Intellipanel Sky Digibox Socket

steven123 · 07-02-2012, 11:53

I have an eight way Intellipanel which is basically an eight way surge protected powerstrip i.e. eight 240v sockets that only power up when the TV is turned on (it has a remote sensor so it knows when the TV power button is pressed).

It has a couple of specialised ports, one is a permanently on socket for the PVR to which I connect my Tivo. Next, a socket for a Sky Digibox which, despite having cable, I do connect an old Sky digibox to in order to allow me to watch freesat as there are quite a few freesat channels still not on cable.

Anyway I managed to get a good deal on a HD Freesat receiver so I decided to upgrade. It is a Bush BFSAT01HD. As I will be disconnecting the Sky Digibox I was wondering if the Bush Freesat receiver could use the same mains port on the Intellipanel?

In observing the intellipanel all it seems to do on the Skybox port is turn the power off when you turn the TV off and then turn it back on after about 30 seconds (which puts the Sky box into standby to save electricity). Could this be a problem on a different box or should it be ok?

Chasing Shadows · 07-02-2012, 12:06

If it is putting the Sky box into standby then it sounds like a useful piece of kit. However, if it is actually shutting down power to the Sky box then restarting it - same as disconnecting from the power completely, or switching off then back on at the plug socket - then it is actually reducing the life of your Sky box (electricl kit doesn't like to have power regularly switched off and on completely). The Bush PVR will almost certainly be the same.

However, the most important thing to consider of course is whether you ever want to use your receiver when the TV is switched off - i.e. if you are planning on buying a PVR, so that you can record things when you go to bed, then the PVR obviously needs to be receiving power so that it can record programmes whilst your TV is not switched on. Under those circumstances you certainly don't want your Intellipanel turning the power to your other kit off (even momentarily), because it will disrupt whatever is being recorded.

Chris Frost · 07-02-2012, 12:12

The only concern is that the satellite receiver - be it a Sky box or a Freesat box or any satellite receiver - feeds a constant voltage to the LNB on the end of the satellite dish. This keeps the LNB thermally stable and extends the service life.

It's up to you what you do, but the consumption in standby is around 2W. That's a fraction of what it would cost to replace the LNB, and the power consumption has a lower carbon footprint than that of the manufacturing and supply chain in buying a new LNB.

steven123 · 07-02-2012, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows

If it is putting the Sky box into standby then it sounds like a useful piece of kit. However, if it is actually shutting down power to the Sky box then restarting it - same as disconnecting from the power completely, or switching off then back on at the plug socket - then it is actually reducing the life of your Sky box (electricl kit doesn't like to have power regularly switched off and on completely). The Bush PVR will almost certainly be the same.

However, the most important thing to consider of course is whether you ever want to use your receiver when the TV is switched off - i.e. if you are planning on buying a PVR, so that you can record things when you go to bed, then the PVR obviously needs to be receiving power so that it can record programmes whilst your TV is not switched on. Under those circumstances you certainly don't want your Intellipanel turning the power to your other kit off (even momentarily), because it will disrupt whatever is being recorded.

As far as I can tell it is actually turning off the power to the digibox for a very short time about 20-30 seconds immediately after powerng down the TV. It then powers it back up and it comes back on standby mode (but presumably you could turn it on and use it independantly of the TV (though I haven't tried it). I suspect it is turning off the power to the box for a brief period as it is probably the only way it can force the box to go into standby mode. Though I never knew it could be damaging.

The box I have purchased is just a basic receiver (one tuner no PVR) like the Sky box, the only difference is it has the newer DVB-S2 tuner so it can do HD.

ProDave · 07-02-2012, 12:23

That would be a big irritation if you turned the tv off, then a minute later turned it back on, only to find the sky box was still "booting up" which takes about 3 minutes for some sky HD boxes.

I would just power it from one of the always on sockets.

grahamlthompson · 07-02-2012, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

The only concern is that the satellite receiver - be it a Sky box or a Freesat box or any satellite receiver - feeds a constant voltage to the LNB on the end of the satellite dish. This keeps the LNB thermally stable and extends the service life.

