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Discussion topic: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

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This message was authored by Padam_Padam This message was authored by: Padam_Padam

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades


@Jason+Golding wrote:

My experience with sky stream has been brilliant. End


My experience with Sky Stream was painfully mediocre. End 

This message was authored by Daniel-F This message was authored by: Daniel-F

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

Posted by a Sky employee

Hi all,

 

Just want to drop in here and reiterated what @Laing1 has said. 

 

Let's all just remember that everyone engaging in this is a customer and opinions will varie from person to person. We respect all opinions but won't tolerate comments directed towards individuals that would breach our community rules and guidelines. 

 

There is plenty of space for healthy conversation regardless of opinion on this topic 🙂

 

Thanks,

Daniel
Community Moderator
This message was authored by Suskha This message was authored by: Suskha

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades


@Jason+Golding wrote:

My experience with sky stream has been brilliant. End


Same here - hardly any issues and I have Glass & Stream in use everyday throughout the house

This message was authored by Bordonbert This message was authored by: Bordonbert

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

The problem is Daniel-F that what the most recent discussion has been about isn't a matter of opinion, it is about whether there is a factual verifiable set of faults in the system which could and should be addressed.  It can clearly be demonstrated that there are genuine faults.  The number of people over time who are reporting these faults should be enough to point to that but it never hurts to have genuine evidence, just as I have posted previously.  And, even though I am leaving the system, I would still have been happy to give more of that evidence if it helped to improve it.  I can see it won't.

 

It is not a matter of "opinion" as to whether there are faults.  Whether you are happy with the system with its faults and all, IS a matter of opinion and that is not the issue.  By the simple nature of population figures most people will be.  Just why is it that, every time a verifiable factual issue is reported the "opinions" that Sky is great and the world is wonderful keep cropping up?  Those opinions, while certainly valid to the poster, are irrelevant and are only posted to suggest that those of us who are experiencing these issues first hand every day are suffering from some sort of imagination problem or hysteria or are just plain moaners.  I for one resent that and I think that is justified and I think it gives me the right to challenge it.

 

If you want me out of here and not posting sensible factual verifiable information which could actually be used to shorten time to fix these problems then I'm happy with that.  That's not me being hysterical in any way, it's just an acknowledgement that I have no need to waste my own time trying to help others get a fix by posting "out in the world" proper engineering diagnostic info.  As an engineer myself I know the value of that sort of info - if you have a policy of fixing what is wrong.  So please, if it is the better for the forum (and Sky), go ahead.  I just won't (not don't) take kindly to people who I would describe as I have (still), using no bad language with a smile on my face and my tongue in my cheek, from kicking into a discussion with irrelevant opinion only designed to get in the way of the discussion of facts when they have nothing helpful to contribute.

 

 

EDIT:  On checking I see that the links to my two little vids in my previous post have been removed.  That pretty much ties up Sky's position on verifying the things we are reporting.  This will maybe be a signal flare to all of us who DO genuinely have these problems.  We are only the lunatic fringe.

_____________________________________________________________________

[Just ask! A moment of embarrassment is better than a lifetime of ignorance.]
This message was authored by Jporch316 This message was authored by: Jporch316

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more

@Bordonbert 

Just to offer my opinion (and my experience)

 

it maybe that the issues you are experiencing arent being experienced by others. Most are certainly not being experienced within my own eco system. So you will get those who say that the system is fine with them. And you will get others who say its not fine with them

 

with any piece of tech i use i do expect system crashes updates etc. i had to pull the power on my brand new 4k max firestick last night. Ive probably pulled the plug on my glass tv more times

than my firestick but i use my tv a lot more 

——————————————————————————
43inch and 55 inch Sky Glass & 3 Pucks on virgin media M350 hub 5x. 4 x sky mobile sims. Pretend guitar aficionado .. rock on!
This message was authored by Laing1 This message was authored by: Laing1

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more

I agree with @Jporch316   

 

T start with I don't have Sky Stream so have no opinions on Stream

 

In my experience with Sky Q and other electrical devices, different people can experience different problems with the same equipment it doesn't make anyone right or wrong on their opinion on the equipment yes its fact that some are having problems its also fact that some are not so I don't see whats wrong swith posting about the problem but also posting that you are not seeing this.

