New SKY streaming devices

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230 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3078488 22-May-2023 09:34

I've had several occasions where a Pod got knotted, for example when returning from an app to the home screen it would pop up the home menu but any attempt to move down the menu would result in focus jumping back to the right. The only thing that would fix it was a power on reset, but one of my Pods is tucked away and hard to access.

I eventually discovered the reboot option:

My Hub > Android Settings > Device Preferences > scroll to the bottom > Restart

People hear what they see. - Doris Day

clayton

342 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3078497 22-May-2023 09:55

IvanPiacun:

clayton:

Thanks Ivan

Think I'll order this Sky Q remote and see what happens

Latest (2023) Sky Q Remote With Bluetooth Voice Control 100% Official Genuine | eBay

I think that one interacts with the UK Sky Box to setup the remote to work with the correct brand of TV.

Here's another one on Amazon which should work:

Universal Voice Remote Control,Support Bluetooth Connection,Voice Research,Air Mouse,for Android Tv Box and Media Player (G20S PRO BT)

Check with the supplier first though to make sure it works with Android 11.

The problem I have with the remote is it will not allow me to pair another one to work side by side, once I pair an additional remote it drops the other.

I can try a third party bluetooth remote and see what happens, it would be good to get some feedback on pairing a Vodafone remote as well as the Sky remote and seeing if they work side by side

IvanPiacun

378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3078513 22-May-2023 11:30

clayton:

The problem I have with the remote is it will not allow me to pair another one to work side by side, once I pair an additional remote it drops the other.

I can try a third party bluetooth remote and see what happens, it would be good to get some feedback on pairing a Vodafone remote as well as the Sky remote and seeing if they work side by side

I tried the Vodafone TV Remote Paired with the Sky Pod last night and it works reasonably well when button's are mapped with the Button Mapper App as per my earlier post early this morning. As long as existing buttons of Sky Pod App are not mapped to something else it does not affect use of the Sky Pod remote and to pair it the Sky Pod remote needs to be used to click on Vodafone TV remote name during the pairing process. Both remotes can be used simultaneously as they are different remotes. I think the problem you were running into was trying to pair two remotes of the same type.

I don't know how well Sky Q remote will work but I suspect you will have some problems in the pairing process as it involves prompted interaction with the UK Sky Box.

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

clayton

342 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3078516 22-May-2023 11:36

IvanPiacun:

clayton:

The problem I have with the remote is it will not allow me to pair another one to work side by side, once I pair an additional remote it drops the other.

I can try a third party bluetooth remote and see what happens, it would be good to get some feedback on pairing a Vodafone remote as well as the Sky remote and seeing if they work side by side

I tried the Vodafone TV Remote Paired with the Sky Pod last night and it works reasonably well when button's are mapped with the Button Mapper App as per my earlier post early this morning. As long as existing buttons of Sky Pod App are not mapped to something else it does not affect use of the Sky Pod remote and to pair it the Sky Pod remote needs to be used to click on Vodafone TV remote name during the pairing process. Both remotes can be used simultaneously as they are different remotes. I think the problem you were running into was trying to pair two remotes of the same type.

I don't know how well Sky Q remote will work but I suspect you will have some problems in the pairing process as it involves prompted interaction with the UK Sky Box.

You would think they would have different MAC addresses

I've ordered the remote from Amazon NZ$60 and when it arrives I'll fid out how to map the buttons

Thanks for your help Ivan

IvanPiacun

378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3078524 22-May-2023 11:52

TheMightyKiwipeso:

IvanPiacun:

I am a VFTV customer who purchased a VFTV but did not subscribe to Sky TV and also had no communications from Sky on ordering. I have purchased a Sky Pod by phoning Sky at 0800 759 190 and I believe you can still order there if you were a VFTV customer and you really want one. However I am looking at returning my Sky Pod due to the poor interface and the lack of TV1, TV2 and Duke channels on the TV Guide.

