Auto set top box power ON after power fail

[afrokiwi]

Hi,

I have a Thomson Sky Digital set top box connected to my Tivo.

Whenever the power goes off my set top box goes into stand bye .... i was wondering if there is any way to configure the thing to switch back on automatically. I can’t see anything in the setup menu .....

Any help greatly appreciated

Mark

[Automan]

Some of the Grundig codes on Tivo for controlling Sky Boxes also issue the Sky key.
You will miss the first recording but afterwards all will be okay
IIRC 20006 without sky key and 20016 with.

Third party products also exist like wizpin from http://www.pacelink.co.uk

From the FAQ
Sending of the Sky key - Sky users can now configure TiVo to send the Sky key before each channel change to turn the box on. Select IR codes GRUNDIG-20016.


Automan.

[blindlemon]

If you use the Sky Digital code 20016 from your TiVo's setup menu that will send the "sky" key to the STB before each channel change, which should wake the box up out of standby.

ps. And get a UPS - power cuts are very bad for your TiVo!

[SPR]

Not from the Digibox, but if you use the Sky Digital generic IR code on TiVo it sends the Sky IR before any channel change.

[SPR]

Sorry - serves me right for trying to reply whilst my boss is hovering!!!
Will teach me to check again though before completing & hitting the reply button :-o

[afrokiwi]

thanks guy's .... the 20016 code worked .... but ..... i get the "Telephone Connection" screen after a power down ... need to press "Back UP" on the Sky remote before anything happens .... of course i don't have a telephone line connected .... anyway to turn that off?

[Cainam]

I use a SkyEye to change channels on Sky from Tivo. This does 3 things

1) Removes the red dot on screen (not needed now that this can be controlled on the SKy box)
2) Is more reliable (in my house at least) than relying on the wands/blaster
3) Sends the "backup" key every 30 seconds.

So in your case, if power cuts happen regularly it may be worth a purchase, as the fact it sends the "backup" key should solve your problem.

They are available from here - http://www.skyeye.force9.co.uk/skyeyel.htm

[afrokiwi]

oops ... i forgot to mention that i have one of those .... have to say it works a treat .... is there anything i have to configure to make it send the back up commands? ... read through the FAQ and all i can see is setting the power to the RF2 link ...


I use a SkyEye to change channels on Sky from Tivo. This does 3 things

1) Removes the red dot on screen (not needed now that this can be controlled on the SKy box)
2) Is more reliable (in my house at least) than relying on the wands/blaster
3) Sends the "backup" key every 30 seconds.

So in your case, if power cuts happen regularly it may be worth a purchase, as the fact it sends the "backup" key should solve your problem.

They are available from here - http://www.skyeye.force9.co.uk/skyeyel.htm

[Cainam]

I think it depends on which version you have.

If you have the "T-link" version (previous link) it sends the "backup" command

If you have the "RF2T" version ( http://www.skyeye.force9.co.uk/skyeyerf.htm) then it does NOT send the "backup" command.

If you have the second one, you could always see if you could upgrade it to the T-link version

[afrokiwi]

knowing me i brought the "SkyEye RF2T" ... have emailed them asking how i can work out what model i have .... DOH!!! ... thanks for the help ....

[ozsat]

I thought the 'telephone' nag on a digibox disappears after a minute or so??

[Automan]

Also if using any SkyEye or RF2Link or Wizpin solutions you will find auto widescreen switching will not work till the Sky box sees the "sky key" from it's front IR receiver.

Also only composite video output rather than RGB because no scart pin 8 signal.

Automan.

[afrokiwi]

Dosn't look like it :-( .... left it there for 20 min ... had to push the back up button on the sky remote.

I thought the 'telephone' nag on a digibox disappears after a minute or so??

[afrokiwi]

Well after all that it seems i have a RF2Link ....have asked force9 to give me a price to send a SkyEye T-link over ..... double DOH!!!

knowing me i brought the "SkyEye RF2T" ... have emailed them asking how i can work out what model i have .... DOH!!! ... thanks for the help ....

[Cainam]

Well after all that it seems i have a RF2Link ....have asked force9 to give me a price to send a SkyEye T-link over ..... double DOH!!!

See Automans' reply. You may want to go for the SkyEye Acme that also sorts out the RGB/Widescreen issues on a reboot...:)

[afrokiwi]

what do you mean by "sky key" ?

Also if using any SkyEye or RF2Link or Wizpin solutions you will find auto widescreen switching will not work till the Sky box sees the "sky key" from it's front IR receiver.

Also only composite video output rather than RGB because no scart pin 8 signal.

Automan.

[Cainam]

what do you mean by "sky key" ?
When the Sky box comes out of standby it does one of 2 things:

1) If it was brought out of standby through the RF2 port, it forgets about the widescreen and RGB settings

2) If it was brought out of standby using a remote control signal coming in the front of the unit, the widescreen and RGB settings work fine.

Press the "Sky" button on the sky remote are enough for the Sky box to see a remote signal in the front of the unit, and so restore RGB/widescreen settings

[afrokiwi]

Got my SkyEye T-Link yesterday ... works a treat ... can now power everything down / up and all automatically sorts itself out .... thanks for all your help ..... oh i have to say force9 are very professional ...

Now off to try and fix the random pesky white flash issue .....

[afrokiwi]

hmmm .. thanks for the info .... but come to think of it my TV with Tivo has never auto switched ..... it does with the HD set top box .... something else for me to have a look at .....

When the Sky box comes out of standby it does one of 2 things:

1) If it was brought out of standby through the RF2 port, it forgets about the widescreen and RGB settings

2) If it was brought out of standby using a remote control signal coming in the front of the unit, the widescreen and RGB settings work fine.

Press the "Sky" button on the sky remote are enough for the Sky box to see a remote signal in the front of the unit, and so restore RGB/widescreen settings