Dark Blue EPGs
INTRODUCED: MAY 2001, DISCONTINUED: SEPTEMBER 2005
AVAILABILITY: RARE, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND
In 2001, Sky was experiencing a period of rapid change, with the closure of their analogue service, the launch of Sky+, and their complete acquisition of the interactive service platform from British Interactive Broadcasting. In May 2001, Sky updated the visual style of the EPG and added a full seven days of listings and the reminder/Personal Planner system. These EPGs were also the first to offer Sky+ features for available units.
Digibox Versions
2.7bb.5* (May 2001)
GRUNDIG GDS 2000
This was the very first version of the dark blue EPG to be released, which introduced the Personal Planner and the darker colour scheme throughout the EPG. The rollout started in May 2001, with Pace BSkyB 2200 units first receiving the update
2.7.bb.9* (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
2.8b (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
3.0.11* (2002)
PACE BSKYB 2500S3
This version upgraded the EPG software to v3, with mostly minor improvements behind the scenes.
3.0.12 (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
3.1a.5 (2002)
PACE BSKYB 1000
3.1a.5 provided further reliability improvements, and added the month to the date and time display within the EPG.
3.1a.6 (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
3.2.11 (2004)
PACE DS430N
3.2.11 introduced the current style of Search and Scan banner, and added messaging support.
3.3a.6 (2005)
PACE DS430N
3.3a.6 was a major update, and very short lived, before being replaced with the first light blue EPG version. Improvements here were mostly related to parental control and adding support for four-digit radio channel numbers.
Sky+ Versions
sky+1.17.a/b (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
sky+1.20c (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
sky+1.21a (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
sky+1.22j (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
sky+1.23k (?)
This EPG is known to exist, however, Old Digibox has no record of it at this time.
sky+1.24.i1 (2002)
PACE BSKYB 3000 PVR1
This firmware update bought the Sky+ Copy functionality, manual recording, the ability to record radio as well as a low battery indication for the remote control.
sky+1.26.v2 (2003)
PACE BSKYB 3100 PVR2
BUILD DATE: OCTOBER 7, 2003
ROLLOUT DATE: 03 DECEMBER 2003
Touted as the biggest update to Sky+ in its existence, this version introduced the ability to record two satellite programmes at the same time, and to save the paused programme to the hard disk.
sky+1.28.d (2004)
AMSTRAD DRX 180 PVR2 / PACE TDS470N PVR3
ROLLOUT DATE: 20 JULY 2004
This major software update bought support for recording interactive programmes, additional planner sorting options, and the Sky+ Planner Rebuild option. This also introduced messaging capability. This was the final Sky+ software update before the 2005 light blue EPG.