New SKY streaming devices

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1455 posts

Uber Geek

#3049023 11-Mar-2023 19:02

Shadbolt:

I'm wondering if they are doing a fair number of updates. I should take a photo of the software version screen (assuming that there is one) so that I can compare from one day to the next.

if it is like any other android TV device it should prompt you to update. It shouldn't just happen.
But who knows how they have altered the base software.

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Rushmere

312 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3049025 11-Mar-2023 19:17

Fog:

We now run a recorded program to the end to make sure it is complete before watching it. Not very satisfactory but necessary if watching a crime program.

I guess it will be sorted but will we be told when updated and the problem is solved. The only reason we got the box was because of the recording facility.

I constantly run into that problem now on Vodafone TV when rewinding or restarting to watch something, and it's very annoying when it cuts off before the end. The problem has been there all the time I've owned it, and it cuts off the end of the majority of programmes. At least with VTV you can get around it by watching the beginning of the following programme to see the end of the preceding programme!

It reminded me of the Sky box I used to own in the UK more than 20 years ago. It had a configurable amount of time to add onto the end of every recording. I set it to the longest time available, so it never missed the end of anything. It doesn't seem as though it should be a difficult problem to solve, so it's perplexing why such a basic function can even become an issue. Hopefully Sky will sort that one out very soon.

Fog

320 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3049144 12-Mar-2023 08:41

That is interesting. We never had that problem with Vodafone which makes this so disappointing, but I am sure it will be fixed eventually.

clayton

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3049160 12-Mar-2023 10:17

I would like to test the box before committing to a subscription

vexxxboy

4089 posts

Uber Geek

#3049161 12-Mar-2023 10:17

Fog:

We are getting to grips with the new box. The only problems we have had is with recording, and on three occasions the recorded programs have cut out

before reaching the end. Anyone else had this problem.? I guess they are working on this but it is a pity the box was released onto the market before

it was fit for purpose.

has the new box lost the ability to add 20 minutes to the end of recording time by pushing the record button twice , i used it a lot on recording live sports and even then i made sure to record the program straight after it to make sure i never missed the end. Why would they remove that.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

SouthernGeek

63 posts

Master Geek

#3049210 12-Mar-2023 10:26

clayton:
I would like to test the box before committing to a subscription

You and everyone else! It's been such a shambles I think they should have sample boxes in a partner store....

Fog

320 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3049223 12-Mar-2023 12:09

vexxxboy:

Fog:

We are getting to grips with the new box. The only problems we have had is with recording, and on three occasions the recorded programs have cut out

before reaching the end. Anyone else had this problem.? I guess they are working on this but it is a pity the box was released onto the market before

it was fit for purpose.

has the new box lost the ability to add 20 minutes to the end of recording time by pushing the record button twice , i used it a lot on recording live sports and even then i made sure to record the program straight after it to make sure i never missed the end. Why would they remove that.

Yes, and recording the following program does not help.

Baldrick

34 posts

Geek

#3049307 12-Mar-2023 17:18

I’m still having issues where it is not letting me record certain things (mainly formula one at the moment).

I emailed the sky trial email last Thursday but haven’t heard back yet.

I want to know if it is worth doing a factory reset to see if it fixes the issue.

I will give them till Tuesday and if they haven’t replied I might give them a call.

Would like to get it fixed before the next race or else I will be relying in how fast they put the on demand replays up.

Linux

10300 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3049310 12-Mar-2023 17:23

Maybe Sky do not have permission / license to record it

antoniosk

2331 posts

Uber Geek

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Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3049311 12-Mar-2023 17:33

So, I thought I would add my experiences here, moving from Vodafone TV to Sky's new service

Background:

2x Vodafone TV's, one in main view room and one in the office connected to a Monitor (not TV), for company mainly during working from home sessions. We have Sky's Starter+Entertainment service. Was $50.99/month for a while, then just before Xmas the multiroom charge was added for a few months (disappointingly).

I received my Sky PUCK on Friday, and made the mental commitment to hook it up today.

The critical factor as always, is a service change and how others will receive the change. This change has been thrust on us, well notified but still leaving me to manage the domestic transition and keep things calm on the home front. For clarity, the family is very tech literate but also very busy, so being forced to learn something else and unlearn another is an imposition on people. It may sound trite, but consider if you were on the receiving end of a change and were forced to adapt.

So, setup. The puck is connected to a 1m length standard USB-A to USB Micro B connector (very retro), but also only draws 5W. I like this - the Vodafone TV is 24W, the TelstraClear megabox was a power hog. You also need to connect to a free Ethernet port, which I have to hand.

