I think it's dead Jim

pixi · 29-09-2008, 20:27

Our Sky plus box has been spitting the dummy for a while now. Such actions include freezing, refusing to change channel, failed recordings and the latest today is actually not switching on at all. I'm no telly buff but damn it's horrible only having four channels and not knowing what's on at the time or next (how lazy has it made me?!)

Mr P has investigated and spoken to the lovely people at the land of Sky and they suggested something that didn't make a difference. So, this could be it. I don't want to buy a cacky make if I need to replace it, so what would be the most reliable to go for?

Also, would it worth going HD now? Our tele is still in the dark ages and we are also running everything through our DVD home cinema system that we've had for a few years, so that's also from the dark ages.

I thankyou.

karlbar2k · 29-09-2008, 20:37

you could alway move house and apply for sky again as a new user

free box etc otherwise find a local electronics repairer. My sky+ box needs to be unplugged at least twice a week..

**VRStu** · 29-09-2008, 20:43

Just tell Sky you wish to terminate your contract to switch to freeview as you can't afford to have it repaired - They'll offer you a deal.

vRSLen · 29-09-2008, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRStu

Just tell Sky you wish to terminate your contract to switch to freeview as you can't afford to have it repaired - They'll offer you a deal.

Strange but true

pixi · 29-09-2008, 21:27

When you say a deal, do you mean free?

I will surely try it out and report back.

Much love.

**VRStu** · 29-09-2008, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixi

When you say a deal, do you mean free?

Depends how good you are at sweet talking, you may not get what you want after the first call so you'll need to let the disconnection (30 days) progress and they'll soon be in touch.

bengie · 29-09-2008, 21:40

plus boxes can be had for 50 on the bay. we have 2 in our house aswell as HD

pittVRS · 29-09-2008, 22:59

Or you could shell out for a Free Sat box instead, one off payment and HD included!

philc · 30-09-2008, 09:44

Sky will probably do you a £65 fixed price repair, or you could have a browse around the Satcure website for ideas -he has fixes for most common issues, and does a good postal repair service.
I'm willing to bet it's the power supply that's gone. The capacitors tend to fail after a while.

Phil

cheezemonkhai · 30-09-2008, 10:36

Caps gone in a power supply.

Hmm if you're over on the mainland I can have somebody check that for you pixi and then fix it if it is just caps.

ag.morley · 30-09-2008, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixi

When you say a deal, do you mean free?

I will surely try it out and report back.

Much love.

When on the phone put on your shortest skirt and your skimpiest Top and you'll get a result.................

**VRStu** · 30-09-2008, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ag.morley

When on the phone put on your shortest skirt and your skimpiest Top and you'll get a result.................

Remembering of course to push chest upwards and outwards

bigal rallyred · 30-09-2008, 13:15

They'll try the £65 call out fee line where the engineer will replace anything within the call out cost.
I said no to this and went through to the dissconnection department. There was no question of me paying the fee and did a free visit.

I got a replacement Sky+ box free of charge last week. Be warned they aren't new but reconditioned units which don't include a new remote.

Surrey White · 30-09-2008, 20:15

My Sky plus box developed terminally fat capacitors in the power supply last month. It was an Amstrad which used to freeze up and forget to record stuff which apparently is normal behaviour for these.
I bought a Pace box for £50 on ebay and it works great.
My old Sky (not plus) box died a few years ago and I phoned Sky. They charged £65 to come out for which they replaced and would repair anything that was broken and everything would remain covered for a year.
The Pace boxes apparently are much more reliable.

ag.morley · 30-09-2008, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surrey White

which used to freeze up and forget to record stuff which apparently is normal behaviour for these.

Sounds very much like my Wife....................

....

gadgetman · 30-09-2008, 21:25

Soryy to hijack, but any knowledgeable peeps know what causes the flicker pic occasionally?

TV is a Samsung, and the picture stutters for around 5 secs - it's the best description I can come up with. Oddly, It's mostly on BBC 1 or when playing recorded stuff. Pausing stops it.

pixi · 30-09-2008, 22:33

It's acting like nothing happened now

It switched on and has been instantly changing to the channel requested. Thanks for the heads up on getting out of the fee etc.

