sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

My sky box works (though breaking up) on ITV 1 for a while and then a message comes up saying that I should plug out and plug back in in 5 minutes which doesn´t work when I do as instructed, :unsure: the ITV1 + 1 channel comes in perfectly. Any ideas?

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Ours does the same when there is bad weather about!

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

This isn´t weather related. I´m well used to the ´ telly´ acting up when the weather´s bad. This is something different. I think it might be that the ´bloody´dish on the roof has shifted but I don´t want to go there cos´there are a number of dishes on the roof of the block and I´m not entirely sure which is mine and I don´t want to have to deal with some ´sky installation´bloke......know what I mean? (in the most respectful terms)!

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Your ITV1 is not getting enough signal for the digibox to make a picture - hence the message that is says "no signal, reboot".

There are around 15 ITV1 regions and about 6 ITV1+1 regions.
These are spread over about 4 or 5 different frequencies, some of which are very weak, and some (that require a sky card) are very strong.
So, you can be allocated a very weak ITV1 region on 103, but a strong ITV1+1 on 131.

For example, my ITV1 on 103 is ITV1 West (Bristol), and even on my 1.8m dish this region goes off at about 6pm. But my ITV1+1 on 131 I can receive 24/7 even in my 80cm dish.

So which ITV1 regions on 103 you are allocated depends on where your SKy card is registered in the UK, and so you may be allocated a "weak" ITV1 or a "strong" ITV1.

(Although I say weak, it does depend where in Spain you are, what size dish you are using, and which of the many ITV1 regions you are having issue with - information that is crucial yet missing from your post!)

You can add "stronger" ITV1 regions to your "services / other channels" list, by manually adding them. Strong Sky card regions are on frequencies 12402 and 11973. This will not put these ITv1 region on 103, you need to move the address of your sky card for that, but puts them on the services other channels list.
(see Extra ITV1 regions for ya Sky box for reception in Spain for more information)


If your ITV1 you were using was working well before hand, and it has only now started to act up, then there will be an issue with your dish. Either the dish has moved (it only needs to move a few mms for reception to drop out), LNB issues (most LNBs only lst for about 3-4 years), spiders inside the LNB (they block the signal), or cable problems (bad connections, or cracked cables letting water in). Some of these issue might have to be resolved by "some ´sky installation´bloke".

Hope this helps.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Hi Dairymaid,

It looks as though your dish has moved a little in the last batch of high winds, Should you live in Andalucia a 1.3m dish is required,

If it worked before then you need to have the dish looked at, Or add another transponder as suggested before, Or use channel 993. if you can.

Kindest regards, Carl.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

I live in Andalucia and anything less than 1.4m and I would really struggle I would say 1.8m would be better.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

That may be the case where you live but on the CDS 1.3m is the norm. We get all the 2D channels 24/7.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Hi John and Kath.

I have worked all over andalucia and a 1.3m works everywhere, Perfectly. but saying that the bigger the dish the better the signal.

A 1.8m on the CDS is over kill! But if you can afford one get one. No more problems in the rain.

Kindest regards,

Carl.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

As usual I agree completely with you Fred I was just trying to emphasise how big Andalucia is. There are some areas that need a 2.4m dish we are just lucky there is a strange bend on the signal strengths map just around Ayamonte that reduces the size required but it is very location specific.

PS I've read it might be OSCILATING in our direction but who knows?

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Thanks for all your replies. I´m pretty sure that it´s the dish or dish related so I´ll have to get a technician out.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Hi Guy

I am also having problems with itv at times, I have changed the lnb and really its not much better, lthough at first I thought it was. The signal strength is on 85 and quality on 60, then goes to 0 if it goes off, normally better on hd channel on hd tv but still can go off on that, do you think we may need a new dish, it has taken some welly over the years with the high winds, or do you think we should be able to get the quality higher than 60 %.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Which of the many ITV1 regions are you having problems with?
As explained before, some ITV1 regions are very weak, some strong, and some that require a sky card work all the time.
Same with ITV1 HD, some are strong, some are weak.
What receiver are you measuring the signal strength and quality on? Dont use the Sky box test screen, as that is only a screen that test 1 frequency out of the 90plus available. aNd the signal on that screen varies during the day (its weakest at 5pm).
And what size dish do you have, and where are you?
Sometime it just needs a small tweak of realignment. Even a small movement can disrupt signals. ANd winds can warp the dishes. Many dishes i have been out to fix have been warped, bent in the wind or during installation!

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Hi Thanks for the reply, we are ITV granda in Manchester area, my signal strength is off my humax box, and is showing the strength 60 and 85 quality I am in Adra on the border of Almeria and granada costa, my dish is 1.3

Thanks.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

ITV1 Granada is one of the strongest "free to air / non sky card" versions of ITV1.

You may find that sized dish was operating on the edge of its reception in the first place. Any issues with the signal (like increase humidity, increase cloud cover, and even the age of the satellte (meaing its not transmitting at 100%)), and you will notice a drop in performance.

