Advice Needed Faulty LNB or misinformed by engineer without inspection.

[Gerald Manley]

I have lost the signal from my sky dish to my Humax box. The dish is about 17 years old. About 8 years ago I had a new twin LNB fitted. An engineer came out today and told me I would have to have a new dish fitted as LNB's were no longer made for my dish. He wanted £249.00 to do the job. He did not even go to the satellite dish to check if the cabling etc was O.K. Diagnosis was made from the ground with only a part of the dish visible. I have the feeling I am being stitched up. Any kind engineer who would confirm or deny this would be much appreciated. I am an OAP and think that a diagnosis from the ground is a bit iffy. Thanks

 

[ozumo]

If it's an early mk1 Sky Digital dish then it's true that the LNBs that fit it directly are no longer made. If it's a mk2 Sky dish then adapters are available. A new dish and LNB can be bought for around £35, so he's charging a lot in labour for what is a simple job. A photo of the dish will help us to identify it.

Does the Humax have meters showing signal strength and quality? It would be helpful to know the model number of the Humax box.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Since it is a twin LNB try swopping over the two cables into the box first.

Without going up to the dish and checking. the system might have failed becuase of alignment (or something obscuring the satellite), the LNB, connectors, or cable run. Even a pair of good binoculars won't assist unless you spot something severed.

You may also have a faulty Humax, but only a signal check or second receiver will prove it. What make/model of television do you have ?

 

[rolfw]

It could well be the LNB, but could be an obstruction or dish misalignment, whatever the issue, £249 is a lot of money, even for a complete new dish and LNB, even if it's difficult to get to. There are as previously mentioned, adapters for Mk2 dishes, but the adapters for the early thin boom dishes are few and far between, I used my last one a year or so ago, whereabouts are you?

 

[Lazarus]

It could well be the LNB, but could be an obstruction or dish misalignment, whatever the issue, £249 is a lot of money, even for a complete new dish and LNB, even if it's difficult to get to. There are as previously mentioned, adapters for Mk2 dishes, but the adapters for the Mk1 dishes are few and far between, I used my last one a year or so ago, whereabouts are you?

....... Wilmslow ......

 

[Gerald Manley]

If it's an early mk1 Sky Digital dish then it's true that the LNBs that fit it directly are no longer made. If it's a mk2 Sky dish then adapters are available. A new dish and LNB can be bought for around £35, so he's charging a lot in labour for what is a simple job. A photo of the dish will help us to identify it.

Does the Humax have meters showing signal strength and quality? It would be helpful to know the model number of the Humax box.

Thank you for your help. The Humax box suddenly came on last night with a good and clear signal. No reason. The dish is mounted on a chimney on a dormer bungalow.

 

[Lazarus]

Thank you for your help. The Humax box suddenly came on last night with a good and clear signal. No reason. The dish is mounted on a chimney on a dormer bungalow.

Perhaps the F connector on the cable(s) from the dish is a little loose where it mates with the Humax?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thank you for your help. The Humax box suddenly came on last night with a good and clear signal. No reason. The dish is mounted on a chimney on a dormer bungalow.

If it is perched on a bungalow dormer then the 'installer' is only after some easy money.