I'm just wondering since I'm on my third Sky HD box in 2 weeks, are these boxes really poorly built or am I just unlucky?
Faulty Sky HD Boxes
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Dave_
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- Jul 31, 2008
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no your not unlucky, dunno if your aware but when sky come out to replace your box, they dont replace it with a new one, you get "a service box" so basically its a box that went faulty, and then supposedly repaired, but what tends to happen is they bench test these boxes and if theres a fault its repaired, but trouble arises when they get a faulty box back,then they bench test it and the fault no longer appears to be present,coz that box will be sent straight back out as a "service box", as will your faulty box when its replaced, this is why you end up with customers going through numerous boxes
fishyfella:what problems did you have ? by any chance was it due to too much noise ?
Nope. Both boxes were well ventilated. The first box suddenly came up with "no signal being recieved", the engineer came out and tested the signal on both feeds and they were fine so he replaced the box. The second box only appeared to have one working tuner since when you tried to record a programme then watch something else at the same time you got "no signal" again. Oddly, the signal test on the Sky box said both tuners had almost full strength, and you could watch terrestrial channels whilst recording.
daveh75:no your not unlucky, dunno if your aware but when sky come out to replace your box, they dont replace it with a new one, you get "a service box" so basically its a box that went faulty, and then supposedly repaired, but what tends to happen is they bench test these boxes and if theres a fault its repaired, but trouble arises when they get a faulty box back,then they bench test it and the fault no longer appears to be present,coz that box will be sent straight back out as a "service box", as will your faulty box when its replaced, this is why you end up with customers going through numerous boxes
I had suspected that might be the case when I saw the replacement box just came in a plain cardboard box and not the Sky HD box.
Nope. Both boxes were well ventilated. The first box suddenly came up with "no signal being recieved", the engineer came out and tested the signal on both feeds and they were fine so he replaced the box. The second box only appeared to have one working tuner since when you tried to record a programme then watch something else at the same time you got "no signal" again. Oddly, the signal test on the Sky box said both tuners had almost full strength, and you could watch terrestrial channels whilst recording.
daveh75:no your not unlucky, dunno if your aware but when sky come out to replace your box, they dont replace it with a new one, you get "a service box" so basically its a box that went faulty, and then supposedly repaired, but what tends to happen is they bench test these boxes and if theres a fault its repaired, but trouble arises when they get a faulty box back,then they bench test it and the fault no longer appears to be present,coz that box will be sent straight back out as a "service box", as will your faulty box when its replaced, this is why you end up with customers going through numerous boxes
I had suspected that might be the case when I saw the replacement box just came in a plain cardboard box and not the Sky HD box.
I'm on my 2nd box and it's starting to play up - I have to reset it every few days - I think I need another new one. I had sky+ before and that functioned much better without the £150 box charge and £10 sub/month.Why are we all paying for this sub-standard service?
Juzzie Wuzzie
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- Sep 18, 2007
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FYI - I've done the power off reset for no signal now a couple of times in almost a year - so I guess it is a "problem" for SKY HD boxes.
Yes, I agree but my point again is why are we all paying for faulty equipment and why are we just passively accepting that Sky HD boxes don't work properly? Is there anything that we, the paying punters, can do as a collective group to put pressure on Sky?
I too am waiting for the new Pace HD box to come out but it seems that Sky have already started to install them into customers homes, even though they are still officially in the beta test phase. That's fine but over the last few days there are reports coming back that the Pace boxes are suffering from lip synch problems, which I'm hoping will be sorted by the 'official' launch date which from memory is Sept 8th.
First post here but long time lurker so hi everyone
First post here but long time lurker so hi everyone
daveh75:lip sync problems are common, its not just pace box's or indeed hd its common fault throughout there range of services
I know but thought I'd point out that those thinking Pace will come along and be the saviour may be surprised to find that things aren't automatically going to improve just because the box they get is a Pace one.
Have never experienced lip synch problems on SD so can't comment on whether its a common fault across their range.
I know but thought I'd point out that those thinking Pace will come along and be the saviour may be surprised to find that things aren't automatically going to improve just because the box they get is a Pace one.
Have never experienced lip synch problems on SD so can't comment on whether its a common fault across their range.
Dave_
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st3v3y:
daveh75:lip sync problems are common, its not just pace box's or indeed hd its common fault throughout there range of services
I know but thought I'd point out that those thinking Pace will come along and be the saviour may be surprised to find that things aren't automatically going to improve just because the box they get is a Pace one.
