Help Required SKY Guide programme "Info" has become quite slow to load.

[jeallen01]

I've noticed that, very recently, the 8 yr old SKY+ HD box (895 non-wireless version, but otherwise seemingly working pretty well for an "old girl"!) has become very slow to load programme info for 28E- takes quite a few seconds now, as compared with "almost instantaneous" loading a few weeks ago.

This box (SS is 75 & 90% in the Services menus for signals from the Z2 dish on the conservatory roof) is connected to the router via "1Gb" Cat 5E cable, and so I'm wondering if this issue is at the "Sky" end, a VM (100Mbs download & 5-6Mb upload subscription service) cable issue, or might it be here at our end - so, has anyone else noticed anything similar??

BTW: thought about asking the same question on DS, but that's been playing "silly b***ers for me for some time!

 

[statalite]

The EPG info comes from the satellite not the internet connection.
Can't say I've noticed my Sky+HD being slow.
If there is signal on both inputs then it should work quickly. I have noticed over the years if the box is in single feed mode it takes longer to power on and populate the EPG, as expected but when it has two active inputs this is quicker. As with any tech problem try a power down and leave off then power up. If it's on its way out replacement boxes are easy to find cheaply.

 

[ozumo]

The other day on the EPG on both an 890 & 595 (both unconnected to net) entering a sports channel number resulted in an "Unavailable" response and sent the EPG to channel 898. BBC text refused to load on both receivers one day last week as well. "Info" is working fine though. Sky wouldn't be deliberately introducing wee niggles on purpose now would they?

The other strange issue I have is 0108 Talksport on the 595 is extremely crackly. Been like that for donkeys and it's the only channel that's affected.

 

[jeallen01]

The EPG info comes from the satellite not the internet connection.
Can't say I've noticed my Sky+HD being slow.
If there is signal on both inputs then it should work quickly. I have noticed over the years if the box is in single feed mode it takes longer to power on and populate the EPG, as expected but when it has two active inputs this is quicker. As with any tech problem try a power down and leave off then power up. If it's on its way out replacement boxes are easy to find cheaply.

THX, the SKY box has dual feeds from the Z2 dish and signal levels on both are "high" (thus 75% & 90%) - and I still have the "LIDL 895", found in a waste bin at the local LIDL branch a couple of years ago (then reset and working wellat that time). and thus I think I should be "OK" if the current box "dies" (albeit that I'd lose all the recorded stuff on that box).

 

[jeallen01]

The other day on the EPG on both an 890 & 595 (both unconnected to net) entering a sports channel number resulted in an "Unavailable" response and sent the EPG to channel 898. BBC text refused to load on both receivers one day last week as well. "Info" is working fine though. Sky wouldn't be deliberately introducing wee niggles on purpose now would they?

The other strange issue I have is 0108 Talksport on the 595 is extremely crackly. Been like that for donkeys and it's the only channel that's affected.

That doesn't seem relevant to the Sky service - if not, then please explain in more detail.

 

[ozumo]

That doesn't seem relevant to the Sky service - if not, then please explain in more detail.

The EPG being glitchy is not relevant to the "Sky service"? The EPG and 'info' service are presumably part of the same system? As for the BBC text issue, it was an unusual problem that happened in a similar time period so I mentioned it.

 

[jeallen01]

@ozumo - THX - I thought that might the case.

 

[Analoguesat]

Have you tried a planner rebuild?

 

[jeallen01]

Have you tried a planner rebuild?

Good idea! - will try that tomorrow.

 

[jeallen01]

I have yet to try a Planner Rebuild (been upgrading my HP desktop - and that went surprising well, but took quite a time as it's under a desktop and there's now even more "other stuff" under there as well ) , but, late yesterday, I realised that I can set a programme to record and to Series Link the next ones in that series - but it then fails to add either that first, or any subsequent one, to the Scheduled Programmes list, and then doesn't record any of them. OTOH, some existing series in the Planner Scheduled section do appear to record correctly.

I was putting this down to hardware issues (possibly PSU dodgy caps resulting in unstable voltage rails to various modules on the main board?) but now I'm beginning to think that you might be right to suggest a Planner Rebuild (haven't done that for a very long time!).

Not going to "risk it tonight" because SWMBO will want to watch "Strictly", but I'll definitely have a go tomorrow morning.

 

[davemurgtroyd]

I have yet to try a Planner Rebuild (been upgrading my HP desktop - and that went surprising well, but took quite a time as it's under a desktop and there's now even more "other stuff" under there as well ) , but, late yesterday, I realised that I can set a programme to record and to Series Link the next ones in that series - but it then fails to add either that first, or any subsequent one, to the Scheduled Programmes list, and then doesn't record any of them. OTOH, some existing series in the Planner Scheduled section do appear to record correctly.

I was putting this down to hardware issues (possibly PSU dodgy caps resulting in unstable voltage rails to various modules on the main board?) but now I'm beginning to think that you might be right to suggest a Planner Rebuild (haven't done that for a very long time!).

Not going to "risk it tonight" because SWMBO will want to watch "Strictly", but I'll definitely have a go tomorrow morning.

Sky does NOT add any recordings to the schedule for series link until the first progrmme starts recording ( and then only the next one)

 

[jeallen01]

Sky does NOT add any recordings to the schedule for series link until the first progrmme starts recording ( and then only the next one) ...

I understand that, but, for example, early this morning I noted that the SKY HD F1 channel (406) was not set to record GP1 and so I recorded that, and also set Series Record, and thus it should have (as it has in the past) recorded the later Qualifying session but it did not, and it should also show that the first live F1 show tomorrow morning is scheduled but it doesn't - but Strictly on channel 115 is on Series Record and was recorded, and the Results show tomorrow evening IS shown as Scheduled.

Thus there's definitely "something wrong", and hopefully a Planner Rebuild will fix it ????

 

[jeallen01]

Well, I did the Planner Rebuild just over an hour ago, and it does appear to have fixed the problem. As an "experiment", I recorded a channel that is showing 1/2 hr long programmes in a continuous series this morning - it recorded the 1st and 2nd ones, and is now recording the 3rd, and the next one is showing up in the Planner Scheduled list.

@Analoguesat
Thanks Ross, as this box has been running smoothly for so long (nearly 7 & 1/2 yrs!) that I had completely forgotten about the need for occasional Planner Rebuilds - I'll try to remember to do that occasionally in the future.

BTW: found this webpage that gives very clear instructions on doing Rebuilds on the various generations of SKY boxes.

 

[Analoguesat]

Ah thats good to hear its worked