Sky+ Is it worth it?

Davexirl · 25-10-2003 11:04am #1

I already have a normal sky box the last two years and i want to get Sky+ and turn the other one into a mirror subscription.

Is it worth all the money and how long do you think I would be waiting to get it installed?

ShaneOC · 25-10-2003 11:40am

Originally posted by Davexirl
I already have a normal sky box the last two years and i want to get Sky+ and turn the other one into a mirror subscription.

Is it worth all the money and how long do you think I would be waiting to get it installed?

Definately worth getting Sky+.

Mirror sub depends on how many people watch TV in your house. Definately though you should get the existing box relocated to another room by the installer. You can use this to watch all the FTA channels, and later decide if you want the mirror sub.

I have no idea how long you may be waiting for installation.

Tony · 25-10-2003 1:05pm

Installation time really depends on your location. Best to go to an independent dealer as you should get the same price and usually better service than sky direct.

Tony

Davexirl · 25-10-2003 3:32pm

I live in Leixlip how long would i be waiting for an instalation for sky+ off you Tony.

And i want to mirror a subsciption on the old box so would you sort out getting the new cards off Sky or would I.

Tony · 25-10-2003 4:05pm

Originally posted by Davexirl
I live in Leixlip how long would i be waiting for an instalation for sky+ off you Tony.

And i want to mirror a subsciption on the old box so would you sort out getting the new cards off Sky or would I.

Please email me

Thanks

25-10-2003 4:22pm

Yes it's definitely worth it in my opinion.

Even a full sky sub can be looked at as being the equivalent of about 4 pints of guinnes a week which isn't a lot if you can afford it.

The features are a joy to behold, live pausing is just brilliant and theres no sub if you are on movies or higher.

mm

Irulan · 25-10-2003 7:23pm

Sky+ is the future of Sky television. I predict within a five year timescale or less, Sky + digibox will be the standard install. So far I have had only minor problems such as intermittent audio dropout on live & recorded programmes in Dolby Digital, seems to be a software glitch,but this is far outweighed by the advantage of being able to record one programme while watching another.One button recording, & the ability to pause live television. I would have to say yes it is worth getting.

Mossy Monk · 25-10-2003 11:20pm

one question

if lets say i started to record a programme could i then start watching it before it finished recording it?

26-10-2003 12:57am

Yes Mossy thats what the live pause does.

mm

Mossy Monk · 26-10-2003 4:23am

what i mean is, lets say i have the thing set to record Cheers at 2am and i arrive home at 2.16am. could i then watch Cheers from the beginning at 2.16am even though there is still 14 minutes left to record?

26-10-2003 11:33am

I haven't actually tried that yet Mossy, but I'm nearly certain, you can.
Shane will confirm.

mm

Davexirl · 26-10-2003 12:51pm

Are all installers using the new Pace 2 Sky+ box?

watty · 26-10-2003 3:44pm

Sky+ is only the future of broadcasting for people locked into a Sky Pay channels package.

If you have Sky Pay TV, then Sky+ is the only sensible choice.

If you only watch Satellite TV and only watch programs on Sky EPG then Sky+ is OK if you don't mind paying a rental for recording.

If you want Sky+ features on non-Sky EPG satellite, it won't work. You need a different brand like Echostar (make same thing).

Summary:
1) Only Sky+ works direct with Sky Pay & FTV channels

2) Sky+ does not work at all on non-EPG channels (other ITV regions, BBC World TV, Astra1, Hispasat, Turksat, Hotbirds etc)

Sky+ does not do analog TV.

Other products have all the features of Sky+ for Analog or Digital TV (depending on model) some with DVD writing/ playing, but can't be used on any channel that needs a Sky Card.

Sky+ can't be used on any channel not on the personal planner and needs a subscription (no extra cost with Premium) card.

EKRIUQ · 26-10-2003 4:05pm

If I get a sky+ box, can I keep my old box with my BBC slous card in my bedroom or will I need 2 dishes on my roof or 2 lnbs or will swaping the cards with my sky sub work.

Mossy Monk · 26-10-2003 4:45pm

Originally posted by TIPPTOP
If I get a sky+ box, can I keep my old box with my BBC slous card in my bedroom

yes, feed both boxes off the quad lnb. thats what i'm planning when i get the Sky+ box but with the EPG with all the BBC's on the old digibox (sadly no active FTV card, but soon hopefully)

watty · 26-10-2003 7:23pm

The existing LNB is replaced by one with 4 connectors.