Have never experienced lip synch problems on SD so can't comment on whether its a common fault across their range.
fair point, i was generalising when i mentioned the pace box's, wasn't suggesting a pace box would come along and solve all the problems, coz it wont, also think its worth pointing out, asking sky for a pace box doesn't mean your get one either, coz sky wont guarantee that your get 1, coz basically your get what ever the installer has on board thats the way they work, having said that though if you pester them,tell them you wont accept any other box or threaten to cancel they normally give in
daveh75:lip sync problems are common, its not just pace box's or indeed hd its common fault throughout there range of services
I know but thought I'd point out that those thinking Pace will come along and be the saviour may be surprised to find that things aren't automatically going to improve just because the box they get is a Pace one.
Have never experienced lip synch problems on SD so can't comment on whether its a common fault across their range.
fair point, i was generalising when i mentioned the pace box's, wasn't suggesting a pace box would come along and solve all the problems, coz it wont, also think its worth pointing out, asking sky for a pace box doesn't mean your get one either, coz sky wont guarantee that your get 1, coz basically your get what ever the installer has on board thats the way they work, having said that though if you pester them,tell them you wont accept any other box or threaten to cancel they normally give in
Hi m8
Maybe best not to take out repair contract with sky if they use churned stb's to replace faulty boxes. Having worked in the cable industry for a number of years it was common practice to reissue churned stb's to customers some would if reported as faulty be bench tested before being reissued otherwise if just a normal customer churn then the stb would be cleaned and repacked ready for the next install.
I for one have not taken out the sky repair plan in the knowledge that they will use churn stb's and looked around for a private satellite repair/installation service company and in doing so found them to be much more cheaper than sky.
regards
satmanbasil
Maybe best not to take out repair contract with sky if they use churned stb's to replace faulty boxes. Having worked in the cable industry for a number of years it was common practice to reissue churned stb's to customers some would if reported as faulty be bench tested before being reissued otherwise if just a normal customer churn then the stb would be cleaned and repacked ready for the next install.
I for one have not taken out the sky repair plan in the knowledge that they will use churn stb's and looked around for a private satellite repair/installation service company and in doing so found them to be much more cheaper than sky.
regards
satmanbasil
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
Gerrardasnails
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- Sep 6, 2007
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hoopsfortea:
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
This is a worry for me as I've just ordered a new Pace box. There is nothing wrong with mine but I bought it brand new off ebay a year ago and it has no warranty. I can sell it on ebay for about £150 and the new one has cost me £105 delivered and installed (there was NO budging on this price). The new box has coaxial as well as optical which will be handy for me (coaxial for receiver and optical to DacMagic for radio). It's a no brainer for me though and I then get a warranty with the new box.
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
This is a worry for me as I've just ordered a new Pace box. There is nothing wrong with mine but I bought it brand new off ebay a year ago and it has no warranty. I can sell it on ebay for about £150 and the new one has cost me £105 delivered and installed (there was NO budging on this price). The new box has coaxial as well as optical which will be handy for me (coaxial for receiver and optical to DacMagic for radio). It's a no brainer for me though and I then get a warranty with the new box.
Dave_
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Gerrardasnails:hoopsfortea:
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
This is a worry for me as I've just ordered a new Pace box,you may have done,but it doesn't mean your gonna get one, your get what ever is availible at the time. ie what there installer is carrying an thats it
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
This is a worry for me as I've just ordered a new Pace box,you may have done,but it doesn't mean your gonna get one, your get what ever is availible at the time. ie what there installer is carrying an thats it
Well these sky boxes ain't made by Aston Martin are they! It's what happens when it's all about cost as that market is. And judging by my experience of Telewest and ntl in the bad old days, sky are a million times better. The two very worst pieces of customer service I've ever had (and by quite some distance) were those pathetic cable companies; in fact I wrote to the CEO of both companies, and I was so furious I wrote pages and pages of sarcasm to them. Needless to say I have never used either company since and won't go near Virgin either. ntl in particular shouldn't have been allowed to trade, they were that poor.
Gerrardasnails
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- Sep 6, 2007
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daveh75:Gerrardasnails:hoopsfortea:
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
This is a worry for me as I've just ordered a new Pace box,you may have done,but it doesn't mean your gonna get one, your get what ever is availible at the time. ie what there installer is carrying an thats it
If it's not a new box that they bring round, I'll just send them packing.
