Hi , I've lost the abilty to copy from a sky+recording, which channel should this work from on the Phillip unit

Perhaps, if it is connected to the box. However Sky might use anti-copying systems on some channels.

Make you have audio connected to Sky, where audio out is and audio in on the recorder, and make sure it is not muted.

I've found two codes that work fine on a revision 8 Sky remote control and a revision 8r remote:

0056 (LG/Goldstar)
981 (General reset)

Both codes enable volume, channel selection and power on/off.

Plug your recorder into the SCART connection labelled VCR and plug that into a SCART connector on your recorder.
To record from the Sky box, change the input channel to the SCART connector that the Sky box is plugged into and record away!

Connect the sky box to the dvd with a scart lead,plug it into av2 on the dvd.When you want to record from the sky,select av2 on the dvd as your record channel.Check that the scart is fully in on the tv and the sky for sound problem.

i have tried to tune in a sky digibox that have not used for a couple of years,i can only tune in the first 9 chanels for some reason.any clues what i am doing wrong

You need to connect up the Sky+ to your recorder via scart. This will eliminate poor picture quality. The Sky box will be on ext1 on your recorder or something like that

Is there anything mentioned about cable accessible via the remote ... assuming you have one that works for the unit?

Hi there! Sorry but you can't unless you have My Sky/HD recorder. The sky decoder is simply a one channel watch decoder. You can only record a sky channel and watch the channels normally provided via your VHF and UHF aerials connected to the decoder or vice versa.
My Sky fixes that although you cannot record to a dvd disc on this thing and the privilege comes at a price of course!

Actually you don't have to get other devices, Just cables, take the sky box output and connect to AV input of DVR