30% failure rate for BSkyB set-top HDTV boxes?
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jul 3rd 2006 12:09AM
posted Jul 3rd 2006 12:09AM
We've got some experience with glitchy HDTV/DVR set top boxes, but it looks like things are even worse over on the other side of the pond. With almost all their HD customers only recently buying sets for the world cup, many are using the digital connections and experiencing a lot of problems like picture and sound dropouts. Specifically cited is the implementation of HDCP, as many have been able to get around the problems by switching to analog connectors.Of course this doesn't do much for customers expecting a sharper picture out of their digital hookup or maybe have spent a lot of money on a digital cable they can't use, but SkyHD and even some TV manufacturers may have to update their software for this to be fixed.Glitch ridden high-def rollouts are becoming all too common, particularly for the "lucky" few who were able to get their service installed prior to the World Cup, but this may explain why some service providers are so unwilling to even enable the HDMI or DVI outputs on their boxes. If it doesn't work, there is a resulting shifting of blame between the provider and TV manufacturer while the customer's problem continues. Same problem with rolling out CableCard, neither side wants to take responsibility for making it work if there's a problem.
I got my SkyHD box just over a week ago and one of the satellite inputs on the back was broken so had to have the box replaced, the new box works perfectly but the software is really slow & buggy (keeps crashing), once the software's sorted mine will be perfect!
Mine has been buggy since day one - the picture starts picking up digital compression artifacts (jaggies, coloured lines all over the screen, followed by a total picture freeze and gradual dimming of the entire screen. Whenever this happens, the EPG becomes extremely sluggish, and if I press any of the full-screen menu buttons (TV Guide, Services, etc) then only half of it draws. Shortly after, the box makes a "click" (it sounds like the internal HD) and reboots itself back to the Sky Demonstration channel. I'm glad I paid £300 and waited 4 months for this piece of s**t...
Very interesting for those of us Brits considering paying Sky £300 for the box!...and then there's the £10 extra/month on top of their subscription.
I am curious to know what resolutions and aspect ratio options are being made available. While the ATSC specification in the USA number ~19 formats, the National Broadcast Association and Consumer Electronics Association seem to have agreed that 1280x720P and 1920x1080i are 'HDTV' in branding. What is 'HDTV' in the Kingdom?
I agree 100% the software is too slow; if you are recording 2 x hd channels then its like Mac OS 7 through time capture.
Have had many total failures whilst watching hd and recording something else; the system locks up so much it takes a power cycle to clear.
Recording frequently have a loss of signal error; despite the rather good weather we are having at the moment. (No rain hail sleet or snow to muss up the signal)
In general using the remote response is too slow; fast forwarding through adverts is more hit and miss than with its Sky + predecessor.
I have nightmare problems with SD pictures on my television (via HDMI) and projector via Component - green bars at the sides of non widescreen footage and moving white dots at the top of the picture :(
Thing is 5 minutes on discovery channel looking at underwater footage and its mostly forgiven.
Sky are broadcasting in 1080i only; cannot speak for other providers.
http://lifestyle.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=5498
@ Eric (number 2), why haven't you contacted Sky and had your box replaced?
I noticed my fault and they came the next day and replaced my box, it's now perfect (except for the software, but they're all like that!)
HDTV Receivers in Europe do have problems with switching channels, these Receivers have audio/video sync problems, HDCP blackouts. For every error you have a solution to get rid of, but it isn`t how it should be. Normally it should work in first place, not with a trick.
Thanks for all the comments here from Sky HD customers. It's valuable feedback that helps us to make continued improvements to our service.
This discussion follows weekend press report, which claimed that 30% of Sky HD customers were affected by “glitches” such as “lost sound, picture freezes and background noise”. The article didn’t give a source for this estimate or any evidence to back it up. While minor issues are not unusual in new technology products, the suggestion that more serious problems are so widespread is not consistent with Sky’s own experience or the very positive response from customers to the launch of Sky HD.
We work closely with TV manufacturers to address any compatibility issues that sometimes arise with the introduction of a new technology. For example, we’re working with Pioneer to investigate a handful of reports about HDCP compatibility with some TV screens. We’d like to stress that this issue does not prevent customers from being able to watch Sky HD channels in high-definition picture quality.
Before Sky HD launched, we ensured that the Sky HD box had passed independent tests for compliance with HDCP and HDMI protocols and we tested the box with more than 75 different models of TV. Our engineers are briefed on the best way to connect these sets to the Sky HD box.
Sky has an active dialogue with customers – listening to their feedback and helping them to get the very best from innovative technology – and makes improvements through regular software updates. We’ve communicated the things that we’re working on and the improvements that we’ve already made, including a new software update that was implemented recently.
We think that Sky HD sets the benchmark for TV viewing in the UK and Ireland. The overall response to Sky HD is very good and we’re committed to working with customers and industry partners to make the experience of such ground-breaking technology as close to perfect as possible.
my sky hd system works fine but the box is so noisy
that i only turn it on to watch specific programs (ie football)its whines and hums so loudly it can be heard upstairs in the the bedroom with all doors enroute closed ,in fact the whole house hums its got to go unless soome other than thomson makes a different box
(although i understand amstrad are working on a cheaper replacement god help us )
anyone got another solution