Computer says no - Sky+ HD

rojgelf · 18-04-2006, 16:00

I tried to order sky hd last week, but the 'assistant' said I couldn't have it because I live in flats with a shared dish and the engineer wouldn't be able to fit the second feed. I pointed out that was for sky+ and I could live without sky+, I just wanted sky HD. I was told technically I was right but I couldn't have it because that would invalidate sky hd box warranty.

Is the total BS? shall I try again with a different assistant?

the toffees 68 · 18-04-2006, 16:04

Why not get your own seperate dish fitted

Jarrak · 18-04-2006, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojgelf

I tried to order sky hd last week, but the 'assistant' said I couldn't have it because I live in flats with a shared dish and the engineer wouldn't be able to fit the second feed. I pointed out that was for sky+ and I could live without sky+, I just wanted sky HD. I was told technically I was right but I couldn't have it because that would invalidate sky hd box warranty.

Is the total BS? shall I try again with a different assistant?

I suspect SKY and/or the CS don't want to sell SKY+ HD units and subs to people who are not going to get the full benefit as it would generate negative press. However some people have said they told CS they had a communcal (single feed) system and were able to place an order.

Adam792 · 18-04-2006, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojgelf

I tried to order sky hd last week, but the 'assistant' said I couldn't have it because I live in flats with a shared dish and the engineer wouldn't be able to fit the second feed. I pointed out that was for sky+ and I could live without sky+, I just wanted sky HD. I was told technically I was right but I couldn't have it because that would invalidate sky hd box warranty.

Is the total BS? shall I try again with a different assistant?

Was this the assistant by any chance?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/littlebr...nsearchers.jpg

Thargun · 18-04-2006, 16:42

Greetz

I had the same issue with them, but a friend in Birmingham got me to contact www.dastv.co.uk as they are based near me in Nottingham and they sorted it out for me. Apparently sky wont fit anything in flats at all.

Scott

mgroves · 18-04-2006, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thargun

Greetz

Apparently sky wont fit anything in flats at all.

Scott

Not true - I'm in a flat. And I have a Sky installation. And HD is coming 29th.

Mike.

cwhitehe · 18-04-2006, 19:24

I too live in a flat and I rang up Sky before pre-ordering Sky HD and asked if I could have it. This said yes, just that Sky+ parts won't work. I said fine and proceeded to order.

When I ordered I too told them my situation and they seemed happy that I only have one feed. I now have my installation date.

If they change their mind come installation date then they will be in big trouble as my purchase of a HD TV depended on their answer.

Thargun · 18-04-2006, 19:33

Well I am p***ed as sky said they wouldn't fit mine, are you sure it is sky fitting it and not a subby?

cwhitehe · 18-04-2006, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thargun

Well I am p***ed as sky said they wouldn't fit mine, are you sure it is sky fitting it and not a subby?

I can't be sure who is installing mine. All I know is that i've been talking to Sky directly throughout.

Yeti · 18-04-2006, 21:09

When I initially booked my Sky+ installation many moons ago I clearly told the customer service asst that I lived on the 13th (top) floor of a block of flats, they said I'd need the special heights team, but I told them we had a balcony where the washing gets hung out and there was no danger to a normal installer whatsoever.

Provisionally, the booking was made, and an engineer contacted me later that month. I told him what I'd previously said, saying it would be as dangerous for him to install a dish as it was for me to hang the washing out. The Sky engineer came, he saw, and said because I'd been honest and clearly stated how safe it was he fixed the dish to the wall on the inside of the balcony and I was very happy. He said though, not many engineers would've come to install it.

The only satellite dish on the building was the old analogue one. Doncaster Council weren't the slightest bit interest in converting to Sky Digital. All they kept saying was to buy a *crappy* freeview box and get digital tv that way. Maybe if they didn't fiddle their bloody expenses so much they could've afforded to install a communal digital dish so everyone that wanted to could enjoy Sky.

vflies · 18-04-2006, 22:09

Soon enough I guess everyone will be able to buy an HD box from the highstreet or the internet (ebay for starters) like we can buy a regular digibox or a sky+ box.
IMO all this pre-registration, order from Sky, compulsory installation is part of the hype Sky marketing teams want to create to turn HD into the new 21st C goldmine...

belstardeluxe · 18-04-2006, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thargun

Well I am p***ed as sky said they wouldn't fit mine, are you sure it is sky fitting it and not a subby?

Thargun how much did DAS charge you?

rojgelf · 19-04-2006, 09:41

I called sky again last night and after much haggling and completely daft info * and comments from the 2 assistants I spoke to, they agreed that I could have sky HD with my existing dish and single feed and not have (or pay) for sky+. I have an installation date end of may.

