[Marrea]

Had a brand new Amstrad Sky+ HD box installed three weeks ago, but had not tried to record anything until this week. Made three attempts at recording programmes. They have all failed, the reason given as either Technical Error 9 or Technical Error 10.

First attempt was to record a programme I was watching at the time. Second attempt was a timer record using the Planner. Third attempt was a timer record via Remote Record. In all cases, the red recording light came on and went off at the appropriate times, but when I went to the Planner afterwards all I got was the "failed" message. These three attempts were on three consecutive days.

After the first two failed messages, I deleted the failed recording from the Planner before setting up record for the next one. And I have also deleted the third failed recording.

Any suggestions as to what I might do to possibly remedy the situation? I've read so many threads about rebooting, forced software update, Planner Rebuild, etc., etc. and I am loth to start fiddling about too much and perhaps make things worse.

[coopermanyorks]

Originally Posted by Marrea

I am loth to start fiddling about too much and perhaps make things worse.

Its your choice,without some fiddling about it won't get sorted,the alternative is to ring Sky they will get you to fiddle about a bit before sending someone out to replace the box.


I don't really know what you are wanting if you are un-willing to try things

[Marrea]

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

... before sending someone out to replace the box.

Will we be charged £65 for this, bearing in mind we have only just got the box and for which we have already paid a £60 installation fee?

I don't really know what you are wanting if you are un-willing to try things

What I really meant was, does rebooting, forcing a software update, etc., etc., on a regular basis do more harm than good to the box? I keep reading threads where people have done this and it cures the problem for a while but then it comes back again and they have to repeat the procedure.

The two cables which come in from the satellite dish and their two ports on the back of the Sky box: does it matter which port they are plugged into (ie does this have any effect on recording?) and, if so, how do you identify which cable is which? (You'll have to forgive me, I'm not very au fait with how the Sky box works.) We're able to view programmes perfectly OK. It's just the recording which is not working.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Marrea

Will we be charged £65 for this, bearing in mind we have only just got the box and for which we have already paid a £60 installation fee?

Of course not, it's under guarantee - if/when he comes make 100% sure he replaces the faulty box with a brand new one - commonly they often try and replace it with a second hand one, which is most probably faulty itself. Sky's own rules say that boxes under three months old will be replaced with a brand new box.

[Willie Wontie]

Originally Posted by Marrea

Will we be charged £65 for this, bearing in mind we have only just got the box and for which we have already paid a £60 installation fee?

No - all equipment (Sky HD box, dish, LNB, cabling) is covered by a 12 month warranty, whether it is repaired or replaced.

Originally Posted by Marrea

What I really meant was, does rebooting, forcing a software update, etc., etc., on a regular basis do more harm than good to the box? I keep reading threads where people have done this and it cures the problem for a while but then it comes back again and they have to repeat the procedure.

Even if it fixes the problem for only a short amount of time it certainly doesn't exacerbate the problem. Defragging a PC may only improve things for a few months - but it certainly doesn't harm the PC. And the box will eventually download any updates itself, whether you force any fixed downloads or not. Getting your car serviced doesn't mean it will never need servicing again - but you should reap the benefits of having got it serviced for the next few months. It certainly doesn't harm your car by getting it serviced.

Originally Posted by Marrea

The two cables which come in from the satellite dish and their two ports on the back of the Sky box: does it matter which port they are plugged into

No, it doesn't matter.

[coopermanyorks]

Originally Posted by Marrea

Will we be charged £65 for this, bearing in mind we have only just got the box and for which we have already paid a £60 installation fee?

No, if the box is a new install its covered by a 12 month warranty so no call out charge at all

So your best bet would be to call them,did the installer give you is phone number to contact him in the first 30 days ?

Originally Posted by Marrea

What I really meant was, does rebooting, forcing a software update, etc., etc., on a regular basis do more harm than good to the box? I keep reading threads where people have done this and it cures the problem for a while but then it comes back again and they have to repeat the procedure.

If you ring Sky they will get you to power down the box , force a SW update etc before they send out an installer,so you may as well try the fix before starting a 20 min phone call just to see if it fixes it

Powering down the box, doing planner rebuilds and forced software updates is pretty standard reply,it seems to cure a few glitches on boxes

If there is something actually wrong with the box it won't be a long term cure


What do you subscribe to ? , is this an upgrade to Sky+Hd from Sky+ or a std box or are you a totally new to Sky customer

[Marrea]

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

did the installer give you is phone number to contact him in the first 30 days ?

Unfortunately not. Are they supposed to do that?

What do you subscribe to ? , is this an upgrade to Sky+Hd from Sky+ or a std box or are you a totally new to Sky customer

No, it's not an upgrade, neither are we totally new Sky customers. We have been customers without a break since 1999. We upgraded to Sky+ HD in November 2007 (although I think it was referred to as Sky HD on our bill then - without the plus). That box gave up the ghost on 9 October this year and we had the new box installed on 20 October.

So it was simply a direct replacement. Dead box removed, new identical box installed (first one was a Thomson, new one an Amstrad).

[Marrea]

OK, I've done some further experimenting. The box will record the basic free channels like BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 5 (not tried Channel 4 yet) but it doesn't seem to want to record Sky channels. If I try anything like G.O.L.D or Sky Arts it fails.

Any idea why this should be?

[Nethermancer]

Originally Posted by Marrea

OK, I've done some further experimenting. The box will record the basic free channels like BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 5 (not tried Channel 4 yet) but it doesn't seem to want to record Sky channels. If I try anything like G.O.L.D or Sky Arts it fails.

Any idea why this should be?

You need to phone the number on the card as your viewing card has not been paired correctly with the new box. They will say it takes up to 24 hours but usually happens (in my experience) in about 10 minutes.

[Marrea]

Originally Posted by Nethermancer

You need to phone the number on the card as your viewing card has not been paired correctly with the new box. They will say it takes up to 24 hours but usually happens (in my experience) in about 10 minutes.

Is that really all it is?

[Mystic Eddy]

Sounds like the installer didn't do a callback when the boxes were swappped. Your best bet is to phone Sky and ask them to pair the card to the new box.

[Marrea]

So does this mean that if the card is not paired correctly, it doesn't stop you viewing the Sky channels (which we can do) but it prevents you recording them?

[ilovekrys]

sounds that way try going on 301 and see if you get a wrong box message or not

[Marrea]

OK, just tried that and, yes, I'm getting a wrong card for this box error.

I'll give Sky a ring tomorrow morning - bit busy at the moment - and will report back on what happens.

Many thanks to you all.

I'm learning things all the time on this Forum.

[ilovekrys]

so that shows the card hasn't been paired yet so you will have to call them to pair it

[Marrea]

Originally Posted by Marrea

I'll give Sky a ring tomorrow morning - bit busy at the moment - and will report back on what happens.

Found time to give them a ring this evening and it is now fixed. It was indeed simply a case of the viewing card not being paired correctly. Can now record Sky channels.

So, again, a big thanks to those who steered me in the right direction.