The Sky Appreciation thread

[punky]

Apparently, Sky's next-gen box is something to behold. Its basically a PC. It will be tied into a user's BB (either with or without Sky), and will stream multiple channels wirelessly to computers around the house, and will allow web-browsing through the PC, amongst all the usual Sky+/HD functionality.

They are looking at streaming HD via ethernet though.

[TheBlueRaja]

Same with Sky, in fact i've usually got a Scottish lass, which probably means that they cant (India) understand us if Sky do use Indian call centres elsewhere in the UK.

---------- Post added at 15:39 ---------- Previous post was at 15:37 ----------

Originally Posted by Gavin

Apparently, Sky's next-gen box is something to behold. Its basically a PC. It will be tied into a user's BB (either with or without Sky), and will stream multiple channels wirelessly to computers around the house, and will allow web-browsing through the PC, amongst all the usual Sky+/HD functionality.

They are looking at streaming HD via ethernet though.

Sounds like Windows Media Centre to me.

Which incidentally is a bitch to stream anything wirelessly with if you even have remotely thick walls.

That feck for Homeplug and best of luck Sky, thats not something i'd want average Joe engineer taking on, wireless streaming (if its via 802.11g) and not something propriatory could be a bad move.

[c1rcle]

Originally Posted by AndyCambs

All the times I've called Virgin Media (or previously NTL), I can't say that I've ever been aware of having spoken to an Indian Call Centre (unless they speak with Geordie accents now?)

Actually the last time I spoke to anyone from NTL they had a geordie accent, so does this mean there's no Indian Call centre for VirgiNTL?

[AndyCambs]

Originally Posted by c1rcle

Actually the last time I spoke to anyone from NTL they had a geordie accent, so does this mean there's no Indian Call centre for VirgiNTL?

Either that, or they're all carefully coached in the geordie accent and they've done away with the timelag on the phone call...

[punky]

VM's customer service and faults is still in the UK (however the overflow does go to India). Tech support is in India

My Parents have Sky and quite frequently the sound is always cutting out for a second. How irritating, what appreciation should Sky be shown for this?

My brother had Sky installed in his new house a few years ago - all was nice got it installed etc and until several months later it was realised that the Sky installer had drilled straight through a water pipe, the damage was only noticed when there became a 'rising damp' problem all contributed to a hole created by the installers drill! What appreciation should Sky be shown for this?

And finally - Sky is attempting to create a monopoly - what appreciation should Sky be shown for this? Excuse me while I'll go and get a bucket and vomit in it.

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by Mick

My Parents have Sky and quite frequently the sound is always cutting out for a second. How irritating, what appreciation should Sky be shown for this?

Never had this issue or heard it in any pub with Sky.

My brother had Sky installed in his new house a few years ago - all was nice got it installed etc and until several months later it was realised that the Sky installer had drilled straight through a water pipe, the damage was only noticed when there became a 'rising damp' problem all contributed to a hole created by the installers drill! What appreciation should Sky be shown for this?

Squit happens i suppose. It couldnt have been very obvious or visible if neither the Engineer nor your brother even noticed it.

And finally - Sky is attempting to create a monopoly - what appreciation should Sky be shown for this? Excuse me while I'll go and get a bucket and vomit in it.

Business is Business.. Why should Sky give its premium content away to a competitor for peanuts. They have their own customer base to look after, BTW - there is another thread for banging on about this.

[handyman]

Originally Posted by c1rcle

Actually the last time I spoke to anyone from NTL they had a geordie accent, so does this mean there's no Indian Call centre for VirgiNTL?

Telewest had a Northern call centre and Virgin has a Teesside centre (please note its an hour away from Newcastle). Both accents could be alled Northern. (there are plenty of people from Durham and Gateshead that work at the Virgin centre.

---------- Post added at 16:41 ---------- Previous post was at 16:38 ----------

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Never had this issue or heard it in any pub with Sky.

You have been lucky then.

My folks sky box cost him £75 to be repaired just after a year g/tee expired.
Claires folks sky plus box+ shows 'no satellite a few times a week and is very slow.
My new sky box keeps forgetting the guide is there and my new sky bb router gets reset 10 times a day.

