Sky+ Copy to Tape Backup Option

[DrAwesome]

I have had my Sky+ Box for well over a year now & occationally when the Sky+ Hd gets full i transfer the films/programmes i have on the hd to vhs tape, (normally i just put in a tape select the copy option & hit the record red button on the vcr hand set or just play the film & record the film while watching it) without any problems at all.

Last weekend i copied The Matrix Reloaded Film to the Sky+ hd & today i decided to copy the film to vhs tape but... i found while the film was playing the picture was flashing dark then light so thinking this might have been a one off (first showing sky ploy).

I decided to try & copy a motorcycle programme (called the Worlds Fastest Bikes which is over 5 months old) that i had saved & not watched from Men&Motors channel & lo & behold the same problem as soon as i switch the vcr to record as it prompts you to do on the Sky+ screen as soon as the saved film/programme starts playing the picture goes from light to dark, in fact no matter which way i select to record to tape i get the same result.

The colour of the picture is still there the brightness of the picture flashes in & out from light to dark or dark to light. (its not a faint/light flicker its very dramatic)

I did the usual check all the scart cables (as the cat frequently wanders around the back of the Tv), i even replaced the vcr 3x different make/models (Sony/Philips/Toshiber) & the problem still presents itself. (i even tried different makes of tv's which included a portable tv without any joy)

I have touched none of the settings on the origional vcr i use to record from my Sky+ box i have successfully used in the past.

The only conclusion is it seems Sky broadcast or have added some sort of macrovision protection in the last update?

Has anyone else had/noticed any problems when copying from the Sky+ to vhs tape?

[Jefferson T]

My m8 has this with sky box office films....

I had this also with the box office films (recording onto dvd but same problem), but not the standard channels.

[DrAwesome]

I phoned Sky+ Tech help on 08702 435000 (they are open till 10pm) i didnt have to wait long (less than 2mins) told the guy at Sky the epic story of the problem & he said that sounds like a macrovision protection prevention Sky only broadcast that on Box office films.. Anyway after saying obvously you have checked everything before phoning it sounds like the Sky+ box is faulty, he asked me how long i had been a Sky+ customer i told him it must be about 2yrs at least, then he came back with the reply "try 5yrs" (so i have had my moneys worth out of the box) anyway i asked how much to replace it, (thinking he would say £99 as sky have an offer on at the moment) that expires in November, Free installation & Sky+ box for £99.

Anyway he quoted me £65 & free installation, & i said to him is that for a standard Sky digi-box & he replied "No" a Sky+ box an updated model than the one you have at the moment, i then said would it be a refurbished one? & again he came back with the answer "No" brand new in the box, of course we would have to take away the old one & an engineer would have to come & install it, then i asked how long would that be (for delivery & installation) thinking he would say within 2 weeks because thats how long i had to wait when i first became a Sky+ customer, the reply was 2-3 days & he said that he could book it in for Friday afternoon this week "Sky have come along way in 5 years" hehehehe.

While he was booking the delivery/installation i asked him about Sky+ 160 which is the new Sky+ box coming out on the 1st of November this year for £399 you get a bigger 160 hd which you can record 80hrs of tv programmes plus it has a few more inserts on the back than the standard Sky+ box.

So £65 for a new replacement for my 5yr old Sky+ box thats not bad at all.

[Neil]

Sky + has been available for 5 years.....?

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Neil

Sky + has been available for 5 years.....?

i was wondering the same , i cant wait for a reply to this one , if it is true then i might just ring them

[DrAwesome]

Originally Posted by Neil

Sky + has been available for 5 years.....?

Thats what i was told tonight when i phoned Sky+ Tech support... so i ran the question through Goooogle & found that Sky+ first launched in September 2001

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by DrAwesome

I phoned Sky+ Tech help on 08702 435000 (they are open till 10pm) i didnt have to wait long (less than 2mins) told the guy at Sky the epic story of the problem & he said that sounds like a macrovision protection prevention Sky only broadcast that on Box office films.. Anyway after saying obvously you have checked everything before phoning it sounds like the Sky+ box is faulty, he asked me how long i had been a Sky+ customer i told him it must be about 2yrs at least, then he came back with the reply "try 5yrs" (so i have had my moneys worth out of the box) anyway i asked how much to replace it, (thinking he would say £99 as sky have an offer on at the moment) that expires in November, Free installation & Sky+ box for £99.

Anyway he quoted me £65 & free installation, & i said to him is that for a standard Sky digi-box & he replied "No" a Sky+ box an updated model than the one you have at the moment, i then said would it be a refurbished one? & again he came back with the answer "No" brand new in the box, of course we would have to take away the old one & an engineer would have to come & install it, then i asked how long would that be (for delivery & installation) thinking he would say within 2 weeks because thats how long i had to wait when i first became a Sky+ customer, the reply was 2-3 days & he said that he could book it in for Friday afternoon this week "Sky have come along way in 5 years" hehehehe.

While he was booking the delivery/installation i asked him about Sky+ 160 which is the new Sky+ box coming out on the 1st of November this year for £399 you get a bigger 160 hd which you can record 80hrs of tv programmes plus it has a few more inserts on the back than the standard Sky+ box.

So £65 for a new replacement for my 5yr old Sky+ box thats not bad at all.

Sky may charge £65 for callout and replacement of box, if required, after the first year when it is free, but they do not always apply this charge. Replacement boxes will probably be refurbished ones, but quite often these can be more reliable than new ones. It is doubtful that you will get a new box but you may be lucky.