A week ago, we posted an entry about the new Sky+ EPG software, which has started automatically rolling out to users across the U.K. and includes a bunch of new features, along with purported improvements on functionality.Unfortunately, for hundreds -- if not thousands -- of Sky+ users, the new software update has turned out to be nothing short of a disaster, your correspondent included.
Sky software updates are usually carried out during the night over-the-air, but the most recent update has introduced a startlingly high number of problems, including:
- Loss of live pause functionality
- Excessive recording failures
-
Slowness in response of the EPG
- Picture freezing during playback of recorded programs
- Missing programs from the planner
- Spurious shutting down of the box
- Search and scan freezing
- Complete system hang-up
- Incorrect program descriptions in the EPG
Several users are also reporting that BSkyB is trying claim that the problem lies with the older V1 and V2 boxes, not the software -- which is clearly not the case, since the boxes worked fine under the previous software version. So something is rotten in Denmark.
Sky is also reportedly recommending an engineer call-out to anyone who complains, but will not waive the associated call-out fee.
A new thread has opened up from user "GlasgowBhoy," who contacted Sky customer services to complain about the problems he was experiencing, and the engineer who attended his home to repair the fault claimed a bug fix is on the way -- largely due to the volume of complaints received since the update.
If you're experiencing any problems with the new software, post a message below and we'll update everyone if anything new emerges.
1. Add me to the list of those getting problems since the recent firmware "upgrade"
Live pause is now very spurious. It does not function correctly, or at all. I can get the functionality back by complete power cycle (at the mains). The functionality then works for a anything up to a couple of days then breaks again. I might try to see what the action is that seems to trigger the defect...but hey that's Sky's job isn't it?
This is definitely a result of the upgrade. It worked fine before, and the whole system was VERY reliable before this. I don't recognise any of the other faults, such as loss of programs etc..yet. However I seem to have trauma when hitting the R button for instant record.
I'll complain to sky CS too.
Any advice appearing here, I will be up for the complaints / lobbying. I hope they recognise the problem and fix it.
I'm an electronics engineer, not a green consumer. I know this stinks of a firmware upgrade issue. (As I introduce enough of them myself :-)
BTW I have a PACE skybox. probably 18 months or so old.
Posted at 11:43AM on Sep 19th 2005 by Bob Wilson