Pixelation on certain channels

[Chigirlx]

I'm getting pixelation picturebreaking up on some channels not all. It's mainly evening and early hours of the morning. Happens even on recordings on both boxes so it can't be the box or connections. Everything in the house is the same as always. It's random so it would be hard to tell if it's fixed if an engineer came out. The only new thing which coincides with when it started is a house acroos the road but not direcly opposite had scaoffolding put up. It's opposite my next door neighbours house not mine so would that cause any problems? The dish faces towards it.

[Mark39]

It certainly sounds like a problem with your dish. Check for birds perching on the arm of the dish. If not that, then it maybe a slight dish misalignment, or possibly a failing LNB, especially if it's more than 5 years or so old. 

You'll need someone to come out and take a look. Unless you have Sky Protect, there's no longer any engineer support for Sky+, so you'd either need to get a local installer to come out, or upgrade to Sky Q.

[Chigirlx]

Oh I didn't know they didn't fix sky plus anymore. No it's not birds as it happens late at night mainly. I'll have to get someone out then. How does that work when it's intermittent though regarding fixing it? Can they tell if it's misaligned or needs a new LNB?

[Mark39]

Yes, any decent installer will have a sophisticated signal meter to check the signal strength and the performance of the LNB. Your Sky box's signal strength readings may give you an indication of what's happening. Tune to one of the channels which pixelates and go to Services > Settings > Signal. The white part of all four bars should be consistently at least half way across. When they dip lower is when you'll see pixelation. A properly aligned dish with a good LNB is likely to give you readings of 80-90%.- nearly all white.

[Chigirlx]

Thanks gonna have a look at that now. 

[Chigirlx]

Ok so went onto BBC news and it's doing it right now. Went into services and the signal strength is way across halfway. I've contacted a reputable local company for a quote. 

[Chigirlx]

We are now considering changing to sky Q but it's the shared planner that puts us off a bit. Would they come fit a new dish if I did change?

[Daniel0210]

@Chigirlx 
Would they come fit a new dish if I did change?

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@Chigirlx 

They would have to change the LNB on the dish but wouldn't automatically replace it but depends on the state of it. 

[Mark39]

Yes, Sky would do whatever is necessary to get you good signal as part of the Sky Q installation.

[nigea99]

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@Chigirlx wrote:

We are now considering changing to sky Q but it's the shared planner that puts us off a bit. Would they come fit a new dish if I did change?

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hi @Chigirlx 

If needed they would replace the dish, although not always needed but they do change the electronic bit on the dish (LNB)

This is covered, along with many other points in some notes I have made for people considering switching from SKY +/HD to SKY Q which you benefit from reading

SKY +/HD to SKY Q 

[Chigirlx]

So just phoned about changing to sky Q. Before I've been offered the main box and the mini free with installation included. Sky VIP customer over 20 years. The guy was saying I just get one box and put it in the hallway! I couldn't understand what he was on about and when I said I need the mini box he said my sky+ box will do and if I want a mini pay £15 a month. In the end I gave up with the call. 

What am I asking for when I try again. Should it be the main sky Q box and 1 mini and do I pay a monthly multiscreen price?

Also he was pushing sky glass on me saying sky Q is going. I have fairly new smart TV's and don't want it I said. 

[Daniel0210]

@Chigirlx 

Sky Q will be around for a few years yet although the agents are probably asked to push towards Glass or Stream. You would need a Sky Q box, a mini box (or more) and a monthly Multiscreen subscription. 

[SKY1992bf]

@Chigirlx  you need one main box and one mini plus a monthly multi screen subscription 

a sky plus box won't work as a Q mini 

[Chigirlx]

That's what I thought. He kept saying one box put it in the hallway! Does a new dish come with sky Q

[Daniel0210]

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@Chigirlx wrote:

Does a new dish come with sky Q

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@Chigirlx 

We've answered that in your other thread.