[digitalsatman]

Why can't I pause any of my 'Other Channels'?
This is a software limitation. Sky, unfortunately, have never allowed for the other channels to be recorded, paused, or make use of any of the Sky+ features. it is unknown if such a feature is planned.

I cancelled my subscription to movies, for example, but Why can't I view my recorded programmes?
Sky+ encrypts the recordings you make, and basically looks at your subscription to see if you are entitled to view/record the programme. If you cancel your subscription, your recorded programmes become unviewable. The only
way to view the prorgammes again is to reinstate your subscription to the channel, for example Sky Movies or Sky
Sports. There is no way around this.

Where can I obtain a channel list for my box?
Digital Spy has a good list here.

How can I tell if my Sky+ box is new or refurbished?
The rule is that a new box comes in a white box with Sky+ branded on it, whereas a refurbished box comes in a brown box.

How can I tell what box I have?
Go to Services, choose 'System Setup' (option 4), then choose System Details (option 5), and look at your version
number, and comapre it to the table below.
Version number 9F20xx - Pace PVR1 (aka Pace BSKYB3000)
Version number 9F21xx - Pace PVR2 (aka Pace BSKYB3100)
Version number 4F20xx - Amstrad PVR2 (aka Amstrad DRX180)
Version number 9F23xx - Pace PVR2.5
Version number 9F22xx - Pace PVR3 (aka Pace TDS470N)
Version number 4F21xx - Amstrad PVR3 (aka Amstrad DRX280)
Version number 4E21xx - Thomson PVR3 (aka Thomson DSI8210)
Version number 4E20xx - Thomson Sky+ 160 (aka Thomson DSI6210)
Version number 4E30xx - Thomson Sky HD - (aka Thomson DSI8215)

How much can my box store?
The PVR1 and PVR2 boxes have a 40GB hard drive, which averagely can store around 20 hours of recordings. The PVR3 and PVR2.5 boxes, however, have a 160GB hard drive, but only 80GB is available for the user to use, the rest is for Anytime. Therfore, these boxes can store 40 hours of programmes. If you own a Sky+ 160 box, you can record approximately 80 hours of content.

Where can I get a new box from?
You have two options. You can either purchase one from Sky directly for £99 with £30 install, or buy one from an
independant supplier, for example Simply Digital, for around £140. You will also find a large selection of boxes on E-Bay.

Which box manufacturer is the best?
This varies from time to time. Overall, Pace are the trusted supplier, as people often find that Pace boxes are the
most reliable, and work the best. Thomson and Amstrad boxes can vary, and they both frequently switch between 2nd and 3rd places. If you want to be safe, get a Pace.

Sky+ has missed the start/end of the programme, what can I do?
If your box has not recorded the beginning/end of a programme, it's too late to do anything. But, to prevent this
from happening in the future, try and set something called the buffer to the end of the programme. You can do this
in Services then Sky+ Setup. The options are 'Add to start of recording' and 'Add to end of recording'.

My Sky+ box is crashing all the time, what can I do?
It is most likely the hard drive. You can either get Sky out for £65 to replace the box, or try and change the hard
drive yourself, but, it is possible that it won't be the hard drive, and could be a general box fault, or even the dish.

Can I use Sky+ features with Freesat from Sky?
Yes, but there is a charge of £10 per month for the service. You are better off getting the basic package from £15
per month, and getting the Sky+ subscription for free.

I've just had Sky+ installed, but the features aren't activated, what can I do?
Wait. The features can take up to 4 hours to appear, or, in some cases, up to a day. If you still don't have them the day after your box has been installed, give Sky a ring.

My Sky+ is stuck in standby, Help!
The hard drive has most likely gone. You will need to either replace the hard drive with a new one, or get Sky out
for a fee of £65. You can always try a full system reset to get the drive back, it sometimes helps:
Unplug box from the mains. Press and hold the two buttons either side of the select button, then plug back in while
holding the two buttons in, wait until the lights on the front of the box begin to spin backwards, then press the select button on the box, the record light will come on. The box will then perform the reset, and will go back into standby when finished. This procedure will wipe off all your recordings, but may just help to get your box working again.

