There is a Mysky manual available over at http://www.skytv.co.nz/Portals/0/data/images/High_Definition/B248-User-Iss1-Web.pdf which says the Mysky unit should not be powered off unless instructed to do so to receive decoder software updates. What would happen if a Mysky decoder was powered off when the software updates were being pushed out by Sky?
2011tv: There is a Mysky manual available over at http://www.skytv.co.nz/Portals/0/data/images/High_Definition/B248-User-Iss1-Web.pdf which says the Mysky unit should not be powered off unless instructed to do so to receive decoder software updates. What would happen if a Mysky decoder was powered off when the software updates were being pushed out by Sky?
You shouldn't worry too much about missing software updates by powering off - you're much more likely to be annoyed by missing your recordings.
Software updates go out first targetted to chunks of customers. After the whole population has been covered piece by piece the targetting changes to "all customers" until a new version is ready to go out. That means that any decoder with old software coming out of the warehouse will be updated when it is installed. If you left your decoder unplugged for a couple of weeks you might miss the targetted download, but you would pick up the general download eventually.
I power my MySkyHDi off all the time at the wall switch.
Pros: It uses 23 watts on stand-by, so that saves about $50 per annum if left running all the time. A power spike will not fry it. It's not nearly as noisy!
Cons: A firmware upgrade take place next time I switch on rather than over night. I have to remember to leave it switched on or on stand-by if I want a program to record. It takes ages to warm up when switched back on, 2 or 3 minutes in my estimation.
But how long does SkyTv push out updates to everyone for? 1 week? 1 month? Does SkyTV have a constant latest update being transmitted 24/7 so any old decoder that is powered on will be updated?
Is updating by manual download from a PC to a sky decoder possible?
23W for a STB which is keeping the user guide updated and doing a number of other things is not too bad. A digital wall timer uses 7W even when the relay is off!
Updates are infrequent, but sent out over a period because they have no way of knowing if you are getting rain fade etc. I suspect if it is connected to the phone line then it might be able to let the server know it did not catch an update and request for it to be resent, maybe.
Worst case you will have to phone them if you had missed an update, but it happens so seldom.
2011tv: But how long does SkyTv push out updates to everyone for? 1 week? 1 month? Does SkyTV have a constant latest update being transmitted 24/7 so any old decoder that is powered on will be updated? Is updating by manual download from a PC to a sky decoder possible?
Once past the initial targetted groups (for safety - noone wants 300K customers broken at the same time) you're right, there is a "constant latest update" transmitted so that any decoder powered on, or retrieved from the warehouse, will update when connected. It isn't possible to manually download to a PC and update because the decoder is looking for a DVB carousel of the software on the satellite.
Updates don't come out very often, once or twice a year, and are pretty minor at this stage of the product lifecycle.
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