A few questions re Sky HD

Alfie1

Hi, just a few quick questions before I get Sky HD

I'm an existing Sky+ customer, will I get a new Dish when I switch to HD ( my existing one is starting to show it's age & I'd like a new one )

Also AFAIK only Samsung & Pace boxes are now available, which should I ask for if I get the choice.


Thanks in advance

rednik

Not sure on the make of box, I have the thomson but the dish will remain the same.

steveon

You will have to pay for a new dish if u want one. If given the choice between a pace or a samsung take the Pace box.

Alfie1

Any idea how much a new dish might set me back ?

staker

Be sure to ask your agent on day of order,they'll give you a quote.

I'd take a Pace over a Samsung too tbh.

You can get a new dish if you want and you won't have to pay for it.
I got a new dish.
The install actually includes the dish and box regardless of you being an existing customer.
It's just that most people just get the box changed over.

Sam Radford

Yes, if you don't have the allocated dish, it'll be on eBay the following week!

SteM

Deleted User wrote: »

You can get a new dish if you want and you won't have to pay for it.
I got a new dish.
The install actually includes the dish and box regardless of you being an existing customer.
It's just that most people just get the box changed over.

You're correct. I got SkyHD installed yesterday and the installer seemed very surprised when I said that I wanted to use the dish that was on the house already as opposed to him installing a new one. He just switched out the LNB.

watty

It's because they use stupid mesh dishes that rust away in 4 to 5 years instead of longer lasting solid ones. The mesh are cheaper to make and cheaper to ship. (No reduction in wind load as the holes are too small and at some angles the wind load is higher).

Wirebrush and a couple of coats of hammerite extends the life a lot if it is only slightly rusting.

So get a new dish if offered. If it's accesible at least paint spray the back plenty (radiator or non-metallic car paint).

Foggy43

Has anyone tried the Pace TDS850NB Sky+ HD Digibox

http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/pace-tds850nb-sky+-hd-digibox-p23.html

Thinking of getting one. Any opinions on it?

steveon

Foggy43 wrote: »

Has anyone tried the Pace TDS850NB Sky+ HD Digibox

http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/pace-tds850nb-sky+-hd-digibox-p23.html

Thinking of getting one. Any opinions on it?

Best of the 3 manufacturers in my opinion..its the quietest and fastest at changing channel and the new tv guide is now available for the pace box as well.

There was a factory recall for the first ones due to some cables coming loose inside...

Plus Pace has just won another award Presitgous Queen award in the uk...so all in all I would recommend one anyday other its competitors...

netwhizkid

I got Sky+ HD installed last Friday and had a Pace box installed also, (I asked the agent-an Independent retailer for it also but he was doing them as standard anyway) I am very impressed with the box and it lives up to my high expectations of Pace as I had a Pace Sky+ box and that was excellent also.

It changes channels very fast and everything looks superb with the new EPG and the HD channels are a sight to behold on my 1080p Panasonic TX-L32G10L. The box works great and is even quieter than my old Sky+ box. Can't fault it one bit.

One thing that pee's me off is Sky's decision not to integrate CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)* into their Sky+ HD boxes and it is a nuisance compared to the old auto scart selection.

*CEC is a technology which sends a signal via the HDMI cable to the TV to tell it to change over to the Sky+ HD box like scart used to do automatically. I must now select input by pressing help on the remote. No biggy for me, however for the technically illiterate parents it is.

slegs

Get a logitech remote like the 555. You wont be sorry. it is totally wife\parent friendly once setup and can control all your devices and do multiple steps with one key press.

John mac

slegs wrote: »

Get a logitech remote like the 555. You wont be sorry. it is totally wife\parent friendly once setup and can control all your devices and do multiple steps with one key press.

except you can't program more than 5 steps..

so no getting other channels with one press!

John mac

netwhizkid wrote: »

One thing that pee's me off is Sky's decision not to integrate CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)* into their Sky+ HD boxes and it is a nuisance compared to the old auto scart selection.
.

you can get the tv to turn onto the hdmi channel of choice. solves that problem.

Foggy43

I have my Pace TDS850NB Sky+ HD Digibox up and running. Software update carried out.
I manually entered the settings for BBCHD. If I go 'Services' then 'Other Channels' I get the BBCHD but it is not HD. My TV is a Sony Bravia so I go AV1, AV2, AV3, AV4 then HDMI and WOW WOW! That is HD.

Is this normal having to keep pressing the side arrow and go to HDMI 1080p to view any HD channel in actual HD?

John mac

no. you should have your tv set up to be on hdmi.

set the sky box up to output 1080i

Foggy43

Done!

Alfie1

Alfie1 wrote: »

Hi, just a few quick questions before I get Sky HD

I'm an existing Sky+ customer, will I get a new Dish when I switch to HD ( my existing one is starting to show it's age & I'd like a new one )

Also AFAIK only Samsung & Pace boxes are now available, which should I ask for if I get the choice.


Thanks in advance

Just an update to this

I got SKY HD installed last friday, Pace box ( forced update to get the new EPG ) & a new dish, the HD channels are amazing btw :cool: