Sky HD problems (Not pace box)

[Shadytree]

Since upgrading my Sky to HD last month I've had nothing but hassle... from the Mrs on how pants it is.

Issue.1 - When you turn the TV on and use the Sky remote on Planner it's deadly slow. The button take 5 or 6 presses before they respond then it jumps past your programe. Now if the batteries were dying I'd understand, but leave it 15 minutes and it flies like nothing happened. Not a big issue to me, but she turns the tele on first, so she gets pi$$ed orf.

Issue.2 - Recordings are either dropped or showing as clashed. (and know it's not at the same time)

Issue.3 - Series links are dropped completly.

These small annoying issues have destracted her from the quality of the picture and viewing pleasure.

I've tried calling the Skydog Millionare call centre and apart firm suggesting a reboot, pulling the leads out or cleaning the card they were next to useless. (as usual)

Any ideas before I lose the plot with them and ditch Sky HD all together ?

[Plotloss]

Sounds like a crap box to me.

Is it a Thomson one?

There are two new ones, one by Pace and one by Samsung.

[Shadytree]

Plotloss said:

Sounds like a crap box to me.

Is it a Thomson one?

There are two new ones, one by Pace and one by Samsung.

No your favourite, Shamsung

[Plotloss]

I've just integrated one of them for a client.

That wasnt particularly quick to respond to remote commands either.

Perhaps its a manufacturer feature.

[HellDiver]

My ancient Pace one is fine. My aunt's brand new Thomson is much faster navigating menus, though. But the Pace is much quieter in operation, the Thomson is noisy and rattly with a loud fan.

[RichB]

Shadytree said:

Any ideas before I lose the plot with them and ditch Sky HD all together ?

Call Sky and say you want an replacement box else you will cancel the contract for HD.
My wife did this (she's more fierce on the phone than I am) and we've had 3 x boxes in the last few years all free... I agree they are mostly rubbish - Sky and the boxes

[JustinP1]

RichB said:

I agree they are mostly rubbish - Sky and the boxes

Thats the problem. The customer 'churn' is due to their crapness. Considering they have had a monopoly for a lot of areas and at worst a duopoly they have managed to p*** off a lot of people.

They had the perfect chance to put in a pretty much foolproof system they have control of at the sending and receiving end.

That is the reason why Apple stuff 'just works'. Standardisation saves you all of the problems that PCs have.

Instead, Sky seem to chop and change manufacturers of the boxes seemingly very quickly to try and eek out the last bit of profit from cutting corners in quality and functionality and driving the price of the boxes down by tendering the job out for boxes so quickly.

As a result there is a market of several versions of each manufacturer and we have Amstrad, Pace, Thomson, Samsung... (any others..?).

Whenever there is a failure there is no method in place to improve as the MK2.234 from that manufacturer has stopped making it, secondly when they do a software update it often sh**s up the older boxes as they are all slightly different.

Short sighted. They aren't called $ky all over the net for nothing.

[RiSimba]

Sky are doing the rounds replacing dodgy SKY HD boxes. Give Sky a call Stu.

Also take a look on AVforums

[shamrock]

Threating to cancel subscription is the way to go.

Currently got a 6 month credit on the account and am on the 4th new box since beginning of Feb.