New Sky+ subscriber - very confused.

microgirl

And YES, I've read the FAQ and stickies

Basically, I can't get RTE1, RTE2, TV3, TG4 or Ch4. I have no idea why. They're listed on the Sky website as free-to-air, although according to the info I've got here they're not, but that's a moot point as I've subscribed to the Variety and Knowledge mixes, and so should get the Bonus mix by default anyway. According to the Sky Customer Service rep I rang last night though in an effort to sort this out, those channels are on the Variety mix, which I wasn't subscribed to she said. I pointed out their error, and it was (supposedly) corrected.

Except I still can't get the channels. My mam has found the "spaces" for the Irish channels (though nothing for Ch4) on the TV, but the message "This channel is unavailable" (or "not available in your area" or something) is displayed.

Now, reading the FAQ here I clicked on the link to the Wikipedia EPG comparison chart, and what it seems to my very ignorant eyes to be, is that we are somehow getting the British EPG. As in EPG 101 and 102 are BBC 1 and BBC 1, and we're getting things like BBC3, BBC3, ITV3 and other channels that apparently aren't available in Ireland.

Since we don't have NTL anymore following my mother essentially "sacking" them ( ) Sky is our only means of getting telly at all, and not being able to get RTE1 and RTE2 is pretty bad. Not being able to get Channel 6 is going to be enough of a sacrifice for my mam (I'm also very perturbed by what I've read on here about Channel 4 being blocked a lot of the time because of rights :S)

Can anyone shed some light on this for me, or make any suggestions of what I can do? Ok, so I can ring Sky again, but lovely though the folk in the call centre are, I'm beginning to think they don't have any more of a notion of this technology than I do.

Sam Radford

Try rebooting the Digibox.
Try selecting a "new installation" in the menu.

The channels you receive are determined by your postcode (or lack of). A "BT" postcode will get you British BBC, ITV etc.

Mossy Monk

microgirl wrote: »

Basically, I can't get RTE1, RTE2, TV3, TG4 or Ch4. I have no idea why. They're listed on the Sky website as free-to-air

Does it? Where?

Regarding your problem, if the New Installation does not work, call Sky and tell them that your card is confused and thinks it is British.

microgirl

*facepalm*

So yeah, aaaaaaanyway, I may have been a little hasty. )

Basically, when I last checked in the wee hours of this morning, the situation was as described above, only no RTE1/RTE2 etc holding-spaces. Mam rang me today to say there were now holding spaces, but "This programme is not available" messages displayed, and I assumed they were on some random channel.

They're not, they're on the expected 101, 102 etc. Channel 4 is also now fully available on 135. So normal Irish EPGs (didn't check for BBC3 and BBC4 etc). The 5 Irish channels though (Channel 6 included) are still only displaying "This programme is not available" messages, so maybe someone didn't switch a button in Sky or something. But am happier calling them for something that now seems more straightforward.

Thanks for your suggestions I presume by "rebooting" you just meaning turning it off and on, yeah? (with requisite one-minute waiting times). Would be wary of New Installation, in case I did something daft

domania

I assume you have got your viewing card inserted correctly and that it has been paired with your SKy+ box. As for tuning in ITV1 to 4 and BBC 3 +4 that must be done seperately.

Quatre Mains

I;d ring them up and tell them to send someone out to either fix it or take the box back, as it was not sold to you as described.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/consumer-protection/consumer-rights/your_rights_when_you_buy_a_service

I ordered Sky+ about 2 years ago and 3 times the saps never showed up on the agreed date. Each time I had to ring that same call centre as you, and they didnt give a damn. One woman told me I would have to schedule a new appointment and go back to the bottom of the waiting list, and this after sitting in the gaff all day waiting for them. My point is, you'll get nowhere by being passive with them. Call them up (or get a frein d to do it if you're not comfortable) demanding someone come out, ask for a manager if you're getting nowhere.

watty

The card takes a while to fully activate. RTE1, 2, TG4 and TV3 have never been FTA on Satellite and are unlikely ever to be so.

Only disconnecting mains reboots the sky digibox. The on/off switch turns off the RF Modulator and mutes the AV out connections. Otherwise it is all still running. As it needs to for its keys and SW updates.

Make sure card firmly in the BOTTOM slot with gold chip connections underneath and to front.