Two are used by SkY+

One can be used by your existing digibox.

The FTV card won't record on Sky+, only let you watch ITV/Five/C4.

For FTV Sky+ you need a UK address and Sky+ basic FTV recording sub (NOT a basic Sky Digibox sub). You get no pay TV channels, but can record all the FTA, BBC and FTV (ITV, C4, Five) the other ITV regions in "Other channels" won't record.

If you get an Irish Sky+ sub, just keep the FTV card in an ordinary Digibox. It has no use in the Sky+ box, other than to watch TV.

ShaneOC · 27-10-2003 1:46pm

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
what i mean is, lets say i have the thing set to record Cheers at 2am and i arrive home at 2.16am. could i then watch Cheers from the beginning at 2.16am even though there is still 14 minutes left to record?

Yes you can do this.

Charles Slane · 27-10-2003 4:25pm

I only have Sky + a couple of days but I think it's fantastic.

It's just so easy to use.

It'll be even more impressive when the dual-record function becomes available.

Mossy Monk · 27-10-2003 4:56pm

Originally posted by ShaneOC
Yes you can do this.

wonderful. Mossy looks forward to delivery of the Sky+ box

jrd · 27-10-2003 11:01pm

Folks

Spoke with someone at the Sky exhibit at the Ideal Homes Exhibition yesterday and asked the obvious question - should I get Sky+ , if I had Sky already ? he paused, then mentioned that the current disk would be trebled in the very near future - giving 60 hours recording time - and I should probably hold off for a month or so. Indicated that the system features and skybox were better but that installation at €300, new LNB at €100 and normal installation cost would be charged - i.e not much left from €500 ?

Is it really worth €500 extra ?

Jolly

Mossy Monk · 28-10-2003 11:21am

Originally posted by jolly
Is it really worth €500 extra ?

it was hard finding the €300 for this one

another question about Sky+. when recording does it also record the red dot?

ShaneOC · 28-10-2003 12:13pm

There is no red dot recorded.

Mossy Monk · 28-10-2003 12:26pm

thanks again

watty · 28-10-2003 12:30pm

Since the Interactive is often on another transponder, techincally a system could record all the interactive streams if it had two tuners... (but up to TWELVE "channels" can be involved).

So a recording isn't going to pester you with red dot. No FTV receiver or FTV PVR/Recorder or PC card ever shows the red dots as they are part of the sky proprietary "interactive engine" and generated by the digibox.

So the red dot is not really there.

eirebhoy · 28-10-2003 12:36pm

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
it was hard finding the €300 for this one...

You would get a brand new box for around €150 on Ebay which is what I am planning to do.

Tony · 28-10-2003 6:00pm

I dont know whre he got this information from as regards pricing, installation at 75 euro is not subsidised at present so that should not go up and we currently sell th quad lnb at 89 euro but I really do not see them upping the price at this point.

Tony

Originally posted by jolly
Folks

? he paused, then mentioned that the current disk would be trebled in the very near future - giving 60 hours recording time - and I should probably hold off for a month or so. Indicated that the system features and skybox were better but that installation at €300, new LNB at €100 and normal installation cost would be charged - i.e not much left from €500 ?

Is it really worth €500 extra ?

Jolly

Mossy Monk · 28-10-2003 8:41pm

Originally posted by eireboy
You would get a brand new box for around €150 on Ebay which is what I am planning to do.

a brand new Sky+ for €150 :eek: :eek:

eirebhoy · 29-10-2003 1:57pm

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
a brand new Sky+ for €150 :eek: :eek:

just keep an eye on this page and you will be sure to find a bargain soon enough.

Mossy Monk · 29-10-2003 5:16pm

ok it arrived today. can someone tell me what the hell i am supposed to do with that quad lnb. am i supposed to remove some of the casing or what. help the clueless

ShaneOC · 29-10-2003 5:41pm

Mossy,

Do not dismantle the LNB.

The quad LNB should fit onto your existing dish. Mine came with three different collars, one of them fitted on the dish. Take off the original LNB and then you can see the size of the collar that is required.

Don't forget to turn off the digibox first.

