Advice on Sky please

[Speicher]

My Sky box seems to have stopped working, as it is not receiving a signal. The "services" and personal preference type options show on the TV screen, so it is not the remote at fault. At first (it stopped working on Thursday) I thought it was the weather. I think I have had this box for either two or three years. If I call out a Sky Engineer to look at it, he may say it is beyond repair, and then, I suspect, start some hard sell whatsit about upgrading etc.

I would like to upgrade to Sky plus, if that is the one where you can tell it to record all of a certain series etc. But do not want more channels than I have already got.

Can some kind person tell me in a nutshell, and very simply the strategy* they might try on, just because he wants his commission for selling an up-grade. Me, suspicious, who would have guessed?

What is a ball park figure for a new Sky Plus box, if you are already a customer etc etc. Does the monthly subscription go up, if you upgrade, or do you pay for the box? Sorry to ask so many questions, but I like to appear that I know what I am talking about, if he tries to discuss the options.

I imagine he carries the up-graded boxes in his van, "just in case". However, I would like the Sky back working again before Christmas.

*For instance will he say, that "if he does not replace it there and then, it will not get done before Christmas". Helpful suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Willow]

Can't help I'm afraid. I think the call out charge alone is £75. Plenty of local TV men around who sell sky so may get less of a sales pitch through them.

I'm a lucky bunny because my dad pays a monthly sky subscription for me - sky plus with sports and movie channels - it's my christmas present each year. It was installed last year and the sky men were so awful I wrote a fab letter about how the little elves (my boys) thought christmas was coming early (it was supposed to be installed in November) but that scrooge towers had other ideas etc etc a catalogue of errors and rubbish helplines etc in the end I got £100 refunded.

 

[Noodley]

Take the opportunity to do yourself a favour and just not bother with Sky.

 

[Maz]

Is there no signal for all of the channels or just some of them?

 

[oxbob]

£170 £99 for box, £60 fitting and £10 a month for HD channels

 

[Speicher]

Is there no signal for all of the channels or just some of them?

No signal for any of the channels. I can still get the terrestrial ones, not through the Sky Box.

 

[Speicher]

£170 £99 for box, £60 fitting and £10 a month for HD channels

The tv is about five years old, and not HD. The last tv I had for about twenty-five years, so not thinking of replacing it. (Won it in a raffle for the cost of one ticket - 50 pence.)

 

[Willow]

Have you tried phoning them I vaguely recall in the past when we had sky they could talk you through a reset. mind you christmas may be over when they've answered the phone!

 

[Maz]

No signal for any of the channels. I can still get the terrestrial ones, not through the Sky Box.

I had this problem with my Sky (Amstrad) box. I was switching the box on/off like a light switch but to no avail. Although at the time I had no Sky contract (and still don't) I eventaully phoned up their helpdesk support who told me to switch the power to the box off, wait 20 seconds, switch the power on again, wait 30 seconds, then see if it comes to life. The waiting is important as the software in the box needs to re-boot.

When they told me to do the old re-boot trick I thought 'go on then, I'll humour you' but it blimmin worked which was good but a bit embarrassing for me!

 

[oxbob]

sky will still bill you £10 because the box is HD whether your tv is or is not

 

[Speicher]

I had this problem with my Sky (Amstrad) box. I was switching the box on/off like a light switch but to no avail. Although at the time I had no Sky contract (and still don't) I eventaully phoned up their helpdesk support who told me to switch the power to the box off, wait 20 seconds, switch the power on again, wait 30 seconds, then see if it comes to life. The waiting is important as the software in the box needs to re-boot.

When they told me to do the old re-boot trick I thought 'go on then, I'll humour you' but it blimmin worked which was good but a bit embarrassing for me!

I will try that.

 

[peanut]

I just received an offer through the post £50.00 installed Sky+ minimum monthly subscription for a year is £18.00 I believe.
Might be best to go as a new subscriber because you'll get no concession .
Have you tried removing the card and removing the power lead from the sky set for 30 seconds or so. Then plugging in power lead and card and re-booting ? check there are no trees or plants near your dish and no one has touched or disturbed your dish like the window cleaner .

 

[Smokin Joe]

I had this problem with my Sky (Amstrad) box. I was switching the box on/off like a light switch but to no avail. Although at the time I had no Sky contract (and still don't) I eventaully phoned up their helpdesk support who told me to switch the power to the box off, wait 20 seconds, switch the power on again, wait 30 seconds, then see if it comes to life. The waiting is important as the software in the box needs to re-boot.

When they told me to do the old re-boot trick I thought 'go on then, I'll humour you' but it blimmin worked which was good but a bit embarrassing for me!

I would be 90% certain that will cure the problem.

 

[Speicher]

I will try that.

No, that did not work, I will try again and also take out the card.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

sky will still bill you £10 because the box is HD whether your tv is or is not

Err that's only the Sky HD box

This thing

What you want is a sky+ box one of these

The box will be a one off cost of £99 if you buy from sky's website, there will be no extra charge to your sky subscription. Have a look http://packages.sky.com/see/EquipmentSkyPlus.aspx?CMP=KNC-UKesalesSearch