Notice to change to HD

[RhodaT]

Hi - We've been getting a notice on-screen that we need to change our box to HD or lose BBC (we have quite old boxes!) - we are in Ireland. A phone number is given but have tried that for a week with no luck.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[caesarome]

Is the number shown here a different one, or you can upgrade via the link here as well:

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/bbcupgrade-roi

[oj01]

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@RhodaT wrote:

Hi - We've been getting a notice on-screen that we need to change our box to HD or lose BBC (we have quite old boxes!) - we are in Ireland. A phone number is given but have tried that for a week with no luck.

Any ideas? Thanks!

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Sky will insist that the upgrade is to Sky Q, although if you speak to them it's likely you will be able to negotiate that upgrade for free given you have an SD only box. 

You won't need to add the HD Pack (unless you want to), as the FTA channels (BBC, ITV etc) come in HD for no extra charge. 

Alternatively, if you don't want Sky Q, you can buy a used Sky+HD box from eBay (get a DRX890 OR DRX895 Model). You would then need to call Sky to have the Sky+ features added to your account. 

[RhodaT]

Thank you for your reply! Very helpful from your end - but not so much Sky's! I got through to Sky Ireland and a very nice assistant but he went through a bunch of packages to switch to - none of them free, and he didn't know there was supposed to be a free upgrade program: all of the options open to us cost. Sky needs to be a lot clearer on this as it clearly states that these upgrades are free. There is a link to click to change on-line -- this just sent me back to the beginning of the process. And the other phone number, starting with 0330 doesn't connect. Yikes!

[RhodaT]

Thank you! I will try ringing them again, although the advisor I just spoke with, while very nice, didn't know anything about free upgrades. I've discovered the link given for on-line upgrades for this problem isn't working - the fellow on the phone thought that maybe these upgrades were only available on-line.  Think I need a coffee before I try again! 😉

[caesarome]

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@RhodaT wrote:

And the other phone number, starting with 0330 doesn't connect. Yikes!

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You might be able to change that by changing the flag to Ireland at the bottom right of the page.

[TimmyBGood]

@RhodaT 

An alternative is to source one or more late model Sky+ HD boxes: these are from about £20 on eBay.

[RhodaT]

Thanks, but the Irish flag is showing ....

[xenon81]

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@RhodaT wrote:

Thank you for your reply! Very helpful from your end - but not so much Sky's! I got through to Sky Ireland and a very nice assistant but he went through a bunch of packages to switch to - none of them free, and he didn't know there was supposed to be a free upgrade program: all of the options open to us cost. Sky needs to be a lot clearer on this as it clearly states that these upgrades are free. There is a link to click to change on-line -- this just sent me back to the beginning of the process. And the other phone number, starting with 0330 doesn't connect. Yikes!

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My understanding is the upgrade scheme and associated phone line/websites etc are for UK viewers only. As the BBC isn't a public broadcaster in Ireland it may be they are not too concerned about Irish viewers. 

[Exiled-in-HH]

@RhodaT how much more than your current subscription pack were the suggested subscription packs?

What were the charges being quoted?

[RhodaT]

Hi - They quoted so many packages I can't really remember them all TBH. But they said we'd have to buy a new box for€150 - then offers on, for example, Sky Cinema (which we don't want) and a variety of other packages.

What angers me is that it appears that Sky is advertising a free service on systems in the ROI when this apparently only applies in the UK. I'm about to tell them to cancel our 2 long-term subscriptions (over 20 years) and go with another server such as Soarview.

Thanks for y our reply!

[Mark39]

@RhodaT see the previous replies, if you want to keep Sky+, rather than upgrading to Sky Q. Used Sky+HD boxes are available cheaply on ebay (don't pay more than £30 or so). Just look for DRX890 or DRX995 models, as they're the most recent.

[Exiled-in-HH]

You may well get a discount on your current subscription charges and no charge for the Sky Q box following cancellation.

Afterall Sky retain ownership of Sky Q boxes - charging £150 to rent the box is ridiculous!