 

I have had little to no problem with my Sky Q and I've had it from a few months after launch others with the same box as me had many problems and they posted about it yes I posted I wasn't seeing these problem as its always good to get different views and experiences

 

You also get manufactuing problems and batches that have problems just look at the Glass/stream remotes, there was also a major problem with LG C2 TV's in 2022 when LG couldn't get supply of one of the chips they used so used a similiar spec chip but this caused problem LG ended up having to release a firmare update to remedy this problem 

 

@Bordonbert  your videos were removed due to it being a third party site as per the moderators note and there are perfectly good ways that videos can be posted on the forum 

 

 

 


I may be a Sky Superuser but I am still just a Sky customer

Sky Q 2 TB (Silver)Box, 2 Mini boxes since June 2016, all connected by wifi
Sky Broadband Hub/SR203, Sky Ultrafast broadband
Ultimate on Demand, Q Experience/UHD, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema
LG 49SJ 810 V UHD TV, Google Pixel 7 Pro mobile
This message was authored by Bordonbert This message was authored by: Bordonbert

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

Now that you have pointed this out I have spotted the fact that the site can host its own videos.  I will repost the footage I originally posted on my Dropbox site, a common and safe choice but I do understand the decision.

 

 

Remember, each step in both test cases is a single button push.  I tried to make it a whole page each tiem but the response time of the extended push for a page had changed too and the first two steps of the second stage it was held for too short a time and gave single channel steps.  Those two steps in themselves show a real problem.

 

If you just look you will see that this is a real issue.  At startup the base behaviour is displayed.  A short while later and the system is beginning to grind to a halt and will soon fall over.  As a software developer you should NOT be releasing software in that condition and then taking the stance, "oh what the heck, live with it!"  There are other issues which could easily be demonstrated with videos but I would have thought that one which clearly shows a programming related issue would have made people accept that these problems are real and we are not just moaners or people with "unreasonable expectations" as has been hinted at.  I have cheap Chinese software which does everything it should do and totally reliably too.  If they can do it why can't Sky?

 

One other point I would like to clear up before this ends, the problems I am complaining about are unique to the Sky Stream Puck!  That is all I have ever talked about.  You all seem to be assuming that my criticism is of Sky's technology across the board.  Read what I write please before jumping to conclusions.  You can see how considered my responses are.  I have not and do not criticise Sky for its other packages and services.  My Sky broadband is great and I have publicly praised them for it earlier in this thread.  There are no buffering problems due to line transfer speed that I have ever seen.  There certainly are issues due to streaming server response times but I am not aware they are solely Sky as some are to do with apps such as BBC iPlayer.  That may be down to the programming of the apps themselves or third party content servers so I don't know if these are Sky's own, I suspect not.  I neither know nor care whether the full Glass system for example works correctly, I don't have it.  I only have a puck.  I see it have some problems on an "every programme" basis, i.e. with every programme I watch, (later I will describe the Favourites problem as an example which is in this time frame).  I also see it simply fall over and die regularly.  I am not imagining it, it happens.

 

Oh and a point to think of.  If there is a problem with the programming in the Puck or in the design of its electronics then IT IS IN EVERYONE'S SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS.  If we are all using the same model of hardware we will have exactly the same resources.  Then if we are all using the same software as demonstrated by the same version info we therefore all share the same faults.  There is no other possibility!  These problems have nothing whatsoever to do with home network issues as is always suggested.

 

For example I will repeat, the Favourites listing is an absolute pain to access, whereas it worked perfectly when first purchased until a background software update was applied and then it became rat droppings.  That is a big issue for me as I neither use nor want to dredge through hundreds of channels in random order all showing reality slop, dumbed down celebrity slop or playground porn.  I do not imply I want these stopped, some people love them and good luck to them but I don't.  I have a system where I can simply take them out of the loop only for myself.  So my Favourites list is well trimmed and used as THE goto option.  Except it doesn't work!!!