I had sky hd installed on Tuesday 2nd September, brand new Pace box. Lasted all of 10 days before it stopped working. Stuck on standby, or wouldn't change channel and coudn't return to standby among other problems including failed recordings and the lip sync issues. I recieved a replacement Thomson (refurb) box on Tuesday of this week. It repeatdly goes into standy. 6 times in the space of 40 minutes last night.
The box is sitting on its own shelf in an open frame stand, so there is plenty of ventilation. So it would seem that Pace boxes are probably just as poorly built as others.
This is a worry for me as I've just ordered a new Pace box,you may have done,but it doesn't mean your gonna get one, your get what ever is availible at the time. ie what there installer is carrying an thats it
If it's not a new box that they bring round, I'll just send them packing.
Gerrardasnails
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daveh75:sorry should of made it clearer, you will get a new box, but theres no guarantee it'll be a pace could just as easily be a thomson, just depends what the installer is carrying,
No, I understood you. If it's not a Pace box (they said it would be), I will not take it.
No, I understood you. If it's not a Pace box (they said it would be), I will not take it.
Sky's customer service is the worst out there. I did their recommend a friend thing to (supposedly) get £100 worth of M&S vouchers back in April. I have never received the vouchers and spent hours and hours on the phone since with no joy. I have even approached Sky personnnel at stands at the Motor show etc and got nowhere again. They are only good on the phone when you are buying a new install. I have HD in the lounge, Sky+ in the bedroom and Sky ordinary in the kitchen, all with a full package of channels. I spend a small fortune with them every month.
Luckily I have had a working HD box since May '06. Just lately it's starting crashing etc and I booked a service call. Fortunately it started working again after being left with power off for a whole day (15 mins was no good) so I was able to cancel the call. the HD box is one thing you may want to consider an extended warranty on (usually they are a rip-off on CE) because the HDD is working very hard compared to other applications. My Sky+ box has failed and had to be replaced about 4 times in the last few years.
Luckily I have had a working HD box since May '06. Just lately it's starting crashing etc and I booked a service call. Fortunately it started working again after being left with power off for a whole day (15 mins was no good) so I was able to cancel the call. the HD box is one thing you may want to consider an extended warranty on (usually they are a rip-off on CE) because the HDD is working very hard compared to other applications. My Sky+ box has failed and had to be replaced about 4 times in the last few years.
When i got my install about 3 months ago the first box i got packed up in less than 8 hours ,I couldnt get it out of Standby! I phoned sky asap and the Engineer was at my house again the next day at 10am with a new box ,
But i have Thomason one at the moment and its been running ok , I does everynow and then crash on me but its nothing serious, I just take the power button out for 5mins and plug it back in and it works again ok. But i do evey now and then the sound cuts out , And this is on Sky Anytime , I was thinking it might be to do with the connection and the weather , but i tryed it again one the same film and in the same place everytime the sound cuts out ? Wierd.
But i have Thomason one at the moment and its been running ok , I does everynow and then crash on me but its nothing serious, I just take the power button out for 5mins and plug it back in and it works again ok. But i do evey now and then the sound cuts out , And this is on Sky Anytime , I was thinking it might be to do with the connection and the weather , but i tryed it again one the same film and in the same place everytime the sound cuts out ? Wierd.
Gerrardasnails
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- Sep 6, 2007
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jasonsony735:When i got my install about 3 months ago the first box i got packed up in less than 8 hours ,I couldnt get it out of Standby! I phoned sky asap and the Engineer was at my house again the next day at 10am with a new box ,
But i have Thomason one at the moment and its been running ok , I does everynow and then crash on me but its nothing serious, I just take the power button out for 5mins and plug it back in and it works again ok. But i do evey now and then the sound cuts out , And this is on Sky Anytime , I was thinking it might be to do with the connection and the weather , but i tryed it again one the same film and in the same place everytime the sound cuts out ? Wierd.
Quality of reception is definitely a factor - I've not had any issues with mine apart from the odd crash (once every month or so). This is normal for drives and such.
But i have Thomason one at the moment and its been running ok , I does everynow and then crash on me but its nothing serious, I just take the power button out for 5mins and plug it back in and it works again ok. But i do evey now and then the sound cuts out , And this is on Sky Anytime , I was thinking it might be to do with the connection and the weather , but i tryed it again one the same film and in the same place everytime the sound cuts out ? Wierd.
Quality of reception is definitely a factor - I've not had any issues with mine apart from the odd crash (once every month or so). This is normal for drives and such.
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