New digibox software on Monday night

[PoloMint]

The next release of Sky digibox software is due on the night of Monday 22/Tuesday23 July

If on Tuesday morning you don’t have it a forced download should help.

 

[rolfw]

Is this the operating software. or EPG?

Rolf

 

[PoloMint]

Hmm, good question.

It’s meant to make interactive features more efficient and iron out some bugs in the PP etc, go I guess it could be a bit of both.

 

[rolfw]

It'l be interesting to see then, I would guess that changes to the EPG could influence both of those functions.

Rolf

 

[PoloMint]

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Jul-02 AT 12:27 PM (GMT)]Yea, I have never really been clear on where the OS stops and the EPG starts.

It is likely to be just the EPG I suppose, but we will see.

 

[cityblue]

no software upgrade yet tried forced update still nothing

 

[PoloMint]

Yea, turns out they are doing it in small batches over a few days, should be all be done over the next few days. If you are not in a batch that is meant to have it forcing an update will simply reload the ‘old’ version.

 

[martin_sullivan]

Just out of intrest where does this information come from. I have often checked out the sky website, and i have found very little tech info. Is there an official sky tech support website or is it all left up to gurus?

 

[PoloMint]

Where do people find out?

Some people are approached by Sky to run beta tests on their digiboxes, so they have some idea about any new features and perhaps release dates etc. Sky themselves obviously know when the updates are coming out and the telephone operators for Sky customer support are also told I believe. They don’t try to keep it a secret, but then again it is not publicised for the public.

You wont notice any version number changes with this release, the only hint will be that one morning the digibox should have turned on to ch 998 rather than the last channel.

 

[rolfw]

Would appear that some boxes, Pace i believe have now had a version upgrade to 3.0.11. It seems to be causing some strange behaviour (Surprise Surprise) and will apparently be needed for activation of new viewing cards, or so the rumour mill says.

Rolf

 

[PoloMint]

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Aug-02 AT 00:41 AM (GMT)]Yea 3.0.11 is well on its way.

Amongst other things it includes a RCU low battery indicator/on screen message.

It leaves you in a catch 22 situation, the message appears and you press ‘backup’ to remove it, the battery is low for the backup signal so the message appears again…

Perhaps it is sponsored by Duracell.

Also the way radio stations are viewed is changing.

 

[w hole]

Hello Al

I have had the upgrade on my Pace Box.

Any idea what the 'difference' is to the Radio Sations?

I haven't spotted it yet!

Regards

Fred F

 

[PoloMint]

Yea, when you are on the station it should now not display the details (program synopsis/information) for the first few seconds (up to 20) that you are on the station. You can get the synopsis immediately by pressing backup.

Why is it like this? – Good question.

 

[w hole]

Can't think of any 'normal' reason, but then I don't have an 'inside line' to Rupe's logic.

Trouble is it usualy means something extra for him and a bit less for us.

Just possibly we might be getting more up to date 'track' information instead of the general background info - that would be nice.

Regards

Fred F.

 

[PoloMint]

Yes it could be the start of radio programmes having proper EPG listings, ie each programme having its own full synopsis and more importantly and EPG allocation so it can be added to the PP and even recorded properly on Sky+

Or then again, amongst other things, it could be that there is just no rational logic to the change.

 

[zansi]

The "roll out" of the new software seems to be box dependent, Pace and Panasonic will load the new s/w which is-:

1.2.S4BJ

3.0.11*

Amstrad & Grundig still on the 2.8 version as of today.

 

[methos_de]

There is also a change to the keep function on SKY+. Previosuly when you tried to delete a "keep" recording you had to enter the pin but you could go around this by instead of pressing yellow to delete you pressed the blue button which removed the keep symbol and you could then delete it without entering the pin.
Now once a programme is being "kept" when you press the blue button to remove the keep symbol you have to enter the pin. Better really because being able to remove keep without entering the pin defeated the object really.
Methos.

 

[richdip]

I must say, the new feature of the latest download from sky, that is the remote control battery reminder, is very annoying! It keeps on coming up on the screen that the batteries need replacing, nearly every time i change the channel! Surely this will cause battery life to be even less by keeping on pressing 'back up' to exit the damn message!
Or maybe Sky have some deal with duracell......

Richard

[Just realised that the above comment has been said already on an above post]

 

[Channel Hopper]

Dear Richdip

This has been mentioned on a number of other forums since the receiver firmware upgrades a couple of weeks ago. It was brought in to reduce the high percentage of calls into Sky when a subscriber found there was trouble with functions

Sky have no intention of removing it,even though they admit it has more people complaining about it to them than a lower phone count as a result of giving advice on screen when the receiver suddenly works erratically.

Best suggestion is to keep a spare set of batteries taped to the underside of the remote, or put it away completely and use the front panel buttons

 

[Channel Hopper]

By the way the message will also appear on anything you may be recording at the time it happens

Why they could not make one of the front panel lights flash constantly or ensure the box only gave a warning between programmes I dont know.

As you may gather Im not on their payroll ( I might be if I run to the patent office first thing tomorrow morning though )