*
1. (them) you need 2 feeds for Sky HD
(me) can you watch HD while you record another HD channel
(them) yes
(me) so I can get it over a single feed then

2. (them) You need a special dish
(me) no you don't

3. (them) you need a special cable from the dish to get HD
(me) do you mean the HDMI cable, that's from the decoder box to the TV, not from the dish
(them) oh yes that's it

4. (them) why do you want it anyway if you haven't got 2 feeds
(me) I've spent £1k on a HD tv and I want HD more than sky +

rojgelf · 19-04-2006, 09:54

Just athought but if I don't subscribe to sky+ will I still be able to use the sky HD box as a PVR (ie record programs that I am watching to HDD) I realise stopping live tv and recording a second channel won't work because I won't have a second feed.

matt15+ · 19-04-2006, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojgelf

Just athought but if I don't subscribe to sky+ will I still be able to use the sky HD box as a PVR (ie record programs that I am watching to HDD) I realise stopping live tv and recording a second channel won't work because I won't have a second feed.

No definately not, can you not put up your own private dish?

Gerrard · 19-04-2006, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojgelf

I tried to order sky hd last week, but the 'assistant' said I couldn't have it because I live in flats with a shared dish and the engineer wouldn't be able to fit the second feed. I pointed out that was for sky+ and I could live without sky+, I just wanted sky HD. I was told technically I was right but I couldn't have it because that would invalidate sky hd box warranty.

Is the total BS? shall I try again with a different assistant?

They Sky installer is going to have a shock when he visits me then! I've only got a single feed (flat with shared dish) don't give a toss about Sky+ functionality nor am I having another dish fitted to the outside of my flat.

Sky never asked if I had twin feeds and I don't have a sky+ subscription. As I subscribe to Sky Movies one and two and Sky Sports, I wouldn't pay extra fro Plus anyway, so perhaps they are not bothered.

I phoned them once to ask if a Box would work off one feed and they said yes, just reduced functionality obviously. They never said they wouldn't install it.

Doubt they want to lose my subscription or refund my £300.

Basically you shouldn't have told them you only have a single feed.

Don't see how a warranty on a box has anything to do with it, thats something the box manufacturer provides, not Sky and I can't see how a single feed would invalidate that as it's not misuse.

Thargun · 19-04-2006, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by belstardeluxe

Thargun how much did DAS charge you?

It is going to be £299 fitted, they are coming to install first week in May.

rojgelf · 19-04-2006, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt15+

No definately not, can you not put up your own private dish?

I don't want to put up a private dish, or pay £10 a month for sky+, just have HD with a single feed, which I am now getting. I just wondered if I could still use the skyHD/+ box to record off my one feed. Technicaly that must be possible so do they block it because I'm not paying for sky +, or is sky + just the second feed stuff?

HEC · 19-04-2006, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojgelf

I don't want to put up a private dish, or pay £10 a month for sky+, just have HD with a single feed, which I am now getting. I just wondered if I could still use the skyHD/+ box to record off my one feed. Technicaly that must be possible so do they block it because I'm not paying for sky +, or is sky + just the second feed stuff?

You can record even with one feed (however a little tricky sometimes) but you need a Sky+ subscription for that anyway so in your case none of the PVR function will work / will be activated ...

rikwebb · 19-04-2006, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thargun

Greetz

I had the same issue with them, but a friend in Birmingham got me to contact www.dastv.co.uk as they are based near me in Nottingham and they sorted it out for me. Apparently sky wont fit anything in flats at all.

Scott

I have had these guy's too. Just a normal install (house), but they are excellent. I would recommend them to anyone having problems. They know their stuff.

Rik

JBlink · 02-07-2006, 09:51

If you are in an apartment and cannot have two feeds, or even if you just don't want "plus" functionality, it seems unreasonable that you have to buy a full HD box for £299. Are there any indications that Sky or anyone else might release a "standard" HD box?

Nigel Goodwin · 02-07-2006, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBlink

If you are in an apartment and cannot have two feeds, or even if you just don't want "plus" functionality, it seems unreasonable that you have to buy a full HD box for £299. Are there any indications that Sky or anyone else might release a "standard" HD box?

No, it would be pretty pointless, and you can still record with just a single feed anyway!.

JBlink · 02-07-2006, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

No, it would be pretty pointless, and you can still record with just a single feed anyway!.

Why pointless? Why pay for something you either don't want or cannot fully use? You can still buy ordinary Sky boxes after all!

Nigel Goodwin · 02-07-2006, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBlink

Why pointless?

Pointless to make them! - £299 is a good price anyway, the small production of non-PVR boxes would probably make them more than that anyway!.

Consider the Pace (£349) and Humax (£299) HD boxes, neither of which are PVR's (according to the specs on the net).

JBlink · 02-07-2006, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Pointless to make them! - £299 is a good price anyway, the small production of non-PVR boxes would probably make them more than that anyway!.

Consider the Pace (£349) and Humax (£299) HD boxes, neither of which are PVR's (according to the specs on the net).

