I thought I wanted a MySky HD

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PDAMan

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#27669 3-Nov-2008 17:43

I've been tryng to convince my wife that we need a MySky. She's been trying to get me to cut down the number of channels we subscribe to.

I have an HD TV but I wasn't planning to pay the extra for HD. $15 a month is ok but that would already take me up arond the $100 a month! Given that I'm happy with the current picture and the many posts here about qualaity issues and bugs here suggest that it isn't yet a mature solution. I'm sure I'll go that way one day, perhaps when Sky has more competition and reduces their prices a little.

I love the concept of being able to book all the programs I want, especially regular watches and especially sport. I still get DVD's out on hire from time to time because I couldn't be bothered to record movies onto DVD or Video. I can get some savings there except for new releases.

So besides programs not starting or finishing on time, is the new box stable if you don't use HD? I note that most of the posts here are about HD issues.

Should I get one now or should I leave it to my list of future p[urchases when it beds down like Vista?

Luigi
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#175503 3-Nov-2008 17:58

PDAMan: I've been tryng to convince my wife that we need a MySky. She's been trying to get me to cut down the number of channels we subscribe to.

I have an HD TV but I wasn't planning to pay the extra for HD. $15 a month is ok but that would already take me up arond the $100 a month! Given that I'm happy with the current picture and the many posts here about qualaity issues and bugs here suggest that it isn't yet a mature solution. I'm sure I'll go that way one day, perhaps when Sky has more competition and reduces their prices a little.

I love the concept of being able to book all the programs I want, especially regular watches and especially sport. I still get DVD's out on hire from time to time because I couldn't be bothered to record movies onto DVD or Video. I can get some savings there except for new releases.

So besides programs not starting or finishing on time, is the new box stable if you don't use HD? I note that most of the posts here are about HD issues.

Should I get one now or should I leave it to my list of future p[urchases when it beds down like Vista?

I just got MySKY HDi a few days ago and I have not seen and problems at all. Most of the problems I've heard where before they upgraded the firmware on the boxes.

The only problem I have is the Volume on the Digital Out is not controlled via the MySkyHD box so I have to use the amps volume to change the volume if needed.

Thanks

Look

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#175506 3-Nov-2008 18:03

Mysky is an awesome way to watch TV. It really changes the way you think about what to to do with your evenings. You can chose when to watch anything and the programming guide is really instant and user friendly.

The HD version is even better as you have twice the storage space to use up ( and you will esp. on high def.) and beautiful pics mostly.

Tell her indoors about the flexibility of recording series of Real Estate/Lifestyle/Cooking/News/Whatever to view whenever you want.

We have 2 mysky boxes and access them from around the house. I can't imagine what life was like before mysky.

rphenix

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#175582 3-Nov-2008 22:22

Is there any alternatives to mysky? i.e. can you use a HDD DVD Recorder or PVR to somehow control a sky decoder?

grant_k

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#175604 3-Nov-2008 23:18

rphenix: Is there any alternatives to mysky? i.e. can you use a HDD DVD Recorder or PVR to somehow control a sky decoder?

Yes, it is possible with a large amount of messing around using IR senders etc which need to be programmed up so they control MySky reliably.

Having done all that, you still don't have the benefit of an integrated EPG unless you use a web scraping utility such as XMLTV or similar running on an HTPC.

With so many pieces to the system which all need to work reliably, you are in for an awful lot of work just to keep the system running on a day-to-day basis. For myself, I just want a system that works reliably in one box that is simple enough for my wife to use without getting constant complaints. MySky fits the bill admirably in all those areas.

If I ever have a tinkering urge in future, maybe I will go for an HTPC with tuner card etc, but quite honestly I have much better things to do than re-inventing the wheel by making a home-brew version of MySky.

My advice: Pay the $600 one-off fee and get MySky; you won't regret it. Or if that much money all at once is too rich for you, go for the $15 per month option. We have had MySky for almost 4 years now and I don't regret it for an instant.

clevedon

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#175623 4-Nov-2008 07:38

PDAMan:
So besides programs not starting or finishing on time, is the new box stable if you don't use HD? I note that most of the posts here are about HD issues.

Should I get one now or should I leave it to my list of future p[urchases when it beds down like Vista?

