Good Astra signal but no picture or sound

[pumasong]

Hi all,

We moved into a house about a year ago and I've never managed to get the Freesat working, I assumed there was something wrong with the LNB so didn't do much about it. Today I went out and used my signal meter and re-aligned the dish (it was roughly right but managed to improve things a little), but when testing on the TV and retuning the channels, I still get nothing. I've confirmed the direction it's pointing (28 deg E) and get a good signal on the meter when testing.

The signal strength/quality reader on the TV shows 10/10 for quality and about 8-9/10 for strength, so I can't see what could be wrong. It also managed to download the EPG data as it shows the TV programme names and times on the screen.



Any info very much welcomed, we're looking at replacing the TV and I'm trying to work out whether it's worth getting another one with Freesat!

Cheers

George

 

[Mickha]

How have you confirmed that your satellite dish is pointing at Astra 2, 28.2E?
Can you please post the make/model, of your television, and if possible pictures of your dish, and especially the LNB.

 

[ozumo]

Your profile mentions a Sky Dual LNB. This sounds like a Sky Q LNB which isn't compatible with Panasonic televisions. A photo of the LNB will confirm. If it is a Sky Q LNB you'll need to change it for a mk4 Sky Quad LNB.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Carry out a blind search if you can, some channels (mainly minority ones) will come in if the dish is fitted for SkyQ reception.

Really is a cooking channel on FreeSat (Ch 160) so it is pointing to 28East

 

[Channel Hopper]

Ah, 'female lifestyle programming'.

Perhaps not cooking then

Really (TV channel) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[pumasong]

Thanks, the TV is a TX-L37G10B, can't get a snap of the LNB right now, however it has a sliding cover that comes down vertically over the connectors. The two connectors are olin line with the arm of the dish. Looking at the pictures online it does look like a Sky Q dual (twin?) LNB, how long have they been in use as it looks like it's been there for a while?

With reference to replacement, does it have to be a Sky quad or are there alternatives that would fit?

 

[ozumo]

Sky Q came out in 2016 so can't be any older than that. An LNB like this would be ideal:

Visiblewave 4K Quad LNB 4 Output HD for SKY HD / Freesat HD with Bracket: Amazon.co.uk: Audio & HiFi

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Visiblewave 4K Quad LNB 4 Output HD for SKY HD / Freesat HD with Bracket at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

You can use a 'universal' 40mm twin or quad LNB but would require an adapter and be less optimised for the Sky minidish.

 

[jeallen01]

Having done a bit of "investigation":
- the LNB has "been there for a while", and thus unlikely to be the later wideband version
- the TV dates from around 2009'ish, so the sat tuner wouldn't work properly with a wideband LNB
- strong SS/SQ levels indicate that the dish is pointed at "some" satellite or other.
- currently, the "magnetic variation" (= difference between "magnetic North" & "true North") is pretty much "zero" degrees" and thus the OP's guess that the dish is likely to be pointed in "the right direction" (i.e. Astra 2 at 28E = "SKY/Freesat UK) may well be correct??

Current "conclusion" = I suspect a faulty LNB is the cause of the issue - but someone is bound to tell me that I am wrong on that.

 

[ozumo]

Did Sky ever install twin LNBs before Sky Q came out?

11344Mhz with a universal LNB has the same IF as 12004Mhz with a Sky Q LNB. The closest transponder to that is 12012V 27500 which I suspect is what the television is locking on to.

If it is a Sky Q LNB I'd expect if pumasong connects the other cable to the TV then the 'signal condition' for Really would show zero for signal quality.

 

[Lazarus]

Yes, back in the dark ages, IIRC.