Just had Sky+ installed, very happy with this.

When recording does the box have to be on or will it still record in standby?

Many thanks.

 

It will record in standby.

If you are not watching a programme from your Sky+ box, it's a good idea to put it in standby, as this allows the hard-drive to spin down. Otherwise, it is permanently in use (as it has to record the current programme for the instant rewind to work).

Lots of useful info here on sky plus.

 

Just got it as well Neil - bloody fantastic. One of those 'how did I get by without it before?' type boxes. I've been leaving mine on for recording.

 

Good advice - it's amazing it doesn't say that anywhere in the instructions!

 

I didn't think the disk ever spins down - mine certainly never seems to. It probably stops live recording though.

Another reason for putting it in Standby when you have programmes set to record is you can record 2 different channels without getting the message on screen about the 2 channels conflicting with the channel you're watching.

 

Well mine definately does

 

Excuse my ignorance but doesnt the Hard Disk need to be spinning if it is recording ?

 

Yep. The argument goes that if the box is on and you have 'live pause' enabled, the box will always be recording. If you put the box in standby it'll only be recording if there's a timed recording set - so the disk could spin down. dharbige says his does spin down, I don't think mine does - I'll have to listen to it sometime to see.

 

Well my drive never stops, or the fan, even in standby.

Just make sure you have plenty of circulation, particularly under the box. The internal heatsink is attached to the underside, hence this is where most of the heat build up is.

My first 2 Sky+ boxes failed due to hard disk failure, from heat build up, according to the engineer. I have since lifted the box of the carpet, onto a glass shelf and raised 1 inch using old cassette boxes! and no problems since.

Great technology, but poor internal design by Pace and genrally unreliable.

Oh and once you have set a programme to record, you can switch the box to standby.

Dan

 

Reckon my disk spins when its off too...

 

Thanks for the info, very useful.

 

The drive in mine shuts off a few seconds after switching it to standby if it's not recording.

John.

 

Sky+ is great when it works. I am having my 5th engineer out next sunday and the 4th box replaced. At random times a program just will not record Sky have said its a fairly common problem but as of yet do not know why or when it happens except they change the box.

 

Question? Have you had the same problem with every box?

 

The engineer that fitted my dad's box reckons there's 4 different types and the one my dad had was the best (my dad thinks it's made by Amstrad). Anyone know anything about that as I'm planning on getting Sky+ in the New Year (currently with NThelL

 

There's the original Pace box (known as Pace V1). This isn't available anymore.
There's the new Pace box (known as Pace V2) which is the one you can buy in the shops, aswell as getting it supplied from Sky.
There's the Amstrad box, which has been out for about a year now, and which is pretty much identical to the Pace V2 box, except it's back-to-front. Exact same functionality.

There's some debate as to which of the Pace V2 and the Amstrad is the best box. Probably not much in it.

The 4th box is the new Thomson Sky+ 160 which has a 160Gb hard disk instead of a 40Gb one. It also had 2 USB ports, but they don;t do anything yet. This box is much more expensive (£399 instead of £199).

 

The Amstrad is....white...I was GUTTED!!!!! Fridge colour!!!!

 

Just been round my mums and she had it fitted.
Ive got normal sky (full package £41) if i call sky and say im going to cancel as i want Sky+ but cant afford it. will they do a deal ???

Or would they let me leave ?

 

Bill,

Pretty similar on each box. On one I could not receive any music channels, they changed the box and the music channels were there. Another box received every channel except Nick Jr and CBeebies (Not good when you have a 2 yr old !!!), swapped boxes and the channels are there. The recording issue has been apparent on all of them. Its under the tele in a tight space so I'm wondering if overheating is the problem but I asked sky and they seemed to think it was OK. The box is on top of the video and there is only about a CM above and is closed at the front and back. I will try the new box next week in the open and see if this helps.

David

 

Seems to me that the problem lies elsewhere and not only with the box. The problem could also lie with cabling/lnb. Dish alighnment is also crucial so get the engineer to check that as well. Overheating is certainly a problem, the boxes need good ventilation. Another thing to bear in mind is that these boxes hate being flicked from channel to channel, because at the end of the day they are computers and cannot always keep up with what they are being asked to do.

The hard disk can malfunction if the box is moved whilst powered up leading to recording faults. It is easily done especially when cleaning around the unit. Its best to power it down for a couple of minutes before moving, and allowing a couple of minutes standing before powering up again.

 

what would i expect to pay for one of these boxes without going through sky etc

 

Just cancelled it.
They said that i cant take out a new contract as i will always been an existing customer........But my other half isnt !

 

Ooh mine does spin down after all when in standby - it just takes bloody ages to do it!