Thomson SKY HD Box error message, need help!!!

[D.J.KRIME]

I have a Thomson HD box which I've had since Sky launched the HD service, but recently on certain channels I get the "no Sat signal" message with the error code 28. This only happens on FX HD, Sky Family movies HD, Channel 5 HD and Nickoledon.

I have tried everything I can think of from disconecting the power and reseting, even tried resesting the LNB, anyone have any ideas?:help:

 

[Clare Newsome]

I thought Sky had retired most of those early boxes by now...

Here's Sky's advice on the issue - the channel 501 check is worth doing.

Hopefully Daveh75 will be along with some advice. If not, I think you're going to need to call Sky.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Good time to negotiate for a 1TB box. I had this issue for some time and needed to reboot weekly. The new box has been perfect and the additional storage is brilliant. Maybe they will give u a free 1TB box if you threaten with going freeview or competitive?

Good luck.

 

[daveh75]

I have a Thomson HD box which I've had since Sky launched the HD service, but recently on certain channels I get the "no Sat signal" message with the error code 28. This only happens on FX HD, Sky Family movies HD, Channel 5 HD and Nickoledon.

I have tried everything I can think of from disconecting the power and reseting, even tried resesting the LNB, anyone have any ideas?:help:

The PSU has probably given up, (it's done well tbh, the components used in the Thomson PSU only had an expected lifespan of 18 months).

Clare is right Sky have/are trying to take all the early Thomson boxes out of service* and they are/were contacting customers with Thomsons and offereing free replacements, so i'd got on the phone to them and get it replaced.

*The reason being, Sky switched from using proprietary to Open Source software, and the Thomson Sky+HD and old Sky+ boxes won't run it which has left them with licensing issues.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Thanks as ever, daveh75, for the additional insight

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I have a Thomson HD box which I've had since Sky launched the HD service, but recently on certain channels I get the "no Sat signal" message with the error code 28. This only happens on FX HD, Sky Family movies HD, Channel 5 HD and Nickoledon.

I have tried everything I can think of from disconecting the power and reseting, even tried resesting the LNB, anyone have any ideas?:help:

The PSU has probably given up, (it's done well tbh, the components used in the Thomson PSU only had an expected lifespan of 18 months).

Clare is right Sky have/are trying to take all the early Thomson boxes out of service* and they are/were contacting customers with Thomsons and offereing free replacements, so i'd got on the phone to them and get it replaced.

*The reason being, Sky switched from using proprietary to Open Source software, and the Thomson Sky+HD and old Sky+ boxes won't run it which has left them with licensing issues.

I thought It may be issues caused by Sky changing their software but was hoping to hang-on to the Thomson box as AFAIK none of the new boxes have both HDMI and Component outputs as I use the Component outs to run a 2nd TV so I guess I will have to find a afordible HDMI splitter that works to run 2 TVs from a newer box. I have also fitted a 2TB HDD to my Thomson and am not sure if this will fit/work in the newer Sky boxes? as Sky will only give me the standard HD box FOC and want £149 for the 1TB box which is still half of the space I currently have.

 

[daveh75]

I thought It may be issues caused by Sky changing their software but was hoping to hang-on to the Thomson box as AFAIK none of the new boxes have both HDMI and Component outputs as I use the Component outs to run a 2nd TV so I guess I will have to find a afordible HDMI splitter that works to run 2 TVs from a newer box.

You're right only the Thomsons had component outs. It's another of the reasons Sky stopped supplying them. Broadcasters/copyright holders didn't like the component outs, because (obviously) component being analogue there's no HDCP.

I have also fitted a 2TB HDD to my Thomson and am not sure if this will fit/work in the newer Sky boxes?

I believe they can, but isn't as straight forward as it used to be. IIRC the 'Darwin' F/W the boxes run limits the partition size of the drive, so (i think i'm correct in saying) you have to have a pre-Darwin F/W to format the drive. The Copy+ site and forum should have all the info with regards to 'Darwin' f/w though.

Sky will only give me the standard HD box FOC and want £149 for the 1TB box which is still half of the space I currently have.

It's worth phoning them back. Lots of reports of late, that if you're persistant Sky will supply a 1TB box FOC.

 

[D.J.KRIME]

After hours on the phone to Sky I've reached a deal with them. There would have been a charge of £149 for the 1TB box but they have aggreed to give me the 1TB box for £49 as long as I take out multi-room with no additional instalation charge, and aggreed to credit my account for £49 for any loss of service so technically the 1TB box is FREE! They will also supply a standard HD box(non-recordible one ) FOC

Question for DAVEH75, I can get FOC a recent Amstrad Sky+HD box FOC from a friend and a OCTO-LNB, do you think if when the Sky engineer arives to install the multi-room that if I asked him nicely and maybe offered him a cup of tea he would fit the octo-lnb for me whilst up the ladder (I don't do ladders!!) and run 2 cables to the first multi-room point so I can use the Sky+ features and then another cable to another room so I can use the standard HD box they are supplying to recieve free to air channels in that room if I actually install all the boxes so all he needs to do is run the cables???

 

[daveh75]

Question for DAVEH75, I can get FOC a recent Amstrad Sky+HD box FOC from a friend and a OCTO-LNB, do you think if when the Sky engineer arives to install the multi-room that if I asked him nicely and maybe offered him a cup of tea he would fit the octo-lnb for me whilst up the ladder (I don't do ladders!!) and run 2 cables to the first multi-room point so I can use the Sky+ features and then another cable to another room so I can use the standard HD box they are supplying to recieve free to air channels in that room if I actually install all the boxes so all he needs to do is run the cables???

Almost certainly. Most installers aren't averse to doing 'extras' if your nice

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I thought that may well be the case so Cheerrs for that Dave:beer:

Now to figure out what to do with the old Thomson box and find a HDMI splitter that doesn't cost big buck and actually works as all the ones I've tried have hand-shake problems when running over a 15m HDMI cable

 

[daveh75]

If you decide to keep the Thomson then Satcure can supply you either a PSU repair kit (if you can solder) or fully rebuilt/upgraded PSU on an exchange basis.

But keep in mind that because of the s/w issues etc, Sky will stop all support for the Thomsons in the near future...

 

[Lee H]

Almost certainly. Most installers aren't averse to doing 'extras' if your nice

Confessions of a satellite installer? A happy ending?