Wanted - Skybox
 

My Skybox has begun to malfunction after 13+ yrs use.
I thought it was the remote, but new batteries and a new remote haven't cured it.
It does not respond to the remote and the response to the front buttons on the box itself is erratic -sometimes works, most times doesn't = knackered.

I don't want to subscribe to any package, and even though there is a cut price offer at the moment I don't want it.

I paid for my own ariel install when I moved here 6yrs ago and brought the box with me.

My favourite programme is NCIS which is on 5, and reception of 5 on the (communal) terrestrial ariel is unwatchable. I rarely need sky for anything else.

So - if anyone has an old bogstandard Skybox doing nowt, I will give a tenner for it

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

I have been offered one already - isn't Accy Web wonderful :D

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Free....and delivered .. all within an hour of asking :D

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

you also have the option of FreeSat now which would get you C5 with no subsciption. from about 80 quid for Standard def or 150 ish for High Def.

There are even PVR systems although as quite new they are a little expensive ( 250 quid ish but they are HD)

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Thanks for the info - will consider getting one for next hibernation. My tele is almost new and has built in Freeview and is 'HD ready'
I have just connected up this replacement Skybox and see that Sky now need me to subscribe to get 5 - that must have just happened when I was without a Skybox for a few days.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

HOORAY - now found channel5 renamed as 'Fiver'
lovely jubbly - will get NCIS again :D

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

fiver and five are different channels

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

:confused: You have me baffled now - I am tuned to Fiver and watching the Wright Stuff -That was on channel 5 last time I watched it :confused:
I will have to search the tv listings to see which has NCIS

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

they are both owned by channel five but are diiferent

channel 5 is on 105 on sky and fiver is 176

heres more info. http://www2.five.tv/fiver/

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Thanks Em- I have checked the listings and NCIS is on ch 5 :(
- so I will either have to get Freesat or pay to view via 'Five on Demand' on my PC
thinking about it

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

So why do you not watch using the freeview in your TV?

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

You shouldn't have to pay for channel 5

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

The Freeview is only 'watchable' via the terrestrial ariel which is communal and situated many yards away half way down the hill - ch5 reception is rubbish - can listen to 5 but not watch
Hyndburn Homes are charging me 37p a week extra (compulsory charge) for that rubbish ariel :mad:

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Margeret, what you need to do is ring up and get your sky card (which was probably converted to a free to air card when you cancelled any subscription) 'paired' with the new box. They made so you can't just take any Sky card and put it in any box a number of years ago.

You will be getting a very basic free to view selection currently.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

The replacement box I was given today was accompanied by its own card.
I am a bit baffled because I can't get Fiver with that card,:confused: but can with the card I used in my old Skybox.

PS - all this is giving me a dizzy do - going to lie down - I will think clearer after that

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

I dont believe it!!!!!
I have just managed to get channel5 on this Skybox
I have no idea why I couldn't when I tried earlier
Must be Gremlins - but need to have a kip now
Thanks for all the help

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Have you gone thro the setup menu.
Freesat will plug into the same socket that you now use for sky, both satellites are in the same cluster, so your dish shoud'nt need realigning.

I put one in upstairs, from the same dish as downstairs sky, and they both work OK.

Retlaw.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Now now Walter - don't give me more tech info than I can cope with in one day - I haven't got Freesat (yet) - just a Skybox and Freeview - I only need the Skybox to watch channel5 (NCIS and sometimes a film) - now I can, I am a happy bunny again

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

I had a problem very similar to margarets . The batterys on the remote went flat and it wouldn't work the sky box . so i phoned sky up to ask what i should do . They ask you what make of tv you have , then they give you a number . Its a different number for different makes of tv .
You then press tv once on the handset , point the handset away from the tv . hold down select and red button together , until the lights on the end of the handset flash twice . Key in the number sky gave you for your tv ( In my case 584 for a philips ) then press select . It will now work!

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

I still think my remote was duff too - I got a new one from ebay today - I have managed to set it work my TV in the way you have suggested, but it wont operate the Skybox:confused: - so I am going to leave the Skybox on channel5 always, and switch it on and off on the front of the skybox

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Freesat is a little box that replaces your sky box, just unplug sky, plug in the Freesat box, switch on and it sets itself up, just watch it till its finished and the program you want is on channel five on friday.

Nowt techy, if you can plug in sky you can do freesat.

Freeview will only work from a terestrial aerial if you can already recieve channel five, I managed to realign my daughters aerial from woodnook, to the one near Pendle, which is the nearest channel 5 link, which is a relay from Winter Hill. She gets far more channels than I do through Freesat.
I tried my roof top on the same direction, but the trees on the coppice block the signal, and my daughter is only 500 yrds away and she can get it.

Retlaw.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

IIRC, usually teh repeaters are on a 90 degree polarisation from the main aerials, Winter Hill is Horizontal, repeaters are vertical.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Read this about freesat from sky which is different to freesat from BBC/ITV

Here is the channel list


Entertainment

* BBC One
* BBC Two
* ITV 1
* Channel 4
* S4C
* FIVE
* AIT International
* BBC ALBA
* BBC Four
* BBC Three
* BEN
* BET
* BET+1
* Channel 4+1
* Channel M
* E4
* E4+1
* EMTV
* Film 24
* FIVE USA
* Five USA+1
* FIVER
* FIVER+1
* HiTV
* Information TV
* Information TV 2
* ITV 2
* ITV 3
* ITV 4
* ITV2+1
* ITV3+1
* ITV4+1
* Life
* Men & Motors
* More 4
* More 4+1
* My Channel
* NTIA
* Nuts TV
* Nuts TV+1
* OBE
* OHTV
* Open Access 2
* Open Access 3
* Propeller
* Pulse
* Showcase TV
* Sky3
* Sumo TV
* The Paranormal Channel
* Urban TV
* Young@Heart
* Zone Reality
* Zone Reality+1
* Zone Romantica
* Zone Thriller


Lifestyle & Culture

* Bedroom TV
* Body in Balance
* Fashion TV
* Horse & Country
* Luxe TV
* Real Estate TV
* Real Estate TV+1
* Rock-on-tv
* Rural TV
* SA Direct
* Travel Channel
* Travel Channel +1
* Travel Channel 2
* Wedding TV
* Wedding TV+1
* Wine TV

If you have a Sky setup without a subscription it might be a good idea for under £20

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Amusing oneself is getting more complex :confused:
I remember some of those channels from the days when I paid, but didn't think they were worth watching.
I will do fine with News 24, channel 5 and film4
I only watch 2 hours max per night, and some nights not at all.
It may well be a value option for people who watch a lot more

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

That £19.57 is a one off payment by the way not every month

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Phone no . for sky is ; 08442 414141 . just give them a ring and tell them that your handset isnt working your skybox . It will cost the price of the phone call only .They will tell you what to do . No one need call round .

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Its to stop shadows and ghosting. Thats why I changed my daughters aerial from a skinny little aerial pointing to Woodnook, to a highgain multi polarisation aerial pointing at Pendle. She gets a belting picture, better then Woodnook which is 800 yards away whilst Pendle is 8 miles away, higher wattage output.

Retlaw.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Thanks Dave I will try that tomorrow
had enough of new technology for today

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Why pay for a sky card when Freesat is Free, no card, whereas with sky they can nulify your card at their leisure, and make you buy a new one.

Retlaw.

Re: Wanted - Skybox
 

Because if you already have a non subscription sky system setup it will only cost you £19.57 and you get more channels than the other freesat and no box to buy.