 

Choosing a channel from the Favourites listing brings up the channel.  Testing by hitting the "Back" button then takes me back to the Favourites listing.  Ok, function tested by Sky and working, move on to next feature.  Except...  If I simply wait for only a few minutes then hit the back button, as I may towards the end of a programme or at an advert break or even if I just get bored, now I am at Channel 101 of the full listing.  That is every time after a short wait in a programme.  And to get to the point where I can select Favourites once again I have to use the "Back" button, select listings to All Channels, then use the back button once again and select the Channel Listing a second time.  Why on Earth does it take two trips through the system to be offered Favourites as an option?   Once Favourites used to be accessed from the listings with a left button push where a context menu popped out.  Now the menu simply doesn't appear unless you are already in the Favourites listing and what use is that?  Those who don't bother with this feature will not see the problems it has or will simply ignore them as a simple very occasional minor irritant.  However their attitude that it is an inconsequential problem is simply selfish.  It is only inconsequential to them and not to others like me who use it all the time.  By choice.  It's importance is OUR own "valid opinion".

 

The puck "fast track backwards and forwards" system is once again completely unusable.  It jumps and jerks and cannot come to rest where you choose to stop.  A lot of the time it simply does not do what you tell it.  One problem is that it regularly offers itself then refuses to respond to any remote button pushes, even though the scrolling track bar is showing at the bottom demonstrating it can be accessed, and it simply goes on playing as it is.  Who under those circumstances would push a button once and then stop until it responds?  You naturally try again when there is absolutely no response.  However, the system stores all and any button pushes made while in this state and when it eventually comes out of it maybe 20seconds later, (I have seen it take minutes to come back to life and respond again), it then acts on all of them immediately without you being able to stop that.  You then end up who knows where.

 

These are not difficult functions to programme into a system.  I have old Humax boxes which work flawlessly with these features.  It also isn't unheard of to make a mistake and then acknowledge it and work to repair it.  That is absolutely forgiveeable.  I have mentioned the Sky Remote debacle where very few worked and had to all be replaced.  Sky handled that correctly and admirably in my opinion and I spoke out in their favour advising patience.  This one they have ignored and are going to continue to ignore it as the puck may be a dead system from what I have heard, and that means that many customers like me have been tied into a contract paying good money to the full amount for a system which is faulty and not fit for purpose with Sky simply taking our money and responding "we-e-ell, whaddyagonnado?"

 

Ok, so this is the last post I will make on this issue I promise.  No one is interested in discussing it in any way and my release date is set.  Even the others who comment that they see this too and are not happy are loathe to take part in discussing it.  They know the negative response they will meet.  I take a different view.  I actually hoped for more from the people here and from Sky but just like everywhere, "apathy rules, O...".  Everyone here should remember the spirit of Martin Niemolleer's poem "First they came for...".  How do you feel Sky will react if you have a problem with your alternative systems?  Would you expect people like me, a disgruntled Puck user whose issues you denegrate, to then support you in your own case?  We will all be gone.  Good luck in the future and happy viewing.

_____________________________________________________________________

[Just ask! A moment of embarrassment is better than a lifetime of ignorance.]
This message was authored by Bigal66 This message was authored by: Bigal66

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

It really is a piece of 💩once a week I need to do a reset and when I do this the puck works no bother for another week then it's reset again .. 🤬🤬🤬

This message was authored by TimmyBGood This message was authored by: TimmyBGood

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more

@Bordonbert wrote:

 

Oh and a point to think of.  If there is a problem with the programming in the Puck or in the design of its electronics then IT IS IN EVERYONE'S SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS.  If we are all using the same model of hardware we will have exactly the same resources.  Then if we are all using the same software as demonstrated by the same version info we therefore all share the same faults.  There is no other possibility!  These problems have nothing whatsoever to do with home network issues as is always suggested.

 


On the contrary, logic would suggest that if we are all using the same hardware and software then the biggest variable is by definition the internet connection and particularly the local wireless environment at each subscription address.

 

Some issues are undoubtedly generic, but even those are often either exacerbated or mitigated by local WiFi.

* * * * * * *

Sky Glass 55" (on ethernet) & two Stream Pucks (one ethernet / one WiFi)
BT Halo 3+ Ultrafast FTTP (500Mbs), BT Smart Hub 2
This message was authored by Bigal66 This message was authored by: Bigal66

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

Still the biggest piece of **bleep** I've ever had in the house . Total garbage. Right now on the Croatia game it's coming off the live picture and showing just an advertisement for the game . Absolute crap 🤬🤬🤬🤬

This message was authored by GhunterX This message was authored by: GhunterX

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

I couldn't agree more with the original post, eveyrthing was bang on.

