Sky+ Digibox brands?

Gwynston

Hi, I'm thinking of getting Sky+, but have been told by a knowledgable friend in the UK that Sky were supplying a Pace box, but these are now discontinued and an Amstrad box is more the norm. However, the RGB picture quality from the Amstrad is supposed to be little better than the composite output, and WAY inferior to the RGB on the Pace box. Anybody care to comment?

Anyone know of a good installer in the Galway region who might give me a choice of box?

Or any installer in Galway for that matter - I'd like to get signed up ASAP this week while the offer is still on (6 months of free Movies when you sign up for Sports, or vice versa).

bigpaddy2004

Hi, At the moment in Ireland Sky are only using the pace BSKYB3100 box for Sky Plus installations. Amstrad is more commonly used in England. You should do a google search for Sky Digital, and im sure you will find someone in Ireland adversing on google adwords.

byte

It's news to me that the Pace Sky+ box is being discontinued. I'd avoid Amstrad, if previous sky digiboxes are anything to go by.

I've yet to see the Thomson Sky+160 box... Have you ever installed them, bigpaddy2004?

bigpaddy2004

byte wrote:

It's news to me that the Pace Sky+ box is being discontinued. I'd avoid Amstrad, if previous sky digiboxes are anything to go by.

I've yet to see the Thomson Sky+160 box... Have you ever installed them, bigpaddy2004?

I have Byte, I have installed about 5 of them to date. They are almost identical to the pace version. And they are not packed in that stupid big black cardboard box anymore!!

iano

bigpaddy2004 wrote:

I have Byte, I have installed about 5 of them to date. They are almost identical to the pace version.

How many of them have been replaced already?
Are they any more reliable than the Pace SKY+ boxes?

bigpaddy2004

Well so far I have heard no complaints about them nor have I to change any so far. I really do think the majority of the problems is down to the software on the box's.

Gwynston

Well, I called a local installer here in Galway, and he said they only ever get supplied Pace Sky+ boxes, no Amstrads, so I should be alright. I signed up with Sky over the phone and insisted that they specify Pace hardware on their installer's job order.

I do understand that Pace are not exactly the zenith of quality electronic equipment :rolleyes: , but my mate in the UK tells me that the RGB picture quality is worse on the Amstrad. He says that Sky are almost exclusively supplying Amstrad Sky+ boxes over there and when he's had to get his Pace replaced (shock, horror! ) he had to instist that they replace it like for like, as they were trying to fob him off with an Amstrad - on no less than two visits to his house! He definitely got the impression that the installer had had to arrange special delivery to get supplied with a Pace. Sounds like it's different in Ireland, but my mate has actually bought himself a spare Pace unit as backup :eek: because he's convinced that supply will eventually cease and when his current unit expires, he'll be stuck with and Amstrad....

Anyway, what's the price of Sky+160 at the moment - still €599? I think I'll stick with the standard box and upgrade the disk myself to 250GB for a lot less...