Sky+HD box won't record 2 programmes

aloiseb

Since the last few days, our Sky box will only record a programme if the channel you are watching (or were last watching) is the right channel. THis happened before Xmas and we assumed it was the SKy box, and procured a new one. For the last 2 months it's been fine, now it's doing it again. The next step (last time) was for it to not pick up any channels at all, if you tried to switch channel, unless you restarted the box which is v tedious.
THe sky help line said we can call you an engineer for £120+..... which sum we do not own......
Is it likely to be the satellite, as the new box doesn't in the long run seem to have made any difference? if
so I will have to do the callout I guess.

Neil_Br

It's your dish/lnb/cables. I would have thought a local dish bloke could come round and look at it for less.

kwikbreaks

I'd start by carefully checking the antenna connectors to the box. F connectors are not that good mechanically and it is possible that the coax has pulled back a little and isn't connecting.

There should be a signal quality display somewhere in the settings which will show if you are losing one of the connections for some reason. I have never had Sky so can't say exactly where but I do have Freesat and when I changed the box I had exactly the issue I described which leads to only being able to record what you are watching.

If it turns out one signal is being lost it could be an issue with the LNB (on the dish), connection to it, cable, or connection to the box.

I can't see where restarting the box fits into this though unless the software had a glitch with an intermittent signal.

chrisw

The symptoms you describe are exactly those of one of the inputs not working. It's unlikely you've had two boxes with the same internal fault, The problem therefore probably lies with the cable and/or dish.

As above, check any connections that you can get to, otherwise you'll need to get hold of a local installer.

almillar

What they say ^
You can start your diagnosis without leaving your sofa. Press services on your sky remote, then 4, then 6 to show the signal of the two inputs. Is one poor or non-existant? That's your problem.
Check here for more info
http://www.faqtory.co/sky/sky-tv-box-poor-signal-quality-check/
If one input is down, you need to do as advised above and check the connections and wiring from the back of your Sky box right up to the dish, and check the alignment of the dish and LNB.
You don't need Sky do do this - any local aerial/satellite people can do it, and it'll cost less than £120. Alternatively, tell Sky, quite honestly, that you don't have £120, and you want to leave, and they might bend a little...

aloiseb

I had a look at the connections at the back of the box, and one was looking really loose, so I tightened it up and lo and behold! it worked.

Many thanks for helping me!:beer: