Changing my Sky HD Box - Advice Please

[simon7685]

OK I have posted a few times about our HD box being unreliable and freezing regularly but it is getting beyond a joke now, we followed advice and rebuilt the planner even done reset and still it does it.

I am now looking to buy a new HD box and could do with some advice as follows:

1. Which box is the best to buy and most reliable.

2. Am I better to buy direct from Sky or from somewhere else.

3. Is it okay to buy from firms on Ebay, where they seem to be a bit cheaper but I don't want to end up with more problems.

4. I like the idea of getting the one with the bigger disk in - 1TB as we do a lot of recording, are they reliable and any good.
If so which ones are best.

5. Will any new box have the new EPG as my Mother has it and I think it seems better than the old one, I can't get it on the current crappy box we have, its a Samsung one.

6. Is there anything else I need to know and is it just a case of taking the card out, unplugging the old box, plugging the new one back in and Bobs your uncle, or do I need to do lots of other stuff as well?

Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
Simon

[Isitme]

If you want a new box, you don't have much of a choice you can have either an Amstrad or an Amstrad. The only difference, apart from a slight difference in size, being the HDD size, either 500Gb or 1.5Tb. You would be better buying from Sky in my opinion.

All of the Sky boxes are much the same, you may have had problems with the Samsung, but I have had mine for nearly 4 years with no problems, even after I increased the disk size a couple of years ago.

The new EPG is being rolled out to all the 890 and 895 Amstrads at the moment, although further updates are pending.

When you get a new box, with self install, all you have to do is plug it in and call Sky to have your card paired with the new box.

[LyndyLou]

Got a new box from Sky in August. Self install instructions came with it and installed easily following them and viewing card activated without having to call them. Think was done via call back to box.

[shakey1980]

you can look here if you like it is a brand new card not used it will be auto paired to the box when inserted and you do a callback you might need abobe to reader the pdf files which is here

Sky self install guide for all sky boxes

i did a self install of my 1tb box using one of the guides above
( keep the old medem connection lead that connects your box to the line) i heard amstrad boxes dont dont give you one in the box contents (i didnt one get anyway) replace all the other cables with new ones from your box

[shakey1980]

that only works if you ordering the sky if an ex sky subriber gives you a box or you just replace your self you have to rigng sky after the callback

[Scubbie]

Sky seem to work on one model first, then roll out the updates to all the others.

Currently they appear to be supporting the Amstrad DRX890 and DRX895s first, then update the others later.

If you are prepared to open up the STB and fit your own drive, personally I would suggest that perhaps you get yourself an Amstrad DRX890 and a 2TB drive. You can then copy the contents of your old drive to the 2TB drive using ExPVR.

This would provide you with one of the more recent STBs and around 1647GB of space to record your own material.

The 1TB (Amstrad DRX895) reserves 500GB (or 396GB) for Showcase, EPG contents, etc. The Amstrad DRX890 reserves around 215GB for the same. The remainder of the drives is available for your usage.

[simon7685]

I dont think I would be brave enough to open the box and start changing things inside, I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

So if there are only Amstrad boxes available, does that mean that the ones being advertised as 1TB on places like Ebay and are described as 'Samsung' or anything other than Amstrad are all dodgy then?

Also some of the ones on Ebay have the silver on the front and not all black, so are they all fake?

All I want for Xmas is a decent box that works lol. Must be a song in there somewhere!

[Scubbie]

Many people have used the information on this forum to upgrade their STBs. There are a few guides available for this purpose. If you are not happy to do this then no problem, it was a suggestion that may have helped some people.

I doubt that the STBs advertised with the 1TB HD are fake. The person may have used the wrong pic or they may have upgraded the drive themselves.

It is quite easy to check the size of the drive when you get the STB. Record a long film and see ow much space it takes up. Using the On Demand service would make this a little easier as it provides the size of the download too. Apparently Sky Sports files are larger though, if you are interested and have a Sky Sports subscription to check this on.

[simon7685]

Thanks Scubbie I wondered if it was something like people updating old boxes and then selling them. It's just all a bit of a minefield to know what to do for the best, still having said that this old box does keep going and makes most scheduled recordings. Also a few Nobody knows anything about, which can make for a laugh sometimes.

I know about the guides and that, I have even gone as far as watching it being done on Youtube but I just think it is probably a bit beyond me, I'm not very technically minded I'm afraid. I think I might have to just try and save my money up or hit on a bargain on Ebay.

[Scubbie]

No problem. Taking the STB apart is not the easiest of things and does take a little patience and dexterity to accomplish without damaging it. I have taken apart a friend's Samsung and my own DRX890 and can say that compared to many other things, they really are not designed to be dismantled easily.

I say the above as someone who is familiar with building & dismantling desktop computers and who has been trained to repair fax machines and other mechanical office equipment in the past.