Lets not get into the multitude of people I spoke to when I was at ntl when their sky box's where making 100's of false call on their telco lines.

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by handyman

My folks sky box cost him £75 to be repaired just after a year g/tee expired.
Claires folks sky plus box+ shows 'no satellite a few times a week and is very slow.
My new sky box keeps forgetting the guide is there and my new sky bb router gets reset 10 times a day.

Lets not get into the multitude of people I spoke to when I was at ntl when their sky box's where making 100's of false call on their telco lines.

Im only talking from my personal experience and my friends with Sky havent mentioned any problems either although in fairness i know three people with NTL one's happy another hates the thing and my g/f's one is like wading through mud trying to find something to watch on that EPG and the on demand dosent work. We phoned customer services who said they would send someone out - they didnt.

Incidentally, i have the same router as Sky use IIRC (the Netgear DG834G) and find it to be an excellent router.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

I moved to Sky + from Telewest and in the 6 months we've had it, my misssus hasntr once complained about the quality , picture freeze etc etc. While we did have Telewest we frequently lost channels and sometimes sound quite often.

My vote goes to Sky simply cause I havent had any grief to put up with from her indoors in the last 6 months. to me thats a quality service!

[handyman]

Sky's router has a custom firmware in it, I'm thinking it is cutting out due to overheating.

[Stuart]

I think it fair to say that both Sky and Virgin have customers that have had good and bad experiences.

I know people who have had Sky, and are very happy with it. I also know people who are having problems (including one friend who was until recently very happy, but is now having trouble as one of his neighbours trees has grown, and is now affecting his sky reception, although that isn't sky's fault).

The same with Cable. Apart from getting a dodgy box (which took several calls to replace) when I first got it, Cable has always been fairly reliable for me. Any problems I have had have always been sorted out quickly. I also know people who have been messed around by NTL.

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Business is Business.. Why should Sky give its premium content away to a competitor for peanuts. They have their own customer base to look after, BTW - there is another thread for banging on about this.

Please don't tell where and what to post.

By the way, business may be business but don't start whinging several months/years later if and when Sky achieves its 'monopoly' status, hikes up its prices because its done what it was set out to do in the first place, weaken its competition or eradicate it completely, the lesser the competition = price hikes and I am sure everyone will appreciate that one, not!

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I think it fair to say that both Sky and Virgin have customers that have had good and bad experiences.

I know people who have had Sky, and are very happy with it. I also know people who are having problems (including one friend who was until recently very happy, but is now having trouble as one of his neighbours trees has grown, and is now affecting his sky reception, although that isn't sky's fault).

The same with Cable. Apart from getting a dodgy box (which took several calls to replace) when I first got it, Cable has always been fairly reliable for me. Any problems I have had have always been sorted out quickly. I also know people who have been messed around by NTL.

True, but to be honest, i do believe that PQ is better with Sky too, but that could just be on a per case scenario and to do with quality of cabling, dish alignment etc.

Im just dying to jump into the other threads and post:-

LOST, on Virgin Media - all your channels...

(joke)

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 16:58 ----------

Originally Posted by Mick

Please don't tell where and what to post.

By the way, business may be business but don't start whinging several months/years later if and when Sky achieves its 'monopoly' status, hikes up its prices because its done what it was set out to do in the first place, weaken its competition or eradicate it completely, the lesser the competition = price hikes and I am sure everyone will appreciate that one, not!

I didn't tell you where and what to post, i simply mentioned there was another thread to discuss that specific topic that you brought up as I wanted to keep this as a Sky appreciation thread and not a discussion about the rights or wrongs of the decision.

[Downloads]

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

I didn't tell you where and what to post, i simply mentioned there was another thread to discuss that specific topic that you brought up as I wanted to keep this as a Sky appreciation thread and not a discussion about the rights or wrongs of the decision.

lol What did you expect when you recommended people switch to Sky!

I can see a Virgin appreciation thread being started now. Some people might say there are already a couple heh