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Thread: Signal booster

  1. #1
    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Signal booster

    Hey,

    So I have Sky + HD in both rooms and both have been working fine since getting a new Octo LNB (Got points in other rooms for other solutions).
    However last week when we have the freezing cold snap, one of my boxes is playing up. The signals on the inputs fluctuates between good and nothing.

    The dish is aligned correctly as the other points all work fine, it is just in one room. This makes me think that something is happening in the wall plate, which I will take a look at, or possibly a loose connection on the LNB although that seems unlikely.
    I am losing channels like History HD and some of the movies. They work during the day but at night, even when clear, I get a no signal is received message.

    I wonder if a booster would help. Has anyone used one before? Had success? Would I need a dual one or should I try a single one?

    I don't want to shell out for one if not required. I have done some googling but wanted DF members to tell me their experiences.

    Thanks all.

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    DF VIP Member flipper321's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    Are you sure it's not the Sky box itself. Sounds very similar to the behaviour of when a box is on the way out?

  3. #3
    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    It could be. I have tried powering it down and back up again but no joy.
    I found Amazon selling some boosters for a little over £3 each as 'add on items' so I have stuck a couple in my basket along with some powerline adapters I need and will give them a go tomorrow.
    Tonight I will swap the two boxes over and see if I can eliminate the box.

    This is the older of the two Sky + HD boxes I have, if the box is on the way out can the part be replaced inside easily enough or is it more complex than that? I l know they will charge me a call out that's all.

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    DF VIP Member flipper321's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    If it is that it is generally due to capacitor failure on the PSU.

    What box is it? (Manufacturer etc.)

    Thanks to flipper321

    Squizza (26th January 2016)  


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    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    No idea until I get in.
    Did some googling and it looks like it is on the way out.

    I will wait until these boosters arrive, if it fixes it short term that happy days, otherwise it's going to be £65 for a new/refurb box after the call out.

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    DF VIP Member stevo25's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    signal boosters are for long cable runs, a new lnb is a better bet, or as above it could be caps leaking in the box

    Thanks to stevo25

    Squizza (26th January 2016)  


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    DF VIP Member kroner's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    Have you swapped the boxes round to eliminate the lnb being faulty ?

    My money would be the psu though.

    Thanks to kroner

    Squizza (26th January 2016)  


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    DF Admin 4me2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    Check the connections on the Octo. You may have water getting in and freezing in the cold weather. Failing that check for spiders living in the Octo. I had one living in mine a few years back and it destroyed the signal. Sounds crazy I know but it's true.

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    Thanks to 4me2

    Squizza (26th January 2016)  


  9. #9
    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    Going to swap the boxes around tonight. If I get the same from both boxes then it is obviously either the Octo or the box at the wall. Could be some damp has got in..
    The cable runs are pretty long so I think it would only benefit from a signal booster, they were only £4 each so they have not broken the bank.
    The Octo is only about 3 months old and all the other connections are fine.

    Looking in the settings last night, Input 1 had nothing! But the day before input 1 was fine and it was input 2 that fluctuated between a good signal and nothing.
    My money now is on the box.. Providing it is only a call out charge and they replace it then I will be fine with that. I am months away from negotiating a new deal with them so no chance of a new box just yet.

  10. #10
    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    So just logged into my Sky account, it is actually only a couple more months before I can negotiate a new deal again!
    What I also found is that I have 3 boxes on my account, the Sky + HD box they gave me two years ago, the one I got gratis off them last year and the Sky HD box that replaced.

    I thought that they might have turned the standard HD box into a Freesat only box but judging by my account, this is not the case!
    I will try that tonight to replace one of my other solutions upstairs. A nice bonus find (potentially).

    If the HD box works then I can live with the lack of Sky + features on one of the boxes for a couple of months.

  11. #11
    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    Update,

    Swapped the boxes in the house over, exactly the same issue. Then I tried in the other room and again got the same issue...
    At the weekend one of them was working. I am now assuming it is the LNB.

    It is odd, on some channels like BBC HD I get full signal on both feeds. Then when I goto History HD I only get a signal on feed 2 and an error on the screen...
    The majority of channels are working, certainly the ones we watch. But History HD and a couple of movie channels are suffering.

    The Boosters did nothing, I now don't know if I should call sky (Will they replace an octo LNB??) or just buy another LNB and get the guy round who fitted it for me.

    I would do it myself but it is on the Chimney! A professional job for sure.

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    This happend to me a few weeks ago .I bounced up onto the lnb and switched it round worked for me.


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  13. #13
    DF VIP Member Squizza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Signal booster

    It's only £20 for another one. I might even send the old one back to Amazon... Or buy the same as last time and then send it back. It is only about 6 months old.

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