The device as others have said is a badged Google Android TV device. You should sign into a gmail account (which I have for use with my other google services), but it's not critical.

Setup Flashpoint - that bluetooth remote

Yeah, it's a bluetooth remote. Neat. Unfortunately, my setup experience was bluetooth circa 2005. ie a load of shift. I called the support line - which was quick to answer, but quick to keep passing me to the tech team, when the IVR would eventually time out and drop me back to the main line to go through the process again. The bot reading the IVR script sounds pained, like a 2010 era call centre, and I never did speak to tech in the end.

Years of faffing with bluetooth meant I felt ok to keep resetting, but Sky havent covered themselves in sweet here. Eventually I found you need to be inline with the puck in front of the TV at about 1m. Resetting the remote's bluetooth setting - hold done OK+Vol Down for 3 secs - helped a LOT (a method not described on the onscreen prompts immediately). I got there, but it was stressfully unnecessary.

Hooking up

Pretty straightforward and worked well. Login to your gmail account, follow your nose, then login to a Sky activation page on your device (which will prompt you to login to your Sky account, creating an account Bind). After that, you can complete the Android TV process (including loading additional apps from the Play store if you wish). I have a Google TV/Chromecast, so I was able to add additional apps without a hitch.

In Use

The remote lags. big time. the onscreen display is ok, but it's clunkily slow. It always amazes me, as the TCL box, the VTV box and now this all repeat the same behaviour. In the TCL box, the reason was the DRM overhead was astronomical, checking everytime you looked at it funny. No idea what's going on here, but its' slow.

The user experience of the buttons is also not intuitive with other services. I watched the fam channel up/down, then press OK expecting to change to that channel. It brings up the options for it, but doesnt actually change. Oh well.

Picture quality on a 4K tv is actually quite decent, which is positive.

Account upgrades

Completing this process instantly updated my account. The Vodafone TV boxes lost service and no longer - what am i supposed to do with these things now? - and my account was changed to switch multiroom off, change my subscription to be that of the offer (10% for a years sub, beginning today). So $46/month from $75/month. This was pretty seamless but I didnt get an email confirmation of what happened - I just noticed when I logged in after completing the steps, although there is an onscreen message saying my account is being transitioned, so maybe I will get a confirmation soon.

Positive steps with an odd tweak needed.

SkyGo

Under VodafoneTV, the channels available to the app were not identical to the subscription. Moving to the new service, and SkyGo login matches the subscription. I can cast from an iOS device to my chromecast and view content, but i cant hook up an HDMI connection to my phone to do the same thing. This isn't new, but in the world of 2023 where flexibility is available in exchange for paying your demanded bill on time, you'd think someone would have acted on this (and it cant be for DRM rights if Im able to use Airplay or Googlecast. Its just annoying). Skygo is limited to 5 subscribed devices, no more than 10 device changes in a year, and only 1 playing at any one time. Hmmm. Still it doesnt cost extra, so ok.

That's it so far. It's been 3 hours and I aint heard a peep...

________

Antoniosk

JoBudge

25 posts

Geek

#3049317 12-Mar-2023 18:32

Does it work on wifi? We don't use ethernet and would be really hard to put it where we use our tv's.
Do you need a Gmail account?

JoBudge

25 posts

Geek

#3049318 12-Mar-2023 18:32

Does it work on wifi? We don't use ethernet and would be really hard to put it where we use our tv's.
Do you need a Gmail account?

Thank you for the review.

clayton

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3049319 12-Mar-2023 18:37

JoBudge: Does it work on wifi? We don't use ethernet and would be really hard to put it where we use our tv's.
Do you need a Gmail account?

Thank you for the review.

If it's not wifi a set of these will set you back $90

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Tatou

214 posts

Master Geek

#3049326 12-Mar-2023 18:55

Thanks for this. Cut and Pasted for my own attempt just before VTV disconnects

antoniosk

2331 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#3049422 12-Mar-2023 21:33

JoBudge: Does it work on wifi? We don't use ethernet and would be really hard to put it where we use our tv's.
Do you need a Gmail account?

Hi Jo

Looking at the settings, Wi-Fi is available as an option. Can’t speak to how good it is or if it’s part of the setup process, but my experience of google devices is the support for Wi-Fi is quite good and I expect it would be possible to use ongoing.

Best thing of course is to contact Sky.

________

Antoniosk

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