Thomson Sky-HD (and Sky+) PSU failure

admin · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject:

STOCK SITUATION June 17, 2008
30 PSUs have been rebuilt and are currently being tested ready for despatch on Friday.
30 more are being rebuilt ready for test on Friday and despatch next Tuesday.

We anticipate that the previously-mentioned 70 orders will be completed in about a week.

Of course more orders are now outstanding but we should have caught up within two weeks, provided that existing buyers get their old PSUs back to us quickly.

lscolman · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Hi,

I ordered the repair kit and fitted it recently. The box works perfectly well apart from I am still getting a problem with LNB 2 signal dropping out, and low levels.

I've doubled check all the capacitors and they are all fitted the correct way round. I've tried switching the tuner boards around and changing the cables into the tuner boards.

I've read a thread that mentioned a planner rebuild? Could this possibly help? I recently installed a Western Digital 1Tb drive, but can't see how that could be related to the strength of signal of LNB 2?

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers, Lee

admin · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

The simple answer is "try it".
Try a Planner Rebuild (it shouldn't do any harm).
Try putting the old Hard Drive back.
I recommend you try the above then, if it doesn't help, send your receiver to Digifix for investigation. If the fault turns out to be the PSU, there'll be no charge. If it turns out to be some other interesting (to me) fault I might pay for your repair.

(Some Amstrad receivers get "poor signal" problems caused by faulty capacitors on the mother board. It wouldn't surprise me to find that Thomson boxes suffer from a similar problem.)

admin · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

STOCK SITUATION June 23, 2008
30 PSUs were shipped on Friday, leaving about 50 outstanding orders.
30 more PSUs expected by Wednesday and more by Friday, so we are catching up on the backlog!

admin · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:56 am Post subject:

STOCK SITUATION June 25, 2008
30 rebuilt PSUs were shipped on Tuesday, leaving about 46 outstanding orders. 30 more rebuilt PSUs expected by Friday and 15 more by Tuesday.

Unfortunately, this still leaves us relying on customers to send their dead PSUs back promptly.

lucozade · Newbie Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Received my new PSU today, thanks. Swapped it out but problems still persist. I noticed that in the last week my Sky HD box had went from being able to view some channels to none at all. Also noticeable is that 2 capacitors have blackened at the top.

I've tested another Sky box on the cables and I'm not getting any signal at all.

Looks to me like the original PSU has also blown the LNB.

Engineer visit arranged for Friday, old HDD and old PSU now back in place. Sky are telling me that my box will be swapped out FOC if need be.

So, what to do with the new PSU and the fact I haven't got a faulty one to send back ! ?

admin · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject:

Oh, PLEASE send it back for a refund if you don't want it! We are desperately short and it's so unfair to keep other customers waiting.

BTW it is HIGHLY unlikely that a faulty PSU could damage an LNB.

lucozade · Newbie Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Motorhonetone · Newbie Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Derbyshire

Hi Admin.
I have consistent failure of input 2 on my HD box (LNB and cables good) causing recording problems.
I have inspected the PSU and no sign of capacitor failure.
If I ordered and fitted a rebuilt PSU which did not in turn resolve the problem do you offer a cash back facility as described above?
I know its rather a cheek to ask you to facilitate a test to see if my PSU is faulty however my choice is to spend £35 and hope it solves my problem or waste £35 and still have to call on Sky for the £65 call out.
Regards

admin · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject:

I can't stop you from placing an order but please bear in mind that we have lots of customers with definitely faulty PSUs who are desperate to get one, and they are in short supply with a (currently) 7 day waiting time F.R.O.

H1ghland3r · Newbie Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

OK, so I found this PSU error through the various forums after investigating my Sky HD picture breakup/'No satellite signal' problem which started out of the blue a few weeks ago. The reports seemed to mostly fit my problem so I duly ordered a rebuilt PSU (ref:(number hidden)) which I fitted a few days ago.. put the box back together and shazam all was well... for about 6 hours before the problem restarted, now with the additional fun weirdness that I can't change channels when the thing IS working, picture freezes and the channel banner flashes like it's having a fit.
OK, so I try putting the original HD back in (had a 750Gb Samsung F1 drive in), no change still FUBAR'ed. Reinstalled my old sky+ box (ancient V1 pace box) and so far all is well..

So finally (apologies for the rambling) to my question. What the hell is wrong.?? should I return the rebuilt PSU for testing?, replace the LNB.? (already replaced by sky 6 months ago), replace the cable.? (shotgun cable installed by sky along with the original sky+ many years ago).
Does the fact that the original Sky+ box is working fine rule out problems with the LNB/cable or could they still be a problem.?
I am honestly about 1 more problem away from telling Sky where to shove their subscription and getting a Freesat box or just broadcatching everything.!!

(apologies again for the HUGE post but I am at the end of my tether!)

admin · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

The working Sky+ box makes me confident that the problem lies with your SkyHD box. You have not mentioned our instruction page so please confirm that you used the washer and followed all our instructions on that web page.

If the Sky+ box is a Thomson (you forgot to say) then you can swap the PSU from that as a further test.

I don't think we've had a single REBUILT power supply returned that was genuinely faulty but that doesn't mean that you aren't the unlucky first!

Yes you can return it but please include an explanatory note with full details and be sure to state that you need a replacement ASAP. Bear in mind that we have zero stock right now and ask to be put to the front of the waiting list for the next batch. I'm afraid you'll have to spell it out because Nicola went on holiday today, leaving Sophie and Sue to run the show.

H1ghland3r · Newbie Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about the missing info, I did ensure I used the washer and quadruple checked that everything was tight and reconnected, which i double checked When I reinstalled the original HD. Unfortunately the original Sky+ box is a V1 Pace box so I can't test with that.
Like you I am fairly confident that the PSU is not the problem as the problems with the box are identical to before the PSU was changed, without even a period of normal use I didn't mention before but the original PSU is showing no signs of fault, no bulging caps.

Therefore I am at a complete loss to explain this. Looks like sky are gonna drop another customer, doubt I'll be taking my subscription with me When I move in a couple of months.! Evil or Very Mad

admin · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject:

I suggest you send the Digibox to Michael.
http://www.DigifixLtd.co.uk

He is the best when it comes to Digibox faults.

CrystinJoni · Newbie Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Glasgow

Hi

Just ordered one of you rebuilt PSU's after reading a lot of forums, especially this one. Not interested in SKY and refurbishments, and local installers quoting large repair costs, so I will do it myself.

I have the classic symptoms, picture blocking on the SD channels (BBC1, Sky1 etc) , but no issues on the HD channels.

Best Regards
Crystin