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SkyHD Thomson box - picture freezing/Pixilation

  • 26-04-2009 04:33PM
    #1
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,142 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I have 2 Sky HD Thomson boxes circa 2 years old. Both have picture freezing/pixilation 3-4 times a week and it occurs intermittantly every 2-3 minutes.

    Does this happen to anyone else? We pay Sky €113 a month for the Service we have - world package, HD and multiroom.

    Should Sky replace the boxes free of charge or is there any other way of fixing the problem? At the time I paid €449 each for the boxes when they first came out. I've tried the new installation, Sky+ rebuild, and system reset from the installer menu to no avail.

    What is causing the problem?

    Thanks...


Comments

  • #2
    kbell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,248 ✭✭✭kbell


    Sounds like you may need your dish checked.

    You own the boxes and they are out of warranty so no sky wont replace them free of charge


  • #3
    John mac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,159 ✭✭✭John mac


    notahappycamper wrote: »
    Hi,

    I have 2 Sky HD Thomson boxes circa 2 years old. Both have picture freezing/pixilation 3-4 times a week and it occurs intermittantly every 2-3 minutes.

    Does this happen to anyone else? We pay Sky €113 a month for the Service we have - world package, HD and multiroom.

    Should Sky replace the boxes free of charge or is there any other way of fixing the problem? At the time I paid €449 each for the boxes when they first came out. I've tried the new installation, Sky+ rebuild, and system reset from the installer menu to no avail.

    What is causing the problem?

    Thanks...

    Sounds like the power supply problem..
    have a look at the replacement power supplys on satcure.
    i can highly reccomend them as i got mine replaced (total cost was €45 ish)
    link
    its about half way down


    they will send a replacement board all you need to do is send back your old one.


  • #4
    Sam Radford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 474 ✭✭Sam Radford


    John mac wrote: »
    they will send a replacement board all you need to do is send back your old one.
    It doesn't work that way. You have to send your PSU first. It's all explained here:
    http://notonyourtelly.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1390


  • #5
    John mac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,159 ✭✭✭John mac


    Sam Radford wrote: »
    It doesn't work that way. You have to send your PSU first. It's all explained here:
    http://notonyourtelly.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1390

    didn't realise people couldn't be arsed not sending them back. :eek:
    I sent mine back. great service .
    Thanks Sam for pointing that out.(just voted)


  • #6
    Sam Radford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 474 ✭✭Sam Radford


    You might be interested in all the Digitalspy discussions on the subject:-
    Solution to picture blocking on HD box
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=727185
    Thomson Refurb lasted 2 Days
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1016893
    Thomson Version and the Capacitor Issues
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1021843
    Thomson wouldn't come out of standby
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1019071
    Sky HD Box Faults - Found My Solution
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1021660


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  • #7
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,142 ✭✭✭notahappycamper


    Thanks guys for the replies.

    I unplugged all the cables that are going into the box tonight and it's seemed to have worked - for the time being.

    It doesn't happen all the time and I'm wondering could it be caused by static electricity?

    I'm just wondering why does it seem to come and go?


  • #8
    fat-tony
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭fat-tony


    Does this problem happen on all channels or just specific ones? I, too, have had a problem with a Thomson box PSU and got an exchange unit through Satcure. I never had the symptoms you described, though. It seems to affect different units in different ways.
    Do you have wireless broadband or a DECT (digital) phone in the house? Or could your neighbour have one. Depending on the state of the cabling from the dish to the box and the proximity of the wireless router, DECT phone or base station, you can have instances where channels will pixellate or drop out entirely. This usually affects only certain channels - one poster here had a problem with kids tv (Pop , Tiny Pop) which was the only transponder affected. This transponder (group of channels) also contains Flava, Scuzz, True Movies plus other music channels.
    The likelly problem, though, is the PSU starting to go "belly up". If you open the box, you may see evidence of this as the capacitors start to swell. Again, though, my experience of this was different in that the components looked fine when I checked them in October, but by Christmas the PSU failed completely and overheated significantly. SKY showed a remarkable lack of interest in resolving this issue for me without spending €100 on a service call, so I sorted the problem myself with a €45 PSU replacement, then cancelled my HD and multi-room subscriptions, got a Freesat HD PVR and haven't looked back:D


  • #9
    Sam Radford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 474 ✭✭Sam Radford


    notahappycamper wrote: »
    I'm wondering could it be caused by static electricity?

    No, but if you want to prove it, take a plastic 12" rule, hold it near the Digibox, and rub it vigourously with your nylon tights. ;)


  • #10
    garybrighton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭garybrighton


    i have read a few people exeriencing picture problems on skyhd boxes as i have had this on my system but only did it on certain channels and were more efffected in the evening as i was pretty annoyed myself and i called out an sky engineer who only falsed an update on my box but didnt cure the problem
    until i found something very useful and done it too my box and picture has been fine ever since

    if you go to services on your sky remote control and selected system set up then select system test
    and look at both lnb signals and see which one is the strongest
    if lnb 2 is the strongest then you need to change the lnb wires around but make sure you disconnect the box from the mains first otherwise you will screw up the box and carefully unscrew the lnb cables and swop them over you probaly find your picture will now be more stable

    as this has def worked for me

    also if your using a extention lead of a power serged extention its wise that you use your skyhd box for the wall mains as i do belive the power is not only operating you box its operating your satelite dish as well


  • #11
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    We have two Sky HD boxes,one is a 3 years old Thomson and had an upgraded psu fitted about 15months ago. The 2nd box is a 6 month old Thomson.For the past week,both boxes are suffering from 2/3 min picture breakup( a rapid interference) on any channel we look at.I've gone on to the roof and had a look at the sat.dish and lnb but they look o.k. This had a new lnb replacement only 6 months ago. I experienced the same problem about 5 months ago and it vanished until now.Time for a call out?


