Sky digi box- FTV

robert muldoon · 10-07-2002 5:29am #1

May be this has been brought up before. I was wondering if there is a digi box out there that will take both a Sky card and a FTV card, in other words, a box with two slots that you can have two cards installed at the same time and you can flick between the the two with your zapper, surely some manufacturer has thought of that!!

seano · 10-07-2002 8:23am

all boxes are made under sky licence ,thus sky call the shots.i.e one slot one viewing card

dmeehan · 11-07-2002 11:34am

this is kinda ot
but whats the interactive slot for?
is there a card you can get for interactive stuff??

ShaneOC · 11-07-2002 2:28pm

Originally posted by dmeehan
this is kinda ot
but whats the interactive slot for?
is there a card you can get for interactive stuff??

Initially Sky kept their options open regarding interactive pay services. They could either use the internal modem, or a smart card system (called mondex) whereby you would put credit on your card and each time you used an interactive pay service it would be subtracted from the card.

mfield · 11-07-2002 2:35pm

I'm ordering Sky Digi today, a mate of mine got it a while back, and when he got it installed he got a slick silver digi box. Is it pot luck which box you receive, or can you say feck off, I want the silver box not the crap dull looking Pace box?

mfield.

DMC · 11-07-2002 2:39pm

Ask the installer nicely, but more often its pot luck.

mfield · 11-07-2002 2:48pm

I hear that the Sony box is best - is this true? I'm gettin Sky Digital off a local electrical store who I have dealt with for years - I'm gonna ask them to get me the best digi box, if they can! Which box would that be? Thanks for the help!

mfield.

DMC · 11-07-2002 2:50pm

A lot of folk recommend the Panasonic box, IMHO it looks the sleekest.

mfield · 11-07-2002 5:13pm

Went in to the pay for my Sky installation and asked about which box I might get, the girl told me that they have Pace or Grundig, I said I would like to have a Panasonic box as it will look well with my Silver Sony TV. I wonder do the feckers have Panasonic boxes, surely they get what they are given by Sky not just Pace & Grundig? Are the Grundig boxes any good?

mfield.

sceptre · 11-07-2002 6:07pm

My father has a Grundig box (one of the newer ones). Personally I find the channel switching a little slow but I've nothing to compare it to.

jez · 12-07-2002 12:15pm

I have a Pace (Irish Sub) and Grundig(FTV UK) about 2 years old.
The grundig is a lovely slim silver machine. I rate it more efficient than the Pace. Its quicker and rarely needs a re boot for any reason.

Tony · 12-07-2002 1:36pm

Originally posted by mfield
Went in to the pay for my Sky installation and asked about which box I might get, the girl told me that they have Pace or Grundig, I said I would like to have a Panasonic box as it will look well with my Silver Sony TV. I wonder do the feckers have Panasonic boxes, surely they get what they are given by Sky not just Pace & Grundig? Are the Grundig boxes any good?

mfield.

Hi, if they are buying from Armstrongs as they should be it's no problem for them to order a Panasonic which armstrongs also supply. If you are in ROI we can get one for you if you have no luck with your usual supplier.

Tony

mfield · 12-07-2002 1:43pm

I'm gettin Sky Digital from Maginns in The Curragh, I dunno anymore than that, the lady in there said that they have Grundig and Pace boxes, I would like the Panasonic one, maybe they will have it - I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

mfield.

carrolls · 12-07-2002 5:13pm

In Limerick, all the new boxes seem to be Panasonics at the moment.

sceptre · 12-07-2002 5:19pm

Tony

I'm guessing that since you're currently supplying Panasonics that you'd rate them highly. Realistically are they (much) better than the Grundigs? Or is it six of one and half a dozen of the other?

thanks

Peter · 12-07-2002 8:17pm

I have a Panasonic TU-DSB30 and a relative has a Pace 2500. I have to say that I find the Panasonic a lot faster when using the menus and digital text. I know Pace have since brought out the 2700 so perhaps that is a bit faster.

byte · 13-07-2002 8:37am

About 90% of installs where I work use Panasonic boxes since Armstrong started supplying them. Only seldom do we use Paces now.

I must admit, so far so good for the Pannies. I see seldom breakdowns. Much less than Pace's (they really should sort out their tuner!):rolleyes:

telecinesk · 13-07-2002 9:23am

Hi,
I agree with above comments> Get a Panasonic if at all possible. I have a tuDSB 35(31?) which came via armstrongs.No probs there,fast menus and no "smearovision" picture quality.Great receiver.(even for a sky box)

I also have a Grundig I got on the cheap and there is no comparison, send it back if they try to pull a fast one,its a piece of S* because of really slow menus.Horrible interactive speed,not enough ram no doubt.
Regards,

lawhec · 13-07-2002 11:37am

Originally posted by robert muldoon
May be this has been brought up before. I was wondering if there is a digi box out there that will take both a Sky card and a FTV card, in other words, a box with two slots that you can have two cards installed at the same time and you can flick between the the two with your zapper, surely some manufacturer has thought of that!!

