Broken HD Box - 1st Gen - Installed Day 1

[Spaceboyo]

So I guess I was fairly lucky it lasted this long!!

Had SKY HD installed on day 1.

All the usual little problems but just lived with it as others were having much bigger issues!

Now its given up the ghost, no signal being received on either input, yet I know the dish,LNB,cables are all fine, as hooked up old SKY+ box and works fine.

So the question is what should I get for my £65 call out charge?

A new box, refurbished box, etc.

What should I insist on, don't want to get a box with more problems than I've ever had before.

Any advice welcome.

 

[dreadline]

I would be haggling with them to come and swap the box for free (if you are out of your 12 months).
Threaten to cancel, ask to be put through to the turnaround dept and see if they will do it. I know a few peeps who have done this and got the repair for free (they would much rather lose £65 than have you cancel and lose their monthly subs of you)

 

[Giblets2]

I just shrugged and paid up the £65. Mine was a day 1 box too. I got a brand new Pace box rather than a refurb so cross your fingers. They haven't yet charged me for the new box (I expect they will this month).

The Pace boxes seem to be much better built and designed, to me at least - and I've had these boxes to bits a few times.

 

[CraigO]

I would be haggling with them to come and swap the box for free (if you are out of your 12 months).
Threaten to cancel, ask to be put through to the turnaround dept and see if they will do it. I know a few peeps who have done this and got the repair for free (they would much rather lose £65 than have you cancel and lose their monthly subs of you)

That's what I did, old box lasted until last month, installed new Thomson box (no component) and working fine. I didn't threaten to cancel, I asked if there was a call-out charge when told yes, just asked to go to cancellations, they asked why so I told them don't watch as much, no point in spending 65 quid so just moving reluctantly to Freeview. Box replaced 2 days later.

 

[White Noise]

After getting a new dish and LNB when my 2nd HD box was installed the other week, I am still getting the same problems with the old day 1 HD Box (signal problems on ch5, ch4 HD and others). So it would seem it definately is the power supply. The fix on here seems a bit fiddly and complicated for me to be confident attempting, so it may just die on me in the near future.

If it does and I have to pay a £65 call out fee (doubt I'd get very far threatening to cancel having just got a new 2nd box) will I get a 12 month warranty on the replacement box? Or if I get a dodgy one and it fails will I need to pay yet another £65?

If there is no warranty I will probably attempt to fix the PSU. I would get to keep everything on the box and the component out is becoming more precious with HD PVRs coming onto the market.

 

[tvdavid]

I think I have had my box for 20 months and has been fine but the last few days I keep getting picture break up on ITV Anglia South and Virgin 1 and also channel 4 and Five yet my signal quality is full and the strength is very high to.

Unless someone is now using one off them phones round here.

 

[kenedin]

I think I have had my box for 20 months and has been fine but the last few days I keep getting picture break up on ITV Anglia South and Virgin 1 and also channel 4 and Five yet my signal quality is full and the strength is very high to.

Unless someone is now using one off them phones round here.

Signal Strength and Quality only read from the default transponder. To get a true measure, set two of your dodgy channels to record simultaneously, then go into Signal Strength on your menu and see what they are saying. Anyway, channel loss can be due to a number of things, eg dish has moved, or LNB failing. Try resetting the LNBs. ( Services|4|01 Select ). Set LNB Power Supply & 22khZ Command both to 'OFF', then Save New Settings. Then set them both to 'ON' again, and Save New Settings.

If you've had your box for 20 months, it'll be a Thomson, and loss of signal is also an early indicator of a PSU problem. Replacements are available at Satcure ( all the info you need is there ). Or you could get Sky out, and get a refurb box. If you're really keen, you could open up the box and have a look for bulging/leaking capacitors. See here:

Thomson power supply notes

 

[dr no]

I was in same boat too.
I said the box was beyond repair and that I would fix it myself at some point.
In the meantime I insisted on a new Pace Box for £75 (best I could do at the time - couple of months). I repaired my dual output Thomson box with a satcure PSU. Now I have Sky HD upstairs and downstairs!