I have lost quite a lot of disk space, when empty, my planner shows 85% free, when nothing's in there!
You will need to perform a planner rebuild by doing the following:
Press Services
Press 4, 0, 1 then select on the remote control, without looking at the screen.
Then, choose option 7 from this menu (Sky+ planner rebuild), and press select, then the rebuild will recover the lost space. Your box will reboot when finished.

What is 'System Health Check'?
This is a new feature implemented by Sky, which helps Customer Service reps find the problem with your box, should you call up. Your PIN will not work, Sky have to generate the code for you. There is nothing useful in there for you, so don't try and get in.

Does my box record in standby?
Yes. Just don't unplug the box, and all recordings will still be made.

When will my box receive the latest software update?
If you have just had Sky+ installed, your box will automatically update to the latest software within the next few days. If you have had it weeks, and it is definately not on the latest software, try a force download. This will not wipe your recording's:
Unplug box from mains
Plug back in, while holding BACK UP on the front of the box.
Wait until all 4 lights come on, then release back up and the software will be updated.
It usually takes around ten minutes.

If you have any other problems, please remember to search the forums first!

Tom

[Dan the Van]

How can I tell if my box will work with Sky Anytime TV?
Go to Services, choose 'System Setup' (option 4), then choose System Details (option 5), and look at your version. If your box version number is listed below then YES;

Version number 9F22xx - Pace PVR3 (aka Pace TDS470N)
Version number 4F21xx - Amstrad PVR3 (aka Amstrad DRX280)
Version number 4E21xx - Thomson PVR3 (aka Thomson DSI8210)
Version number 4E30xx - Thomson Sky HD - (aka Thomson DSI8215)

Dan

[digitalsatman]

Is it safe to leave my Sky+ on standby, even when I'm on holiday?

Yes. The boxes are designed to be left on standby, and are best to be left in standby in case of a software update. But, if you really want, you can turn it off, but not every night, only if you are going away for more than a few days.

[CBers]

Originally Posted by digitalsatman

Where can I obtain a channel list for my box?
Digital Spy has a good list here.

Is there a TEXTUAL list anywhere ??

[digitalsatman]

Here you go: www.wildsat.com

[CBers]

Thanks - can update my Archos unit now !!

[alibongo3103]

Problems copying to DVD?
I'm still having the problem using the copy facility on Sky+. When I record to my DVD, the picture comes out in letterbox style. It's ok if I record without using the red button. I thought Sky was going to update the software. Does anyone have an update on this or how I can get around this because I want to copy 5 episodes of Dr Who on to a DVD.

Remote Control won't work - why?
Also are people having problem where you cannot do anything from your remote control or even the box itself ie change channels. It only happens occassionaly.

Recording Light Staying on?
Another problem this morning, recorded Flight 93 which finished @ 4.00am on SD1 but I woke up this morning the red recording button was still on but the only thing recorded was the film. Is it because the channel closed down.

[digitalsatman]

Can I use the USB port on my hard drive to do things like copy recordings over to my PC?

No! The USB port has apsolutely no function whatsoever, the easiest way to copy programmes over to your PC is to use a DVD Recorder. There is no way of using the USB port! It is useless, and the only thing it does on some boxes is charge Ipod's.

[davemurgatroyd]

Originally Posted by alibongo3103

Recording Light Staying on?
Another problem this morning, recorded Flight 93 which finished @ 4.00am on SD1 but I woke up this morning the red recording button was still on but the only thing recorded was the film. Is it because the channel closed down.

This happens due to a glitch with the end of programme flag sent with the EPG data, either the broadcaster has omitted it or there was poor reception at your end when it was sent. Usually if the last programme of that channel it is the broadcasters omission.

[Andrue]

After not having problems for several weeks I had two 'power cut' failures last night. Is there any news on what is causing this problem? I'd been using the box without problems earlier in the evening.

Pace PVR3

:-/

[Dazzerukuk]

Is the FAQ re SKY + and Freesat still accurate?

