Frequently Asked Questions Sky Satellite TV.

You can also find updated help & other information here at our BLOG

With the Sky +HD new electronic programme guide to reach the hidden menu (services 4,0,1 select)
You now need to press Services button then 0,0,1 followed by the select button. Then left/right arrow to browse

Click here if you have a question that is not answered in this FAQ

Channel 5 Problems? (& Freesat Frequency)
Sky plus or HD will not turn on?
Viewing card Problems?
Why am I being asked for my Pin?
Sky Digibox Problems?
Sky + or HD Problems?
What type of digibox is best for Spain?
Do all digiboxes work in Spain?
What is Sky+
Satellite dish questions?
What is the smallest dish for use in Spain?
How many receivers can run from a single dish?
I live in a community and I am not allowed a dish. What now?
Can I watch Sky in different rooms in my house?
Will my UK TV work in Spain?

Channel 5 problems solved.

(Freesat Frequency)
Channel 5 alternative frequency, setup instructions
Press - Services button
Press - Number. 4 system setup
Press - Number. 4 add channels
Check Frequency is highlighted in yellow, by using up and down arrow buttons.
Using number buttons. Enter: - 10773
Press - Down arrow to highlight Polarization
Press - Right arrow so that polarization is an H
Press - Down arrow to highlight Symbol Rate
Press - Left arrow so that it displays 22
Press - Down arrow to highlight FEC
Press - Right arrow 2 times so that it displays 5/6
Press - Down arrow to highlight Find Channels
Press - Select
Digibox will then search for new channels then it will display this page New Channels
Press - Down arrow to highlight Five
Press - Yellow button
Check there is a tick next to Five
Press - Select
Press - Sky button
To view this new channel 5 frequency, follow the instructions below. Press - Services button
Press - Number. 6 button
Using up and down arrows highlight Five
Press - Select
You are now viewing a Freesat Channel 5 signal. There is no channel or programme information available on this frequency. So check the tv guide prior to selecting this new channel 5.
Channels Fiver & Five USA require a Freesat card Contact Us for more information. Back

Card problems

If you receive a message on your screen displaying "To upgrade call 0800---- ---" this means your card has been deactivated by SKY
Normally caused by a problem with payment on your account. Please call our office so we can re-activate your viewing card.
If the message on your screen reads "This is the wrong card for this set top box" it means the SKY viewing card needs activating to the box.
Please call us with the details of your box and card.
You can get this info by pressing services button on your remote then press no 4, then no 5, (System Details) take down your version number, serial number and card number, then call us on (0034) 627 955 728 or (0034) 627 955 648.
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Why am I being asked for my Pin?

You may have noticed that a number of programs on Sky are now asking for a pin code regardless of your parental settings.
This is because Sky are now showing content which is classified for late viewing earlier in the day.
So in order to do this you need to prove you are old enough, this is where the pin comes into play.
If you have your viewing card through us the pin is the last 4 digits of your viewing card number.
This can be found by pressing services, 4, 5.
If this does not work or you wish to change your pin please contact us.
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Sky Digibox Problems

Sometimes the Digibox can crash, if your Digibox is not working as it should, is very slow
or displays the following message on the screen "searching for listings"
Try resetting your box by unplugging it from the mains, leave it for 2 min's then plug back in. Now wait a further 2 min's with the box on standby before turning it on, this should re-set and clear any static from your Digibox.
If you are not receiving any sound or pictures please check the scart leads are all connected correctly, the scart leads are the big black ones.
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Sky + or HD Problems

Sky + and HD digiboxes can crash just like the ordinary Sky digiboxes. If your Sky + or HD digibox stops responding or shows no satellite signal is being received messages, try to reset the digibox as described here. If your recorded programs are not playing back or have loss of picture or sound, you can try a planner rebuild. To do this press services, 4, 0 1 select, now press 7 and select. As a last resort if you are having any other problems with your digibox you can try the full system reset. The full system reset will erase all saved programs so be sure to copy them or watch them first. To do the full system reset press services, 4, 0 1 select then press 8 and select.

