Problems with Thomson SKY+ 160 - please help.

BLUEPLATINUM

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I recently bought a SKY+ 160 (off eBay G*d help me). I bought the box for the extended recording times but also beause it is reportedly good for fringe reception (Canaries).

Things are not going well.

I phoned Sky from a UK number and arranged for my viewing card to be linked to the box.

I am receiving all the channels I was before and the system does seem to be able to hold a signal a little better than my old PACE MKI box.

However, anything that is related to the hard drive seems to have problems. The problems are not always the same. I have tried several software down loads and after each one things seem to change.

At first live pause did not work at all - it displayed the Pause symbol but the transmission continued to be displayed as normal. Now it pauses but usually won't restart.

Many recordings have failed for "unknown reason", and recordings I have made often play back with jumps and broken sound.

I have tried all the usual things - software down-load, Planner rebuild, Full system reset.

Is my hard drive skrewed?? Please help.


Box details are:
Thomson
Model 116c089
Version 4E2002
Op. System 1.31A08
EPG s/w sky+1.28.9
 

PoloMint

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It sounds like it could be a hard drive fault, but I don’t know that much about the Sky+ models so there may be bugs or faults that cause that that others will know about.

Was the box sold as new, and does it have a warranty? Is the eBay seller still around?

If you can open it up without marking it or breaking any seals you could put a PC hard drive in there (if you have a spare compatible one) and test it, or test that drive in a PC for faults.
 

PaulR

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Obviously you have had to change your LNB for a type with 2 or more outputs but have you checked each of the outputs?, You can do this using your old dodgybox. You may have one of the feeds faulty.

PaulR
 

BLUEPLATINUM

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PaulR said:
Obviously you have had to change your LNB for a type with 2 or more outputs but have you checked each of the outputs?, You can do this using your old dodgybox. You may have one of the feeds faulty.

PaulR

Well it is an upgrade from an existing SKY+ box.

THe Sig Strength/Quality on LNB 2 does sometimes show nothing with the new box, but it is the same LNB as the old box was connected to. Obviously these readings are for the default transponder.

Not sure why this would explain what I am seeing though?
 

PoloMint

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Failed recordings, or recordings with broken sound could be the result of a poor signal, you could try switching around the LNB inputs and see if you get better recordings (and breakups on the channel you are watching). Also check the LNB connections are good and that no shielding is touching the core.
 

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try putting the old sky+ back in if you still have it? see if you have similar problems, if so then, cable, connectors is mostly likely the problem, or borrow a box from a neighbour that you know is in good working condition.

cheers
Rich
 

BLUEPLATINUM

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indios_se said:
try putting the old sky+ back in if you still have it? see if you have similar problems,

No problems now I have reverted to the old box. I am going to try taking the hard drive out, installing it in a PC and running Maxtor utilities to reinitialise it.

If that doesn't work I'll have to get it repaired which I guess means taking it back to the UK :(
 

makum101

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I have a Sky+160 here in Tenerife with a 90cm and dual LNB. Working fine (for now!)
 

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by the sounds of it.. its you signal strength.

if you are getting no bar on the signal stenth or quality you will need to get that fixed.

If you can get good quality it wont matter how low your signal strength is.

If you are recording some thing and your signal stops then your recording will to.
 

BLUEPLATINUM

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captainkirk said:
by the sounds of it.. its you signal strength.

No problems with signal strength. Must get round to trying the Maxtor utilites on the drive ... if not, it is going back to Thomson next time I am in the UK.
 
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