A colleague has just replaced his old Sky freesat box with a Sky + box, put in the extra cable and Sky + works fine.

I can't find anything about it on the Sky site either so I assume its now free for everyone?

[digitalsatman]

You need some form of subscription (even 2 mixes) to get the Sky+ features (pause, rewind, record etc).

Tom

[Dazzerukuk]

So I wonder why his box works then?

[mphearn]

Originally Posted by digitalsatman

Is it safe to leave my Sky+ on standby, even when I'm on holiday?

Yes. The boxes are designed to be left on standby, and are best to be left in standby in case of a software update. But, if you really want, you can turn it off, but not every night, only if you are going away for more than a few days.

I have auto standby set to 'ON' but still the hard disk seems to spin all the time - even during the day when presumably no 'Sky Anytime' downloads are occurring.
Is my box faulty?

[cliftonhill]

Originally Posted by digitalsatman

Why can't I pause any of my 'Other Channels'?
I cancelled my subscription to movies, for example, but Why can't I view my recorded programmes?
Sky+ encrypts the recordings you make, and basically looks at your subscription to see if you are entitled to view/record the programme. If you cancel your subscription, your recorded programmes become unviewable. The only
way to view the prorgammes again is to reinstate your subscription to the channel, for example Sky Movies or Sky
Sports. There is no way around this.

On the other hand the opposite is also true. I "recorded" several programmes while I had no subscription but was paying the tenner to keep the + functions, although I couldn't watch them at the time. When I resubscribed later I can watch them no problem & also ones I'd recorded before I cancelled my subscription too.

[Strathclyde]

Apols if this has been asked before (I've looked..but can't find an answer):

If ONE of the LNB connections is OK, does the Sky+ box consider it's connected and allow (albeit restricted) functionality? If so, does it matter which of the two connections?

I have Sky+ in a caravan, but am getting strange problems, despite being confident that the dish is correctly aligned etc (since a separate FTA receiver auto aligns the motorised dish)

The TV is reporting no signal and no lock, and strangely only showing one LNB. But the autoseek receiver has definitely captured Astra 2 OK.

[Aaken]

Originally Posted by Strathclyde

Apols if this has been asked before (I've looked..but can't find an answer):

If ONE of the LNB connections is OK, does the Sky+ box consider it's connected and allow (albeit restricted) functionality?
Limited to watching or recording one channel at a time.

If so, does it matter which of the two connections?
Doesn't seem to matter on mine.

I have Sky+ in a caravan, but am getting strange problems, despite being confident that the dish is correctly aligned etc (since a separate FTA receiver auto aligns the motorised dish)

The TV is reporting no signal and no lock, and strangely only showing one LNB. But the autoseek receiver has definitely captured Astra 2 OK.

Are you looping thru to the Sky+ from the standard receiver?
That would prevent the Sky+ box from seeing the default channel.

[Strathclyde]

Originally Posted by Aaken

Are you looping thru to the Sky+ from the standard receiver?
That would prevent the Sky+ box from seeing the default channel.

Thanks for the response. I'm having to remote diagnose this, while my other half is having the problems at the other end of the country.

The motorised dish autoseek uses the FTA receiver (it has the autoseek software built in), and when it has found the sat by aligning the dish correctly, the LNB feed is switched (manually) to the digibox, which then has 2 LNB connections (one LNB is permanently connected to the digibox).

This has been working fine for ages. The dish/FTA receiver is correctly finding the satellite, implying that the LNB is OK. But then the Sky digibox is showing "no signal received".

I suspect there must be a bad connection somewhere (or maybe a dying Sky+ box), but I'm surprised that BOTH LNB connections seem to have failed... hence my original question... does the box need both before Sky+ functionality is enabled at all, or can either channel provide the OK status?

[davemurgatroyd]

Originally Posted by Strathclyde

Thanks for the response. I'm having to remote diagnose this, while my other half is having the problems at the other end of the country.

The motorised dish autoseek uses the FTA receiver (it has the autoseek software built in), and when it has found the sat by aligning the dish correctly, the LNB feed is switched (manually) to the digibox, which then has 2 LNB connections (one LNB is permanently connected to the digibox).

