Do I Need a New Sky Controller?

by Danny Gibbs, UK
(TheDigiboxShop.com)

The Sky Controller

Most people that own a Sky digibox will know that the Sky controller operates the basic functions of their TV.

What happens though if the controller stops operating the TV but still operates the Sky digibox... is it time to get a new one?

Well to be honest, in some cases yes a replacement controller is required, but more often than not all you need to do is re-enter the correct Sky controller code to operate your particular brand of TV, this would have originally been done by the Sky engineer when he/she installed the system.

Early controllers manufactured for Sky were done so with a preset code already programmed to operate Sony TVs, later models were manufactured to work straight out the box on a Philips TV. This is the same no matter if it is a standard Sky controller for the Sky digibox, a Sky plus controller for the Sky plus digibox, or the Sky HD controller for the HD digibox.

So, to make things simple without going in to whether or not your controller is an early or late version, the best thing to do is re-enter the correct code for your TV, even if it is a Sony or Philips.

Do not forget it is only the basic functions of the TV the controller will operate, this includes functions such as volume control, putting the TV in to standby and cycling through the AV channels of the TV by pressing the 'Help' button.

The list of codes available for the controller is extremely long so I would suggest taking a look at the Sky digital support section at http://www.thedigiboxshop.com; there you will find the most common codes. Follow also the instructions given below. If the codes available at the above website do not work, you can perform a search for your brand of TV by pressing the 'Sky Interactive' button on your controller.

Please note: The following instructions are relevant to all Sky controllers, including the 'Plus' and 'HD' versions.

How to enter the four digit code:

1. Turn your Sky digibox, Sky Plus digibox or Sky HD digibox and TV on.

2. Press TV on your Sky / Sky Plus / Sky HD controller.

3. Hold down SELECT and the RED button together for about two seconds, until the RED LED on the Sky / Sky Plus / Sky HD controller blinks twice.

4. Press TV on the controller again.

5. Key in the four digit code for your brand of TV. The light on the remote blinks twice. If the light blinks once only, recheck the code for your brand of TV and start again at Step 1.

6. Press the STANDBY button on your controller. If your TV switches off, press select. The RED LED on the controller blinks twice (code stored). If your TV does not switch off, press TV, then press the STANDBY button. Repeat this (press TV, then STANDBY) until your TV turns off, then press SELECT (stores code).

7. If at this point the RED LED on the controller blinks three times then all possible codes for that make of TV have been checked. Repeat from step one, ensuring that you enter the correct manufacturer code.

8. At the end of the sequence, if you see the TV Guide screen, the controller setup process is complete. If you did not see the TV Guide screen, you must now complete the following steps8. Press TV on your Sky / Sky Plus Sky HD controller.

9. Hold down SELECT and the GREEN button together for about two seconds, until the RED LED on the controller blinks twice.

10. Key in the number of the channel on your TV that you use for watching Sky TV.

11. Press SELECT on your controller. The RED LED blinks twice. The controller setup process is complete.

How to enter the three digit code:

1. Turn your Sky digibox, Sky Plus digibox or Sky HD digibox and TV on.

2. Press TV on the Sky / Sky Plus / Sky HD controller.

3. Hold down SELECT and the RED button together for approximately two seconds until the RED LED on the controller blinks twice.

4. Enter one of the three digit codes from the list (early versions now flash twice).

5. Press SELECT to confirm, the RED LED will flash twice if a valid code has been entered.

6. Now press the STANDBY button and test other functions.

7. Repeat if necessary until the correct code is found.

If once you have entered all the codes from the list the controller still fails to operate your TV then you should consider purchasing a new one as the controllers are continually being updated to operate the later TVs being produced.

Article date: February 6, 2009

Article submitted by Danny Gibbs, UK. For more information, please visit www.thedigiboxshop.com.

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