Even then a small misalignment, and the signal drops. Same as those dishes can bend (have seen a few warped due to wind), and the bars holding the LNB in place can fail also (epsecially if by the sea) so the LNB is not pointin in the optimum area of the dish.

Also LNB technology has improved a lot in recent years. YOu may find upgrading to an Inverto Ultra Black may help, others in your are have had success with this.

You could always try ITV1 Channel Island (10905 v 22 5/6), which I find in my are to be sligthly better reception than Granadaland. Either reset you box and put in a CI postcode, or pop you box into non freesat mode and do a full scan.

In fact ITV1 HD Granadaland is on an even better frequencies than ITV1 Granadaland or CI...

This is one of the issues where Freesat boxes fails, which is why in my area I just do not recommend them. A Sky HD box with a freesatfromsky card can get ITV1HD, ITV, C4 and Five fiver and 10 or so other channels on an 80cm dish!

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Hi,

Can anyone tell me on what freq we can get Channel 5 on Sky?

Regards

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Channel 5 is sky channel 105 on sky boxes.
but there is a "free to air" version - that does not require a sky card, and a "free to view" version that does require a sky card.

and which one you get allocated on 105 depends on where your sky card is registered inthe UK.

So you may be allocated the weak (in most areas of Spain) free to air "freesat" version. In which case scan frequency 12422, h, 27.5 2/3, and you can add the other "sky card" versions of Five to your "other channels" list, which are very strong and can be receive over most of Spain even on a Sky minidish!

The only way to get a weak "free to air" version of Five replaced with Skyc ard version of Five on 105 is to change the address of the sky card

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Thanks for the help, I did all of the stuff, but it still says insert your sky card. no worries, thanks any case.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

well try
10773 h 22 5/6
thats the "free to air" freesat version of Five that does not requrie a sky card.
You will only be able to receive it if you can receive BBC2 England - they are on the same frequency.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Thanks, I can get it now. Thanks for all the help.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Just thought I'd update you on the original problem. (ITV not working on Skybox but ITV + 1 fine).

I bought a new freesat box - plugged it in and everything is perfect! Don't understand why but freesat works better than sky.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Comparison will really depends if both boxes are using the same ITV1 regions...

My 103 on Sky box is ITV1 West (Bristol)...it is not available at night...but ITV1+1 and ITV1HD are fine..
and this also applies to the Freesat boxes with the bristol postcode...
nothing apart from either moving north or a way bigger dish will get me ITV1 West (Bristol) at night.

and this is the thing...there are ITV1 regions spread over like 6 different frequencies...some really strong, some just strong and some really weak. So your freesat box may be getting ITV1 as it is using a different ITV1 region on 103.

If your problem was a dish alignment problem then the ITV1 region you were having problems with on your sky box would still be causing problems on the Freesat box.

But thanks for the update anyway.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

... on a similar topic, we have a Sky box with a free sat card but can't get anything on channel 103. It shows as Yorkshire (where the card is registered) but no channel.

I also read somewhere that free sat cards don't need to be paired to a box, is this correct?

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

As I understand it, a Freesat box has the advantage as you can change the default ITV region just by entering a different postcode on setup. Sky boxes cannot do this as the region you get depends on the address registered with Sky.

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

All Sky cards will work in ANY sky box for th e free to view chanenls, and the "6 genre mix" channels.
The cards only need to be paired for Sky Sports and Sky Movies, ESPN and for Sky+ and skyhd+ recording functions.

Of course it does depend which Yorkshire you are registered to.
Yorkshire West is a very weak signal.
Yorkshire East is very stong...but needs a workign Sky card...(its on freq 12402 if you want to add it to your t'other channels list)
Yorkshire West is free to air and dont need a sky card...its just its a very weak horizontal signal...worse than C4 on 104!

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

But you can add all the ITV1 regions to the sky box anyway - adding them to your services other channel list...

And you can add the other ITV1 regions to your nonfreeshat channel list.

Postcode and sky card just determine what regions you are allocated on 101,102,103,104 and 105. If you dont want that region, just add the desired region tot he other channels / nonfreesat mode lists.

In my area, there is no one postcode that can be used to get good strong signals on 101, 102,103,104, 105 on a SD freesat box.
HD is different...just use a Manchester postcode, and use BCB1HD, BBChD, ITV1HD Granada andC 4HD...all better / stronger than their SD counterparts on 101, 102,103,104

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Yes I know that but my point is that it is easy on the Freesat boxes and more complicated on the Sky boxes.

Some people just cannot cope with adding channels on the Sky boxes as I am sure you have found!

Re: sky itv /itv + 1 problem
 

Yet some people have trouble putting in a postcode into a freesat box also!
I have had a number of calls saying it will not accept my postcode....as they have been trying their Spanish postcode instead!!!