There would be no point in manufacturing such a box as anything that is on a UK FTV card is also available on a UK Sky Subscription, and there is only one type of card available in the Republic - the Sky subscription card. UK FTV cards aren't meant to be used in the Republic... but of course we all know that's not the case.

jools60 · 14-07-2002 12:33pm

Hi there
Has anyone managed to "marry" an FTV card as well as the Irish Sky card to their digibox in the first year of the 1 year Sky contract (or even better their first week)

thanks

telecinesk · 14-07-2002 1:14pm

Yes, I married a bbc card to my box within the so called year as well as the sky card. That is not a problem. Happy free viewing>

Tony · 14-07-2002 5:49pm

Originally posted by sceptre
Tony

I'm guessing that since you're currently supplying Panasonics that you'd rate them highly. Realistically are they (much) better than the Grundigs? Or is it six of one and half a dozen of the other?

thanks

Well the failure rate on the Pace was getting just to high so we switched to Panasonics and have not had one problem to date.

Tony

byte · 15-07-2002 8:23pm

Originally posted by Tony

Well the failure rate on the Pace was getting just to high so we switched to Panasonics and have not had one problem to date.

Tony

Oh, you had your share of problems too! The only times we now stock Pace's is when Armstrong is temporarily out of Panasonic stock. Even then, we only order a few to keep us going until more Pannies come in. I have very little knowledge on the reliability of the other manufacturers like Amstrad, Grundig and Sony(?).

I don't think anywhre in ROI supply Amstrads and AFAIK, Sony are soon to stop making digiboxes (I have only ever seen 1 of these and they are the best looking but as slow as Pace).

carrolls · 15-07-2002 10:59pm

I keep hearing about the quality of panasonic boxes, is the quality of the actual broadcast picture better on a Panasonic than your average 2500 Pace model, or is it just the EPG menu thats faster?

mfield · 16-07-2002 9:52am

Excuse my ignorance but who are Armstrong and what do they do exactly?

mfield.

andyeire · 16-07-2002 7:46pm

I have a UK ftv card in a Pace box.I also have an Irish account.The Pace box has been playing up and now will not come out of stand by.I can still use UK card in Irish box for C4 C5 and ITV. But is it possible to fix pace box ,or would it be possible to marry uk card to irish box.I do not know the name or address of original owner of UK card and box

andyeire · 16-07-2002 7:57pm

I have a UK ftv card in a Pace box.I also have an Irish account.The Pace box has been playing up and now will not come out of stand by.I can still use UK card in Irish box for C4 C5 and ITV. But is it possible to fix pace box ,or would it be possible to marry uk card to irish box.I do not know the name or address of original owner of UK card and box

16-07-2002 8:02pm

My pace box often gives that trouble:(
But doing the software update fixes it each time-even though the software it downloads is the same-what a silly box!

It might be tricky, but it is possible to marry, that card to your Irish box-you could use a new UK address when phoning, and say you got the "new" box from e-bay.
mm

andyeire · 16-07-2002 8:11pm

Thanks madman. has anybody actually married a UK card to an Irish box without having the details of original owner.Pace box is really slow as well as temperamental.

bmg · 17-07-2002 5:35pm

the problem with the pace boxes was the tuner in about 95% of cases. last month the pace boxes i received had a different tuner so the problem is hopefully solved.

byte · 17-07-2002 8:06pm

Not powering up could also indicate a problem with the power supply unit.

As for pairing a card without knowing details of owner, it won't work. They always ask for card No. then ask "Could you confirm the name and address please?" Then you're stymied!:rolleyes:

Ozzie · 17-07-2002 10:41pm

I notice alot of smaller Minidishes popping up around the south east - they're nearly half the size. I have a normal sized one. Are the smaller ones as good. They're definately more discreet. Again is it pot luck to get them?

Oz.

carrolls · 17-07-2002 10:59pm

If you want signal strength and quality above 90%
the bigger dishes are essential. Especially in the South and West.

andyeire · 17-07-2002 11:00pm

Would it be possible to "recondition" box .Would it lose its id if you replaced tuner/PSU

byte · 18-07-2002 9:44pm

Originally posted by andyeire
Would it be possible to "recondition" box .Would it lose its id if you replaced tuner/PSU

No its NDS Serial#, Version# etc remain as they were. You can change the tuner and PSu as often as is needed (which you'd hope not too often!).;)

andyeire · 23-07-2002 7:28pm

Does anybody recondition boxes in Ireland?If so how much and does anybody have experience of getting it done?

byte · 24-07-2002 9:43pm

There used to be a guy from NI who did it but for the life of me, I can't remember the URL.

Armstrong Electronics in Dublin do repairs too though not sure if directly to customers.

Ring Sky and ask how much they charge but they'll give you a recon probably

Also take a peek here http://www.satcure.com/digirep.htm

Sky digi box- FTV

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