Selling a Digibox? What to do:

Make sure it's working!

If that sounds daft, you'd be surprised how many times I read on the forums "it was working when I unplugged it three months ago!"

Well, satellite receivers can have faults that don't show up until they have cooled down. So it's important to test your Digibox when it's cold. At the same time, make sure that it has the latest EPG software and Operating System software. If it hasn't, force it to download the software as described on my faults page. Do it again every two months until it's sold. A Digibox that's permanently stored away is unlikely to work in a year's time.

Be sure to test it with a Sky card on all the channels that the card supports.

If you are selling the remote control, remove the batteries and fit new ones to test it. Then remove the new batteries and pack them safely in a plastic bag. If you leave them inside the remote, it increases the risk of damage if the package is dropped.

Make sure you removed your viewing card before packing the receiver!

(You are not allowed to sell a Sky card. It is the property of BskyB - read the wording on the back.)

Pack the Digibox very carefully. If there's a power lead, make sure the plug is safely tucked away in a corner of the box with its pins facing outwards. That way, if the box is dropped, the pins won't make nice little holes in your beautiful digibox.