bell satellite channels not working

If your Bell satellite channels not working then the dish signal is either gone or really, really low.

Whether you’re not able to establish the Bell satellite setup or you cannot discover any channels, you’ll find the solution in this post so let’s check how other users solved this issue first.

If Bell satellite Channels are not working, you should first inspect if the dish is hooked up properly and your receiver is working. Then you can proceed with restating the receiver and if there is no signal you might need to adjust the dish.

Don’t forget that your receiver might not be authorized or synchronized, which we will check on later.

Next, we’ll describe how your equipment should be connected and then proceed with the solutions.

Why Is My Bell Satellite Not Working?

There could be plenty of reasons impacting your Bell satellite’s functionality. Before we jump into the solutions we highly recommend making sure that your dish is properly connected.

How The Dish Should Be Connected?

The satellite dish receiver should be connected to your TV via A/V cable, which is separated into 3 different colours.

You should have the 3 colour inputs on your TV and dish receiver so you can establish the connection.

Having that in mind, let’s describe the wiring in a few simple steps:

  1. Hook up the dish receiver with your TV using the A/V cable.
  2. Plug the Coaxial cable in the ANT IN input of your receiver.
  3. Turn ON your TV and go to the Signal Meter Screen.

If there is no signal there won’t be any channels, so if this is what you’re experiencing, let’s solve the problem right away!

How Do I Fix My Bell Satellite Signal?

fix bell satellite channels not working

These solutions will definitely provide you with a better understanding of where the issue is coming from and hopefully resolve it.

We recommend applying them in order for the best results and also make sure not to skip anything.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the first solution.

Solution #1 Adjust Your Dish

If the weather is cloudy or there is rain or snow outside, it is possible that some of it got stuck in your dish, blocking the signal.

Besides that, your dish shouldn’t be exposed, there are quite a few things to adjust so follow the instructions below:

  1. Remove ANY objects in front of your dish.
  2. Point the dish towards the southern sky.
  3. Clean the dish’s elliptical surface of any snow or rain that has gathered in.
  4. Ensure there is no hardware damage on the dish.
  5. Inspect the wiring for interceptions.

Pro Tip: If by adjusting your dish, you can now see the signal, ask a friend or family to stand by the TV and observe the signal while you adjust.

Communicate with each other to find the best dish position and strongest signal.

Solution #2 Power Cycle Your Receiver

If your Bell satellite channels not working after inspection of your dish then power cycling your Bell receiver is a must-do before proceeding any further.

This process will completely discharge the device and remove any temporary power or software issues in case the problem is coming from your receiver.

Here is to perform a power cycle:

  1. Unplug the power adapter.
  2. Wait for several minutes.
  3. Plug the power adapter into a standalone wall outlet.
  4. Turn on your receiver.
  5. Power cycle your TV as well.

Once you’re done you can check your signal strength and if there is no change, continue to our next solution.

Solution #3 Try A Different Channel

If you’re getting an Attention code of 005 or 013 & 014, it means that the channel you’re viewing is not authorized by your receiver, thus, it requires a paid subscription.

A certain amount of channels within your subscription may require you to purchase a bundle in order to watch them.

This is why we suggest you try viewing a couple of different channels than the one you’re currently attempting to play, just to figure out whether it is a signal issue or simply a limitation.

Solution #4 Authorize Receiver

If this is the first time you’re using your receiver, it is possible that it hasn’t gotten authorized.

This means you won’t be able to view any of the contents within your subscription until further notice.

Here is how to authorize your satellite receiver online:

Tip: You can reach the System Info by clicking the System Info button on the receiver, twice the Menu button on your remote or the Power button on the receiver and then the UP arrow.

  1. Turn ON your receiver and enter its System Info.
  2. When you’re at the System Info screen, write down the SmartCard (S) and receiver (R) numbers.
  3. Log in to your Bell Account.
  4. Choose to Activate a Receiver.
  5. Insert the SmartCard and Receiver numbers.
  6. Select Submit to complete the authorization.

Note: The other way to authorize your receiver is by acquiring your 4-digit PIN for your Bell Satellite online and calling Bell at 1 866 353-0334.

Solution #5 Soft Reset Receiver

The next thing you should try is factory resetting your receiver. This will reset all configurations to factory defaults; therefore you will have to carry out the initial setup with the TV over.

To reset your receiver, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Menu button on your remote control.
  2. Go to System setup.
  3. Select Factory defaults.
  4. Confirm the pop-up window.
  5. Select Yes.

Once you’re done, wait for a couple of minutes for the process to finish. Set up the receiver with the TV connection and test if the signal has improved and if you can “catch” any channels.

Solution #6 Synchronize Receiver

If nothing so far helped, you’ll need to synchronize your receiver, especially if your Bell satellite HD channels not working. 

To synchronize your receiver, you’ll need to log in to your Bell account at Self-Serve With MyBell.

Once you have logged in, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Synchronize Programming.
  2. Click on the menu on the left.
  3. Follow the troubleshooting steps to synchronize your receiver.

Once done, power cycle your receiver one more time just like in solution #2 and test if there is any improvement.

If however, absolutely nothing managed to help, then you can call Bell customer service and ask for additional assistance.

To resolve your non-working Bell satellite channels, you need to make sure that the dish is properly positioned and wired. Then you should perform a restart on your receiver, authorize it and possibly perform a soft reset.

As a last resort, you can try the online synchronization and if it does not help, you’ll need to call Bell for help.

Read Next: Why Bell Internet Keeps Dropping?

Last Thoughts:

If your Bell satellite channels not working in most cases, it’s either the dish position or the wiring.

Following our solutions above should have helped you at least identify the cause and know how to proceed further.

So, if this post was helpful but you’re having other issues with your Bell satellite equipment, then you can check our blog to discover the solution!