Sky+HD box, can no longer access planner

[30yearsofthis]

I lost the ability to delete programmes. So I did a rebuild. That lost me access to everything. It only offers interactive help, but my box has never been connected to a "phone line" - whihc I hav'n't got anymore. The box is pre wi-fi.

So I went online on my computer, "Virtual assistant". Did a Software update. Still no joy.

Obviosuly it's a very old box, but it's worked fine. I guess they've just topped supporting it, and unilaterally shut off access. If SKY don't come up with a fix today, I'll just cancel, I think I've been with them since 1992, but as I can't talk to anyone on the phone and I've already spent an hour getting this far, it's easier jsut to move on.

[Mark39]

Sky+ĤD boxes still work fine, but are no longer receiving software updates - not for well over 12 months already,, so that by itself wouldn't stop the boxes working.

Are you still able to record? If not, is there an error message?

[Annie+UK]

Please Note: Sky+ is now a legacy/obsolete service that Sky are replacing with their newer services: Sky Q (all issues will be fixed during a Sky Q install), Sky Glass and Sky Stream

Sky don't support your system any more so threats to cancel mean nothing, you will need to employ a 3rd party to sort your system out at your expense if you do not want to move to one of Sky's other supported services

[Daniel0210]

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@30yearsofthis wrote:

If SKY don't come up with a fix today, I'll just cancel, 

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@30yearsofthis 

It may not be that simple. To cancel all your TV subscription, if you’re out of contract you’ll need to give Sky the required 31 days notice. The latest T’s and C’s explicitly state you can’t cancel when still in a minimum term deal unless Sky agree. If they agree you’ll have to pay the remainder of your discounted term.

Select ‘Need more help’ at the bottom of the following link which will lead to contact details.
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/cancel-sky-tv#contact-leave
(Make sure the flag in the bottom right corner is the correct one ie; UK or ROI).
UK customer ~ The link may include an email link and also a Message Us option (which is normally available between 9am and 7.30pm).
ROI customer ~ it’s only by calling Sky Ireland or writing in.

If you successfully cancel you should receive an acknowledgment email from Sky.

[30yearsofthis]

The message I get is "There is a problem with your planner... recordings, on demnad and other services are not available... we can try to fix this for you [LOL] Press yellow to launch interactive help..."

And I can't record, or pause live playback - the only things I have SKY for...

But my box isn't connected to the internet, never has been [since whenever it was upgraded from the very first box, so probably 20+ years ago].

[30yearsofthis]

Thanks Annie.

Literally the only communication I ever get from SKY is a once a year letter telling me the price has gone up.

I'm not "threatening" to leave ... I'm just saying that if they don't do something immediately to fix the problem they've caused I will leave... it's only inertia that's kept me with them so long anway.

[Daniel0210]

@30yearsofthis 

Expecting Sky to come up with a solution today is totally unrealistic. 

[Mark39]

@30yearsofthis that indicates hard disk failure. Unless you can get a local repair shop to replace the hard disk for you, you'll need to upgrade either to Sky Q or Sky Stream.

Sky have never repaired Sky STBs - they just replace them if they develop a fault, but with Sky+ boxes being so old, and no longer supported, that's no longer an option.

[30yearsofthis]

Thank you Mark, I did reply earlier but it seems to have got lost en route.

Hard disk failure makes sense, I'm surprised it's lasted so long.

If I have to buy a new box, I may as well buy one that doesn't need a sub.

Thanks for your help.

[30yearsofthis]

OK, so, as I had nothing to lose, as I’d already lost all my recordings, obviously very very annoying, I did a full system reset.

And it seems to have worked. I’ve now got an empty planner, but it records, and pauses live TV.

Thank you Mark39 for telling me it was a hard drive problem, not software.

So, what else did I learn?

Well, I can get almost all the channels I want for nothing, via FreeSat, after £200 or so for a 1TB box, £300 for 2TB. And it seems to be simply a question of plugging the old SKY cables into the new box, no change to the dish or LNB as I don’t have SKY Q.

That Satellite TV may be done by 2030 or so, leaving streaming as the only choice.

That Streaming makes it tougher, or extra £, to skip Ads – I’ve seen almost no ads on TV for 30 years or more – imagine the time saved – I just can’t imagine not being able to skip them all.

And I’ve been reminded how vile SKY are to deal with - a major reason I would never tie myself into any long term deal with them, I'll go for things you can just cancel as easily as you can sign up for them. Useless help. Except sending me here, where real people helped. So thanks.

[nigea99]

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@30yearsofthis wrote:

Thank you Mark, I did reply earlier but it seems to have got lost en route.

Hard disk failure makes sense, I'm surprised it's lasted so long.

If I have to buy a new box, I may as well buy one that doesn't need a sub.

Thanks for your help.

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hi @30yearsofthis 

It doesn't sound like you are considering it but just in case, you need to be aware that you can no longer pair your SKY Card with a replacement SKY HD box

[30yearsofthis]

I'm not, as you recognise, but thanks anyway. It's all just this insidious creeping control, forcing us to subscribe for endless things we used to just buy once... completely at the mercy of whatever whim they come up with next to gouge a bit more money out of us 😉

[Annie+UK]

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@30yearsofthis wrote:

I'm not, as you recognise, but thanks anyway. It's all just this insidious creeping control, forcing us to subscribe for endless things we used to just buy once... completely at the mercy of whatever whim they come up with next to gouge a bit more money out of us 😉

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No one is at anyone's "mercy", you always have the ultimate choice of walking away

[Mark39]

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@30yearsofthis wrote:

OK, so, as I had nothing to lose, as I’d already lost all my recordings, obviously very very annoying, I did a full system reset.

And it seems to have worked. I’ve now got an empty planner, but it records, and pauses live TV.

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I'm glad a full system reset worked. I hope not, but it may be only a temporary solution. I'd recommend keeping up to date with viewing your recordings, so far as you can!

[30yearsofthis]

Good advice 😉

I had a whole load of stuff going back to 2012 or earlier 😞

I've set about ten things to record... only one is on a SKY channel, and that's a film, doubtless available many other ways. So it makes you think....

Just reading the threads on the SKY Stream bit of this board makes me want to keep broadly the set up I've got for as long as I can...

There's something called "Hutbers Law" - all improvement is deterioration... not always true, but it applies, fro me, to this!