If your Sky plus or HD digibox is stuck on standby or the above did not work, try this Hardware Full System Reset

Again All your Recorded data will be Erased.
Un plug the digibox from the mains.
Press and hold the 'left' and 'right' navigation buttons on the front of the digibox, plug the mains back in.
Continue holding the buttons in for about 20 seconds, when the green circle on the front lights up and spins, press the Select button.
(on the front of the digibox between the left and right buttons you were holding).
The sky plus recording logo lights will spin backwards and the full system reset starts. It takes about 5 minutes to complete.
If you are still having problems please call us, we can arrange for a technician to visit in order to revolve your problem.
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What type of sky Digibox is best for use in Spain?

At present we use the Thompson DSI4214 Digibox. These are the latest model from Thompson. They have great tuners and are much better for weak reception areas. They out preform the Pace DS445 which are the current Pace digiboxes available.
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Do all Digiboxes work in Spain?

No, there are some Digiboxes that won’t work in Spain but seem to work in the UK! This is because all digiboxes are designed to run in the UK where the signal is much stronger. Here in Spain we need to have a minimum of a 1.3M dish and certain digiboxes will not have tuners sensitive enough to receive all the channels. Please check before you decide to bring your box abroad with you.
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What is sky plus?

Sky + is a digital video recorder and satellite receiver in one, Sky + lets you pause or even rewind live TV. Have you ever wanted to record 2 different channels at the same time? Now you can whilst watching a previous recording. With Sky + you can organize TV around you, so you don’t have to miss another TV show again.
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Satellite Dish Questions

If you receive the message "No satellite signal is being received" and you have already re-set the box then the dish may require realigning. This is done by one of our Technicians using a Spectrum analyzer.
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What are the minimum dish requirements for southern Spain?

The minimum size for reception in southern Spain 1.3 m and a LNB (low noise block) figure of about 0.5 db to 0.3 db we currently use Antares and Invacom lnb’s as these are best for fringe areas. The 1.3 m dish is standard across southern Spain, however some areas may need a bigger dish. Our Technicians will be able to advise you what size dish is required. The quality of reception also depends on how well the dish is fitted, we will not fit a dish unless it is secure, we only use the best equipment and parts to ensure you will not have any unnecessary viewing problems.
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How many boxes can one run off a single satellite dish?

Lnb's come with various output’s i.e. they range from one port, so you can run one box, Then two outputs for two digiboxes and four outputs for four digiboxes. If however you are in a community and want 36 apartments connected with a digibox in each apartment, enabling each resident to have a digibox of their own and a subscription of their own it is still possible with one dish. This would therefore require some Amplifying and switching equipment at the headend (Telecommunications Room). Including multi switches.
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I live in a community and I have been told I am not allowed to erect a satellite dish. What can I do?

By law, they must give you access to satellite TV. This right is provided under the "Freedom of Information" Act in the EU law and must be granted in all EU member countries. Speak with your president and tell him that. Ask him where and how to set up a dish whilst causing the least disturbance to the community. If he is unwilling to help, speak with your lawyer. It is your right, fight for it.
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Can I receive sky in other rooms of my house?

Yes, there are a few ways to achieve this, First of all you can run another cable directly from your satellite dish. This would require a twin lnb or depending on how many rooms you would like connected possibly a quad. Another digibox is required for each extra room, depending on what you would like to receive in the other room, It may require another subscription from sky (another card). With no card in the box you will receive free to air (FTA) channels like BBC 1, 2, 3, 4 and Itv 1, 2, 3 and 4 there are around 170 TV and Radio channels. Not sky subscription channels like MTV etc. A Free to View card is required for channels 4 and channel 5. However if you just want to watch the same channel in a different room this makes things cheaper, there are 2 ways to achieve this. The first is to use TV linkers and use a coaxial cable, ideal if you would like to watch sky in multiple rooms using the pre-existing sockets in each room. The other way is to install an audio/visual linker, this is fitted to the digibox and a receiver fitted on the second TV set, Ideal if you do not like wires.
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Can I bring my UK TV to Spain and will it work?

Yes. It will work perfectly with regards to viewing sky in Spain as you use scart cables which are audio visual leads but you will be unable to view local Television transmissions unless you purchase a device called a modulator, this is due to the different PAL standards. In the UK, TV transmissions use the PAL i standard and in Spain they use PAL b/g, So you would get a perfect picture but NO sound, similarly if you were to use a Spanish television and connect it to your digibox via an RF connection not a scart lead you would also get picture but NO sound. If there is a question that we have not answered please do not hesitate to contact us on (0034) 627 955 728 or (0034) 627 955 648
For more frequently asked questions you can also visit the Sky Digital website Here
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