[ali5]

Sorry to ask such a stupid question but ....

Have a daughter with learning difficulties who is really really looking forward to our holidays but has cried because she is going to miss so many of her programmes on the telly.

Do you think it will be safe to leave our Sky HD box on to tape all her programmes for three weeks whilst we are away?

I am absolutely paranoid about fires, since being in one when young and also being brought up to un-plug everything when not in use (late dad was an electrician)

Any advice appreciated.

Ali

[Scapegoat]

Originally Posted by ali5

Sorry to ask such a stupid question but ....

Have a daughter with learning difficulties who is really really looking forward to our holidays but has cried because she is going to miss so many of her programmes on the telly.

Do you think it will be safe to leave our Sky HD box on to tape all her programmes for three weeks whilst we are away?

I am absolutely paranoid about fires, since being in one when young and also being brought up to un-plug everything when not in use (late dad was an electrician)

Any advice appreciated.

Ali

My Sky HD box (and Sky+ box before it) have been left in standby (connected to the mains but with the red light on) for over 3 weeks with no issues.

Normally come back to a HDD full of recordings.

If storage space is critical then you may need to work out what you can fit on; consider recording SD versions whilst away; and put K for Keep on things you really really want to record (the Sky box will over-record old stuff if its full and its not got K on it).

[Broadz]

Are you planning on unplugging your fridge, your freezer, your answer machine, your security alarm and your security lights also? How do you manage to sleep at night?

The Sky HD box automatically goes into standby every night. While in standby it uses (next to) no electricity. The only electricity it will be using is the amount required to show a little red light on the front of the box, and the amount required to record your daughter's programmes and download new Anytime programmes.

I don't think either of my Sky boxes, or either of my televisions, or either of my stereos, or any of my alarm clocks, or my security lights, or security alarm, fridges, freezers, washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, kettle or lamps have ever been unplugged. Ever. And I've not had a fire. When switched off, they don't cause fires. When switched on, they don't cause fires. Else, you wouldn't use them.

Message for your late dad: Your Sky HD box will be in use. It will be doing what it is designed to do. Record things while you aren't there. Therefore you can leave it plugged in.

[Paul_HDLover]

Chill Ali. Thats what its designed to do. Unfortunately being SKY HD, you are much more likely to come back with no recordings due to the box powering itself down that the thing going on fire. Thats the real issue.

[tommyav]

Yep agreed! dont think ive ever been away and come back to a fully working box

Keep it plugged in and hope for the best

[dllord]

Originally Posted by Paul_HDLover

Chill Ali. Thats what its designed to do. Unfortunately being SKY HD, you are much more likely to come back with no recordings due to the box powering itself down that the thing going on fire. Thats the real issue.

LoL! so true!

[ali5]

Thanks for all your replies - well I'll set the planner to record all her programmes and keep everything crossed for it to work

Unfortunately not possible to talk to Dad at the present time Broadz - if I could I'd be earning mega bucks !!!

Ali

[justkc]

Originally Posted by ali5

Thanks for all your replies - well I'll set the planner to record all her programmes and keep everything crossed for it to work

Unfortunately not possible to talk to Dad at the present time Broadz - if I could I'd be earning mega bucks !!!

Ali

on what other forum could you get such great advice even for those loved ones not with us anymore ...priceless

[gorfuc]

Surely you leave you box on all year round, it's designed for that, i'm sure it will be fine.

By the way, where did you say you live again?

[hullfella]

you could install a sprinkler system lol
have a good holiday

[ian-d]

What always amuses me is that ppl will leave their digiboxes/electrical equipment on when they are sleeping, yet switch it all off when on holiday. I'd personally rather be out the way if any of it caught fire, not asleep upstairs

[owain_thomas]

Originally Posted by ian-d

What always amuses me is that ppl will leave their digiboxes/electrical equipment on when they are sleeping, yet switch it all off when on holiday. I'd personally rather be out the way if any of it caught fire, not asleep upstairs

very, very good point. it's what we pay insurance for and at least if you're on holiday you know no-one is going to get hurt.

[SamRadford]

Originally Posted by Broadz

The Sky HD box automatically goes into standby every night. While in standby it uses (next to) no electricity.

No, that's not true according to people who have measured it. See
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=761596

Also, there was a recent post about a Sky HD box catching fire. See
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=839787

[Cyril]

Originally Posted by tomsell99

Yep agreed! dont think ive ever been away and come back to a fully working box

Keep it plugged in and hope for the best

Use a slingbox to ensure its still running!

And also use a TiVo or media pc to record as a backup!

Unfortunately SkyHD seems to fail planner recordings after a couple of weeks or so

[mickbirch2000]

Left my Sky HD box on standby with lots of stuff to be recorded for 2 weeks last year while away on hols. When I came back into the lounge I was greeted by a loud wirring the box was in standby with fans running flat out. I expected the worst but a 3 pin reset settled the fans back down & all recordings were ok.
I was lucky, this box & the buggy software that runs it is the worst product I have ever experienced.
Mick

[czytt]

I always make sure that Anytime is switched off before going away. It seems to be the cause of a lot of these irritating problems - on my box, at least.

Jerry

[g8tecrasher]

I've left mine on for 3 weeks before with anytime enabled. Came home to everything how it should be, no missed recordings and no failed ones either, lovely. I honestly believe it comes down to where you keep your box. Give it plenty of room to breath and keep it away from heat sources and you'll be fine. If you look at some of the home cinema setups on other parts of this forum, the conditions some people keep them in are crazy. Sat next to xboxs or on top of amps, all of which are notorius for producing stupid amounts of heat.

[nigelb]

One point that has not been mentioned is the impact of Multiroom. The boxes regularly contact Sky via the connected phone line and for multiroom, Sky check that both boxes are on the same phone number.
A few years ago when I had a SKY+ and a standard SKY box, I switched the standard box off when I went on holiday. When I returned there was a letter from Sky amongst the post asking why my second box was not connected to the phone line and threatening to charge me two subscriptions if I did not reconnect it.