Sky tv link magic eye help needed.

justaquestion

Hi folks,

I have an old basic sky box years old, no sky sub, and don't want one.

I am able to distribute the signal and change the channels in three other rooms in house, using the magic eye setup and has worked fine up to recently, now an intermittent problem where I can't change the sky channels in other rooms, but then becomes ok again.

Getting the freeview signal as well though the cabling.

So trying to troubleshoot, what is happening here, One thing I notice is if I switch off the RF2 in the sky box and save, sometimes the magic eye still works in other rooms to change the sky channels, so have a feeling it might be the box as I don't think the magic eye should work if RF2 is switched off.

I do switch sky box off every night, don't know if there is any other way to reset the software on an old sky box.

Any advice appreciated.

Neil_Jones

You should be able to do a software update as follows:

Unplug the box, hold down the Backup button (on the box), and then reconnect the power while holding the button down. When all the lights come on you can release the button. The screen should say its updating, it takes about 10 minutes and then when everything goes off, it is done.

You should really avoid switching the Sky box off at night, they are designed to be left on in standby mode.

Dandytf

What is being used to distribute sky across three rooms.
I.e. one t.v. Link and what?

justaquestion

Dandytf wrote: »

What is being used to distribute sky across three rooms.
I.e. one t.v. Link and what?

Thanks, magic eye in each room and four output distribution box from Maplin in loft.

Biggus_Dickus

justaquestion wrote: »

Hi folks,

I have an old basic sky box years old, no sky sub, and don't want one.

I am able to distribute the signal and change the channels in three other rooms in house, using the magic eye setup and has worked fine up to recently, now an intermittent problem where I can't change the sky channels in other rooms, but then becomes ok again.

Getting the freeview signal as well though the cabling.

So trying to troubleshoot, what is happening here, One thing I notice is if I switch off the RF2 in the sky box and save, sometimes the magic eye still works in other rooms to change the sky channels, so have a feeling it might be the box as I don't think the magic eye should work if RF2 is switched off.

I do switch sky box off every night, don't know if there is any other way to reset the software on an old sky box.

Any advice appreciated.

Several possible causes:

Check the ‘RF out' co-ax cable connection at the back of the Sky box;...make sure it hasn’t worked loose and check that the co-ax plug itself is tight/secure on the cable.

Check the 'R/F in' co-ax connection to the Maplin distribution box in your attic;...has the Maplin box been moved or disturbed recently?

Perhaps it’s the Maplin box itself,....how is the Maplin box powered?...does it have its own power supply?... perhaps the power supply is intermittently failing? ... or does it use the +9v from the Sky box ‘r/f out’ to power itself?

Most magic eyes have a power indicator that glows ‘red’ when it is connected properly. It indicates that the magic eye is receiving +9v from the sky-box;...check that the red led’s are all ‘on’ when things start playing up.

Carefully check all co-ax connections at the back of each TV;...an intermittent short between the co-ax cable core and the earth sheathing can cause the problems you describe. It only takes one tiny strand of wire from the earth sheathing to cause problems if it is intermittently touching (or very near!) the co-ax core,... and that will affect ALL the magic eyes. That same check also applies to the output co-ax connections from your attic Maplin box and the co-ax connection at the back of your Sky box,...and any other co-ax connections that may exist anywhere else on the +9v r/f distribution system

It may be the Sky box itself playing up but I reckon that is the least likely cause;...check all cabling first!

Intermittent problems as you describe can sometimes be very difficult to pin down,...good luck .

Biggus_Dickus

OP,
As an addendum to my last post:

If you discover that your Maplin distribution box is causing the problem I can recommend one of these as a replacement:

“4-way Distribution Amp”

This ‘1-in 4-out’ distribution amp doesn’t need any external power supply;...it uses the +9v power from the Sky box ‘r/f out’;... It also uses ‘F-plug’ connectors rather than co-ax plugs,... but they are easy/cheap to change.

I have one of these Labgear amps and it runs 4 TV’s and 4 magic eyes perfectly.

