Product reviewsSky Plus DRX890 HD 500 GB Set Top Box - Black/Silver

Better than Freeview and Freesat and worth testing, trying and keeping.

THis has a back panel with various connectors, so there's the power cord input and HTML output and scart output, too. The box has a phone input and this must be checked to see that that is true because a similar input shape is the ethernet cable for Internet use. Once I got those sorted out the pairing with an activated Sky viewing card was well on its way. This decrypts a few of the channels for us.The top of the box has several actions within the front circle so we must keep this area clear. I connected to my DVD Recorder and used a standard scart cable for this for one of these boxes. For another box I used a scart cable leading to the 3 AV circlular cables, yellow video, red and white audio. The remote control has a model version number inside its back panel section. That's useful for when checking Google for Sky remote codes and the TV make and model number. That's how I set up the TV for the remote to switch on and off or change the volume. A Sky subscription may require a brand new viewing card and once sorted will display the TV channels as well as extra TV GUIDE displays and enabling downloads to the box. The extra option of a TV aerial in and out leads to tuning the TV into channel 68 to view the box and test what quality you get. I've bought a Sky amplifier kit and patch cable for input 1 and input 2 on the back panel to improve reception. If just for a basic box, use input 1 only. We can adjust screen width for some TV shows using Services settings picture 16:9 changed to 4:3 then back again later. I usually record to the DVD Recorder using XP or SP quality. Discs costing less than 20p on eBay. Sky reception offers better reception and more TV channels than Freeview, so well worth testing, trying and keeping. Otherwise, try Freesat receivers or recorders.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: red180101

There advert said something like hardly used ....dont think so

Ok so its a second hand Sky box in their words hardly used!!!! Don't think so it had a deep scratch across the front of the box and at first it would not turn on with the remote so I had to download the software update twice lucky i know how ( unplug the box from the power for 2 mins then hold the Back up button and plug the box back in ...hold the back up button until all the lights on the front come on) so then it worked fine all i had to do then was delete all of the recorded programs and films there was no space to record anything else it was full. So all in all not the best thing i have ever brought it works fine nowRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: skysatdeals

Brilliant Item and would defin' buy again

My pc keeps freezing so third time im doing this review!!!

But have to say..
Item is absolutely brilliant for the price.
All items look brand new, including the remote.
Image quality is brilliant, especially now we can use hdmi !!

Only minor issue we had, though may not be with this purchase...
was that everytime we pressed for Sky Guide, it would automatically change to the TV Input option!! Very confusing. So finally googled it and other a lso have had similar issues.

Something about going to Sky Settings and turning off the HDMI Auto..something option.(cant remeber it now but you can google it).
But even with both the Auto HDMI turning options disabled, it still would not go to Sky Guide option ...in the end ended up using the old sky remote. But thats ok with me.

Otherwise, this was brilliant for the price. Would most defin buy again.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: skyboxes

Great value so far.

Having been less than impressed with SKYs dismissive approach to loyal customers I was not going to buy an overpriced replacement box from them to view their overpriced service. So against my aversion to buying refurbished electrical equipment I was swayed by the price and the reviews. The box arrived a day late (understandable at this time of year) but was professionally packaged and gave confidence that this was from a reputable supplier.
On opening the box I was immediately hit with the overpowering vapours of contact adhesive and with the smudges on the box casing would guess this was a rush job to get it fixed and out to the meet the order.
It was with trepidation that I then (following the instructions that came with the box) plugged in and set up. Have to say that it got going immediately and even corrected some of the channel problems we were having with the dying SKY supplied box. We later also set up the wi-fi connection and have on demand.
After one night of use we are very pleased with the purchase and if the 5 year warranty is genuine will be an excellent purchase. Seeing that SKY refuse to give us a HD box for our second room we have it in I am considering getting a refurbished box from this supplier based upon my experience with their first. Could I ask they are a little more careful with their use of contact adhesive to put the box back together as it looks like that task has been contracted out to the local primary school.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: skyboxes

Easy install, aesthetic condition questionable.

Aesthetic condition was not as good as I expected as it was sold as an ex-demo model but did clean up to an acceptable level. Performance excellent, installation easy, can be done on-line, no need to phone Sky. Download manual from the webb.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: skysatdeals

Replacement Sky plus box

Brand new item and took all of 3 minutes to set up and we now have all Sky channels back and running for Xmas. Sky couldn’t get an Engineer or replacement box to us until the New Year. Comes with instructions as to how to set up and we have support from Chigwell Satellite if needed in the future. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: skyboxes

excellant service & product

whole set up including changing viewing card to new box took 5 minutes, very easy.
really good value for money on a re conditioned sky box

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: midland-sky-ser...

Sky HD+

looks brand new, easy set up works a lot better and faster than previous box and newer software version looks better. very pleased

Very good

Arrived promptly, very well but not excessively, packaged.
Very easy to set up, and Bloke's amazed at the improved picture quality compared to his old Sky box.
Had to clear out a load of recordings from the previous owner,apart from that hassle free.

The only criticism would be the remote, it's not a sky original and doesn't fully control the TV, but works for navigating through the box itself.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: skysatdeals

Brilliant Box.

Bought this box and it is exactly as described, easy to set up, didnt have to phone up sky to pair up my card like i have with previous boxes, just a few on screen instructions and i was good to go, comes with a brand new remote, the box was immaculate works perfect, would highly recommend and would definitely buy again, a absolute bargain for the price.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: skyboxes

amazing deal and everything works

Thank you for the Amazing Deal with a 5 Year Guarantee. It arrived promptly and very well packaged. It did not have a front card flap as advertised, so I took it off the old machine I was throwing away and replaced it, gave it a good clean up and looks great. It does not have the RF outputs/inputs to plug in a freeview aerial at the back, nor a telephone line or usb port as on my current SKY HD Box, but it has wifi built in, have not tried that as yet. I bought a unlocked freeview card separately and use it for FREEVIEW Cannels. The HD quality seems better than my old machine, could be due to the latest version of software upgrade that is advertised to be on it. Overall well done NIXADING, and what a bargain. Here is hoping if I run into problems with the functionality of this Sky Box, they will be equally efficient in fixing it/replacing it under the 5 Year Guarantee they sold to me with this machine. Thanks AgainRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: tZ0zb4QBQEi@Del...