Can either of these be used with Sky? That was my question - I was not aware that there were non-PVR HD boxes. I agree economies of scale may push the pricing towards a PVR based box.

18-04-2006, 16:00	#1
rojgelf Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Services: Freeview, Broadband (8MB) Posts: 34	Computer says no I tried to order sky hd last week, but the 'assistant' said I couldn't have it because I live in flats with a shared dish and the engineer wouldn't be able to fit the second feed. I pointed out that was for sky+ and I could live without sky+, I just wanted sky HD. I was told technically I was right but I couldn't have it because that would invalidate sky hd box warranty. Is the total BS? shall I try again with a different assistant?

18-04-2006, 16:04	#2
the toffees 68 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 94	Why not get your own seperate dish fitted

18-04-2006, 16:42	#5
Thargun Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nottinghamshire Services: Sky World, Sky HD, Sky + Multiroom, BeThere 24 Meg ADSL Panasonic Viera 42" Posts: 109	Greetz I had the same issue with them, but a friend in Birmingham got me to contact www.dastv.co.uk as they are based near me in Nottingham and they sorted it out for me. Apparently sky wont fit anything in flats at all. Scott

18-04-2006, 19:24	#7
cwhitehe Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34	I too live in a flat and I rang up Sky before pre-ordering Sky HD and asked if I could have it. This said yes, just that Sky+ parts won't work. I said fine and proceeded to order. When I ordered I too told them my situation and they seemed happy that I only have one feed. I now have my installation date. If they change their mind come installation date then they will be in big trouble as my purchase of a HD TV depended on their answer.

18-04-2006, 19:33	#8
Thargun Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nottinghamshire Services: Sky World, Sky HD, Sky + Multiroom, BeThere 24 Meg ADSL Panasonic Viera 42" Posts: 109	Well I am p***ed as sky said they wouldn't fit mine, are you sure it is sky fitting it and not a subby?

18-04-2006, 21:09	#10
Yeti Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Doncaster, S. Yorkshire. Services: Sky +HD, Sky BB Unlimited, Windows 7 Ultimate ;) Posts: 684	When I initially booked my Sky+ installation many moons ago I clearly told the customer service asst that I lived on the 13th (top) floor of a block of flats, they said I'd need the special heights team, but I told them we had a balcony where the washing gets hung out and there was no danger to a normal installer whatsoever. Provisionally, the booking was made, and an engineer contacted me later that month. I told him what I'd previously said, saying it would be as dangerous for him to install a dish as it was for me to hang the washing out. The Sky engineer came, he saw, and said because I'd been honest and clearly stated how safe it was he fixed the dish to the wall on the inside of the balcony and I was very happy. He said though, not many engineers would've come to install it. The only satellite dish on the building was the old analogue one. Doncaster Council weren't the slightest bit interest in converting to Sky Digital. All they kept saying was to buy a crappy freeview box and get digital tv that way. Maybe if they didn't fiddle their bloody expenses so much they could've afforded to install a communal digital dish so everyone that wanted to could enjoy Sky.

18-04-2006, 22:09	#11
vflies Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Central London Posts: 167	Soon enough I guess everyone will be able to buy an HD box from the highstreet or the internet (ebay for starters) like we can buy a regular digibox or a sky+ box. IMO all this pre-registration, order from Sky, compulsory installation is part of the hype Sky marketing teams want to create to turn HD into the new 21st C goldmine...

19-04-2006, 09:41	#13
rojgelf Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Services: Freeview, Broadband (8MB) Posts: 34	I called sky again last night and after much haggling and completely daft info * and comments from the 2 assistants I spoke to, they agreed that I could have sky HD with my existing dish and single feed and not have (or pay) for sky+. I have an installation date end of may. * 1. (them) you need 2 feeds for Sky HD (me) can you watch HD while you record another HD channel (them) yes (me) so I can get it over a single feed then 2. (them) You need a special dish (me) no you don't 3. (them) you need a special cable from the dish to get HD (me) do you mean the HDMI cable, that's from the decoder box to the TV, not from the dish (them) oh yes that's it 4. (them) why do you want it anyway if you haven't got 2 feeds (me) I've spent £1k on a HD tv and I want HD more than sky +

19-04-2006, 09:54	#14
rojgelf Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Services: Freeview, Broadband (8MB) Posts: 34	Just athought but if I don't subscribe to sky+ will I still be able to use the sky HD box as a PVR (ie record programs that I am watching to HDD) I realise stopping live tv and recording a second channel won't work because I won't have a second feed.

02-07-2006, 09:51	#21
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Services: SkyHD, Tiscali ADSL, pencil and paper Posts: 2,897	If you are in an apartment and cannot have two feeds, or even if you just don't want "plus" functionality, it seems unreasonable that you have to buy a full HD box for £299. Are there any indications that Sky or anyone else might release a "standard" HD box?