My Sky HD + Install Experience

CCOLGAN

So had my "new" SKY HD + install there last Friday. The installer came late in the day, so I was his last install on a Friday, not a great start. But to be fair he did a reasonably good job. I had the route made up before hand so I could tell him the way to go. It wasn't the tidiest job done, but wasn't the worst either. He installed a quad LNB which was nice... He did bore one hold wrong but it is hidden by a big chair so the wife didn't notice. Also he did white cable outside which runs along my white facia board, so you wouldn't really notice it.. He had no interest in going into the attic, but kind of knew that after reading threads on here, so having the alternative route worked out before he came was good for my sanity..

So the box went in and he gave a quick demo how to record, and tuned in the other stations (ITV + BBC, inc HD).. Was extremely impressed with the HD stations especially BBC and SKY. So that was grand... Until....

So we watching a movie, and the wife says - oh turn over to the euromillions draw, to which replied - its ok dear, I have it recording.. After the movie I went to the planner to view the recording and to my horror - recording failed!! Obviously the wife wasn't too impressed; anyway highlighted the recording and pressed info (i) and got - technical fault 10 ; not much help there.. (and we didn't win the euromillions in case you were wondering )

So I did the following tests:
- record on bbc1
- record on s4c
- record on rte1
- record on tv3

The results were
- bcc 1 - recorded ok
- s4c - recorded ok
- rte 1 - failed - technical fault 10
- tv3 failed - technical fault 10

So I thought it was something wrong with my viewing card or something that I could not record irish channels.. Well called SKY and they brought me into this hidden menu and got me to run something on the sky + software or Hard Drive. Anyway she told me to record stuff and to call them back if the problem persist. I asked her what was technical fault 10 (thinking that the might have a list of technical faults) but she has no idea and fobbed the question off.

Anyway we were heading out for the day, so I set up the same set of tests again to record while we were gone. We arrived back late and I went to check the recordings.. Now I cannot even get into the planner.. I get a please wait or backup screen, and i wait, wait, and wait... So called sky again, the person knew that i did the procedure the day before. Took my system details like software version and model number, and booked a call out for new Wednesday..

Kind of gutted really, now feel that the HD box (Amstrad) is a piece of crap, maybe even refurbished.. I pay for a service, get it the new box in that cost me money and now it doesn't work properly. I am very disappointed to say the least...

Kashkai

Sorry to hear that especially when you're forking out money for a "service" that doesn't work from the start. A Friday evening call out is the worst time to have someone do a job for you as human nature dictates that the weekend is starting and the installer wanted to be in and out as fast as possible. He should have run some tests like sample recordings to make sure the receiver/recorder was working properly. As for SKY's customer service, that is a well travelled road full of bad experiences. At least they're sending out an agent to look into your problem so hopefully they'll get you back up and running asap.

It was my own bad experiences with SKY (faulty receivers, poor installation, very poor customer service), that caused me to ditch SKY and go the Freesat route. My Humax HDR is the equivalent to your Sky HD box and it has been faultless since I installed it. Maybe keep this in mind if your experince with SKY doesn't get resolved as there are alternatives out there.

CCOLGAN

Thanks Dave. To be fair he did a quick test to record, but that was on BBC and not an Irish channel. You are 100% correct, it is human nature to get the job done quickly and start the weekend. I mean he did a good enough job the box seems to be faulty....

This sounds silly, but the only reason I am willing to stick with sky for the time being is the Irish channels.. I don't fancy forking out money for an Aeriel until the service goes digital, then I will consider going freesat + digital aerial for the irish channels... One of the main selling points we getting the sky + in, the HD was a bonus if you like (coz the cost of getting sky + in was 249 euro) ...

I really don't understand why
- its not working
- they can't tell why its not working
- they would send me a sub-standard piece of equipment