 

I too work in IT and for the life of me cannot understand how this disgraceful interface ever got released. It's dreadful and pointless. I was working a lot so didn't really play with the Stream for too long, its past the 30 days and I'm just gobsmacked with how bad it is. What happened to the good old days when you turned it on and the TV Guide was just there and things worked.

I'm planning on cancelling and paying the cancellation fee because those boxes are just nonesense.

 

Even on the SkyGo, I can't watch a channel because of viewing restrictions, yet can from a Sky Stream box.

So I can watch BBC One on the box, and in the same room, if I try the app, I get can't watch it because of viewing restrictions, I mean that isn't even a funny joke. Companies now have it too easy to walk all over people and it really shouldn't be allowed.

 

Try get in touch with Sky, forget it, can't ring the number without getting charged. I paid for your service that should give users a free phone number right there, not paying you twice. Rather just cancel and warn others to avoid at all costs.

 

My mother also wants to cancel, she's in her 70's and instead of making a nice simple iterface, she's just lost and I can't blame her. I look at IT systems all day and at times I'm bloody lost. It's just a badly designed interface, others want to accept that, that's up to them, but lets call a spade a spade, it's terrible.

 

Companies pull these stunts and yet so shocked people go the illegal tv route. But it seems people who pay get shafted.

 

Would say I'm surprised by Sky, but honestly who is?

This message was authored by Mikeb2102 This message was authored by: Mikeb2102

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

I got it a few months ago because there was a tree in front of my house blocking the satellite signal.

 

It is without a doubt the worst thing that I've signed up to. I have a fast Internet connection. I have the puck linked to my broadband hub with an ethernet cable and I have yet to watch a full football match without it all of a sudden stuttering. I've reset the puck loads of times. It's a complete waste of money. Thing is, the trees in front of my house have been chopped down so I would have been better off waiting.

This message was authored by DiscoDave77 This message was authored by: DiscoDave77

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

@Bordonbert  It's refreshing to read honest to the point posts like yours.   The product is awful, I gave it 2 tries, 1 year apart, nothing was much different the second time.

 

The hardware is poor, the software is poor and the price tag associated with it is crazy.

 

A once market leader of television is now years behind, other products and services offer a better viewing experience and content, without the bombardment of advertising.

 

They had an oppertunity to make something special and they blew it.

 

 

This message was authored by Byham This message was authored by: Byham

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

What a superb and very apt comment

 

I've been with Sky almost since they started and this is first major miss-step that they have taken in my humble opinion - my so called Sky VIP Status has been severely tested and undeminded!

 

It is much more difficult to undertake what for years has been known as "recording a programme". Fast forward goes hopelessly astray. Searching for a programme is often a nightmare and sometimes well nigh impossible!

 

There is an old saying "if it ain't broken don't fix it". Sky should have taken note of this before looking to ultimately replace Sky Q with Sky Stream that I believe in many households will quickly become SKY SCREAM - and not in a good way!

 

A number of urgent "fixes" are required - let's hope Sky are working on them and have the good grace to admit their mistake and make the necessary changes very soon.

 

This message was authored by Matt+Nunns This message was authored by: Matt+Nunns

Re: Sky Stream - my worst decision in decades

There are undoubtedly many issues with Sky Stream that need some serious attention, here's my two penneth:-

 

- still has audio issues with "exotic" audio systems with codecs (atmos) you have to pay extra to use, the solution being to turn it to stereo mode! There is a whole thread on this gem!

 

-audio dropout intermittently especially in some apps - Disney plus especially

 

- subtitles often don't work and the pick has to be power cycled to get them to work again

 

- random crashes that require a power cycle

 

-playlists don't really work with live sport (F1 from personal experience) you go to play the "recording" and it just dumps you into the live program that may be at the podium celebration as an example

 

The fact that Sky aren't clearly communicating on the issue with Sky stream or seemingly making any particular effort to fix things is apalling!

 

I would suggest submitting formal complaints in the hope it may make them take notice!


https://www.sky.com/help/forms/complaints

 

 

 

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