Sky satelite problem

[Lindy66]

Since last week certain channels on my sky have been breaking up, the picture is very distorted all "blocks" and sound breaks up. The Sky menu was ok and on Sunday only all the itv channels were working.
Well yesterday it stopped working, when I get the menu it breaks up and when I go to the channels just a blue screen nothing.
Rang up Sky and did the usual unplug, check cables etc etc and as they could not resolve it they want to send an engineer round which will cost GBP 65.
I think this is a bit steep but before I do book him can anyone advise if they think its a cable problem or a sky box problem, have had the box for over 8 years so I think it may be that. I guess if it was a cable problem then the system would have crashed all channels and not every day deteriorating... but there again Im not an engineer.

Any help ?

[HWKE]

I had a similar problem a while ago which turned out to be the dish slightly out of alignment due to the effect of the wind over time. I repositioned it (which wasn't difficult) and haven't had a problem since.
You can check your signal strength by selecting 'Services >System Setup >Signal Test.
I had my daughter relay the signal strength showing on the screen, while I moved the dish.
An option you can do with Sky is to tell them that it isn't worth paying �65 to have it repaired, you'd sooner cancel the contract with them. They waive the cost in almost all cases.