We've had MySky1 for three years and MySky HDi since the start of August and never had any problems with either, HD is great. All the programmes we book / watch always start on time even with multiple recordings, you gotta get the HD channels in my opinion. As said, it changes the way you watch TV, never not have something good to watch.

austriaco

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#175637 4-Nov-2008 09:02

I just got it last month and I don't know how I was able to live without MySkyHD. If you have a HD TV and your dependents don't go hungry then you should get it.

Edit that: Even if I would have to eat boiled cabbage every night just to be able to afford MySkyHD then I would be happily farting in my lounge whilst watching recorded programmes at times which suit me.

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garvani

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#175662 4-Nov-2008 11:53

austriaco: I just got it last month and I don't know how I was able to live without MySkyHD. If you have a HD TV and your dependents don't go hungry then you should get it.

Edit that: Even if I would have to eat boiled cabbage every night just to be able to afford MySkyHD then I would be happily farting in my lounge whilst watching recorded programmes at times which suit me.

LOL! is all i can say to that.. that made my morning

dolsen

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#175671 4-Nov-2008 12:27

rphenix: Is there any alternatives to mysky? i.e. can you use a HDD DVD Recorder or PVR to somehow control a sky decoder?

You could get one of the series 1 tivos, and connect it up to your sky decoder.
Integrated epg, season passes, very good interface (have been told it's better than mysky), and, all ir codes etc already worked out and programmed for almost all decoders (I'm told there is one type of decoder that you can't use).

Note - I don't actually have sky, but, other people I know are using it happily.

Basically, once you have it set up, you never use the sky remote, and watch everything via the tivo.

Disadvantage - you can record only 1 show at a time, with mysky, you can record 2 I believe.

PDAMan

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#175739 4-Nov-2008 15:46

Just a quick note to thank you all for your answers. I'll be working on the boss:)

Luigi
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eXDee

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#175772 4-Nov-2008 17:25

The mysky is pretty sweet for recording, though we still watch tv at the usual times unless doing something else. It hasnt totally revamped the way we watch TV as others have said it has.

Regarding crashes, i have had it lock up twice in the last 2 weeks, entire box freezes and has to be reset - lucky that button is on the front!

LennonNZ:The only problem I have is the Volume on the Digital Out is not controlled via the MySkyHD box so I have to use the amps volume to change the volume if needed.

Feature, not a bug

vexxxboy

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#175903 4-Nov-2008 21:55

not quite sure what you mean about the vol thing. i run everything through my amp and i can use the remote to control the volume when watching mysky. the thing i have got used to is setting to record series i dont know how many times i have forgotten that the program has been on and checked my planner to find the program recorded, even my wife has come round to having it and now cant be without it.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

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allstarnz

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#176729 7-Nov-2008 20:44

rphenix: Is there any alternatives to mysky? i.e. can you use a HDD DVD Recorder or PVR to somehow control a sky decoder?

apparently you can do it with a Dreambox, so I hear

motogpnz

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#176821 8-Nov-2008 13:06

PDAMan: Just a quick note to thank you all for your answers. I'll be working on the boss:)

Mate... life has never been the same since July 29. If you like the quality of your present picture then DO NOT get HD because once you have watched someting like NCIS, Rove or the rugby/cricket in HD you will HATE it!!! The money's not really an issue for us but if it was I'd happily trade two cappucinos a month for the HD ticket. (Incidentally it's $10 extra isn't it?)

We've had absolutely no trouble since the September upgrade. HDD is 97% full with five screens on the planner at the moment. We religiously put ours on standby whenever it's not in use so the "maintenance mode" can do it's thing. Also if the box starts to respond slowly to the remote I do a manual reset at a time of my chosing

trig42

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#176824 8-Nov-2008 13:27

I had to do a bit of grovelling (read: begging) to get a MySky HDi, and she absolutely loves it. Never had any issues with mine (except that it does get quite warm - so don't put it in a confined space)

PDAMan

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#176897 9-Nov-2008 10:08

I have it on good authority that Santa will be bringing me a MySky HD for Christmas:)

Luigi
Helping companies with location based problem solving, blogs and social media
SolomoConsulting
Find me on LinkedIn
Blog http://luigicappel.wordpress.com
Check out my songwriting

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