Stu, you know I am the master of negotiation

cheezemonkhai · 30-09-2008, 23:13

Pixi, the caps will go through stages of sort of playing nice and not depending on external factors such as temp etc if it is those that have gone.

I've had loads of these things changed on so many boxes now and it costs about £1 in terms of parts. If you do get a new box or just don't get anywhere and want it fixing for the cost of getting it here/collecting it and the parts I'll sort it for you.

sharkrider · 01-10-2008, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRStu

Just tell Sky you wish to terminate your contract to switch to freeview as you can't afford to have it repaired - They'll offer you a deal.

strange but true indeed... don't even try to talk to the 'monkeys' just go staright to cancellations, when I'd got through 5 sky boxes that all randomley died, i got a "real" sky engineer out, instead of a contractor... he said the dish feed was shorting on our carpet clips (never noticed by the numerous contractors comming out and giving me "recon" (usless) boxes, and he suggested the "just go cancell, and they will contact you with a deal , garunteed"..

i did , just this. cancelled. within an hour i had free sky plus, and free phone calls, all for the price of..... wait for it... NOTHING!

bloody brilliant, as the proper engineer cured the shorting fault that was killing the boxes , and now I have sky plus, and the phone deal, all for nothing...

MikeF · 02-10-2008, 10:40

cant you get certain sky+ boxes replaced free of charge because an update they (sky) did to there network causes some of the older sky+ boxes to generate problems for instance, freezing, loss of planned recordings, switching off etc etc???????

I'll go away and find!

**VRStu** · 02-10-2008, 10:44

Thats the Sky Anytime service IIRC, older boxes don't support it.

MikeF · 02-10-2008, 10:46

here we go

Free Sky+ replacement box only by email - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

It would appear that this works without any problem

29-09-2008, 20:27	#1
pixi Naughty Pix! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Writing in these boxes is soooo last year! Posts: 6,311 Members Car: 06 Fabia vrs Thanks: 106 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	I think it's dead Jim Our Sky plus box has been spitting the dummy for a while now. Such actions include freezing, refusing to change channel, failed recordings and the latest today is actually not switching on at all. I'm no telly buff but damn it's horrible only having four channels and not knowing what's on at the time or next (how lazy has it made me?!) Mr P has investigated and spoken to the lovely people at the land of Sky and they suggested something that didn't make a difference. So, this could be it. I don't want to buy a cacky make if I need to replace it, so what would be the most reliable to go for? Also, would it worth going HD now? Our tele is still in the dark ages and we are also running everything through our DVD home cinema system that we've had for a few years, so that's also from the dark ages. I thankyou. __________________

29-09-2008, 20:37	#2
karlbar2k Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bridgend Posts: 134 Members Car: Octavia 4x4 and loving it, loving it, loving it!!! Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim you could alway move house and apply for sky again as a new user free box etc otherwise find a local electronics repairer. My sky+ box needs to be unplugged at least twice a week..

29-09-2008, 20:43	#3
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,856 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Just tell Sky you wish to terminate your contract to switch to freeview as you can't afford to have it repaired - They'll offer you a deal. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

29-09-2008, 21:27	#5
pixi Naughty Pix! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Writing in these boxes is soooo last year! Posts: 6,311 Members Car: 06 Fabia vrs Thanks: 106 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim When you say a deal, do you mean free? I will surely try it out and report back. Much love. __________________

29-09-2008, 21:40	#7
bengie splash!!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: planet earth Posts: 15,257 Members Car: 4x4 turbo estate Thanks: 17 Thanked 144 Times in 125 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim plus boxes can be had for 50 on the bay. we have 2 in our house aswell as HD __________________ owner of a skoda octavia 4xvrs3

29-09-2008, 22:59	#8
pittVRS Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off The Wagon Posts: 5,268 Members Car: MX-5 Thanks: 148 Thanked 113 Times in 79 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Or you could shell out for a Free Sat box instead, one off payment and HD included! __________________