It's up to you what you do, but the consumption in standby is around 2W. That's a fraction of what it would cost to replace the LNB, and the power consumption has a lower carbon footprint than that of the manufacturing and supply chain in buying a new LNB.

A sky+ box in sby consumes over 20W. Freesat ones have a low power sby mode of less than 1W All equipment sold since 2009 have by EEC regulations have to have a sub 1W sby mode. . They don't provide power to the lnb in either low power standby or with low power sby turned off.

steven123 · 07-02-2012, 20:00

It came today and I just connected it to an always on socket as advised. The box is actually really small and compact much more so than the early Pace Sky Digibox it replaced. Thing is it seems to be failing to tune into a couple of channels (CBS Reality and a few others) which is odd as the old Sky digibox did and this new box detected the signal as 69% which was well above the 50% which was the minimum it recommended.

Also since these newer boxes seem to power down almost everything in standby is it best to leave them switched on to receive updates or can this be done in standby?

Chasing Shadows · 08-02-2012, 09:09

Can be done in standby - but obviously can't be done if no power being sent to the box at all.

grahamlthompson · 08-02-2012, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven123

It came today and I just connected it to an always on socket as advised. The box is actually really small and compact much more so than the early Pace Sky Digibox it replaced. Thing is it seems to be failing to tune into a couple of channels (CBS Reality and a few others) which is odd as the old Sky digibox did and this new box detected the signal as 69% which was well above the 50% which was the minimum it recommended.

Also since these newer boxes seem to power down almost everything in standby is it best to leave them switched on to receive updates or can this be done in standby?

Humax freesat boxes wake up from low power sby for a short period overnight to carry out various housekeeping activities like checking for software updates, updating the epg and creating the graphic thumbnails for the recording chapters.

Any satellite box with a low power sby of less than 1 Watt would have to do similar (The lnb power alone is more than 1W).

07-02-2012, 11:53	#1
steven123 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Teesside, England Posts: 2,901	Intellipanel Sky Digibox Socket I have an eight way Intellipanel which is basically an eight way surge protected powerstrip i.e. eight 240v sockets that only power up when the TV is turned on (it has a remote sensor so it knows when the TV power button is pressed). It has a couple of specialised ports, one is a permanently on socket for the PVR to which I connect my Tivo. Next, a socket for a Sky Digibox which, despite having cable, I do connect an old Sky digibox to in order to allow me to watch freesat as there are quite a few freesat channels still not on cable. Anyway I managed to get a good deal on a HD Freesat receiver so I decided to upgrade. It is a Bush BFSAT01HD. As I will be disconnecting the Sky Digibox I was wondering if the Bush Freesat receiver could use the same mains port on the Intellipanel? In observing the intellipanel all it seems to do on the Skybox port is turn the power off when you turn the TV off and then turn it back on after about 30 seconds (which puts the Sky box into standby to save electricity). Could this be a problem on a different box or should it be ok?

07-02-2012, 12:06	#2
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	If it is putting the Sky box into standby then it sounds like a useful piece of kit. However, if it is actually shutting down power to the Sky box then restarting it - same as disconnecting from the power completely, or switching off then back on at the plug socket - then it is actually reducing the life of your Sky box (electricl kit doesn't like to have power regularly switched off and on completely). The Bush PVR will almost certainly be the same. However, the most important thing to consider of course is whether you ever want to use your receiver when the TV is switched off - i.e. if you are planning on buying a PVR, so that you can record things when you go to bed, then the PVR obviously needs to be receiving power so that it can record programmes whilst your TV is not switched on. Under those circumstances you certainly don't want your Intellipanel turning the power to your other kit off (even momentarily), because it will disrupt whatever is being recorded.

07-02-2012, 12:12	#3
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	The only concern is that the satellite receiver - be it a Sky box or a Freesat box or any satellite receiver - feeds a constant voltage to the LNB on the end of the satellite dish. This keeps the LNB thermally stable and extends the service life. It's up to you what you do, but the consumption in standby is around 2W. That's a fraction of what it would cost to replace the LNB, and the power consumption has a lower carbon footprint than that of the manufacturing and supply chain in buying a new LNB.

