sky digibox broked....suggestions please

[scorcher]

Our digibox at home is now stuck on "standby" and cannot be turned on either manually or by the RC.Tried unplugging and leaving ,fully disconnecting and had SKY do a software download all to no avail.Sky have said its probably knackered.(its 6 years old).If it was just me then i would cancel the subscription and throw it in the bin but my missus *must* have sky one for her trashy american drivel dramas.SKY seem to be more interested in new customers than existing ones and every time you phone you are put in a bloody long queue.
do I.......
1/ have the day off work,get sky out @£65 pound to repair existing digibox or replace if unfixable with another one with a 90day warranty.
2/ buy a new one (loads of money about £250)
3/ buy a 2nd one off e-bay or local free-ads paper and take a chance(£30- £100 )
4/get local tv repairs to have a look (£25 + repair if repairable )
5/upgrade to SKY+ (£60 for box + £49 install + extra £10 per month subsription + day off work )
6/persuade her she can do without ( it is after all 95% repeats of repeats and 5% new stuff of which about 0.01 is worth watching ).
Anybody got SKY+ and how do you like it.Is it worth the extra subscription.Had any problems etc.
Thanks
Scorcher

[tonto]

Would suggest a box off ebay.
THIS
gets very good reviews.

Alternatively, do what I did and relieve a frend or relative of their box once they have upgraded to Sky+

BTW, Sky+ is very good if you record from TV a lot.

>> Edited by tonto on Wednesday 16th November 19:17

[wedg1e]

Absolutely feck-all use to you WHATsoever, but it's probably the switched-mode PSU that's gone. Used to be a common failure on PACE boxes.

I'd give up watching telly and get a life, it's more interesting

Hang on, got to go and ogle Isabel Lucas....

[Parrot of doom]

Tell Sky you're leaving. When they ask why, tell them because you can't really afford to have the box repaired or replaced.

After years of being a customer, I'd be amazed if they didn't offer to repair/replace FOC.

[mybrainhurts]

[r8bwt]

why not cancel your subscription,then ring up and say you fancy sky again and get a new box for free.

[Balmoral Green]

Somerset to Epping is a long way to go, why not use his own bin?

[mybrainhurts]

They use bins in Somerset...?

Whatever next....electricity?

[scorcher]

Thanx for replies.I believe you can't unsubscribe and then re-apply for a new box as you are under contract and are allowed the "new customer" special offers only once per house hold.Sky have got it pretty well sewn up.I'd bin it personally but then I'd have to suffer a horrible whiney noise in my ears all the time.It just ain't worth it!I think decent 2nd hand or SKY +.Just don't like that extra £10 subscription every month.Bloody rip off.

[cotty]

scorcher said:

5/upgrade to SKY+ (£60 for box + £49 install + extra £10 per month subsription + day off work ) Anybody got SKY+ and how do you like it.Is it worth the extra subscription.Had any problems etc. Thanks Scorcher

Do it
I have sky+ and it is fantastic had it for a while now. Couple of times it went into standby mode like yours but unplug for a 10mins and all fine again. Its so easy to record things, find a program you want to record like Top Gear and just press the record button. You dont have to set a time or anything thats it. There is a series link button so once you tell it to record a program and it is a series like Top Gear you press the Green series link button and it automatically records every episode without you having to do anything.

Pause live TV. Want a pee or get a drink, hit Pause go and do what you do then press play and it starts from the point you left it.

Record one channel while watching another, especially handy with a misses, no prob

Haggle with sky,say your not sure you can afford to upgrade. I did this and they "found" en ex demo box with a discount

All the people I have spoken to who have sky+ say they wont go back

[cotty]

scorcher said:

I think decent 2nd hand or SKY +.Just don't like that extra £10 subscription every month.Bloody rip off.

Trust me it really is worth it. Ask sky if they do a trial period, they will probably bend over backwards to get that extra £10 out of you per month but once you try it you wont want to go back.

I never use my VCR anymore as its just too much hassel

[cotty]

Just out of interest when I upgraded to sky+ I sold my old box which was in perfect working order. A Pistonhead member offered me £50 for it im not sure what the going rate is but that might help

[cotty]

scorcher said:

2/ buy a new one (loads of money about £250)

No my sky+ box cost £99 with free installation from sky

scorcher said:

5/upgrade to SKY+ (£60 for box + £49 install + extra £10 per month subsription + day off work )

On sky's web site they are doing the sky+ box for £49

sky said:

Sky+ is now just £49† (normally £199) with FREE standard installation (worth £60) when you take a £10 a month Multiroom subscription.)

http://existing.sky.com/offers.asp



>> Edited by cotty on Wednesday 16th November 20:33

[YarisSi]

Why not get the TiVo type boxes instead of a Sky+ box and then get a freeview box to go with it.

[Stamp]

Go google CPC. I got the latest sale flyer today and they have the small pace box at £150.
IIR, you have to phone sky with the serial number and they will register your card with the box.

[doddze]

remove your digibox.... get other half to ring up and say you have split up and you have taken box for your new house... get her to take out a contract in her name and get a new digibox.... worked for my mate!!

[marcos maniac]

A Sky box!

I haven't got sky - but I do have a sky box.......................

[towman]

[quote=cottyTrust me it really is worth it. Ask sky if they do a trial period, they will probably bend over backwards to get that extra £10 out of you per month but once you try it you wont want to go back.

I never use my VCR anymore as its just too much hassel[/quote]

Drop me an email if you want instructions to upgrade the hard drive. Gives you hours and hours of recording time. Well worth it.

[cotty]

YarisSi said:

Why not get the TiVo type boxes instead of a Sky+ box and then get a freeview box to go with it.

I dont think you can still buy a new TiVo. I understand they do pop up on e-bay from time to time but like hens teeth

[cotty]

towman said:

cotty said: Trust me it really is worth it. Ask sky if they do a trial period, they will probably bend over backwards to get that extra £10 out of you per month but once you try it you wont want to go back. I never use my VCR anymore as its just too much hassel Drop me an email if you want instructions to upgrade the hard drive. Gives you hours and hours of recording time. Well worth it.

That would be great as im always running out of space and the ££££ to jump to sky+160 is huge



>> Edited by Cotty on Thursday 17th November 09:28