my sky digibox has broken i think

BigBouncyBall

The red standby light is permanently on and we cant get it to boot at all. It has been acting up for the last week or so and i think it's finally given up the ghost.

My question is can i buy another skydigibox off ebay for ~£15 and will it work just by reconnecting everything.

I could call an engineer out but don't fancy paying someone £70 to tell me i need a new box. I know that. I've tried all the guides on the internet (forced software update etc) and none of them work.

I currently have a pace digibox - would i have to buy exactly the same model/brand or can i just go for any model/brand.

can anyone recommend a good model and make please

also could i buy a sky+ box and just plug that in and away i go or do sky need to activate it all properly etc.

Urgently need to replace the box!!

PS - the Pace box we have is about 8 years old now so i'm not too upset about it breaking it's just damn annoying!

Bongedone

Not sure if your box can do this but you could try resetting it. Turn the power off by the plug. Hold down the "back up" button and turn the power on. Keep your finger on the "back up" button till it says something on the screen.

The box must be connected to the dish when you do this. It should download the software from the satellite.

BigBouncyBall

i've tried that but i don't think anything happens - i've had my finger on the backup button for about 60 seconds and still no flashing lights or anything coming up on the screen.

I think it's just dead.

BigBouncyBall

The box is a Pace 2500B if that helps anyone

taff007

If you're brave... It could be worth ringing sky and running through their troubleshooting. If that doesn't repair it they will offer an engineer visit for around £70, but then just say you'll cancel. They should 1st offer the engineer for half price, and if you still insist on cancelling they should do it for free. I've managed to get my sky boxes replaced this way 4 or 5 times over the years, but I'm always scared that one day they will just accept my cancellation and we're back to 4 channels.

Bongedone

60 seconds shouild be enough for it to start. That is all I can suggest.

For the Sky plus question have a look through the threads from a few days back. Your question was answered then.

Edit: I ditto what the above poster said. I have had free boxes of them a few times.

Inactive

You can use any Sky Receiver, they are all much of a muchness, avoid Amstrads and Grundig's. ( IMO )

A Sky + Receiver needs two feeds from the dish to work properly.

If you are only getting the standby light, it is basically dead, no resetting will help.

eBay or a Car Boot are your best bet.;)

fox2319

taff007 wrote: »

If you're brave... It could be worth ringing sky and running through their troubleshooting. If that doesn't repair it they will offer an engineer visit for around £70, but then just say you'll cancel. They should 1st offer the engineer for half price, and if you still insist on cancelling they should do it for free. I've managed to get my sky boxes replaced this way 4 or 5 times over the years, but I'm always scared that one day they will just accept my cancellation and we're back to 4 channels.

I'd recommend this too, we've used it 2-3 times over the years. The other option they may offer is an upgrade to Sky+, we got that last year when we phoned to cancel, free box and installation. If that doesn't work, there's always getting a freeview box to tide you over when you've cancelled for the 2-3 months it takes them to offer you a free reconnection (they always do that)

HTH

BigBouncyBall

well i've just had another go at the forced update and it seems to have worked!

I've now got a black screen that says "updating system software" - it says it could take up to 10 mins - but it's been going at least 20 mins now.

Should i just leave it and let it do it's own thing?

what should happen after it updates?

BigBouncyBall

40 mins now...

I think i'll leave it and come back after lunch - after that i might switch it off at the mains and see if it works then - i might have another go at the forced update if that doesn't work.

Nex0

40mins is way to long ive done it loads of times myself and its never gone over 10 mins.

I agree with the others to be honest ring then up and threaten to leave if they wont sort it for free but if your still in a contract then as you have already said yourself just buy another box of ebay.

If you buy another box of ebay you will have to re register your card with your new box but its a quick and easy phone call.