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Sky - Sky HD+ Box

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?

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Comments

  • Neil_Jones
    Neil_Jones Posts: 9,532 Forumite
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    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
    prowla Posts: 13,932 Forumite
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    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
    DE_612183 Posts: 3,613 Forumite
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    @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
    iniltous Posts: 3,641 Forumite
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    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
    MeteredOut Posts: 2,963 Forumite
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    edited 15 August 2024 at 2:12PM
    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
    brewerdave Posts: 8,692 Forumite
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    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 !!
  • 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
    MeteredOut Posts: 2,963 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 16 August 2024 at 10:43AM
    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
    prowla Posts: 13,932 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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
    prowla Posts: 13,932 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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.
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