Humax/Sky problem

raymitchell@mad

22-10-2009

I have Humax PVR and Sky Plus and have two cables to Humax and one to Sky from a 4 point LNB I am trying to watch a Sky channel whilst recording two FreeSat channels but get " no signal " although when I check signal via Sky Services it is fine! If I am recording only one channel on Freesat there is not a problem.
Some explanation/help would be appreciated.

ray

coopermanyorks

22-10-2009

Seems like you simply want a 2nd feed to your Sky+ box you have a quad fitted with 2 feeds to the Humax and only 1 to the Sky+ , is the fourth port empty ?

Or set up a dummy recording

Dummy recording set up details here and more info

Originally Posted by davemurgatroyd:
“As the Sky+ uses input 1 for normal viewing and input 2 for the first recording you are getting failed recordings because of this.

There is an easy way to overcome this BUT it will only enable you to do one of three things
1 Watch one channel
2 Record one channel - either set in planner or pressing record whilst watching
3 Record one channel and watch a previous recording.

To do this the lnb cable should be connected to input 1. Set a manual recording lasting 24 hours repeated daily on a channel you do not watch (can even be a channel you do not subscribe to) - this will fail because there is no signal on input 2 but will make the box think that input 2 is permanently busy and so it will use input 1 for any further recordings. The failed recordings will take up a minimal space on your hard disk and can be deleted the day after. Any clashes of recordings and your viewing will give an on screen message.

There is another way of using one cable with a smart priority lnb switch which if you have a high signal level will enable viewing/recording one channel and recording another BUT once first channel is chosen your choice of second channel is limited to another channel in the same frequency band and polarity (so only 25% of the rest). This does require very careful planning to use without missing recordings. See here for further info
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/splitters.htm”

You may get a better reply in the SkY + section,I am not sure on the actual freesat+ set up

http://www.digitalspy.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35

Tern

22-10-2009

Originally Posted by raymitchell@mad:
“I have Humax PVR and Sky Plus and have two cables to Humax and one to Sky from a 4 point LNB I am trying to watch a Sky channel whilst recording two FreeSat channels but get " no signal " although when I check signal via Sky Services it is fine! If I am recording only one channel on Freesat there is not a problem.
Some explanation/help would be appreciated.

ray”

If you have a separate cable from one of the LNB ports to the Sky box then the activities of the Freesat box should not impinge on the Sky box in any way as they are entirely different circuits.

The only possible explanation I can think of (apart from a faulty Sky box which would not explain the fault's dependence on the Freesat box) is that you have a faulty LNB and there is some sort of crossover taking place.

If you can get at it, try to connect the Sky box to the free LNB port and see if that changes the behaviour.

Can I ask why you have a Sky+ box with only 1 feed?

raymitchell@mad

22-10-2009

Thanks

I only want to view the channel via Sky Plus - essentially use it as an ordinary Sky Box [ I have cancelled subscription] and not use the record facility.

any further ideas appreciated

ray

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks:
“Seems like you simply want a 2nd feed to your Sky+ box you have a quad fitted with 2 feeds to the Humax and only 1 to the Sky+ , is the fourth port empty ?

Or set up a dummy recording

Dummy recording set up details here and more info

You may get a better reply in the SkY + section,I am not sure on the actual freesat+ set up

http://www.digitalspy.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35”

Andrue

22-10-2009

Originally Posted by Tern:
“If you have a separate cable from one of the LNB ports to the Sky box then the activities of the Freesat box should not impinge on the Sky box in any way as they are entirely different circuits.”

I can confirm this. I have Freesat through a PC and Sky HD both running off the same dish. Never been an issue. It might be a faulty LNB but another thought occurs to me:

I don't think there is such a thing as a triple LNB. I find myself wondering why anyone would only feed three cables from a quad LNB to the boxes. It makes me wonder if the OP actually does have a quad LNB? Maybe it's a dual LNB and they are using one of those splitter thingummies.

FYI:The check in Sky's 'Services' menu may just check that there is a signal that it can decode. I don't think it checks whether that signal is actually the one it's expecting for. Since Freesat/Sky share the same signals most of the time the box will usually be able to decode the input regardless of what it is.

raymitchell@mad

22-10-2009

andrue

It is a 4 point LNB Originally had Sky Plus.Used two feeds for new Freesat and added third cable - because thought that was all I needed - because I only wanted to view channels via Sky.
If I can view channels via Sky when only recording one channel on Freesat surely that means that basically LNB port and cable to Sky Box fine.
Help!

ray

Andrue

22-10-2009

I'm not sure if that proves anything though.

But this could be the symptom of a faulty LNB. Maybe your LNB has two of the inputs tied together. They are easy to replace. £20 for the LNB, ten minutes up a ladder. Doesn't normally even need a screwdriver - just a soft mallet to tap the LNB in/out of it's holder.

radioFAB

22-10-2009

A lot of the suggestions are quite sound.
1. Check you have a quad not a twin LNB
2. Make sure you have 3 separate cables coming from the LNB, and that one has not been spliced into (wherever you have the cables run) or has a little splitter in line.
3. Make sure the 1 cable to the Sky Box is in LNB 1 socket.
4. Disconnect the Humax leads coming from the LNB temporarily.
5. Put the channel you want to watch on the Sky receiver and leave it running.
6. Reconnect the Humax LNB cables.
7. Boot up the Humax.
8. Record 2 programmes at the same time on the Humax.
At this point check your Sky channel you were watching if it’s gone then you must have a looped or have a splitter in line, if it’s working just channel hop on the Sky receiver to make sure none of your FTA channels are not working that checks your horizontal and vertical switching etc.
Finally check your recordings on your Humax.

raymitchell@mad

22-10-2009

Originally Posted by radioFAB:
“A lot of the suggestions are quite sound.
1. Check you have a quad not a twin LNB
2. Make sure you have 3 separate cables coming from the LNB, and that one has not been spliced into (wherever you have the cables run) or has a little splitter in line.
3. Make sure the 1 cable to the Sky Box is in LNB 1 socket.
4. Disconnect the Humax leads coming from the LNB temporarily.
5. Put the channel you want to watch on the Sky receiver and leave it running.
6. Reconnect the Humax LNB cables.
7. Boot up the Humax.
8. Record 2 programmes at the same time on the Humax.
At this point check your Sky channel you were watching if it’s gone then you must have a looped or have a splitter in line, if it’s working just channel hop on the Sky receiver to make sure none of your FTA channels are not working that checks your horizontal and vertical switching etc.
Finally check your recordings on your Humax.”

Thanks radioFAB
1,2& 3 are as you specify. I fitted LNB and cables.
I will try procedure from 4 as you suggest and see what happens.
thanks
ray