Software Update, anyone???

Skyuser

Did anyone get the new software yet? I have a pace box, and I am still waiting!:mad:

mickeyboymel

Most models have been updated, except the Sky+ box, but it seems a lot of boxes have been left out.

They do not seem to completely finish all the updates to one model before moving on to the next.

Most Panasonic boxes were updated this week.

All you can do is wait, and make sure you leave the box on standby when not in use, or ot may miss the release key they give to the box to update.

If your box has been plugged out and you think you may have missed the update you can do a forced download, at a later stage, but if they have not released the key for your model yet this will have no effect., and if the "window period" for your model has passed, you have to wait until all the other models are updated first

Whats your Box Model?

sceptre

Mine picked up the upgrade at the start of the week.

It hasn't been on standby in over a year.

mickeyboymel

Originally posted by sceptre
Mine picked up the upgrade at the start of the week.

It hasn't been on standby in over a year.

Yes,most likely because they were transmitting the key for your particular box all week,but if your box had been powered off completely during the entire release window (usually 7 days?), your box would have missed the update, and you would have to wait until all the other boxes were updated, before a forced download would work.

Once all the boxes have been update, the new software remains the standard for all.

If you miss a "key" you have to wait until all the models are updated before a forced download will work.

So if your box is not turned on, and you miss the relevant key, it will not update until all the other models are updated.

They release the updates gradually model by model, in case any particular box has a problem with the new software. Once they confirm all is well with a particular model, they move onto the next. It is not available to all from the outset in case any faults develop.

dmeehan

what is the latest and greatest version numbers?

sceptre

Originally posted by mickeyboymel
Yes,most likely because they were transmitting the key for your particular box all week,but if your box had been powered off completely during the entire release window (usually 7 days?), your box would have missed the update, and you would have to wait until all the other boxes were updated, before a forced download would work.

Ah, looks like I misinterpreted you and you misinterpreted me. My box never gets turned off in any way. Apart from the downtime after software updates it's been tuned into a channel for over a year.

(I now assume you meant: don't turn your box off at the mains as you'll miss the key - when you turn it off, leave it in standby instead of killing the power. I'm reading you correctly now I think?)

mickeyboymel

Yep Sceptre, a definitive case of crossed wires:D

Latest version is 3.2.11

zedsDeadBaby

Since the SKY+ update last week has anyone here had problems?
I've got the 'no satelite signal' about once every 2 days since the update last week.
I never got this before at all.

arkles

Originally posted by zedsDeadBaby
Since the SKY+ update last week has anyone here had problems?
I've got the 'no satelite signal' about once every 2 days since the update last week.
I never got this before at all.

Da wind

byte

I've a Panasonic, and got the update last Friday. The new Picture Settings menu is very handy.

god's toy

I have the Pace +box and don’t have the update yet.

Gavin W

Originally posted by mickeyboymel
Most Panasonic boxes were updated this week.

Hmmm, mine's a Panasonic. I just checked and it seems I've got the update (version 3.2.11 right?). However all this week I've been noticing an increased frequency in glitches and faults in the picture - parts of the image breaking up into blocky patterns, occassional freezes, that sort of thing. It used to be the case that I'd rarely see any faults, maybe a tiny glitch every couple of months or so, but now it's happening several times a day :mad:

Anyone else having problems? Some channels (like UKTV G2) seem to be affected worse than others.

watty

Sounds like poor signal. Perhaps your dish was moved slightly in the gales a week or so ago.

Check signal & quality bargraphs.

mickeyboymel

Yes I think a lot of the new software updates have coincided with the stormy weather, leading to a lot of confusion, and in many cases the updates being blamed for poor reception, rather than a misaligned dish!

Gavin W

No, the bargraphs were the first thing I checked - signal strength is at 70%, same as always, whereas signal quality has actually increased from 80% to 90%.

I tried unplugging the box for an hour or so to see if that would help and so far today I haven't seen any problem. Fingers crossed...

mickeyboymel

There have been reports on HERE of an acknowledgement from Sky, that there are issues with the new software on certain models and a fix is being worked on

Gavin W

Still having problems with occasional picture break-up every day. I'm not so sure now whether it is the new software or not. I did a forced download yesterday to get the latest version again, because I thought that maybe something went wrong the first time and re-acquiring it might solve the problem, but no such luck. Plus the problem other people are reporting with the new software is one of constant resetting or crashing, which I haven't experienced.

