Who's got a SKY Digi Box then?!

I've been toying with the idea of one of these for a while, but they seem outrageously expensive for what they are?! Basically a hard drive for recording programmes/films etc and the ability to watch one channel whilst recording another? That would be useful for me though and no clumsy videos to record on either or scrabble about for in a hurry!

The timer thing on it looks useful too.

We've had SKY for years now and went Digital when it was available, but is the Digi box really worth it?!

One good thing about it is that it will record programmes without you telling it to, which is handy if you're always forgetting to set the video like me!

Thanks nisse, sounds useful! Did you think it was worth the price then?!

Its a tough call Doc, I've been toying with the idea of Sky+ but that extra sub after the purchase really puts me off although there is a deal on where you subscribe to some permium channels and get the sky+ sub free. SOmething like that anyhow
I'm currently lusting after a Cannon mini dv camera though. hmmmmmm

I think Morbius has one of these beasts. He may be up for an opinion as well. For myself I stumbled upon a 'setting up your home satellite' site yesterday. Looks interesting..

Ogre

Yeah I've had a Sky+ for almost a year now - wouldn't be without it now - if only for series link ( where you tell the box to record an entire series of a prog ) and its record one channel whilst watching another, or record two channels whilst viewing one of the recorded channels.
Also of interest is that it has a digital audio link capability - so it can output dolby digital to an amp over an optical cable. Mostly only the movie channels do dd though.
As to the extra subscription cost, as I have the movie channels - I don't pay it .
Also on the horizon is an official larger capacity version ( 160Gb instead of 40Gb ) - though there are plenty of places on how to find out how to mod the standard one with a larger, standard PC harddrive.

I too have toyed with this idea but then think really i dont have that much time as it is!
but I am always missing stuff I really wanted to see, tuesdays are abummer as theres several things on at the same time I want to watch, and its a case of working out when the repeats are on

so lets get down to nitty gritty is it a lot more expensive as in subscribtion costs than normal sky digital?
how much is the actual equipment?

Thanks all!

According to the SKY website, the standard 40gb box is up for £99 at the moment, and the new 160 one is £399 - that seems a bit steep to me, for just extra hardrive capacity!

How many programmes/films etc can you get on a 40gb hard disk capacity out of interest?

Sky + Site

Whilst on the subject of Sky......... I've had problems the last few days of not being able to receive a few channels. Phoned Sky and they took me through some resets but it boils down to what I originally thought. My dish has moved and needs to be readjusted. The kind lady offered to set this up for me with a £65 call out charge. I think not! I will have to shop around now for a cheaper option.
Is there a chance I'll get it done cheaper? Any ideas?

Actually I haven't got one, but I've been thinking about it as well...

Well, a 40Gb box will store about 20hrs of programming - depending on the channel as it records the raw incoming data stream off the channel - so if its transmitted at a higher bitrate then it will take more space.
In regards to re-orientating the sky dish - I've managed to do it myself - all you need is a ladder, a spanner, someone to look at the signal strength on the box, and then just tweak the dish for the greatest possible signal strength.

Eckie - hope you get your channels back soon - there's bound to be someone cheaper locally who can do it (Yellow Pages?).



Nisse - maybe there's room here for us to club together and get some referrals in - do SKY still do this?!



Thanks Morbius - 20 hours should be enough for the average watcher then! Does it warn you when you're getting close to running out of space then?

If you record a lot off ITV1 then you'll get many hours as their bitrate seems very low, sometimes its like watching something over the net on dialup! Thanks for the dish advice, I'm afraid of heights but I'm sure my neighbour would like to go up there....... if I can catch him.

In regards to the space question - the box has 2 user settable modes ( or it did when I last looked ) -
1. Give a warning for user to free up space
2. Start overwriting programmes already viewed to get the space required ( and it might even try and overwrite non-viewed ones )

On the planner screen ( where you access recordings ) it shows you how much in percent is free on the H/D.

All in all its quite easy to manage the space on the box.

The recent winds seem to have moved my dish, my missing channels are back! Saved myself £65 for now anyhow.

hurrrah!!
now you can watch scifi again! and saved money, a bonus I reckon!

Thanks Morbius - that's really helpful.




Brilliant! It may have even better reception than before eh! Fingers crossed it stays OK and the winds don't blow it back again!

Hmmmm, spoke too soon, the few channels in question have gone again, no more Hollyoaks for a while!

Oh yes, who have you been watching then?!!

I've been watching the fine acting talents of this ensemble cast Its a Sunday morning special you know.

well I have taken the plunge and bought myself an early crimbo pressie!
sky plus is being fitted the first week of December, til then I will have to re-lie on the video recoreder for such things as the 4400!

will let you know if its worth it or not!