HD box swopout

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Two of my clients have received new Slyboxes in the post in the past two days following a letter that stated the following.

The Sky box you are using will no longer work after 31/12/16 due to technical reasons. To order a new Sky HD box, call the following number .............


So the boxes have arrived and I've been called out to inspect / install before the deadline. So I popped over to the first today thinking it would take about an hour to complete.:rolleyes::-doh

Three problems at first glance, but I suspect this will grow accordingly when I get to see the others near the New Year.

1) First client is now off on vacation as of this afternoon and does not return for a month.
2) They have about thirty hours of recordings on the hard drive that they have not viewed as yet and some of these are in sequential recording (or whatever they call it) with some more on the planner.
3) The box that has been delivered -Amstrad DRX780UK - is considerably larger than the one in the room, requiring a different shelf to be fitted. Everything is on adjustable in height as it is all fitted together with grooves and glue and so requiring a carpenter and a router to cut new gooves and make good the existing. It is deep red cherry wood, forms the centre of the bookshelving either side and looks like it cost a packet to make /keep pristine.


I'm almost certain the connections on the rear of the new boxes supplied are not the same as the one's currently in place in the other two sites as far as I can remember.

One client has two boxes in their household but have only received one box.



Whilst I doubt this has anything to do with Sky Q (the dish on all are about seven/eight years old - standard quads), what would be the reason for supplying the new units and what is happening at the end of the year that is so urgent for a swopout ?
 
A

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The Sky box you are using will no longer work after 31/12/16 due to technical reasons. To order a new Sky HD box, call the following number .............
[snip]
Whilst I doubt this has anything to do with Sky Q (the dish on all are about seven/eight years old - standard quads), what would be the reason for supplying the new units and what is happening at the end of the year that is so urgent for a swopout ?
Don't know the specifics. Just guessing.

But most likely software incompatibilities. These could be anything, but most likely something that affects the ability to watch tv.
Could be Conditional Access Systems (CAS) version no longer approved, and new version cannot be downloaded to / not compatible with specific hardware.
This would make it problematic for Sky to keep transmitting to those old boxes because for commercial reasons.
Not sure about the 31/12 thing, but that sounds more like tied to a license that expires.
To keep up with licensing, the switch-over will happen after 31/12, but requires all customers to have new(er) boxes.

Do both clients have the same model of "old box"?
 

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Just a theory, but can the old boxes not decode HD transmissions as the SD ones cease about this date?

Canal Digital Nordic rang me today to check which box I had and using as they are stopping SD transmissions on this date also.

Regards

Ps. did not have the heart to tell them im using the Spiderbox 6000HD which decodes the conax7 encryption:-rofl2:-doh:-ohcrap
 

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Thanks for the quick reply, I can only check after next Tuesday on the other two.

I known all three long term (pre Sky) since I cater for their other needs (motorised/foreign TV) and domotic specifics in the locations - accessibility / viewing angles / voice control etc.
 

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Just a theory, but can the old boxes not decode HD transmissions as the SD ones cease about this date?

Canal Digital Nordic rang me today to check which box I had and using as they are stopping SD transmissions on this date also.

All the existing boxes are HD versions .
 

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Are the "old boxes" SD Sky+ ones? The DRX780 is an ageing box now at 5 to 7 years old. The later DRX890/895 are the same width as the old Sky+ boxes and a few mm taller. Get the customer to ring Sky saying the replacement won't fit his setup and threaten to cancel unless they exchange it for a newer smaller model.
 

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All the existing boxes are HD versions .
If the existing boxes are DRX890 or 895 then there is no need to replace them with the older DRX780. Sky probably have the wrong model as the existing fit on their system.

What models are the existing ones - printed on back panel or white sticky label underneath?
 
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Has there been any specific announcement of the UK SD services on 28E being terminated anytime soon (I haven't seen any myself)?

And those "new" Amstrads are actually pretty old, are they not? Presumably they have been "modified" in some way to cope with some forthcoming firmware "upgrades" - wonder what they will be for?
 

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Are the original boxes Thomsons?? - they have been awaiting the firing squad for at least the last 2 years - software support was withdrawn from them ages ago

Many (most?) cards used in card sharing are paired to Thommo's so its no surprise Sky have finally decided to get them out of service.

BTW 780's are also end of life with no further updates so I would be inclined to reject them:

Skyepginfo - Sky+HD Firmware
 

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'Luckily' I took a picture of the carton I saw today. Brown wrapper.

Sky%20box.jpg
 

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The plain brown carton also included a free collection bag and sticker for the outside , plus a note with 'promise of £1 for sustainability ', to go somewhere.

I'll return over the Christmas period to check further, maybe speak to the housekeeper and response team tomorrow on the number they called.
 

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The initial letter

Letter.jpg
 

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The part I don't make sense of is that they are significantly larger than the box being replaced. The only Sky+ boxes smaller than the DRX780 are the old SD Sky+ boxes and the later Amstrad/Sky DRX890/5. Are you sure that the Sky box in the carton is in fact a DRX780 and not that they have used old packaging.
 

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So, which model Sky HD boxes were the existing ones?

I would have to slide the earlier box out of a small space to find out, but since the 'new' box was clearly not going to fit without the assistance of a carpenter I did not venture further.
 

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The part I don't make sense of is that they are significantly larger than the box being replaced. The only Sky+ boxes smaller than the DRX780 are the old SD Sky+ boxes and the later Amstrad/Sky DRX890/5. Are you sure that the Sky box in the carton is in fact a DRX780 and not that they have used old packaging.

I did not check the receiver detail underneath, but it was a snug fit in the brown packaging and after lifting the front it was apparent it would not fit in the place of the old one. I'd guess it is about 20% taller and 10% more in width, (which is not a problem)
 

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Quick question. Does sky now have a process of storing recorded programes of old ( some on the box have been there for about two years), or can they be uploaded to a cloud-like location for stitching to the remainging in the series recording once the new box is in place?

Two of the three customers have wired ethernet connections btw.
 

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Quick question. Does sky now have a process of storing recorded programes of old ( some on the box have been there for about two years), or can they be uploaded to a cloud-like location for stitching to the remainging in the series recording once the new box is in place?

Two of the three customers have wired ethernet connections btw.
In general recordings stay permanently on the box until deleted - there are a very few which have auto delete dates (I've only ever seen two such programmes). There is no "cloud"/ transfer recordings function built into the box - the only way to transfer recordings to new box is via connecting HDDs to PC and using software called ExPVR. Up to now it has been possible to play back recordings on the old box (once new one is installed) by connecting old one temporarily to dish and using viewing card in it. If the recordings are from FTA channels then no further action required BUT if encrypted channels then card needs "pairing" to box (simple opreation if box connected to internet) and afterwards "pairing" card back to new box.

However I am totally puzzled by this box if as you say old boxes are black HD boxes and they are smaller than the replacements - the only smaller HD boxes are the later DRX890/5s. If they are the DRX890/5s do not bother swapping them but get customers to ring Sky and clarify why a later box needs replacinng with an older lower capacity larger sized box.

Who actually delivered these boxes was it via a Sky van or one of their sub contractor installing companies?
 
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