Discussion
The engineer turned up this morning to fit the new dish for Sky Q. Decided he didn't fancy our roof (3 story, but not unusually high or awkward). Rang his manager to tell them our property was not compatible with Sky Health & Safety, and that was that. Sky will not entertain replacing our dish. At all. No negotiation, "the engineer said, and his manager agrees".
Oh well.
Oh well.
Could anybody with knowledge of sky Q answer a few questions please?
My elderly parents have had sky installed recently (within past week or so) even though my Dad is completely clueless with any tech he has to have the latest gadgets!
I know they have both the Q box and the mini box in a different room. I am unsure of which sub or type/size. Should they have the fancy touch/Bluetooth remote? They have been given normal smaller size remotes for both boxes. They were charged £75.00 quid installation, installer didn't even set anything up, just told mum to put details in and pissed off. Didn't demonstrate anything nor explain pin numbers or WiFi password.
Should they have paid less money regarding installation, and should they have a touch remote control?
(they are existing customers, since early 90's IIRC, they were given a new router and have taken multi room sub + faster unlimited broadband, had sky+HD, also added box sets)
As is the way, dad enquires about gadgets or whatever and accepts my offer to accompany them when getting new phone etc only to impulse buy whatever they've been "offered"
Any help given greatly received thank you
:-)
My elderly parents have had sky installed recently (within past week or so) even though my Dad is completely clueless with any tech he has to have the latest gadgets!
I know they have both the Q box and the mini box in a different room. I am unsure of which sub or type/size. Should they have the fancy touch/Bluetooth remote? They have been given normal smaller size remotes for both boxes. They were charged £75.00 quid installation, installer didn't even set anything up, just told mum to put details in and pissed off. Didn't demonstrate anything nor explain pin numbers or WiFi password.
Should they have paid less money regarding installation, and should they have a touch remote control?
(they are existing customers, since early 90's IIRC, they were given a new router and have taken multi room sub + faster unlimited broadband, had sky+HD, also added box sets)
As is the way, dad enquires about gadgets or whatever and accepts my offer to accompany them when getting new phone etc only to impulse buy whatever they've been "offered"
Any help given greatly received thank you
:-)
KamSandhu44 said:
Antony Moxey said:
1080i. However, because it's not connected to the 4K port it says it's not detecting a 4K signal so won't allow the ultra HD setting. Of course if I switch to the 4K port I can't get a picture up on the screen for long enough to change the box resolution.
Could be a fault Q box or HDMI input on the TV, do you have any other sources to test with?Pacman1978 said:
Could anybody with knowledge of sky Q answer a few questions please?
My elderly parents have had sky installed recently (within past week or so) even though my Dad is completely clueless with any tech he has to have the latest gadgets!
I know they have both the Q box and the mini box in a different room. I am unsure of which sub or type/size. Should they have the fancy touch/Bluetooth remote? They have been given normal smaller size remotes for both boxes. They were charged £75.00 quid installation, installer didn't even set anything up, just told mum to put details in and pissed off. Didn't demonstrate anything nor explain pin numbers or WiFi password.
Should they have paid less money regarding installation, and should they have a touch remote control?
(they are existing customers, since early 90's IIRC, they were given a new router and have taken multi room sub + faster unlimited broadband, had sky+HD, also added box sets)
As is the way, dad enquires about gadgets or whatever and accepts my offer to accompany them when getting new phone etc only to impulse buy whatever they've been "offered"
Any help given greatly received thank you
:-)
WRT the remotes, the Mini box only comes with the button remote, as does the 1TB remote. Only the 2TB box with the silver bottom section comes with a touch remote.My elderly parents have had sky installed recently (within past week or so) even though my Dad is completely clueless with any tech he has to have the latest gadgets!
I know they have both the Q box and the mini box in a different room. I am unsure of which sub or type/size. Should they have the fancy touch/Bluetooth remote? They have been given normal smaller size remotes for both boxes. They were charged £75.00 quid installation, installer didn't even set anything up, just told mum to put details in and pissed off. Didn't demonstrate anything nor explain pin numbers or WiFi password.
Should they have paid less money regarding installation, and should they have a touch remote control?
(they are existing customers, since early 90's IIRC, they were given a new router and have taken multi room sub + faster unlimited broadband, had sky+HD, also added box sets)
As is the way, dad enquires about gadgets or whatever and accepts my offer to accompany them when getting new phone etc only to impulse buy whatever they've been "offered"
Any help given greatly received thank you
:-)
Digitalize said:
rscott said:
I wonder if the box doesn't cope too well with a less than perfect satellite signal - I had issues with loss of signal due to an overgrown hedge, but the box would also lock up occasionally. Half an hour with the hedge trimmer sorted it...