I have instead as an alternative to the SkyPod setup the Sparkle TV app using Matt Huisman's M3U8 NZ TV Channel Playlist ,on Google TV with Chromecast 4K paired with the Vodafone TV remote which gives the ability to control and view all Freeview channels plus others and timeshift (pause and rewind/fast forward live TV), or record them on a USB drive connected via a USB C Hub, with USB A and Ethernet OTG, or to a SMB share on a Windows machine. This is at a one off cost of about $151 to $187. Rather than a one off fee to Sky of $100 plus $25 per month. The only disadvantage to this option is not being able to replay some programs for up to 72 hours from a guide however TVNZ+ and TV3 Apps allow replay of most programs and Sparkle TV provides the ability to record all non Sky only programs. Google TV also has the ability of installing these apps: TVNZ+, Three Now, Disney+, Neon, You Tube, Spotify, Sky Sport Now, and Prime Video amongst others and comes with You Tube and Apple TV, plus the Netflix App which is available on the SkyPod. Note: Apple TV is not available on the Sky Pod even to add.

I have also used the Button Mapper App to map the four colured buttons on the Vodafone TV remote to up to three commonly used Apps per button, including Sparkle TV, and the menu button to the Home Action, giving a better remote than the Sky Pod's remote, or the Google TV remote.

I have given Sky over a month to add TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, and Duke to their Guide but I believe it is now time to take a stand, due to their inability to meet the requirements of the consumer guarantees act and provide the channels in the Guide that they advertised Sky Pod provided through Sky Starter, when I ordered my Sky Pod.

The only plus I can see to the Sky Pod is the ability to view Sky Channels including Sky Sport and replay some programs for up to 72 hours from the Sky TV Guide, but Sky Sport is available on Google TV via the Sky Sport Now app at a subscription when required. Sky would have been better off creating a Sky Channels App for Android including Google TV rather than coming out with the Sky Pod although it is better than the Sky Box due to lack of rain fade or Sky Box User Interface and recording problems, except for the lack of ability to record Sky channels although this may be able to be provided for non Sky channels by installing the Sparkle TV app on the Sky Pod.

I really don't see why you are holding Sky responsible for TVNZ withdrawing their channels, when it has been in the news why TVNZ did that.

I am holding Sky responsible for their original advertising which did not say TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, and Duke would not be available in the Sky Pod Guide as channels. and in fact their advertising said that Sky Starter would include these channels and in fact they are still advertised as being in Sky Starter which I am being billed for montly in full and not getting all the channels. I believe this is a breach of the Fair Traiding Act and to not provide the channels is a breach of the Consumer Guarantees Act as the product is not fit for the purpose it was sold for. I have not seen in the news the item you refer to, but it would not absolve Sky of their responsibilities.

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

IvanPiacun

378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3078526 22-May-2023 11:58

clayton:

You would think they would have different MAC addresses

I've ordered the remote from Amazon NZ$60 and when it arrives I'll fid out how to map the buttons

Thanks for your help Ivan

Have you tried changing the name of the paired Sky Pod remote before pairing another one?

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

clayton

342 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3078531 22-May-2023 12:01

IvanPiacun:

clayton:

You would think they would have different MAC addresses

I've ordered the remote from Amazon NZ$60 and when it arrives I'll fid out how to map the buttons

Thanks for your help Ivan

Have you tried changing the name of the paired Sky Pod remote before pairing another one?

Yes, that's the first thing I did.

I don't have the Pod, just the Box

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TheMightyKiwipeso

70 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#3078536 22-May-2023 12:19

IvanPiacun:

I am a VFTV customer who purchased a VFTV but did not subscribe to Sky TV and also had no communications from Sky on ordering. I have purchased a Sky Pod by phoning Sky at 0800 759 190 and I believe you can still order there if you were a VFTV customer and you really want one. However I am looking at returning my Sky Pod due to the poor interface and the lack of TV1, TV2 and Duke channels on the TV Guide.