This has been working fine for ages. The dish/FTA receiver is correctly finding the satellite, implying that the LNB is OK. But then the Sky digibox is showing "no signal received".

I suspect there must be a bad connection somewhere (or maybe a dying Sky+ box), but I'm surprised that BOTH LNB connections seem to have failed... hence my original question... does the box need both before Sky+ functionality is enabled at all, or can either channel provide the OK status?

Connecting Sky dodgiboxes to motorised dishes is usually considered as a recipe for disaster - the dodgibox tends to get its knickers in a twist if it cannot find the default transponders on 28.2 when it wants to. If you really must use it in this way I would advise turning the Sky+ box off at the mains when your motorised dish is pointed elsewhere and only switching it on once correctly aligned.

Generally input 1 is used for viewing live and input 2 is used first for recording, if the required input is in use already e.g. from a timed recording then the dodgibox will automatically switch to the other BUT it will not switch automatically if it finds a "faulty" input (no signal etc). It does not need normally to have both inputs connected to get some functionality.

Once dish is correctly aligned can you try changing the lnb cable direct to the Sky box (if you loop through FTA receiver which could be faulty on internal loop through). You do not say how you are switching the lnb manually - is it an external manual switch - if so internal switch connections could be corroded etc otherwise suspect loose connections.

Also which input is showing as OK on the Sky+ box? Can you try swapping cables ovet on the inputs, if fault changes input then the fault is in the lnb/cabling, if it stays on the same input the box is faulty (if input 2 probably the hard disk) if both now work you had a dodgy connection.

[Strathclyde]

That's in fact very much how we do it (not turning the dodgybox on until the dish is settled and we've manually thrown the FTA receiver external bypass switch).

Your msg is helpful, as it sounds like input 1 must be broken somewhere, since the status screen is showing just 1 channel, no signal and no lock.

I'll be physically onsite with the kit late tomorrow...but I've been trying to remote talk my other half thru some changes/testing. When I get there I'll first swap the LNB feeds over, which will maybe give me 1 good channel, and pinpoint the fault to input "1".

Thanks to all...

[DX RULES]

Every so often this week, every time I do a live pause then play it back, it freezes, plays for a couple of seconds then freezes etc...

Why is this?

[DavidVayro]

Hi - I'm new to this so apologies if I commit any mortal sins!

I've just bought a Sony RDR-GX350 DVD Recorder. I have hooked it up to my Sky+ box as per the instructions which came with the DVD Recorder (ie both TV and DVD Scarts into the Sky+ box, but no picture.

I can't find any help on troubleshooting and I couldn't find anything relevant in FAQs.

Can anyone help please?

[jrisch]

Originally Posted by DavidVayro

Hi - I'm new to this so apologies if I commit any mortal sins!

I've just bought a Sony RDR-GX350 DVD Recorder. I have hooked it up to my Sky+ box as per the instructions which came with the DVD Recorder (ie both TV and DVD Scarts into the Sky+ box, but no picture.

I can't find any help on troubleshooting and I couldn't find anything relevant in FAQs.

Can anyone help please?

I'm not familiar with your DVD recorder, but I have mine connected as follows:

Sky+ TV SCART ==> DVDR SCART In,
DVDR SCART Out ==> TV SCART In (AV1)
Sky+ VCR SCART ==> TV 2nd SCART (AV2)

The last one is so the DVDR can be dumping from its hard drive to a blank disk and I can still watch Sky albeit without RGB. IF your DVDR passes through the RGB signal then make sure you've enabled it from the Sky+ menus.

The alternative cabling is to connect the DVDR to the Sky+VCR SCART. However this is not RGB enabled with consequently a slightly worse picture for your recordings. You'd then connect the DVDR SCART Out to AV2 on the TV.

HTH

[tvqueen1905]

we already have sky

do we need a new dish when we get sky +

[DavidVayro]

Thanks for that - I think my problem might be that my TV only has one scart port.

I guess I might end up having to replace the TV?