Need to replace sky box

A_Star

Our sky box keeps throwing up errors and the remote control is temperamental at best. It is several years old now. What is the best way to get a new one? I'm sure I found a shop on the sky website previously to just buy the hardware but I can't find it now and recall it being quite expensive. I am coming up to the end of our renewed contract.

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

You can get a new replacement direct from Sky, but this is the most expensive way. You can also pay £65 and Sky will replace your box with a refurbished second hand decoder.

Cheapest way is to buy a box from E-Bay or Cash Converters etc.

almillar

Or phone them and in a nice and polite way tell them that you want to leave and when they say why say because the box is broken. They should offer your a free refurbed one.

parttimeskint

If the errors are failed recordings it may be a cabling issue, usually the connector on the rear, and replacing the box won't sort the issue.


AFAIK Sky wont just send out a refurbished box although an engineer would bring and fit one if that is part of the problem. refurbished boxes are always free but the engineers visit isn't. refurbished boxes don't usually come with a new remote though.


Normal cost for an engineer visit is, as mentioned, £65 but this does guarantee that your sky will be working when the engineer leaves. You should be able to get them to send an engineer at a reduced cost.


If you are sure the only issue is the box then they can be bought on ebay or gumtree cheaply and would have a remote.


I would suggest calling sky first. buying a box on ebay for £30 for example and then finding out its a cable issue will just put you an extra £30 out of pocket and no further forward. going though the checks with sky and checking the cables on the back of the box yourself may also sort the issue as sky use the screw on connections which very easily seem to unscrew themselves.

[Deleted User]

parttimeskint wrote: »

AFAIK Sky wont just send out a refurbished box although an engineer would bring and fit one if that is part of the problem. refurbished boxes are always free but the engineers visit isn't. refurbished boxes don't usually come with a new remote though.

The £65 includes the replacement of the box. I don't see how you can say it is ever "free"??

As above, the only way it is "free" is if Sky agree not to charge!

Dumyat

Our old box started to play up too, (failed recordings, unresponsive remote).
I contacted the online help people and to cut a long story short, the fault has been a software update Sky downloaded to the box recently, which also bizarrely has clashed with our TV software.
I did negotiate a discount on the engineer (£30), and while he was here he checked the cabling, fitted a new dish and the attachment which makes the box wifi.
If you check out the forums at Sky you'll see all about the software problem. And the TV issue - Sony bravia.

[Deleted User]

I have a Sony Bravia and also the latest R10 software update, I have not encountered any problems at all.

parttimeskint

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

The £65 includes the replacement of the box. I don't see how you can say it is ever "free"??

As above, the only way it is "free" is if Sky agree not to charge!

The £65 (or what ever price you negotiate) is for the engineer and includes what ever he needs to do. He may not have to replace the box and it will still cost the same amount. If he does have to replace the box then there is no additional charge and so the box is free as is any cabling or the dish if that's the issue. You are paying for the engineer and not any specific piece of equipment.


Saying the £65 includes the replacement box implies there will definitely be a replacement box which is not the case.

[Deleted User]

parttimeskint wrote: »

Saying the £65 includes the replacement box implies there will definitely be a replacement box which is not the case.

In my experience, the "engineer" always exchanges the box and it's only "free" if Sky agree not to charge.

almillar

which also bizarrely has clashed with our TV software.

Would love to hear from whovever thought updating your Sky box had anything to do with your TV's software!

A_Star

Dumyat wrote: »

Our old box started to play up too, (failed recordings, unresponsive remote).
I contacted the online help people and to cut a long story short, the fault has been a software update Sky downloaded to the box recently, which also bizarrely has clashed with our TV software.
I did negotiate a discount on the engineer (£30), and while he was here he checked the cabling, fitted a new dish and the attachment which makes the box wifi.
If you check out the forums at Sky you'll see all about the software problem. And the TV issue - Sony bravia.

Yes these are the problems we are having. We don't have a Sony TV though and I'm not sure how the sky box can affect your TV?!