I have instead as an alternative to the SkyPod setup the Sparkle TV app using Matt Huisman's M3U8 NZ TV Channel Playlist ,on Google TV with Chromecast 4K paired with the Vodafone TV remote which gives the ability to control and view all Freeview channels plus others and timeshift (pause and rewind/fast forward live TV), or record them on a USB drive connected via a USB C Hub, with USB A and Ethernet OTG, or to a SMB share on a Windows machine. This is at a one off cost of about $151 to $187. Rather than a one off fee to Sky of $100 plus $25 per month. The only disadvantage to this option is not being able to replay some programs for up to 72 hours from a guide however TVNZ+ and TV3 Apps allow replay of most programs and Sparkle TV provides the ability to record all non Sky only programs. Google TV also has the ability of installing these apps: TVNZ+, Three Now, Disney+, Neon, You Tube, Spotify, Sky Sport Now, and Prime Video amongst others and comes with You Tube and Apple TV, plus the Netflix App which is available on the SkyPod. Note: Apple TV is not available on the Sky Pod even to add.

I have also used the Button Mapper App to map the four colured buttons on the Vodafone TV remote to up to three commonly used Apps per button, including Sparkle TV, and the menu button to the Home Action, giving a better remote than the Sky Pod's remote, or the Google TV remote.

I have given Sky over a month to add TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, and Duke to their Guide but I believe it is now time to take a stand, due to their inability to meet the requirements of the consumer guarantees act and provide the channels in the Guide that they advertised Sky Pod provided through Sky Starter, when I ordered my Sky Pod.

The only plus I can see to the Sky Pod is the ability to view Sky Channels including Sky Sport and replay some programs for up to 72 hours from the Sky TV Guide, but Sky Sport is available on Google TV via the Sky Sport Now app at a subscription when required. Sky would have been better off creating a Sky Channels App for Android including Google TV rather than coming out with the Sky Pod although it is better than the Sky Box due to lack of rain fade or Sky Box User Interface and recording problems, except for the lack of ability to record Sky channels although this may be able to be provided for non Sky channels by installing the Sparkle TV app on the Sky Pod.

>> I really don't see why you are holding Sky responsible for TVNZ withdrawing their channels, when it has been in the news why TVNZ did that. >>

I am holding Sky responsible for their original advertising which did not say TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, and Duke would not be available in the Sky Pod Guide as channels. and in fact their advertising said that Sky Starter would include these channels and in fact they are still advertised as being in Sky Starter which I am being billed for montly in full and not getting all the channels. I believe this is a breach of the Fair Traiding Act and to not provide the channels is a breach of the Consumer Guarantees Act as the product is not fit for the purpose it was sold for. I have not seen in the news the item you refer to, but it would not absolve Sky of their responsibilities.

You are holding a different company responsible for the actions of another company.

That's unreasonable, if not outright sanctimonious about something out of Sky's control.

At no stage are you unable to receive these channels on the device, yet just because TVNZ has spat the dummy with Sky, you want to hold Sky responsible for what TVNZ has done.

Frankly, this is borderline idiocy on your part. If you want these channels directly in the guide, they have the new sky box available, and you should stop beating a dead horse, and get off it while you're there.

IvanPiacun

378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3078539 22-May-2023 12:32

TheMightyKiwipeso:

You are holding a different company responsible for the actions of another company.

That's unreasonable, if not outright sanctimonious about something out of Sky's control.

At no stage are you unable to receive these channels on the device, yet just because TVNZ has spat the dummy with Sky, you want to hold Sky responsible for what TVNZ has done.

Frankly, this is borderline idiocy on your part. If you want these channels directly in the guide, they have the new sky box available, and you should stop beating a dead horse, and get off it while you're there.

The Sky Box is an extra $100 plus an extra $15 per month so that is not an option unless Sky are willing to come to the party. Plus the Sky Box does not give 72 hour replay of programs without recording.

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

clayton

342 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3078541 22-May-2023 12:36

IvanPiacun:

TheMightyKiwipeso:

You are holding a different company responsible for the actions of another company.

