Sky Box Autostandby Mode: New Eco Mode

Sky have started to roll out a software update in the last few days.

Initially this software will be deployed to Sky DRX890 and DRX895 digiboxes.

Amongst the updates, is a change to the "Auto standby" mode.

Auto Standby, is the mode that puts your Sky digibox into "Standby" should the box  be left on a channel for so many hours without a button being pressed on the remote control. This, the Sky digibox assumes, means their is no one watching the box. And so, the Sky digibox will power down into Standby mode.

Standby mode is shown on the Sky digibox, as the "on / off" lights will be orange.

This new update allows you to put the box in "Eco" mode.

So instead of powering down into "Standby" mode, the Sky digibox will power down to "Eco" mode, and will automatically put your Sky digibox box into RED standby mode overnight if you don't have any recordings scheduled. Supposedly this saves more in power than leaving your box in "Orange" Standby mode.

You can change this option in the Sky digibox menu system.

Changes to BBC1HD and BBCHD frequencies June 2011

The BBC has changed some of the frequency parameters for its HD channels.

Frequency: 10,847MHz (vertical polarity)
Modulation: DVB-S2, QPSK
Symbol Rate: 23.0
FEC: 8/9

Changes are happening to the BBC HD channels on Astra 2D.

Sky HD users should not have any problems, as the Sky HD boxes will automatically update.

Some Freesat users may have to reset their Freesat HD boxes, or perform a Freesat scan.

Users of other "generic" HD receivers, will have to rescan the BBC HD frequency, ensuring their receivers work with the new DVBS2 transmision standard.

If you are getting the "no satellite signal" being received then a simple receiver reboot may cure the problem.

More information :

BBC HD Frequency Changes June 2011

Sky HD Thomson DSI8215 Box failures - Sky HD Costa Blanca Spain

The original Sky HD boxes, manufactured by Thomson (model number DSI8215 or 902020 or with serial numbers beginning 4E300) are notorious for developing problems between 12 and 36 months old.

This is usually due to capacitors dying on the power supply unit (PSU).

Either the combination of increased processing power and a larger hard drive allegedly appears to have caught Thomson out or most people are stacking their equipment without proper space for ventilation

(see the numerous forums on this subject -
"I'm on my third plus box since end of September. Thomson, Amstrad, Thomson!"

"I have had my brand new Thomson sky+HD box for just over a month and i must say its a pile of junk,i have had more problems over the last month than i ever did with my pace sky+box it lasted 7 years without so much as a hiccup!"

"We had endless Thomson boxes that had the same problems. Dont know anyone with a Thomson whos does not do this. It seems that Thomson use Asda Smart price components (IMO) where as Samsung and so on use quality components. The moral of the story is never accept a refurb or Thomson box."

It should also be said that some boxes never experience any problems, but often the first signs are that the box will tell you that there is a problem with one of the input signals, followed by some channels missing then freezing, no picture at all, switching into standby not coming out of standby or even not coming on at all.

Thanksfully we have supplied Pace Sky HD and Samsung Sky HD boxes to our clients - but just be warned that the other two other makes of HD boxes Amstrad and specifically Thomsons can be troublesome.