Sky - Sky HD+ Box

DE_612183

I've got an old sky box - still connects to the outside world for TV via a dish, although I can download and stream when required.

I've had a recent issue when I go to the TV guide, I can see the menu of programmes but can't select them. Planner works fine on playback.

I've tried different remotes, and the issue persists - the box is getting the command as little red light flashes, also any programmes that are on a series link continue to record, and I can replay.

I phoned sky and they wanted to move me onto Q which I'm loath to do as there is some stuff on the box I don't want to lose.

Any ideas / advice?

Neil_Jones

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/updating-sky-box-software-sky-plus-hd

After this it should go back to channel 998 and may be a bit sluggish for a bit while everything gets recached.  Recordings are not affected (or shouldn't be affected)

Sky+HD is discontinued and unsupported by Sky (bar getting what you're paying for on it) so any technical support you need on the platform will be non existent.

prowla

Have you switched it off and on again recently (not during recording, of course)? I found I had to do that from time-to-time.

Does it work for free-to-air sites (eg. BBC) if you take the card out?

Q is a nice system, but they will change your dish's LNBs, which means you'd not be able to connect your old HD box(es) anymore and your saved recordings stop working once Q is activated.

DE_612183

@Neil_Jones - yes tried that - no joy.

@prowla - the issue is that I cannot select anything from the Tv Guide, or by keying in the channel number - whether the card is in or not. 

iniltous

You could buy a second hand box ( doubt if they are much ££  , but obviously you may get someone else’s troublesome box ) and ask Sky to pair your viewing card to the new box 

MeteredOut

prowla said:

Have you switched it off and on again recently (not during recording, of course)? I found I had to do that from time-to-time.

Does it work for free-to-air sites (eg. BBC) if you take the card out?

Q is a nice system, but they will change your dish's LNBs, which means you'd not be able to connect your old HD box(es) anymore and your saved recordings stop working once Q is activated.

Unless you ask them to install a hybrid LNB, which will support both the HD and Q boxes. I did that, but it was 7 years ago now and I've not had any reason to test it.

brewerdave

MeteredOut said:

prowla said:

Have you switched it off and on again recently (not during recording, of course)? I found I had to do that from time-to-time.

Does it work for free-to-air sites (eg. BBC) if you take the card out?

Q is a nice system, but they will change your dish's LNBs, which means you'd not be able to connect your old HD box(es) anymore and your saved recordings stop working once Q is activated.

Unless you ask them to install a hybrid LNB, which will support both the HD and Q boxes. I did that, but it was 7 years ago now and I've not had any reason to test it.

Tried that 18 months ago when my HD box finally failed - the engineer who fitted Sky Q told me that they had been instructed NOT to fit hybrid LNBs - in fact she didn't even have access to one- she suggested I might have to get an independent aerial/dish fitter to change it over at a later date - more cost !!

Raging_Bull

Is there actually any big issue changing to the aerial for Sky Q? Would Freesat/free view boxes be okay to use at a later date?

MeteredOut

brewerdave said:

MeteredOut said:

prowla said:

Have you switched it off and on again recently (not during recording, of course)? I found I had to do that from time-to-time.

Does it work for free-to-air sites (eg. BBC) if you take the card out?

Q is a nice system, but they will change your dish's LNBs, which means you'd not be able to connect your old HD box(es) anymore and your saved recordings stop working once Q is activated.

Unless you ask them to install a hybrid LNB, which will support both the HD and Q boxes. I did that, but it was 7 years ago now and I've not had any reason to test it.

Tried that 18 months ago when my HD box finally failed - the engineer who fitted Sky Q told me that they had been instructed NOT to fit hybrid LNBs - in fact she didn't even have access to one- she suggested I might have to get an independent aerial/dish fitter to change it over at a later date - more cost !!

That's a bit sneaky. They're pretty cheap so I wonder if they would still fit it if you bought it yourself, or whether they've been told not to do it. I suspect £20 cash would change their mind, especially if they're outsourced and not a Sky employee (assuming they do still outsource installations too).

They're not difficult to change, if you can reach your dish.

prowla

brewerdave said:

MeteredOut said:

prowla said:

Have you switched it off and on again recently (not during recording, of course)? I found I had to do that from time-to-time.

Does it work for free-to-air sites (eg. BBC) if you take the card out?

Q is a nice system, but they will change your dish's LNBs, which means you'd not be able to connect your old HD box(es) anymore and your saved recordings stop working once Q is activated.

Unless you ask them to install a hybrid LNB, which will support both the HD and Q boxes. I did that, but it was 7 years ago now and I've not had any reason to test it.

Tried that 18 months ago when my HD box finally failed - the engineer who fitted Sky Q told me that they had been instructed NOT to fit hybrid LNBs - in fact she didn't even have access to one- she suggested I might have to get an independent aerial/dish fitter to change it over at a later date - more cost !!

Mine refused and also replaced the fitting with one which only took two LNBs.

(You can get third parties to do them, though.)

prowla

DE_612183 said:

@Neil_Jones - yes tried that - no joy.

@prowla - the issue is that I cannot select anything from the Tv Guide, or by keying in the channel number - whether the card is in or not. 

Did you power off & on (remove the mains cable from the back of the box, count to 10, plug back on)?

My box would hang from time to time.