I've been with Sky since the early 90s, but I after having Sky HD for
3 or 4 years I'm getting fed up of the Sky HD box reliability. In
those 3 or 4 years, I've had 4 or 5 replacement boxes, 2 new LNBs
(although they were probably fine), and a replacement PSU from
Satcure. All my boxes have been or are Thompson branded, and my
current one is model 902020.

Now I'm having problems again, with around 50% of HD channels (E4 HD,
Sky News HD, etc) freezing or showing massive breakup. LNB, dish,
alignment, co-ax, all fine (checked myself with alignment and signal
meter plugged directly into LNB), signal on both inputs on Sky box
shows 100% and 90%, quality on both 100%. Swapping inputs makes no
difference. It's not the PSU (swapped with known working PSU and same
problem). I've had this problem twice in the past and a box swap was
what cured it.

It looks like another £65 call out fee, another new reconditioned box,
and another 6 months before it inevitably breaks again.

So, rant over, I was wondering if there are any alternatives? There's
no cable TV in my street, broadband is to slow for BT's option. I want
lots of HD channels, and some Sky channels (e.g. Sky One HD). As best
as I can tell that means I have to stick with a Sky box and
subscription. Is that right?

Are there any alternative brands (i.e. not Thomson)? Are they any more
reliable?

Any other advice?

Thanks in advance for any help guys.

--
Vincent

"Vincent" wrote in message
...

It looks like another £65 call out fee, another new reconditioned box,
and another 6 months before it inevitably breaks again.


Why are you paying £65 each time?
Are you not getting SKY to replace the box(es) under warranty?
Have you told them you are going to stop subscribing to them because of
unreliability of equipment or installer?
Regards
David

On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:58:46 +0100, "David"
wrote:

Why are you paying £65 each time?

£65 is the call-out fee for out of warranty boxes and installations.

Are you not getting SKY to replace the box(es) under warranty?

While a £65 callout does give you a 3(?) month warranty, the equipment
is usually fine for that amount of time (in fact only once has it
failed within 3 months of a previous callout).

Have you told them you are going to stop subscribing to them because of
unreliability of equipment or installer?

I have tried the "I want to leave Sky" card twice, and it got me a
free callout once, and a reduced callout another time. But they won't
let you do that indefinitely.

However, the cost isn't really the point. It's the reliability. This
rant isn't aimed at you by the way, so please don't take it as such,
but even if it were free I don't want to have to have to call an
engineer out every few months. I don't want to have to constantly get
a replacement box and lose all the recordings I hadn't got around to
watching yet on my old box, and program in all my shows again. I don't
want to come home from a holiday to find 95% of the recordings failed
due to a "power cut" or "clashed" neither of which actually ever
happened.

--
Vincent

"Vincent" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:58:46 +0100, "David"

wrote:

Why are you paying £65 each time?

£65 is the call-out fee for out of warranty boxes and
installations.

Are you not getting SKY to replace the box(es) under warranty?

While a £65 callout does give you a 3(?) month warranty, the
equipment
is usually fine for that amount of time (in fact only once has
it
failed within 3 months of a previous callout).

Have you told them you are going to stop subscribing to them
because of
unreliability of equipment or installer?

I have tried the "I want to leave Sky" card twice, and it got
me a
free callout once, and a reduced callout another time. But they
won't
let you do that indefinitely.

However, the cost isn't really the point. It's the reliability.
This
rant isn't aimed at you by the way, so please don't take it as
such,
but even if it were free I don't want to have to have to call
an
engineer out every few months. I don't want to have to
constantly get
a replacement box and lose all the recordings I hadn't got
around to
watching yet on my old box, and program in all my shows again.
I don't
want to come home from a holiday to find 95% of the recordings
failed
due to a "power cut" or "clashed" neither of which actually
ever
happened.

--
Vincent

The original question asked, 'Are there any alternative brands
(i.e. not Thomson)? Are they any more reliable?'

Pace and Samsung also used to manufacture Sky HD receivers (and
may still do so).

The latest Sky HD boxes are manufactured by Amstrad (which is
owned by Sky). I don't know whether Amstrad have become the sole
manufacturers. Furthermore, it is too soon to say whether their
equipment is more reliable. However, based upon the level of
complaints in Digital Spy and similar forums, the latest Amstrad
receivers seem to be more reliable than their Thomson
predecessors.

I suggest you refuse to pay the £65 call-out fee (on the grounds
of the long history of problems) and insist on a different brand
of HD receiver. You should also demand a brand new (not
reconditioned) receiver. If you take the complaint to a high
level at Sky Digital, you will probably get:

a) the service call, free of charge

b) a brand new receiver

c) a subscription discount for the next 6 months

I experienced [different] problems 8 months ago. My complaints
to Sky's Customer Service department fell on deaf ears, so I sent
an email to the departmental head who had signed previous
correspondence. Within two hours, received a very satisfactory
telephoned response from Sky's executive support unit.

I did not retain the name or email address of the executive at
Sky. However, I suggest you send a detailed complaint by email
to . It might do the trick.