07-02-2012, 12:13	#4
steven123 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Teesside, England Posts: 2,901	Quote: Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows If it is putting the Sky box into standby then it sounds like a useful piece of kit. However, if it is actually shutting down power to the Sky box then restarting it - same as disconnecting from the power completely, or switching off then back on at the plug socket - then it is actually reducing the life of your Sky box (electricl kit doesn't like to have power regularly switched off and on completely). The Bush PVR will almost certainly be the same. However, the most important thing to consider of course is whether you ever want to use your receiver when the TV is switched off - i.e. if you are planning on buying a PVR, so that you can record things when you go to bed, then the PVR obviously needs to be receiving power so that it can record programmes whilst your TV is not switched on. Under those circumstances you certainly don't want your Intellipanel turning the power to your other kit off (even momentarily), because it will disrupt whatever is being recorded. As far as I can tell it is actually turning off the power to the digibox for a very short time about 20-30 seconds immediately after powerng down the TV. It then powers it back up and it comes back on standby mode (but presumably you could turn it on and use it independantly of the TV (though I haven't tried it). I suspect it is turning off the power to the box for a brief period as it is probably the only way it can force the box to go into standby mode. Though I never knew it could be damaging. The box I have purchased is just a basic receiver (one tuner no PVR) like the Sky box, the only difference is it has the newer DVB-S2 tuner so it can do HD.

07-02-2012, 12:23	#5
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Posts: 11,307	That would be a big irritation if you turned the tv off, then a minute later turned it back on, only to find the sky box was still "booting up" which takes about 3 minutes for some sky HD boxes. I would just power it from one of the always on sockets.

07-02-2012, 13:21	#6
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by Chris Frost The only concern is that the satellite receiver - be it a Sky box or a Freesat box or any satellite receiver - feeds a constant voltage to the LNB on the end of the satellite dish. This keeps the LNB thermally stable and extends the service life. It's up to you what you do, but the consumption in standby is around 2W. That's a fraction of what it would cost to replace the LNB, and the power consumption has a lower carbon footprint than that of the manufacturing and supply chain in buying a new LNB. A sky+ box in sby consumes over 20W. Freesat ones have a low power sby mode of less than 1W All equipment sold since 2009 have by EEC regulations have to have a sub 1W sby mode. . They don't provide power to the lnb in either low power standby or with low power sby turned off.

07-02-2012, 20:00	#7
steven123 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Teesside, England Posts: 2,901	It came today and I just connected it to an always on socket as advised. The box is actually really small and compact much more so than the early Pace Sky Digibox it replaced. Thing is it seems to be failing to tune into a couple of channels (CBS Reality and a few others) which is odd as the old Sky digibox did and this new box detected the signal as 69% which was well above the 50% which was the minimum it recommended. Also since these newer boxes seem to power down almost everything in standby is it best to leave them switched on to receive updates or can this be done in standby?

08-02-2012, 09:09	#8
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	Can be done in standby - but obviously can't be done if no power being sent to the box at all.

08-02-2012, 09:36	#9
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by steven123 It came today and I just connected it to an always on socket as advised. The box is actually really small and compact much more so than the early Pace Sky Digibox it replaced. Thing is it seems to be failing to tune into a couple of channels (CBS Reality and a few others) which is odd as the old Sky digibox did and this new box detected the signal as 69% which was well above the 50% which was the minimum it recommended. Also since these newer boxes seem to power down almost everything in standby is it best to leave them switched on to receive updates or can this be done in standby? Humax freesat boxes wake up from low power sby for a short period overnight to carry out various housekeeping activities like checking for software updates, updating the epg and creating the graphic thumbnails for the recording chapters. Any satellite box with a low power sby of less than 1 Watt would have to do similar (The lnb power alone is more than 1W).

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Intellipanel Sky Digibox Socket