Dandytf

Also does the intermittent failed channel changes happen in each room with each t.v. Link.
You could tyreby checking basics such as one t.v. Link at a time and batteries could be a problem especially intermittent nature.
The batteries and remote thing are these remotes programmed for t.v. Volume and possibly standby function -can you still control these t.v. Functions when you cannot control sky channel changes.

almillar

If you're chasing the distro box - I've got 2 TVs with Magic Eye connected to my Sky box - I had to buy a 'Magic Eye' compatible box to make this work. My problem was that it didn't work at all though, not intermittent.

justaquestion

Thanks for all replies, sorry I couldn't reply sooner as was away for a few days.

Well I did pick up an old basic sky box for a £10 but still getting problems and trying to pin them down as to what may be causing it. SO sky box is ruled out.

on a slightly different note, I do have to get someone in to replace cable from aerial as water has been getting into it for a few years now, should have replaced sooner I know but not now the freeview signal is really breaking up on a few channels.

Back to the sky problems, a few possibilities, might be the cable, as a few months ago, a mouse got in and ate through a few plastic water pipes in loft, and would have had to pass Rf2 output cable from sky box to get to water pipes, but in a sense I doubt this, as a lot of the time the magic eyes works ok.

I am thinking of trying this box,

https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-ldl204r-4-way-distribution-amplifier/2407x#

I do like the idea of no mains supply distribution amplifier, the one that was mentioned in a previous post (as I usually like to even switch off the distribution amplifier every night as its is powered from plug in bedroom) but a bit concerned that if it might not get enough power from the sky box.

All the lights in the magic eyes are lit up red.

Thank so much for all the good suggestions, have to get it sorted out.

Biggus_Dickus

justaquestion wrote: »

Thanks for all replies, sorry I couldn't reply sooner as was away for a few days.

Well I did pick up an old basic sky box for a £10 but still getting problems and trying to pin them down as to what may be causing it. SO sky box is ruled out.

on a slightly different note, I do have to get someone in to replace cable from aerial as water has been getting into it for a few years now, should have replaced sooner I know but not now the freeview signal is really breaking up on a few channels.

Back to the sky problems, a few possibilities, might be the cable, as a few months ago, a mouse got in and ate through a few plastic water pipes in loft, and would have had to pass Rf2 output cable from sky box to get to water pipes, but in a sense I doubt this, as a lot of the time the magic eyes works ok.

I am thinking of trying this box,

https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-ldl204r-4-way-distribution-amplifier/2407x#

I do like the idea of no mains supply distribution amplifier, the one that was mentioned in a previous post (as I usually like to even switch off the distribution amplifier every night as its is powered from plug in bedroom) but a bit concerned that if it might not get enough power from the sky box.

All the lights in the magic eyes are lit up red.

Thank so much for all the good suggestions, have to get it sorted out.

If your distribution amp is a bit old it could be a failing power supply that is causing your intermittent problems. I’ve certainly had that problem myself in the past.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the Sky box +9v R/f out being able to supply the Labgear distribution amp,...as I said in post #6 I use one of those amps with 4-TVs and 4-magic eyes on very long cable runs to each TV (the amp is in my attic) and it works flawlessly. Your cabling needs to be in decent condition though!

justaquestion

Biggus_Dickus wrote: »

If your distribution amp is a bit old it could be a failing power supply that is causing your intermittent problems. I’ve certainly had that problem myself in the past.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the Sky box +9v R/f out being able to supply the Labgear distribution amp,...as I said in post #6 I use one of those amps with 4-TVs and 4-magic eyes on very long cable runs to each TV (the amp is in my attic) and it works flawlessly. Your cabling needs to be in decent condition though!

Thanks a lot Biggus, I am having another look at that amplier again and as I also use the rf2 to carry the freeview singals as well this caught my eye from the downloadable manual on the screwfix site,

"The LDL compact amplifiers are also suitable for digital TV signal distribution Ch21-60 with the addition of a separate DC power supply. If you are affected by 4G interference in your area you may need a Ch60 filter (currently available from at800 free of charge).

So a little confused if I need a dc power supply or not, do they mean a battery or what?

Thanks again.