Do I need a satellite signal to download new content

[hawkerpaul]

Hi

I've just had scaffolding put up which has blocked my satellite signal.

I can still play recordings etc. but if I try to download any new content from Sky Cinema, Catchup TV etc., I get the following message:

"Because of a technical issue, your download couldn't be completed. Please try again later."

The SkyQ connection to the internet is working fine, as all icons appear in the menus, Netfilx is ok etc.

When I first tried downloading something after losing signal it worked fine, but I now get the message above when trying to do so.

Is there anything I can do to get around this?

Will it start working again automatically when my signal is restored?

Thanks

Paul

[TimmyBGood]

@hawkerpaul 

Q boxes do lose all functionality after a period without a satellite signal.  I'm surprised you can still play recordings and use apps.

[hawkerpaul]

Thanks @TimmyBGood 

It's only been up 2 days, so perhaps I won't be able to do that soon.

Will full functioanlity return automatically when my satellite signal has been restored, or will I have to re-enable it manually somehow?

Thanks

[Chodley]

Yeah should just work again

[PandJ2020]

It can be days or weeks before it stops working...

[hawkerpaul]

Just wonderng, why on earth do Sky put this restriction to block downloads etc if there is no satellite signal, as downloads are done through the internet aren't they?

[nigea99]

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@hawkerpaul wrote:

Just wonderng, why on earth do Sky put this restriction to block downloads etc if there is no satellite signal, as downloads are done through the internet aren't they?

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hi @hawkerpaul 

They don't as such - if you can still use your box to watch recordings etc then your problem is not currrently due to the lack of Satellite SIgnal

The whole box & not just downloads ceases to function if it does not get its periodic authoristaion signal.  which is what has been mentioned. 

Thus the box may work for other things until the next signal is due - but this could be a day or a few weeks.

I am sorry I don't know what specifically may be causing your technical fault on downloads 

[hawkerpaul]

@nigea99 

Presumably its because I've no satellite signal, and sky have blocked functionality

[nigea99]

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@hawkerpaul wrote:

@nigea99 

Presumably its because I've no satellite signal, and sky have blocked functionality

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@hawkerpaul SKY don't do that  - I think you would have this problem even if your satellite dish was working OK

As mentioned, your box will cease for everything though when it doesn't get its next 'keep alive' signal that is delivered via Satellite

[TimmyBGood]

@hawkerpaul 

Historically the restriction was to prevent users with Sky+ / Sky+ HD carrying their box round to a non-subscriber neighbors to play back premium content from the hard drive (because this would have much higher quality than the alternative VHS recording)

[Raider999]

@TimmyBGood you may be correct, however as the boxbonly needs a signal periodically then there isn't anything to stop a subscriber taking it around for the evening then taking it back home and re-connecting.

I would suspect it has more to do with Sky switching off functionality to people who have cancelled their subscription. 

[TimmyBGood]

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@Raider999 wrote:

@TimmyBGood you may be correct, however as the boxbonly needs a signal periodically then there isn't anything to stop a subscriber taking it around for the evening then taking it back home and re-connecting.

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It's frankly a historical anomaly these days anyway because digital content is everywhere.  Not so much back in 2002 though (and boxes used to look for reauthentication before initialising)

Sky extended the grace period significantly quite a while ago when this became a problem after big storms when numerous dishes require realignment: given almost all Q boxes have an internet connection it really shouldn't be required at all.