I wonder if the dish did move in the wind after all? Is it possible for the dish to have been moved just a tiny bit out of alignment, just enough to cause the effect I'm describing, but to still get high 'signal strength/signal quality' readings?

And can anyone tell me how much it'll cost to get someone from Sky out to fix it...?:(

Cheers,
Gavin

mickeyboymel

Gavin make a list of the channels effected, then check this list note which transponder/beam your problem channels are on.

If you notice all the problem channels are on the same transponder, its most likely your dish is out.

edit

Your signal reading is taken fron the default transponder, but there are several other transponders also in use, so the default may display correctly,even if your dish is slightly out.

jabarrett35

My Sky + box has not had an up date as of yet is this norm.

mickeyboymel

Originally posted by jabarrett35
My Sky + box has not had an up date as of yet is this norm.

None of the Sky+ boxes have been updated yet, I would imagine, this may be due to the fact Sky+ recievers have been problamatic in the past , especially when new software has been downloaded, and they will perfect the new software on standard boxes first.

Edit...Gavin - how did you get on?

Gavin W

Originally posted by mickeyboymel
Edit...Gavin - how did you get on?

Thanks for the link. I don't know exactly how many channels are affected as it can be fine for most of the day, so it might be happening on channels that I don't watch or just haven't caught at the right time. Of the channels where I have seen the fault, they don't all seem to be on the same transponder or beam, though a few of them are on 2A south.

Strangely, it happened during Smallville on E4 last night at around 9.20, exactly the same time and channel where it had happened the previous Monday. Also, changing the channel and then changing back seems to cure it.

I've never had to call anyone out to check the dish or other equipment before (only had it 10 months), what's the best way to go about it? Should I call Sky or would it be better (and possibly cheaper?) to find someone local?

Cheers,
Gavin

mickeyboymel

Is the box overheating, Panasonics are known for this, make sure it is well ventilated, and if stacked, make sure it is on top, with the air vents exposed.

If it is under a year old, there must be some guarentee, so Sky is probably your best bet ( someone else might be able to clarify this)

mickeyboymel

For anyone who is intrested, or actually wants it, Sky appear to have finished the first phase of the current updates to the EPG software for standard Digiboxes, so a forced download will now work if you have missed the release period for your particular model.

The new updated will show the following on your system:

Operating System:1.2S4F1
EPG:3.2.11

They are starting on Sky+ models over the next two months.

PadraigL

I don't know if this will help. But a while back I had intermittent picture break up on E4 and also on the fashion channel (don’t watch it normally but it’s close to bbc to check).
I had just bought a new TV and on my sky box I had changed picture to RGB instead of PAL.

When I changed back to PAL all was OK.
By the way RGB have brilliant picture quality.

PadraigL

Gavin W

It turned out that the problem was with the tuner and so the digibox had to be replaced (I was lucky as it was just a few weeks before the warranty expired). The new box is working fine but has the old software, so I think I'll try a forced download tonight to get the new version.

mickeyboymel

Thanks for the update Gavin, its good to see feedback so others can benefit if they have similar problems:D

PK - the king

:eek: Sky have software and picture problems? :eek: :eek: :eek: I've just ordered sky after having ntl BECAUSE i had picture problems!!! Don't tell me that sky is headed the same way???

Gavin W

Originally posted by PK - the king
:eek: Sky have software and picture problems? :eek: :eek: :eek: I've just ordered sky after having ntl BECAUSE i had picture problems!!! Don't tell me that sky is headed the same way???

Don't panic, I'm sure it's just a one-off!:) Was it NTL Digital you had trouble with? Picture break-up, freezing, that sort of thing? If so I know exactly how you feel because I had the same problems before dumping them and getting Sky. But apart from my recent problem with the digibox's tuner I mentioned, Sky's picture was perfect, and the new box has so far been working perfectly too.

Broadly speaking, the fault with NTL Digital's picture seems to be fairly common and widespread. I've heard of loads of people who've had the same trouble with it. Whereas problems with Sky tend to be individual and isolated cases with digibox faults, etc, rather than a problem with the Sky signal itself.