That's unreasonable, if not outright sanctimonious about something out of Sky's control.

At no stage are you unable to receive these channels on the device, yet just because TVNZ has spat the dummy with Sky, you want to hold Sky responsible for what TVNZ has done.

Frankly, this is borderline idiocy on your part. If you want these channels directly in the guide, they have the new sky box available, and you should stop beating a dead horse, and get off it while you're there.

The Sky Box is an extra $100 plus an extra $15 per month so that is not an option unless Sky are willing to come to the party.

$15 a month for recording, you don't have recording on the Sky Pod anyway

IvanPiacun

378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3078544 22-May-2023 12:52

clayton:

IvanPiacun:

The Sky Box is an extra $100 plus an extra $15 per month so that is not an option unless Sky are willing to come to the party.

$15 a month for recording, you don't have recording on the Sky Pod anyway

Yes but the Sky Pod has 72 hour playback from the guide so it would not need recording. Maybe I should give Sky another call and discuss the options. I gave up the other day after two hours on wait and going through about 6 people without a resolution. Their support is abysmal.

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

rugrat

3106 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3078602 22-May-2023 13:13

IvanPiacun:

Yes but the Sky Pod has 72 hour playback from the guide so it would not need recording. Maybe I should give Sky another call and discuss the options. I gave up the other day after two hours on wait and going through about 6 people without a resolution. Their support is abysmal.

TVNZ has everything on demand, so does not need recording? It has smaller ad breaks, but cannot fast forward through them.

The TVNZ on demand applic is on the Sky Pod. Also live TV can be accessed from TVNZ on demand applic as well.

Edit: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/livetv for TVNZ guide of what’s on.

clayton

342 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3078603 22-May-2023 13:14

I was on the phone to them the other day, call centre in Manilla and after 15 mins trying to explain myself I was told to email help@skytv.co.nz then they take a week or so to reply and the answer was basic and need to reply to it and so are the days of our lives

Good luck

Brents

16 posts

Geek

#3078638 22-May-2023 15:00

michaelmurfy:

Hey all - I have a largish (~15) collection of Vodafone TV Bluetooth remotes that work with the Sky boxes (and as a bonus, can IR control TV's). The button mapping is not perfect from what I am told though but it does still work well enough.

If anyone does want some I am happy to let them go for the price of shipping. Just fire me a DM.

The Pace 500/1TB, kaon 500/1Tb remotes work with this new box. It only works (literally) in a straight line of sight from up to 11-12M distance from the box.

You first have to change the freq on the remote. They have 4 freq and must be set to freq 3 for this to work.

To do this, hold the number 3 button and the select button down at the same time till the red led light at the top of the remote blinks twice then it should be good to go.

Both the Bluetooth remote and IR remote will now run the box and as far as I can tell all functions work with the older IR remote.

I haven't yet figured where the IR sensor is on this box in regards to decoder hub situations running IR over cat cable but Id imagine if the senseor is paced in front of the new box it 'should' work,

clayton

342 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3078687 22-May-2023 15:13

Brents:

michaelmurfy:

Hey all - I have a largish (~15) collection of Vodafone TV Bluetooth remotes that work with the Sky boxes (and as a bonus, can IR control TV's). The button mapping is not perfect from what I am told though but it does still work well enough.

If anyone does want some I am happy to let them go for the price of shipping. Just fire me a DM.

The Pace 500/1TB, kaon 500/1Tb remotes work with this new box. It only works (literally) in a straight line of sight from up to 11-12M distance from the box.

You first have to change the freq on the remote. They have 4 freq and must be set to freq 3 for this to work.

To do this, hold the number 3 button and the select button down at the same time till the red led light at the top of the remote blinks twice then it should be good to go.

Both the Bluetooth remote and IR remote will now run the box and as far as I can tell all functions work with the older IR remote.

I haven't yet figured where the IR sensor is on this box in regards to decoder hub situations running IR over cat cable but Id imagine if the senseor is paced in front of the new box it 'should' work,

What is the select button? is that the OK button?

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