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frednz

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#76011 27-Jan-2011 10:20
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We decided we would have SKY movies over the holiday period, so we recorded a few movies, some of which we will watch later. We erase programmes as soon as we have watched them.

But, the problem is, we also like watching the Australian Open tennis and the NZ cricket team. So, we soon found out that SKY wouldn't record the tennis because it required about 30% of the disk space for one HD 8-hour session, from 1pm to 9pm. Then, of course, there is also the 9pm to 2am session. We will cancel our SKY movies because we are tired of seeing the insufficient disk space notice!

Does SKY have a larger capacity MySky box on the horizon for future distribution? It seems to us that, in today's HD world, the current capacity of the box is really inadequate if you aren't watching TV regularly every day and want to record HD programmes for future viewing.

Why does SKY persist with such a low capacity disk? MySky HDi is great, but surely a disk with say 6 times the current capacity is needed in these modern HD times?

Regards
Fred

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wreck90
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  #431736 27-Jan-2011 10:27
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yeah it's crap, i have the same probs.

Sky recently did some polling and one of the questions was regarding the drive capacity.

They persist, because it's cheaper than higher capacity drives.

But, you will find the drive size on new boxes may increase simply because low capacity drives will soon become obsolete. he he, low capacity being < 500gb :)




Dunnersfella
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  #431741 27-Jan-2011 10:35
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My understanding... from a Sky sales manager, is that a 'grey' larger capacity box is in the works.
I've heard nothing else, of course it may have been his ploy to keep me interested in MySky?

wreck90
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  #431748 27-Jan-2011 10:44
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I wonder, has anyone tried to swap out the drive with a high capacity drive?

In theory, the system bios might be able to configure the new drive.



LiQuidAce
98 posts

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  #431749 27-Jan-2011 10:45
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I don't understand why they put 2 USB slots onto the front of my box but cant use them. That was the first question i asked the sky tech that installed mine yesterday - Can i use my own externals as storage.

The USB ports work but there is no software to support external transfer currently.

Anyone know if its possibly to open the box and swap out the HDD? Possibly use your PC to mirror the partition in case there is any "extra" files that are needed then increase the partition size?

Dunnersfella
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  #431752 27-Jan-2011 10:57
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Seeing as it's not your box to begin with, I wouldn't start messing with it...
It's a lease agreement between you and Sky, modding the disc would be like doing engine mods on a company car.

keewee01
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  #431756 27-Jan-2011 11:13
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Would be great if we could make use of those USB slots. Come on Sky - listen to us please!!!

sbiddle
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  #431757 27-Jan-2011 11:19
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Around 50% of the HDD space is reserved for PPV movies. It's a shame that Sky obviously see more value in driving PPV sales than keeping customers happy.

The USB ports will be able to be used in the future for an external drive, there are big DRM issues to resolve before they can launch something like.

 
 
 

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wreck90
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  #431760 27-Jan-2011 11:34
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I've never ordered a ppv movie.

PS3's have user replaceable HDD's,

Changing an HDD is one of the simplest things, ever. But, can see why they might not like it.

Anyway, you can always put the old one back before returning - just like new.

HOwever, sky do not really listen to their customers wishes from what I can tell.

Sony did the same, and look what happened to them with the recent ps3 security crack.


LiQuidAce
98 posts

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  #431768 27-Jan-2011 11:52
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wreck90: I've never ordered a ppv movie.

PS3's have user replaceable HDD's,

Changing an HDD is one of the simplest things, ever. But, can see why they might not like it.

Anyway, you can always put the old one back before returning - just like new.

HOwever, sky do not really listen to their customers wishes from what I can tell.

Sony did the same, and look what happened to them with the recent ps3 security crack.



SkyBox's have that sticker over the bottom so they can instantly see if you have opened it :(

Honestly thinking about turning my old PC into a media center and just using my sky card. Must do some research into it.

bazzer
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  #431814 27-Jan-2011 13:43
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sbiddle: Around 50% of the HDD space is reserved for PPV movies. It's a shame that Sky obviously see more value in driving PPV sales than keeping customers happy.

The USB ports will be able to be used in the future for an external drive, there are big DRM issues to resolve before they can launch something like.

Wow!  50%?  Pretty rough considering most people I know never buy PPV.

keewee01
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  #431824 27-Jan-2011 14:10
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bazzer:
sbiddle: Around 50% of the HDD space is reserved for PPV movies. It's a shame that Sky obviously see more value in driving PPV sales than keeping customers happy.

The USB ports will be able to be used in the future for an external drive, there are big DRM issues to resolve before they can launch something like.

Wow!  50%?  Pretty rough considering most people I know never buy PPV.


+1

Niel
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  #431922 27-Jan-2011 19:41
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What size is the drive? I've seen a black HDi box with a 500GB label on it. Not official, it was in a lab.




You can never have enough Volvos!


JimmyH
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  #432025 27-Jan-2011 23:23
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sbiddle: Around 50% of the HDD space is reserved for PPV movies. It's a shame that Sky obviously see more value in driving PPV sales than keeping customers happy.

The USB ports will be able to be used in the future for an external drive, there are big DRM issues to resolve before they can launch something like.



The should provide a menu option to disable PPV, which would effectively double drive capacity by liberating this space. It would also presumably cur energy usage, as the box wouldn't be constantly recording, cacheing and deleting PPV movies that are never watched.

I don't really think that there are significant DRM issues to be resolved. Surely it would be fairly trivial to encrypt movies recorded to an external USB drive, and lock them to the serial number of the box that recorded them as part of the encryption process so that they could only be played back on that box? The DRM is already circumventable(*) if someone wants to go to enough time and trouble, so providing they did it properly they shouldn't materially increase vulnerability.



* While I haven't tried it myself, but I understand that there are boxes that take sky cards and can record all programming (like the HDi box) to network accessible drives. Plus, HD recording solutions can trivially be constructed to take HDMI output with HDCP and record it. All of these are probably less hassle than bothering to crack a USB encryption scheme.

jackfry
227 posts

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  #432042 28-Jan-2011 02:22
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Niel: What size is the drive? I've seen a black HDi box with a 500GB label on it. Not official, it was in a lab.


Pretty Sure its 320gb, so 160gb for personal recording and the 160gb for nothing(PPV) lol.

Niel
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  #432050 28-Jan-2011 06:57
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Next time I see the 500GB model I'll ask the guys about it. They've had it for a long time to entertain them while they work.

An alternative to HDi is Vu+ Duo, if you have a blue Sky card. Excluding HDD it is the same price. I've got the right card in my SD box, might just have to invest in one as the wife does not want to watch Legend of the Seeker on VHF on 26" while I watch Brainiac on Sky on 42"...




You can never have enough Volvos!


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