Some faceplates also attenuate parts of the signal used by the new wideband LNB which can cause weird issues. There have also been a few cases resolved by replacing the satellite cable even though the original appeared okay.
Yeah pretty much exactly what I said, the box is much more sensitive to poor signal. Almost definitely because it's receiving much more data through, so the tolerances are much smaller.Some faceplates also attenuate parts of the signal used by the new wideband LNB which can cause weird issues. There have also been a few cases resolved by replacing the satellite cable even though the original appeared okay.
Also, as Sky bought out Amstrad and make all these boxes in-house, its not a huge surprise they are a bit hit and miss.
janesmith1950 said:
The engineer turned up this morning to fit the new dish for Sky Q. Decided he didn't fancy our roof (3 story, but not unusually high or awkward). Rang his manager to tell them our property was not compatible with Sky Health & Safety, and that was that. Sky will not entertain replacing our dish. At all. No negotiation, "the engineer said, and his manager agrees".
Oh well.
Sky Q was supposed to be installed last Monday after sorting a deal with Bagga on here (he's very good). Dish is on second storey (flat) roof so to be safe Bagga put on order that we needed special heights team, I confirmed week before installation via Skychat that special heights team coming - yes says Sky it's noted on the order. Monday comes and sure enough the blokes on the doorstep aren't the special heights team - I think from their size they were from the special doughnuts team.Oh well.
'We'll get a special heights team to come!' says the non-special heights man. Half an hour later a monotone rang me from Sky and the next available date to install is 25 February....
Stupid thing is I was up on the roof clearing the leaves off it last week and it takes about 20 seconds to get up there.
a
holesglm1977 said:
the boxes seem to be using the internet connection more of time for the additional services such as catch up and all the various ways to download the films/programs from the start, boxsets etc... I think the main problem is that the hard drives cant cope with all the data going through it. Once these go, the box is finished and you lose all the functionality bar watching live TV. I wish they had used SSD, but I guess the costs would have been far too high.
Also, as Sky bought out Amstrad and make all these boxes in-house, its not a huge surprise they are a bit hit and miss.
The hard drives are up to the job - they're AV versions designed for multiple access. The new boxes are, apparently, manufactured in partnership with Cisco.Also, as Sky bought out Amstrad and make all these boxes in-house, its not a huge surprise they are a bit hit and miss.
rscott said:
glm1977 said:
the boxes seem to be using the internet connection more of time for the additional services such as catch up and all the various ways to download the films/programs from the start, boxsets etc... I think the main problem is that the hard drives cant cope with all the data going through it. Once these go, the box is finished and you lose all the functionality bar watching live TV. I wish they had used SSD, but I guess the costs would have been far too high.
Also, as Sky bought out Amstrad and make all these boxes in-house, its not a huge surprise they are a bit hit and miss.
The hard drives are up to the job - they're AV versions designed for multiple access. The new boxes are, apparently, manufactured in partnership with Cisco.Also, as Sky bought out Amstrad and make all these boxes in-house, its not a huge surprise they are a bit hit and miss.
Didn't realize they were made with Cisco - just going by what the Tech told me last time they came.
I've still got the same problems that I’ve had since day one, the box keeps getting stuck in standby overnight and I have to pull the power out of the back to get it going again.
Sky have replaced the box and told me numerous fixes, all of which haven't fixed it! They did give me a credit for my bill in November and December, however to be honest I’d rather it just worked! Fortunately the sky contract is up next month and I will be asking them to either remove it and put old sky back in, which I’m not sure they can do, or take the equipment away and give me refunds on the boxes
Sky have replaced the box and told me numerous fixes, all of which haven't fixed it! They did give me a credit for my bill in November and December, however to be honest I’d rather it just worked! Fortunately the sky contract is up next month and I will be asking them to either remove it and put old sky back in, which I’m not sure they can do, or take the equipment away and give me refunds on the boxes
Refunds on the boxes? You don't own them, why would they refund you?
I'd suggest signal strength problems personally, either dish not in an ideal location or a partial fault in the wiring.
Are you using Sky Broadband? Perhaps a router re-booting in the night as some do is causing issues.
I'd suggest signal strength problems personally, either dish not in an ideal location or a partial fault in the wiring.
Are you using Sky Broadband? Perhaps a router re-booting in the night as some do is causing issues.
Danm1les said:
I've still got the same problems that I’ve had since day one, the box keeps getting stuck in standby overnight and I have to pull the power out of the back to get it going again.
