Sky digibox problem - tv guide won't work

purplepatch

headcovers wrote:

Well the only thing I can suggest further is to have a look at Digital Spy Forums which has all kinds of technical advice and guidance for Sky and Sky+.

Use the Advanced Search facility and limit it to the Sky forums. When I put in "searching for listings" it came up with a few people that had experienced your problem.

I hate to say it but most had to call out the Sky engineer.

But persevere, read the forums they are packed with advice and telephone numbers and email addresses.

Good Luck

Been having a read, doesn't look good, think the digibox has had it.

Let me guess, despite the extortionate cost of Sky, I suppose that if the engineer has to come out I have to pay for the pleasure? And if the digibox is dead, how much is it going to cost me to replace it - what's the betting they won't do it for free.

Any idea of cost anyone?

penrhyn

£65 is the standard call out charge, which includes any parts, replacement box etc.
If the box has lasted 6 years you've done quite well.
There are lots of threads of people getting the box repaired for less or nothing by trying the "I'm going to cancel routine", which would be worth a go.
PS
If you are that antiSky why don't you go for freeview?

MarkR_2

Its definitley worth a try Purplepatch, if it does work it may well give the problem again tho. The Panasonic boxes are particuley prone to having problems with the microprocessor, this can give lots of different symptoms. There is a modifaction for them (am sure its not official tho) and to be honest its not that succesful, one thing ALL digiboxes need is decent ventilation (especialy panasonic ones). They all run fairly warm, and are often in a nice cabinet with a back on it and doors on front so cook themselves, if this is the case try n see if can be placed somewhere more "open" .
If u are on a high package and you have had it for some time you MAY be able to push sky for a free call out by threatening to cancel when they tell you its £65 ( again they seem to change this a bit, here different amounts from different people who contact em), i know of people in past have managed this ( you can always ring next day and say changed mind if they let u cancel). If you have any mates that have upgraded to sky+ could ask if they got an old box they can sell/give you. ... having said all that hopefully leaving it unplugged over night might sort it!

purplepatch

penrhyn wrote:

£65 is the standard call out charge, which includes any parts, replacement box etc.
If the box has lasted 6 years you've done quite well.
There are lots of threads of people getting the box repaired for less or nothing by trying the "I'm going to cancel routine", which would be worth a go.
PS
If you are that antiSky why don't you go for freeview?

We looked into freeview in the past and it got dismissed by DH for some reason - probably something to do with the Sports channels. Do you get all 3 Sky sports channels and sports news on freeview? If not, that will be why we can't have it :rolleyes:

purplepatch

MarkR wrote:

Its definitley worth a try Purplepatch, if it does work it may well give the problem again tho. The Panasonic boxes are particuley prone to having problems with the microprocessor, this can give lots of different symptoms. There is a modifaction for them (am sure its not official tho) and to be honest its not that succesful, one thing ALL digiboxes need is decent ventilation (especialy panasonic ones). They all run fairly warm, and are often in a nice cabinet with a back on it and doors on front so cook themselves, if this is the case try n see if can be placed somewhere more "open" .
If u are on a high package and you have had it for some time you MAY be able to push sky for a free call out by threatening to cancel when they tell you its £65 ( again they seem to change this a bit, here different amounts from different people who contact em), i know of people in past have managed this ( you can always ring next day and say changed mind if they let u cancel). If you have any mates that have upgraded to sky+ could ask if they got an old box they can sell/give you. ... having said all that hopefully leaving it unplugged over night might sort it!

Thanks, funny you should mention ventilation as saw that on the digital spy forum. It could well be this as said digibox is currently in a stack with DVD and vid, in a not very well ventilated wooden cabinet. I'll take it out and see if that helps.

Mind you, it's been stacked like this inside the cabinet for the past 6 years, so funny it's only just starting to complain. Did upgrade the DVD player to a recorder a couple of weeks back though, perhaps that gets hotter than the old one.

Thanks also for the tip off about threatening to cancel. I will certainly give that a go if necessary.

At least we can still get the channels I suppose - will just have to buy a TV guide.

purplepatch

OMG I hate Sky.


I've rung them again this evening on their freephone number. I got through straightaway to somebody that got me to do a channel scan thing from a hidden menu, but it didn't work.

He then transferred me to the next level of support and it took 35 minutes of hanging on before I got answered. This person was able to tell me in 2 minutes that they have loaded some new software their end and they have had incompatability problems with Panasonic digiboxes. He expected it to have been fixed by now, but it shouldn't be too much longer.

I suggested that they put a message on their answerphone thing, but he reckoned it wasn't worth it now as nearly fixed :rolleyes: .

I can't believe how useless they are.

Still, relieved that it isn't my box I suppose. And glad I didn't pay for 0870 all that time.

Thanks for the help on here - hopefully if somebody else has the same problem they might find this thread and save themselves some stress.

headcovers

Make a note of the date and time that Sky told you that (and the name of the CS rep if you have it).

When the problem persists, then make sure Sky are aware that you were told of this problem and don't take any stick if they try to charge for an engineer to come out.

Sky are notorious for saying one thing to a customer and then denying it to another.

I would also post it onto the Digital Spy Forums (or do a search for "panasonic) to see if anyone else if having the same problem.

Just found these posts - well worth a read:

EPG Problems (Panasonic TU-DSB30)
Panasonic TU-DSB30 digi box locking up
Odd problem with Panasonic DSB30

MarkR_2

Hope its all working ok now purple patch, and thankies for your thanks (has made me look a touch more popular ! ) Makes a change to get through to someone at sky who seems clued up. I would definitley try n sort out ventilation for it though, as panasonic boxes realy hate cooking, its a slow effect on them that eventualy messes up the mico.

purplepatch

MarkR wrote:

Hope its all working ok now purple patch, and thankies for your thanks (has made me look a touch more popular ! ) Makes a change to get through to someone at sky who seems clued up. I would definitley try n sort out ventilation for it though, as panasonic boxes realy hate cooking, its a slow effect on them that eventualy messes up the mico.

My pleasure - have another

And, no it isn't working yet. So perhaps I was just fobbed off. Can't face another phone call at the moment and forgot to switch it all off overnight, so will give that a go tonight and maybe call them in the morning if I can summon up the enthusiasm - I so loathe being left hanging on the phone for ages even if it is freephone
:mad:

Find it hard to believe it was a fob off though as the call went:

Me: I have a problem with my EPG - every time I press the TV guide button I get a message saying....
Him: Can I interrupt you - have you got a panasonic box?
etc etc

Will have to see what happens :rolleyes:

MarkR_2

Ahhh thanks again for the thanks Purple patch! Please no more tho or will get embaressed! If still not right after leaving off all night might be worth another forced software download as someone said earlier.
If still no joy think be a new box either via pushing sky or of a mate.