Have fun.

eirebhoy · 29-10-2003 5:42pm

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
ok it arrived today. can someone tell me what the hell i am supposed to do with that quad lnb. am i supposed to remove some of the casing or what. help the clueless

I don't know if this is any use to you:
http://www.brymar.co.uk/info/sky/Sky-plus/sky-plus.html

The Sky+ Plus requires 2 separate feeds from your minidish ( so you can record and watch 2 different channels at the same time ) so you will find a Quad output LNB included with your Sky+ Plus machine.

Fitting the LNB is simply a matter of removing the existing LNB from your minidish and replacing it with the Quad unit. Also you will have to run a second cable back to your Sky+ machine so a length of satellite cable will be required for this purpose.

When this is completed you will be left with 2 spare outputs from your minidish - the idea of this is so you may install your old sky digibox into another room to provide further flexibility to your system.

[edit]Sorry, I didn't see Shanes post.[/edit]

Mossy Monk · 29-10-2003 7:05pm

Originally posted by ShaneOC
Mossy,

Do not dismantle the LNB.

The quad LNB should fit onto your existing dish. Mine came with three different collars, one of them fitted on the dish. Take off the original LNB and then you can see the size of the collar that is required

so is the lnb supposed to be completely covered with the grey plastic. i thought there would have been a white head on it like the old lnb

ShaneOC · 30-10-2003 12:17pm

Mossy,

I can't remember if there was grey plastic or not on the quad (well it was over two years ago!!!). I would suggest putting it up as is and see how it goes.

Mossy Monk · 30-10-2003 6:53pm

well it's up and working brilliantly

signal is about 95% on all bars

much higer than the old grundig lnb

v10 · 31-10-2003 12:51am

Originally posted by eireboy
You would get a brand new box for around €150 on Ebay which is what I am planning to do.

More like £150 which is about €220.

Not a bad price but not as cheap as €150 !!

I'll keep looking as you suggest ... but I doubt I'll see Brand new Sky+ boxes even on ebay for £100

Mossy Monk · 31-10-2003 3:57am

do people actualy buy this kind of stuff?

v10 · 31-10-2003 10:42am

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
do people actualy buy this kind of stuff?

LOL .. Probably !

eirebhoy · 31-10-2003 12:51pm

Originally posted by v10
More like £150 which is about €220.

Not a bad price but not as cheap as €150 !!

I'll keep looking as you suggest ... but I doubt I'll see Brand new Sky+ boxes even on ebay for £100

I'm sure you'd have a good chance of getting this box for €150. Its not exactly brand new and has no remote but its still worth what its going for. You could use Auction Sniper to bid for you a few seconds before the end of the auction. There is some bloke selling boxes and he seems to be putting loads of ad's up. I wouldn't thrust buying one off him until a few more people buy one first.

Good Luck!;)

v10 · 01-11-2003 8:35pm

Got one today for €240 brand new off a mate that sells them to the trade. That was including the quad lnb.

Rigged it up and am well impressed.

BTW... be carefull buying on ebay 'cause a lot of the recievers are being sold without the quad lnb. I was quoted €100 for one of these in a satelite store the other day. Plus €40 if you need the remote.

So €150 on ebay + €30 carraige (estimate) = €180 plus €100 for the quad lnb = not so much a bargain when they retail here in Ireland for €299 including the quad lnb.

If you are capable of running a cable from your existing dish to your reciever, you could save yourself the installation ... case thats all thats involved basically.

digiking · 03-11-2003 9:09pm

Hi
just thought i tell you i went down to a small sky dealer in a back street with 300 euro and walked out the door with a sky plus box and a cambridge quad output lnb, easy to install took about an hour, rang sky and had sky plus working in about 2 hours.

Its easy, dont need sky to do install,do it yourelf saves 75 euros

Tony · 03-11-2003 9:39pm

Absolutely, no need for an installation if you are capable of running a cable, no dish realignment should be needed.

Tony

Originally posted by digiking

Its easy, dont need sky to do install,do it yourelf saves 75 euros

digiking · 04-11-2003 9:46pm

Tony
I had to do a small bit of dish realignment just the tilt and with my cheap satmeter that i got in lidl

digiking

Tony · 04-11-2003 10:21pm

Nice one well done :-)

Originally posted by digiking
Tony
I had to do a small bit of dish realignment just the tilt and with my cheap satmeter that i got in lidl

digiking

Sky+ Is it worth it?

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