Alternative to SKY+

[mapleleaf]

we have been having continual nightmares with Sky+ not recoring properley or when it does record, not playing back until you undetake a forced software download which may have to be done before each recorded programm will play. Sky dont want to know as its out of warranty now so we used MCES in Manchester to replace & upgrade the hard drive. It worked fine for a whil ethen programs stated jumping and speach was out of sync on live & recorded programs. It went back & they put a new hard drive in. But the locking up problems continue.

Its an Amstrad box bye the way. Does anyone know whre I can get a better sky + box from & If we change it how do we stop Sky complaining that the Sky card doesnt match the registered box?

We do not seem to have cable in our area so are stuck with sky. Or are we?
Is there another way to record sky programs ? Could the oputput be fed into a PC for example , but then would you lose the ability to use the various recording features such as series link & presetting other various programs to record at a later date ??

Thanks

 

[Shude]

I believe Sky works quite well with TiVo.

Units now only available from used sources in the UK but they are superior in most ways to a Sky+ box . You'd still need a separate sky decoder box though.

 

[HughJarse]

Hi there, you need to go/ring/surf here
http://www.simplydigital.co.uk/
They are a newcastle based company - very big in the sky world ( Ive actually been to their depo)
They will sell you a new box with waranty etc.
Normally next day delivery.
You plug it in, ring up sky and tell them you have a new box they will then activate your card to it etc..
If you want to know more - ring up that website and they will guide you through the whole process.

 

[mapleleaf]

thanks HJ I'll do that now.

Nick, When you say I'd need a sky decoder what do you mean as I have one already ... its just teh recording that aint working right. Woudl the existing box work with Tivo and could I watch one sky chanel & record another with Tivo?

 

[Shude]

Nick, When you say I'd need a sky decoder what do you mean as I have one already ... its just teh recording that aint working right. Woudl the existing box work with Tivo and could I watch one sky chanel & record another with Tivo?

The existing box would probably work with TiVo but I'm not sure how well. TiVo will control most cable/satellite/digital set-top-boxes using an IR-blaster, it can't record one channel and allow you to watch another and it can't record two programmes at once. It also digitally records an analogue signal coming from a digital device but that's a comprehensive list of it's failings

Sadly TiVos aren't manufactured for the UK anymore but they can be bought from ebay or specialist shops.

 

[mobiledreams12]

Or stop giving money to nasty Mr Murdoch and get a PVR for Freeview:
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9200t.asp

 

[mw_C32]

Or stop giving money to nasty Mr Murdoch and get a PVR for Freeview:
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9200t.asp

Thats what I did. Still miss some of the sky programs though and the Sky+ guide/epg is much better than the Humax. Still I dont watch much (the kids seem to hog it) so I am not too bothered and have saved over £300 from not paying sky subscription since I cancelled so the Humax has more than paid for itself.

I still use sky though for the freesat version which is now plugged into my sky+ box in the bedroom and the other sky box which I used for multiroom is now on my boat and both give me freesat digital channels for free. I have taken out the HD from the sky+ box and disconnected the fan (very annoying at night) and put that in my PC and use it for backups.

Mark.

 

[C240Sport97]

I use the Digifusion FVRT 200 freeview box, with an 80 GB harddisk .. it has 2 decoders so you can watch one and record another; or record 2 programs at the same time, and playback from the library. An excellent piece of kit for around £200 .. no recurring cost of a SKY subscription.

It is also fully integrated with my B&O TV so I use the lovely aluminium remote to control the Digifusion box.

 

[Shude]

Thats what I did. Still miss some of the sky programs though and the Sky+ guide/epg is much better than the Humax.

The TiVo EPG is the selling point, although it's £10 per month subs and Murdoch gets a few quid out of that unfortunately

 

[Tigger]

The Amstrad boxes have generally been pretty poor.

Normally on the day of the install the engineer rings to confirm the appointment and at that point you can usually ask what make box he's bringing.

For Sky+, Pace have the best reviews followed by Thompson and then Amstrad and others. I believe all the current SkyHD boxes are Thompsons.

If you're looking to get the box replaced then either buy a SkyHD box off ebay or see if you can cancel your subscription and get a new SkyHD in the mrs's name.

 

[w124coupe]

Assuming you are on a big package (which if SKY+ is free then you must be) then I would ring Sky and tell them you need to cancel as your Sky+ box is broken and you have decided to use Freeview instead.

Be firm and you WILL get either a free fix or a nominal charge for a recon exchange SKY+ box (almost certainly an exchange for a series 2 Pace which are far better).

Sky is a customer of ours for IT and internally they reckon it costs over £125 to "recruit" a new subscriber - free box & fitting, 3 months half price rental etc.

Therefore the "retention" team have £100 or so leeway to stop you escaping......make sure you "tap" into it.

When you have the Pace box, it is simple to upgrade to a 250GB disk and get enough disk space to archive loads of films plus 2 weeks of soaps etc.

 

[splang]

Assuming you are on a big package (which if SKY+ is free then you must be) then I would ring Sky and tell them you need to cancel as your Sky+ box is broken and you have decided to use Freeview instead.

Be firm and you WILL get either a free fix or a nominal charge for a recon exchange SKY+ box (almost certainly an exchange for a series 2 Pace which are far better).
.

Agreed. I always do this! Never failed. 3 times now. I originally posted this here:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=29715&highlight=cancel+sky

(3rd post down).

 

[guydewdney]

tivo tivo tivo tivo tivo......

 

[mapleleaf]

Thanks chaps, as per usual, just about to get stuck into sky when wifey says that its all working fine now. it seems that you need to do 4 or so consecutive forced download routines to settle down the hard drive. panic over Mr Mannering!

 

[ckember]

buy a cheap dvd recorder, you can get upto 8 hours on one dvd. Just plugs into the scart socket on the sky box you already have.

 

[jdrrco]

I've had TiVo for 4 years and never had a problem.

It knows what sort of things I like and tapes them automatically for me, like having a personal channel.

The EPG is £10 per month or one-off lifetime sub of £199. If you're buying a second-hand box (all there is now ) make sure you get one with lifetime sub.