30-09-2008, 09:44	#9
philc Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Not far from some places, but a long way from others. Posts: 3,378 Members Car: Vauxhall Signum 3.0 V6 CDTi Thanks: 2 Thanked 27 Times in 26 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Sky will probably do you a £65 fixed price repair, or you could have a browse around the Satcure website for ideas -he has fixes for most common issues, and does a good postal repair service. I'm willing to bet it's the power supply that's gone. The capacitors tend to fail after a while. Phil __________________ "A good diesel, like a good whisky, should be strong, smooth and slightly smokey" <--respectful gap-->

30-09-2008, 10:36	#10
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,665 Members Car: Thanks: 123 Thanked 527 Times in 488 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Caps gone in a power supply. Hmm if you're over on the mainland I can have somebody check that for you pixi and then fix it if it is just caps. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

30-09-2008, 13:15	#13
bigal rallyred Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central belt in Scotland Posts: 820 Members Car: 06 Passat TDI S Thanks: 32 Thanked 47 Times in 45 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim They'll try the £65 call out fee line where the engineer will replace anything within the call out cost. I said no to this and went through to the dissconnection department. There was no question of me paying the fee and did a free visit. I got a replacement Sky+ box free of charge last week. Be warned they aren't new but reconditioned units which don't include a new remote.

30-09-2008, 20:15	#14
Surrey White Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kingston Upon Thames Posts: 106 Members Car: Superb 1.8T Comfort 03 Thanks: 5 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim My Sky plus box developed terminally fat capacitors in the power supply last month. It was an Amstrad which used to freeze up and forget to record stuff which apparently is normal behaviour for these. I bought a Pace box for £50 on ebay and it works great. My old Sky (not plus) box died a few years ago and I phoned Sky. They charged £65 to come out for which they replaced and would repair anything that was broken and everything would remain covered for a year. The Pace boxes apparently are much more reliable. __________________ Octavia 1.8T L&K Combi 2002 - Stone Superb 1.8T Comfort 2003 - Virtual Blue

30-09-2008, 21:25	#16
gadgetman Go Gadget Octy! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,414 Members Car: Thanks: 220 Thanked 120 Times in 113 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Soryy to hijack, but any knowledgeable peeps know what causes the flicker pic occasionally? TV is a Samsung, and the picture stutters for around 5 secs - it's the best description I can come up with. Oddly, It's mostly on BBC 1 or when playing recorded stuff. Pausing stops it. __________________ Lick the window of life Why not join the Briskoda Last.fm group?

30-09-2008, 22:33	#17
pixi Naughty Pix! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Writing in these boxes is soooo last year! Posts: 6,311 Members Car: 06 Fabia vrs Thanks: 106 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim It's acting like nothing happened now It switched on and has been instantly changing to the channel requested. Thanks for the heads up on getting out of the fee etc. Stu, you know I am the master of negotiation __________________

30-09-2008, 23:13	#18
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,665 Members Car: Thanks: 123 Thanked 527 Times in 488 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Pixi, the caps will go through stages of sort of playing nice and not depending on external factors such as temp etc if it is those that have gone. I've had loads of these things changed on so many boxes now and it costs about £1 in terms of parts. If you do get a new box or just don't get anywhere and want it fixing for the cost of getting it here/collecting it and the parts I'll sort it for you. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

02-10-2008, 10:40	#20
MikeF Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: north west uk (bury) Posts: 1,337 Members Car: Thanks: 54 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim cant you get certain sky+ boxes replaced free of charge because an update they (sky) did to there network causes some of the older sky+ boxes to generate problems for instance, freezing, loss of planned recordings, switching off etc etc??????? I'll go away and find!

02-10-2008, 10:44	#21
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,856 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim Thats the Sky Anytime service IIRC, older boxes don't support it. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

02-10-2008, 10:46	#22
MikeF Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: north west uk (bury) Posts: 1,337 Members Car: Thanks: 54 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	Re: I think it's dead Jim here we go Free Sky+ replacement box only by email - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums It would appear that this works without any problem

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