No Satelite Signal Message

[Nick+Way]

Just after a spot of advice really. More and more in recent months whenever its raining or windy most the Sky channels are becoming impossible to watch. BT Sport works fine and maybe 3 or 4 other random channels work fine but you can forget watching anything on Sky Sports as all the channels will be down for hours at a time depending on how long the bad weather lasts. Is this normal behaviour? I'd like to add that our dish is probably over 20 years old now, are you encouraged to replace it after so long or should the age of the dish not really matter? 

[Mark39 · Accepted solution]

It's not uncommon to lose signal in very bad weather - torrential rain, heavy snow, or gale force winds, for example. If you're losing signal in less difficult weather, there's probably an issue with your setup. That might be a slight dish misalignment, or if the LNB on the arm of the dish hasn't been replaced over the 20 years, it's very likely to be failing: they generally have a life of around 5 years before they start to deteriorate.

By way of perspective, I don't remember when my Sky box lost signal because of poor weather, though being in the south east, we probably don't see the worst of the weather.

If you arrange a callout with Sky, they'll check your setup from end to end and will be able to find the source of the problem.

[Nick+Way]

Thanks for the reply. I'm curious as to why some channels would still work fine, even during the worst of the weather? For instance, Comedy Central is bullet proof! I can watch that channel no matter how bad the weather is yet Sky Sports fails if theres even a strong breeze. 

[Mark39]

Different channels are broadcast from different transponders at the satelllite and some can be are more badly affected than offers by a slight dish misalignment or poor reception. Pretty sure all the Sky Sports channels are on the same transponder so it's understandable that they would all be affected in the same way.

[Nick+Way]

OK. Well I know the dish hasn't had any work done to it in the 20 years its been on the roof so likely a first place to start. I'll give Sky a bell. Thanks for the advice. 

[Mark39]

Just to forewarn you - let Sky know upfront that your dish is roof-mounted. Their standard engineers won't go beyond bedroom window level for health and safety reasons. 

[odbsmith]

 I have  had problem with Sky Adventure Hd this evening saying no signal....... but all other channels ok.

[slof]

I replaced my 20yr old dish but this current weather has left me without a signal since Thursday. I am really fed up with Sky and am now considering going to BT ....I cannot s

reach anyone at Sky....missed the football and rugby this weekend....a waste of money. Netfix has kept me sane

[Mark39]

@slof you can book an engineer online here: https://www.sky.com/help/home/sky-tv/sky-tv-plus/sky-plus-watching-sky-tv/sky-plus-live-sky-tv/sky-p...

[scotwestK]

Since sat 8th Feb, have had real problems with Tv, broken screens and no signal error messages. Can't get any Skye Channels and hardly any other channels, some channels come and go, I can get some channels but they are usually the more crappy kind, and the of course the channels I use a lot I only get the no signal error message. I live in the west of Scotland and we have had really stormy weather over the weekend, but today it was calm, no wind, blue skys everywhere and the sun was splitting the Skye, but I still have major problems. Tried all the online self help but still no joy. Tried to book an engineer call out online and first available date I can get is 5/3/29. U have got to be kidding, I am paying £48.50 per month plus my Skye protect fee and I have to wait for over 3 weeks for an engineer visit! Can anyone help me with some other advice. Surely weather problems still can't be the issue!

[wdfortyplus606]

🙄we get the no satelite signal message when birds sit on the arm of our satelite infront of the LNB! The sky dish being up on the chimney means that the neighbours think we're waving at them all the time as we start frantically clapping and starring up at the dish! 
However, found an little bit of an alternative method to scare the crows away; bought a fishermans catapult and now fire a small amount of dry rice at them; it is enough to do the job! And hey presto! the signal returns! 🙂
Of course for all other reasons mentioned you can lose satelite signal but this is the main cause of our loss I discovered. 

[squeeb1]

I've been a Sky customer for nearly 25 years. I've been experiencing the same problems as yourself over  the last 2-3 weeks and to be fair the weather has been terrible. But this has been the worst interference i've ever had in 25 years. I'm afraid I can't offer any technical help but the conspiracy theorist in me wonders why i've been getting emails and letters offering "Sky Protect" quite a lot over the last 6 months. Hmmmm, maybe time to go CABLE.

[Mark39]

@squeeb1 as you said - conspiracy theory. Loss of satellite signal is caused by the weather and/or a problem with your equipment. Not much you can do about severe weather, but if you're having problems in less severe conditions, there's likely to be an issue with your dish or cabling. That can be fixed if you arrange a callout. Cable systems don't rely on line of sight to a satellite so obviously aren't affected in the same way.

[BabaChibuzo]

I can not receive any signal not sure whether the box is faulty. The weather is fine and this is the second time I am having this problem. The first time it took almost three weeks before the picture was restore, now an not sure when the signal will return back to normall. May be I should cancel my subscription with SKY.

[Mark39]

Call Sky if you wish to give 31 days notice to cancel.

Otherwise follow Sky's help here: https://www.sky.com/help/home/sky-tv/sky-tv-plus/sky-plus-watching-sky-tv/sky-plus-live-sky-tv/sky-p...

The help contains a link to enable you to book an engineer online if it doesn't resolve the issue.