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  • #12
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    Problem disappeared last night only to reappear today.:mad:...no trees in the way or birds on lnb arm.How is the original poster getting on?


  • #13
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,142 ✭✭✭notahappycamper


    BrianPK wrote: »
    Problem disappeared last night only to reappear today.:mad:...no trees in the way or birds on lnb arm.How is the original poster getting on?

    I unplugged all the cables from the downstairs box left it completely disconnected for 5mins then re-connected.

    The pixialation hasn't happened since on the downstairs box (fingers crossed) but it's happening again on the box upstairs after doing the exact same thing!

    I'd love to know what the definitive problem is.


  • #14
    recycler1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 113 ✭✭recycler1


    notahappycamper wrote: »
    Hi,

    I have 2 Sky HD Thomson boxes circa 2 years old. Both have picture freezing/pixilation 3-4 times a week and it occurs intermittantly every 2-3 minutes.

    Does this happen to anyone else? We pay Sky €113 a month for the Service we have - world package, HD and multiroom.

    Should Sky replace the boxes free of charge or is there any other way of fixing the problem? At the time I paid €449 each for the boxes when they first came out. I've tried the new installation, Sky+ rebuild, and system reset from the installer menu to no avail.

    What is causing the problem?

    Thanks...

    I would rule out a dish problem, before I did anything else.
    Sky dishes can rust, get out of alignment and cables can get damaged or water can get in. LNB's on the dish can also fail.

    I would suggest looking at your signal strength when everything is OK.
    (Settings, signal strength.)
    Keep a note of these and then check again when you're getting pixellation.
    If the strength has dropped its likely that the dish installation is your problem.
    (On a clear day the strength bar should be about 70%+, on each LNB, if the installation is OK.)

    Failing that, I'd ring SKY to cancel. I'd be amazed if they didn't do anything for you. (I've got substantial discounts, twice, when I went to cancel premium channels.)


  • #15
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    I've checked my signals on a no of occasions and they're normally about +50 but I've seen one actually down at 20% and actually disappear.Overall I would say that they do fluctuate a lot.My LNB is less than a year old.:(


  • #16
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    BrianPK wrote: »
    We have two Sky HD boxes,one is a 3 years old Thomson and had an upgraded psu fitted about 15months ago. The 2nd box is a 6 month old Thomson.For the past week,both boxes are suffering from 2/3 min picture breakup( a rapid interference) on any channel we look at.I've gone on to the roof and had a look at the sat.dish and lnb but they look o.k. This had a new lnb replacement only 6 months ago. I experienced the same problem about 5 months ago and it vanished until now.Time for a call out?

    Problem continues(momentary picture breakup varying from every 7/8 mins when it's bad to 15/20 min normaly) Newer box seems to have settled down but old box is the main problem.Finally had enough today and got on to Sky(got through to Cork support).I went directly to cancellations and in a stiff but polite tone told them that I wanted to cancel as I was not prepared to put up with the reception as I was paying too much money(€113 pm) etc.Pleasant young man informed me that as 2nd box was still in guarantee call out would be free and whole system checked out and old box replaced with a reconditioned one if necessary also free of charge.Call out on Thursday:D
    NB Thanks recycler1


  • #17
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    When Sky technician arrived, he showed me his metre reading which showed a signal strength of 50% and decided to adjust sat. dish.After adjustment his metre showed 90%. Also some of the signal strength bars on my two boxes shot up to 100%..the rest at 70 to 90%......never seen this before. Shortly after technician left problem back again on old box but newer box ok.Back on to Sky next day and another technician called and agreed with me that the old box must be faulty and gave me a reconditioned one instead and told me not to hesitate to call again if problem persisted. Problem back again but only very rarely... average of once a day for a min or two. Started to think that cable from lnb down needs replacing....and then I remembered that I had added a few metres of cable to the original sat. cable to stretch to other side of room where I had moved my new tv before Christmas.I thought I had made the joinings quite professionally and they look perfect after again checking them .I also had no problem with the signal until a month ago or at least I was'nt conscious of it but I wonder could this be the cause of the very occasional momentary picture breakup or interference which to be honest is very marginal now compared to the way it was?


  • #18
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    Finally found the cause of my momentary picture breakup/glitches......the bloody lnb which was only replaced approx 7to 8 months ago was the cause.I had the old Thomson replaced by the Sky for a recon.Samsung and despite seeing almost 100% signal and quality strength in both boxes the glitches continued.The engineers started to blame interference from some neighbours equipment or other but eventually decided to replace the lnb with a new octo lnb.I've had no problems in the past 10 days.Engineers seemed to think(actually convinced) that as signal looked too strong and constant the lnb couldn't be the problem but there you go.Problem ceased immediately(after months of tormentation)with replaced lnb.There's a lesson there somewhere......


  • #19
    VERYinterested
    Closed Accounts Posts: 923 ✭✭✭VERYinterested


    Glad you got it sorted, I'm about to become a HD customer shortly. I am hoping I get a Pace receiver as Samsung doesn't get the new EPG and I'm not mad on Amstrads.


  • #20
    BrianPK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭BrianPK


    Thanks!I wouldn't be over-enthusiastic about the new epg as I found it a bit slow and cranky at times with Thomson boxes.Possibly better with Pace.I would have much preferred if they had upgraded current epg. You do,of course ,get ITV HD with the new epg, and in fairness most people like it.I'm, very enthusiastic about Samsung box and a lot of people think it gives the best picture quality...at least better than Thomson and Amstrad for SD picture. You will love HD as imo it gives a far superior picture than SD.


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