes, to check Signal strength/quality.
The error can be caused by build up of static in power lead.
Always ensure that you have fitted the box end of the power lead before switching on at the wall. Nervous fingers trying to fit a live power lead to an often fairly inaccessible back of a digibox can cause arcing and blow the power supply in the box.
PS. Anyone out there wishing to develop a luminous scart cable for the same reason, ie ease of connection??? :)
lynnWednesday 24 August 2011 4:02PM
can you help i have a sky hd box with a freeview card from sky. but i use this in my touring caravan so we move around. can you help do i need 2 wires from the sky dish into the hd box .i am not using the recording. also i have a signal but no quality signal. what am i doing wrong????lynn: As long as you use the "input 1" for a single-connection dish there should be no problems.
You need to ensure that the dish is pointing at the correct satellites, you will get both signal and quality readings for almost any satellite, but you must receive a signal from the "Astra 2" satellites to watch Sky. MichaelFriday 26 August 2011 12:33AM
Hi, i have my brothers hd box, he lived in wales, so bbc wales and all the welsh channels are the main channels on the box, i am in central london, for the life of me i cannot retune the box to recieve london reginol channels, i have tried everything, my 101 chan is bbc wales, 102 bbc2 wales, etc, please advise how to reset to factory settings or retune the box, i have done the 0-0-1 retune but still cant get the london region as the main channels
thank you
michaeljb38Friday 26 August 2011 7:56AM
Michael: "If" you are referring to a Satellite Freesat box then you have to carry out a factory reset and enter your post code, as this instructs the box to store the signal info appropriate to your area.
Although I doubt if this is what you are meaning, but if its a Sky box complete with viewing card then the card cannot be used, as the region info on the card cannot be altered by anyone other than Sky, although using it without the card usually gives the London region as default.
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