Sky have replaced the box and told me numerous fixes, all of which haven't fixed it! They did give me a credit for my bill in November and December, however to be honest I’d rather it just worked! Fortunately the sky contract is up next month and I will be asking them to either remove it and put old sky back in, which I’m not sure they can do, or take the equipment away and give me refunds on the boxes
How can your contract be up - the initial Q contracts were for 18 months from launch last February until about June.Sky have replaced the box and told me numerous fixes, all of which haven't fixed it! They did give me a credit for my bill in November and December, however to be honest I’d rather it just worked! Fortunately the sky contract is up next month and I will be asking them to either remove it and put old sky back in, which I’m not sure they can do, or take the equipment away and give me refunds on the boxes
janesmith1950 said:
The engineer turned up this morning to fit the new dish for Sky Q. Decided he didn't fancy our roof (3 story, but not unusually high or awkward). Rang his manager to tell them our property was not compatible with Sky Health & Safety, and that was that. Sky will not entertain replacing our dish. At all. No negotiation, "the engineer said, and his manager agrees".
Oh well.
Most independent aerial and satellite installers can now get their hands on the new style LNBs that are needed for the dish.Oh well.
Get an Indy in , all sky will then have to do is plug the box in .
The general feeling among installers and those in the satellite industry is that sky have dropped Q on the world without sorting out the bugs, it needs work
Sky also couldn't install my dish for health and safety reasons due to the exterior wall insulation on my house. Thankfully we worked around that and I was able to get rid of my virgin TiVo.
Sky Q has been working well on the whole - the main box used to crash a lot but turning off standby has helped a lot - now it's just the occasional "No satellite signal" which a reboot cures. Still a bit of a pain.
Worse is the mini though which I'm really struggling with. Originally it was connected via Wifi but the signal for the main box wasn't great. Thankfully I have gigabit LAN everywhere. This has improved things, but still I will get a minute or so dropout a couple of times an hour.
Sky Q has been working well on the whole - the main box used to crash a lot but turning off standby has helped a lot - now it's just the occasional "No satellite signal" which a reboot cures. Still a bit of a pain.
Worse is the mini though which I'm really struggling with. Originally it was connected via Wifi but the signal for the main box wasn't great. Thankfully I have gigabit LAN everywhere. This has improved things, but still I will get a minute or so dropout a couple of times an hour.
I had Q installed last Sunday, we are just in the process of having an extension built so had just redone all the cables, when the guy ( young lad) arrived I explained that I'd fit the new LNB as I was aware he wouldn't be able to go on the roof to do it.
As it was I needed a new dish, but that was installed in a few minutes and I used his kit to check the signal- I asked for a hybrid lnb as I've put extra cables in for the extension (2 outputs used for q, 4 for the other rooms).
He did pop onto the roof just to check it but did say if anyone called to check what he had done just deny he'd gone onto the roof- so it just depends on who you get..
So,far had no issues at all in terms of signal or usability. Very pleased as we got a good deal through a member on here (cancelled and used the wife's name for the new account..).
As it was I needed a new dish, but that was installed in a few minutes and I used his kit to check the signal- I asked for a hybrid lnb as I've put extra cables in for the extension (2 outputs used for q, 4 for the other rooms).
He did pop onto the roof just to check it but did say if anyone called to check what he had done just deny he'd gone onto the roof- so it just depends on who you get..
So,far had no issues at all in terms of signal or usability. Very pleased as we got a good deal through a member on here (cancelled and used the wife's name for the new account..).
Digitalize said:
Refunds on the boxes? You don't own them, why would they refund you?
I'd suggest signal strength problems personally, either dish not in an ideal location or a partial fault in the wiring.
Are you using Sky Broadband? Perhaps a router re-booting in the night as some do is causing issues.
Sky can give me an effective credit to the value of the boxes though can't then? All works out the same, they've already given me over £100 worth of credits since having sky Q. Have tried resetting the Sky Q router for other internet issues, hasn't changed anything.I'd suggest signal strength problems personally, either dish not in an ideal location or a partial fault in the wiring.
Are you using Sky Broadband? Perhaps a router re-booting in the night as some do is causing issues.
It dropped out twice on Saturday and once this evening so I'll be calling them tomorrow for an update.
rscott said:
How can your contract be up - the initial Q contracts were for 18 months from launch last February until about June.
The chap I spoke to on the phone the other week said my offer I'm on finishes next month so to call up and sort it before my deal totally ends and I have to pay full whack. Equally he said due to the technical issues I've had that thy still don't have a fix for I can end my contract if I want.Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff