Sky set top box alternative?

ImARebel

We are with sky and for now happy to keep the TV package we've got. Our Sky+ HD box is on the way out, one channel is popped and it's only working with one cable

Is our only alternative to buy a refurbished/second hand Sky+ box?

Or is there an equivalent box out there that would work? We'd rather buy a new item than refurbished as we've had no luck at all with refurbished boxes to date.

If it's our only option so be it, but I thought someone on here would know if there is an alternative?

And in the long term if we do want to stay with Sky are we looking at having to move to Sky Q?

Cheers

Johnboy1951

ImARebel wrote: »

We are with sky and for now happy to keep the TV package we've got. Our Sky+ HD box is on the way out, one channel is popped and it's only working with one cable

Is our only alternative to buy a refurbished/second hand Sky+ box?

Or is there an equivalent box out there that would work? We'd rather buy a new item than refurbished as we've had no luck at all with refurbished boxes to date.

If it's our only option so be it, but I thought someone on here would know if there is an alternative?

And in the long term if we do want to stay with Sky are we looking at having to move to Sky Q?

Cheers

Only a Sky box will work. No other receiver with function with a Sky subscription.

Sky no longer make or sell those boxes, so none are available from them.

Seems your only option is a cheap used unit from someone .... lots of people are dumping them/giving them away as they are useless when they move to Sky Q.

dulpit

If it helps, I have a box in attic we're not using. No remote control, but any will work. Can send it to you for cost of postage? PM if you want...

muffler

Ordinarily you would contact Sky and if you were within the first 12 months of the contract they would send someone out free of charge to fix the problem. If you were outside of that term (I suspect you are) then they would probably look for a call out fee of anything between €60 - €100. With a bit of haggling and possibly signing up to another year would get that sorted for nothing including a replacement box and dish if required.

However I understand that its near impossible to get through to them at the moment so if you are sure it is the box then get another one (kind offer from dulpit) and get it paired - you can do this through your online account.

okidoki987

muffler wrote: »

Ordinarily you would contact Sky and if you were within the first 12 months of the contract they would send someone out free of charge to fix the problem. If you were outside of that term (I suspect you are) then they would probably look for a call out fee of anything between €60 - €100. With a bit of haggling and possibly signing up to another year would get that sorted for nothing including a replacement box and dish if required.

However I understand that its near impossible to get through to them at the moment so if you are sure it is the box then get another one (kind offer from dulpit) and get it paired - you can do this through your online account.

Sky no longer doing installations according to their website.

COVID-19 Update: We are sorry that due to COVID-19 we are currently unable to arrange installation appointments online, over the phone, or in stores.

Not sure what they would do then if you had a problem though?

swoofer

@ImARebel, post a bit more information about the box and it may be fixable. Look underneath and read off make model no, go into settings and check signal strenghth on both inputs, swop them over to see if you get signal, and for this " one channel is popped " what channel?

And rest assured I have a lot of time on my hands now. Is dish accessible?

ImARebel

ImARebel wrote: »

We are with sky and for now happy to keep the TV package we've got. Our Sky+ HD box is on the way out, one channel is popped and it's only working with one cable

Is our only alternative to buy a refurbished/second hand Sky+ box?

Or is there an equivalent box out there that would work? We'd rather buy a new item than refurbished as we've had no luck at all with refurbished boxes to date.

If it's our only option so be it, but I thought someone on here would know if there is an alternative?

And in the long term if we do want to stay with Sky are we looking at having to move to Sky Q?

Cheers

Where do you live?

My sky box got upgraded to Sky Q just this past week. I don't like it. But my sky+ box is here beside me if you want it. I was going to pull out the hard drive and bin it, but its yours if you want it.

okidoki987

Deleted User wrote: »

Where do you live?

My sky box got upgraded to Sky Q just this past week. I don't like it. But my sky+ box is here beside me if you want it. I was going to pull out the hard drive and bin it, but its yours if you want it.

If ImARebel doesn't want or take, could I throw my hat in there please?
Had a spare Sky box in play room which died last week (power gone, years old) and wouldn't mind replacing it if I can.

dulpit

okidoki987 wrote: »

If ImARebel doesn't want or take, could I throw my hat in there please?
Had a spare Sky box in play room which died last week (power gone, years old) and wouldn't mind replacing it if I can.

PM me if you want, I have one (without a remote) in attic doing nothing...

ImARebel

dulpit wrote: »

If it helps, I have a box in attic we're not using. No remote control, but any will work. Can send it to you for cost of postage? PM if you want...

Thanks so much for the offer, we'll have another fiddle around with the box and if it's still knackered I might take you up on it.

ImARebel

muffler wrote: »

Ordinarily you would contact Sky and if you were within the first 12 months of the contract they would send someone out free of charge to fix the problem.

10 years out of the original contract we're jsut paying them for TV now. So technically not even in contract if you know what I mean.

I rang them the last time the box went pop and said they'd sell me a refurbished one for 100eur. So I just went and bought one myself for half that price.

and I've done that a few times since just to keep the show on the road so to speak. But getting a bit sick of it now. Would rather not move to Sky Q as it feels like a money pit

ImARebel

swoofer wrote: »

@ImARebel, post a bit more information about the box and it may be fixable. Look underneath and read off make model no, go into settings and check signal strenghth on both inputs, swop them over to see if you get signal, and for this " one channel is popped " what channel?

And rest assured I have a lot of time on my hands now. Is dish accessible?

we've swopped them around and one "channel" (input?) is definitely gone

Signal in the left channel/input
put same cable into right one -> nothing so I think it's definitely shot. if you wiggle and really mess with it, it says "locked in" (eventually!) but that's as good as it gets.never shows a signal or signal strength.

Dish is accessible, we went up and had a fiddle with that as well but I think the issue is the right input myself

muffler

Just something worth checking. Go to the installer menu .... On the remote press 001 and then OK or select. Can't recall where you go from there but have a good root around and make sure that the input is NOT set to single feed mode

ImARebel

muffler wrote: »

Just something worth checking. Go to the installer menu .... On the remote press 001 and then OK or select. Can't recall where you go from there but have a good root around and make sure that the input is NOT set to single feed mode

Thanks a million I'll give that a go

swoofer

If box could record 2 chanels then it should be on dual feed but its worth a look. You still dont say make and model of box! Look underneath.

ImARebel

No joy it's single input

Will check the underneath of the box and confirm

It says drx890-c

muffler

ImARebel wrote: »

No joy it's single input

Its not supposed to be single input if you want the use of both cables

ImARebel

muffler wrote: »

Its not supposed to be single input if you want the use of both cables

Sorry that's what I meant. It's not single input it's set to off

swoofer

Thats a good box I have it as a spare. have you got good signal strength on the working input and is it possible for you to look at the bad connection to see if its rusty, And if you could take a pic of the signal quaity that would be even better, Did you turn box off at wall every night?

Check the cable on the bad connection as well, it could be wet.