TiVo Community Forums Archives - Sky+ dead after only 6 months

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Sky+ dead after only 6 months
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Posted by: itm

Here's an interesting tale for anyone thinking of jumping ship to Sky+...

I got my Sky+ installed in January, having been a Tivo user for several years. This evening I found that my hard disk had failed - I spoke to Sky tech support, tried diagnostics and system reset, and they told me I needed to phone my supplier to get an engineer out.

Lucklily, I've retained Tivo as my primary PVR - the Sky+ had very light usage during its short life. I've learnt a valuable lesson here!

God knows what I'll do when my Tivo finally dies, and I need another reliable PVR....

Posted by: Robert S

Do you have a backup of your A drive...?

Posted by: itm

Never even thought of backing up the Tivo drive. Presumably that would require TivoNet? I'm afraid I've never been bold enough to open the case

Posted by: DaveP

Was your Sky+ in a cabinet under the tele, or another closed cabinet?

Dave

Posted by: itm

In a wooden cabinet under the TV - same as the Tivo. I think the difference is that the Tivo is housed in a larger, cooler box (and probably has a more reliable disc). I suspect that the Sky box is much more cheaply manufactured (if their digiboxes are anything to go by)

Posted by: GarySargent

To be fair, the Sky+ box has a Maxtor Fireball 3 (well the version 2 box does according to pics on Automans website).

This is pretty similar to TiVo's drive.

Its just unfortunate that the hard drive failed - it could easily happen to a TiVo model.

(Hmmm this may be the first time I have defended Sky+, time I went for a lie down!)

Posted by: itm

I had already noticed that it was running very hot - never a good sign, and something which I noticed with the digibox before it. I don't think much consideration is given to ventilation needs.
Anyway, it's got me thinking that maybe I need a new Tv cabinet. Does anyone have any recommendations for a large rack - one that'll house and ventilate 5 units - Tivo, Sky+, VCR, DVD player, DVD recorder and AV hub? Something that'll match mahogany furniture would be a bonus!

Posted by: Robert S

You can make backups of your SP's etc with TiVoWeb, but that's not something that many people do.

Making a recovery backup so you can reconstruct your TiVo after a hard drive failure is just a question of putting its hard drive(s) in your PC and running MFS Tools. It only takes half-an-hour or so (once you've got the top off the TiVo, anyway).

Given how old all our TiVoes are, I'd definitely recommend that if you can make a backup, you should do so ASAP.

Posted by: DaveP

quote:
Originally posted by GarySargent
Its just unfortunate that the hard drive failed - it could easily happen to a TiVo model.(

I don't think it's unfortunate. I think it's a design fault. Initially the the fan only came on when the internal air temperature reached a certain level. On the Mark 1 there is no air circulation around the disk and it is "sealed" in order to minimise noise. It gets hot enough to fry eggs on.

When I swapped my drive I took the opportunity to install an "always on" fan and I've had no troubles since.

Even with a bigger fan you end up moving hot air around and there is still not much circulation around the disk.

Best move it into the open air if you can. I've got a Target 5 tier rack in black metal and this is ideal, with open sides, front, and back.

Dave

Posted by: itm

quote:
Originally posted by DaveP
I don't think it's unfortunate. I think it's a design fault

My thoughts entirely. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Sky+ box runs much hotter than the Tivo - the case design plays a huge part in this. Surely I won't be reduced to installing my own internal fan in order to keep the next unit alive? I'll look for an "open" stand, but if the box is simply cooking the drive then I don't hold out much hope!

Posted by: DaveP

If you currently have a V1 box then that would explain the problem. If you had the newer, smaller box then the circulation problem should have been solved with the new design. They moved the disk to the centre of the box. If this is the case maybe you were unfortunate!

Dave

Posted by: itm

I believe it's a new box - installed January this year. I suppose the next 6 months will tell me whether I've just been unlucky this time....