What is the best Sky HD box?

[TonyHSoton]

Hi all,

I am about to upgrade to Sky HD and I want to try and make sure I get the best box going.

I know in the past, some Sky boxes by certain manufacturers have been rubbish so I would appreciate views on what to try and get and the ones to definately avoid.

Also, can you confirm that all the connections on the back etc are the same, ie all boxes have the same options and layout? I will be aiming to run everything into an AV receiver and then to the TV. If some one could confirm what connections the box has this would be useful.

I would also appreciate some advice on how to save or back up my existing programs on my Sky + box. I was told by Sky that unless I pay for an extra card and sub, I would not be able to use this box to view content until I had seen them or made copies of those I want to keep. I upgraded my box to 250 gb, so its pretty full and now I have been told that I can have a date for the Sky HD install I am panicking about how I am going to sort this out in time! Obviously some stuff I can just delete, but there is just too much that I would like to watch or copy.

Some one at Sky also told me that under the metal plate (I have a white Sky + 1 1st generation box) there is a USB link and I could copy to an external USB drive using copy feature. I was very sceptial about this as I could not recall seeing anything like that. Is there a way of getting it back onto the new HD box, if I can find a way to get it off my Sky + box? I also assume the new HD boxes use SATA drives?

Sorry lots of questions. Hope you can help.

Many thanks to all who respond.

Cheers,

Tony

[Azasmith]

You don't really get a choice on box. It's whatever the installer has in the van. But, brown box = refurb. Avoid. New shiny box. = New box. Which is good.

I've never really heard a bad word about the Samsung boxes... ( Mine ) The Thomson boxes used to have PSU issues. Think this may be fixed now. Not really clued up on Pace or Amstrad though. So it's really just whatever you're given.

As for copying the programs.. You have a few choices... You can either record it all to DVDs... Or you can buy an even bigger hard drive than the one you already have... Say, a 1TB. ( Make sure it works with the box you get. ) And use a program called Copy+. There's tutorials throughout the forum that will help you. Then to watch the programs just put the 1TB in the Sky HD box... You can just unplug the SATA cable and leave the original hard drive in the new box so you don't void the warranty, and just plug between the two. Unless you don't mind about the warranty and can replace the hard drive altogether...

Hope this helps somewhat..

Aaron.

Oh, as for connections... You have, HDMI. Optical Out. USB, SATA, Ethernet. The last 3 aren't activated though.

[GSMGuy]

The latest Samsungs seem to be coming out well....

Mike

[TonyHSoton]

Hi Aaron and Mike,

Thanks for your replies.

When I order I will tell them I want a Samsung. I did this in the past and asked for what ever it was at the time that was recommended when I had original Sky and Sky + and I think they put something on the notes. I remember specifically insisting on this, so hopefully I can do the same and get a Samsung.

As for the last 3 not being activated (USB, SATA, Ethernet), are these actual physical hardware but just dont work because of the software? Seems odd that they are there, but not accessable. This being the case, I could not then just copy to USB (using Copy +) and then hook this up via the boxes USB connection. Same would apply to the SATA connection. If you could use this and connect drives this would be great.

I have read about the Copy + now, and this seems a good way, but I would need to get a 1TB drive first after I know what box I end up with. Your idea of just hooking up the 1TB is great. I assume you just lay it on top of the existing drive and connect the SATA and then put the lid back on. Is there a way that they would know if you had removed the original drive? I was thinking that I could just put in the 1TB and then if I get a problem with the box that needs to be sorted out during the warranty period I could then just change them back. Of course this assumes you dont break a seal of some kind?

Thanks for the tip about the refurbished boxes btw. Nice one!

Many thanks,

Tony

deleted

[Azasmith]

Originally Posted by gadgetman38

By opening up the case of the Sky HD box you have already broken the warranty seal and thus voided said warranty by doing this. It makes no difference whether you have changed the hard drive or not, the point is that you have opened up the case.

Isn't the warranty seal on the hard drive caddy? Sure i read it was...

deleted

deleted

[TonyHSoton]

Hi Gadgetman,

Many thanks for your great explanation.

I dont really want to void the warranty so will not open the box. I had this problem when I had Sky + and had to wait a whole year before I could do my own HDD upgrade, what a bummer! You would think that after all this time, Sky would finally put as large a drive in their boxes as possible. Lets face it, even 1TB are no longer expensive and what with Sky's purchasing power I would not think it would add much to cost if at all. We all know, as drives become larger, they end up being cheaper and more readily available then some out of date smaller drive. This sort of policy by Sky drives me mad! Also, with HD content, there is of course even more of an argument for a large drive!!

Also, why have Sky put in these hardware ports only to say that they are for future use?? Why cant we use them now? Nothing complicated about USB, been around for ages and the other two would also be very useful right now. Not sure why Sky do this either. Maybe they have plans to charge for such future services??

Looks like my options on this are very limited at the moment. If I can not get the stuff off I will have to just store the drive from my old Sky + until such time as the warranty is over (I assume its only 12 months) at which time I can buy a TB and then do the Copy + transfer. I do have another PVR, but its pretty much full up so this is not an option. The main problem is I wanted to copy stuff, edit it on my DVDR and then burn to disc, all of which is time consuming and even then to copy from Sky box you have to play out the program in full! I will just have to accept its a job for my retirement, as they say "one day" lol.

I dont think there is anything that cant wait, so I will leave it until the warranty expires. My biggest headache over the next 12 months will be trying to survive with Sky's limited HDD space. I sense another cheap PVR coming on.......or maybe I might treat myself to one of those new Panny Blue Ray HDD recorders. Cant wait for those to come down in price, should be around the time the Sky warranty expires!

Many thanks,

Tony

[Old_nick]

I changed my hard drive 3 months after getting the box (I broke the seals), and the box failed in month 9. I put the original drive back in and the box was swapped out. I'm still waiting for the knock on the door !