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Sky HD Box without the HD Subscription

  • 23-08-2009 08:31PM
    #1
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I am upgrading my Sky+ box to a HD box for the extra space on the hard Drive , But SKY tell me that I MUST take out a HD subscription for a year in order to get movies and sports .


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭John mac


    yep that is correct..

    you can buy your own box if you want and not take out the hd sub,

    have you thought of changing the hard drive in the + box? if you are not pushed about HD.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 55,939 ✭✭✭✭Headshot


    I bought a HD box before and used it just as a sky + box

    just have to ring sky to enable the + features and they'll try to tempt you with around 1hr of HD channels but that will soon go off


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,863 ✭✭✭✭crosstownk


    You could buy a Sky HD box on eBay and you'd get the FTA HD channels. That's not much use if you want Sky Sports HD, Sky Movies/Box Office HD or Nat Geo HD. You'll get BBC HD, Luxe HD and one or two others without a Sky HD sub and you'll also get the Sky+ functions.

    There are Sky+HD boxes listed on eBay with upgraded HDDs to save you having to replace the drive yourself. But if you're any way handy with replacing that sort of thing then a standard box will do. HD programmes take up a lot of space and will fill the standard Sky HD drive pretty quickly.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭sharkman


    I have the box sitting here and SKY are refusing to pair my card with it unless I pay for a HD subscription .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 55,939 ✭✭✭✭Headshot


    sharkman wrote: »
    I have the box sitting here and SKY are refusing to pair my card with it unless I pay for a HD subscription .

    what :confused:

    never heard of that before

    ring them back up and say you want to pair your card with the hd box you got off ebay,say you want to use it as a sky plus box

    and they should pair it


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  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭sharkman


    Headshot wrote: »
    what :confused:

    never heard of that before

    ring them back up and say you want to pair your card with the hd box you got off ebay

    and they should pair it

    I've tried , 78 minutes on the phone yesterday evening . Nearly lost my will to live . Is there any way to get through to the Irish call centre?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭John mac


    sharkman wrote: »
    I have the box sitting here and SKY are refusing to pair my card with it unless I pay for a HD subscription .

    Did you buy the box? or is it a sky upgrade.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭sharkman


    John mac wrote: »
    Did you buy the box? or is it a sky upgrade.

    I purchased it on Advert.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 204 ✭✭Landyaddict


    sharkman wrote: »
    I've tried , 78 minutes on the phone yesterday evening . Nearly lost my will to live . Is there any way to get through to the Irish call centre?

    They shouldn't refuse if you try the old" My old box died and I bought a new one, just so happens to be a +HD box, but you want to use it as a + only box for the moment.

    I did that, it's all about sweet talking or should that be social engineering them.

    It's no wonder I get my way with places like this, I was once a great socail hacker :P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭John mac


    FFS they should do it so , thats what i did ,
    They shouldn't refuse if you try the old" My old box died and I bought a new one, just so happens to be a +HD box, but you want to use it as a + only box for the moment.


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  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭sharkman


    Done , Finally got a nice chap in the Irish Call Centre . No Problem . :rolleyes:

    FFS nearly two hours of my life wasted yesterday going around in circles .

    Thanks Guys .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 988 ✭✭✭manutd


    Bad idea to buy a Thompson SKY+ HD Box. They are the worst you can buy. My brother get one off eBay last week, it came with no leads and witin 2 days it was not recording and live pause was not working. The new EPG came on the box and it is every slow.

    Just look out for these, but your got a big deal €40.00 :eek::eek:


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭sharkman


    manutd wrote: »
    Bad idea to buy a Thompson SKY+ HD Box. They are the worst you can buy. My brother get one off eBay last week, it came with no leads and witin 2 days it was not recording and live pause was not working. The new EPG came on the box and it is every slow.

    Just look out for these, but your got a big deal €40.00 :eek::eek:

    Look out for What ???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 55,939 ✭✭✭✭Headshot


    sharkman wrote: »
    Look out for What ???

    some can be dodgy boxes,fan is not the best and is a very loud box also the hard drive tends to fail

    if I was buying sky hd box it be pace all the way


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,534 ✭✭✭Dman001


    Have a Thompson Sky HD box here and it works well. The only problem I have is the new EPG. It can be slightly buggy but it is worth the extra HDD space and the two free HD channels compared to my Sky+ box.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭John mac


    Dman001 wrote: »
    Have a Thompson Sky HD box here and it works well. The only problem I have is the new EPG. It can be slightly buggy but it is worth the extra HDD space and the two free HD channels compared to my Sky+ box.

    2.5 if you count ITVHD:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭John W


    I have an old Sky HD Box (think it is a Thompson) I have had it since they first released Sky HD in Ireland, so a few years - Had problems about a year ago (it was a well documented power supply problem) I bought and upgraded it with a new PS from the UK and got another year out of it.
    However, it is starting to freeze frequently, sound has gone on a few occasions, or picture will freeze, it is obviously on the way out!

    So I assume as I already have a Sky HD sub, it should be no problem to just go out and buy a new HD box and stick the card in, and it should work?

    Will I need to do a new install? Will I need to contact Sky and tell them? And most important, can anyone recommend a place to buy a new box, and what one would you recommend (biggest hard drive I can get would be good:-)

    also have a + box in the bedroom, and that is gonna go soon, keeps saying No Signal Found, have to unplug and re-plug once a week! So recommendations to replace the + box please :-)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭John mac


    did you get the powersupply from satcure?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭John W


    John mac wrote: »
    did you get the powersupply from satcure?
    yes I did!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭John mac


    they guarantee them for 3 years .


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭John W


    John mac wrote: »
    they guarantee them for 3 years .
    I know, but the symptoms are different from the first time.....I am not getting that recording failed all the time, and pixalation on certain channels or even the No Signal Error!

    It locks hard, or the sound goes - i think (unless it is the new software, hmm, hadn't thought of that?) it is the box itself? Plus I need a bigger drive and I reluctant to put one in this 3 year old box

    So any ideas on a replacement solution?


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