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[alfie]

What is wrong with these things,this is my 3rd box,and now it keeps switching itself into standby.They really are rubbish,hope the sky bloke will replace it with HD.

[Jimbob]

built to a 'cheap' price 

normally the PSU goes, and they are readily available on ebay

[Banjax]

we're on our 3rd, I think - Amstrad junk 

[Jimbob]

Weve had our Thompson box a few years

I fitted its one and only new PSU earlier in the year.

out of the Amstrad, Thompson, Pace choice, I beleive you want the Pace ideally, followed by the Thompson, with the Amstrad to be avoided if possible.

[Dishevelled Den]

I have two Thomson HD boxes (component output).  The first since the HD service was made available the second since last year.

The first box began to fail two years ago; I replaced the PSU (straightforward job) and fitted a larger disc.  It has worked without problem since.

The second box I bought as a faulty unit from eBay last year.  After replacing the PSU it has worked faultlessly since.

Although these failures affected Thomson boxes in particular, and were well documented, I'm not surprised that the present generation of boxes are beginning to show faults.

Most boxes are located in inhospitable locations - under the TV, on top of other equipment or in a display unit where the ventilation is inadequate.  I site my boxes away from other equipment where I can be sure that they get as much ventilation as possible.

Although there can be other causes for the box to fail, the PSU problem seems to be (by far) the most common.

[Banjax]

I have two Thomson HD boxes (component output).  The first since the HD service was made available the second since last year.

The first box began to fail two years ago; I replaced the PSU (straightforward job) and fitted a larger disc.  It has worked without problem since.

The second box I bought as a faulty unit from eBay last year.  After replacing the PSU it has worked faultlessly since.

Although these failures affected Thomson boxes in particular, and were well documented, I'm not surprised that the present generation of boxes are beginning to show faults.

Most boxes are located in inhospitable locations - under the TV, on top of other equipment or in a display unit where the ventilation is inadequate.  I site my boxes away from other equipment where I can be sure that they get as much ventilation as possible.

Although there can be other causes for the box to fail, the PSU problem seems to be (by far) the most common.

I'm being stupid here, but why would you pay someone on ebay for a box you get free? 

[feeutfo]

It took me a while to accept that the only way to keep them recording reliably is to pull the plug out the wall on at least a monthly basis, hence forcing a reboot.

Plus sly themselves have incorporated some disc clean up options in the menus ( in the engineers menu) and a reboot of some sort iirc.

First sign of an impending crash is the red button icon disappears off the screen, then it becomes un responsive. Other than that....

Won't help the power failure problems though obviously.  :-/

[Jimbob]

I have two Thomson HD boxes (component output).  The first since the HD service was made available the second since last year.

The first box began to fail two years ago; I replaced the PSU (straightforward job) and fitted a larger disc.  It has worked without problem since.

The second box I bought as a faulty unit from eBay last year.  After replacing the PSU it has worked faultlessly since.

Although these failures affected Thomson boxes in particular, and were well documented, I'm not surprised that the present generation of boxes are beginning to show faults.

Most boxes are located in inhospitable locations - under the TV, on top of other equipment or in a display unit where the ventilation is inadequate.  I site my boxes away from other equipment where I can be sure that they get as much ventilation as possible.

Although there can be other causes for the box to fail, the PSU problem seems to be (by far) the most common.

I'm being stupid here, but why would you pay someone on ebay for a box you get free? 

you only get 1 box free, when you subscribe.
Others are replaced under warrenty.

Personally, I wont pay for the rip off warrenty, and Ill pay for fixes as and when, this mentality will have saved me hundreds., my psu was £15 iirc, about 1 months warrenty price!

[Dishevelled Den]

I have two Thomson HD boxes (component output).  The first since the HD service was made available the second since last year.

The first box began to fail two years ago; I replaced the PSU (straightforward job) and fitted a larger disc.  It has worked without problem since.

The second box I bought as a faulty unit from eBay last year.  After replacing the PSU it has worked faultlessly since.

Although these failures affected Thomson boxes in particular, and were well documented, I'm not surprised that the present generation of boxes are beginning to show faults.

Most boxes are located in inhospitable locations - under the TV, on top of other equipment or in a display unit where the ventilation is inadequate.  I site my boxes away from other equipment where I can be sure that they get as much ventilation as possible.

Although there can be other causes for the box to fail, the PSU problem seems to be (by far) the most common.

I'm being stupid here, but why would you pay someone on ebay for a box you get free? 

As an existing subscriber (at the time) I wasn't eligible for the free box upgrade.  Had I wanted to replace the SD Sky+ box in question to HD I would have had to have paid the full price. (Can't remember what it was)

Besides I wanted a box with component outputs so I could run the HD Signal into another room.  The new boxes Sky were/are offering no longer have this hence the brisk trading for them on eBay. 

[Mr Skrunts]

What is wrong with these things,this is my 3rd box,and now it keeps switching itself into standby.They really are rubbish,hope the sky bloke will replace it with HD.

Mine started to do that after one of the upgrades, but found out they had altered the auto standbt mode, so just turned it off.

[feeutfo]

What is wrong with these things,this is my 3rd box,and now it keeps switching itself into standby.They really are rubbish,hope the sky bloke will replace it with HD.

Mine started to do that after one of the upgrades, but found out they had altered the auto standbt mode, so just turned it off.

By default with the latest software, they are set to turn off at 3am or something like...auto standby will count down clearly on the screen though  :-/

[TheBoy]

Really easy solution. Dump Sky.

Then you will have:

More time - as you go through Freeview/Freesat in 2mins realising there is nothing but trash TV on, instead of 30mins with Sky.

£600 a year in your pocket, not Sky's

A perfect excuse to go down the pub to see the footie

[tunnie]

Amstrad boxes are kak, the Samsung ones are about the best. Just don't ask for one of the new 1TB boxes 

If you think 1 box is enough, you should see how many I have to deal with!

[feeutfo]

Really easy solution. Dump Sky.

Then you will have:

More time - as you go through Freeview/Freesat in 2mins realising there is nothing but trash TV on, instead of 30mins with Sky.

£600 a year in your pocket, not Sky's

A perfect excuse to go down the pub to see the footie

...and spend a sight more in the pub and loose an entire weekend into the bargain... 

[aaronjb]

Really easy solution. Dump Sky.

Then you will have:

More time - as you go through Freeview/Freesat in 2mins realising there is nothing but trash TV on, instead of 30mins with Sky.

£600 a year in your pocket, not Sky's

A perfect excuse to go down the pub to see the footie

Crap, think I'll keep Sky if the alternative is having to watch football!

Not that I've turned the Sky box on in months