extra sky box...other options?

toonarmy

whats the story with getting an extra sky box ..is sky the only company that can do this? are there cheaper alternatives ? and can these be installed by yourself..[sky box or any other type] or do u need a technician to call out..?

sergeant121

A Sky digibox is just another piece of electronic equipment. Buy one from wherever sells them if you want.

Here's an example - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3065841450&category=29784

ShaneOC

It also depend on how good (or bad you are at DIY). In order to run a second box you will need to change the LNB on the dish as the one you get with a regular install only has one output. The only other type you can get for a minidish is a quad one which has four outputs. Swapping them over is relatively straight forward. For each extra box you want you will need a cable run from the box to the LNB.

Not rocket science by any means as the dish is already aligned.

eigrod

If one bought and self-installed a 2nd box and LNB, would one be subject to an additional rental fee from SKY or would one be subject to any sort of unwelcome hassle from SKY for doing this without their ascent ?

Thanks.

ShaneOC

Sky will be happy to get the subscription. They supply boxes but you are not forced to buy from them.

If you are going to get a mirror sub you will have to have both boxes connected to the same operational phone line as Sky will use CLI to verify that both boxes are at the same address.

mburke

Query:

- If you get a second digi-box say from ebay
- A quad lnb
- wire it all up
- acquire a ftv card

Then I assume they is no fee off any sort from sky ??

sceptre

Originally posted by mburke
Then I assume they is no fee off any sort from sky ??

You assume correctly. Obviously there's the £23.50 for the FTV card if you're getting one now, but there's no initial or ongoing fee from Sky.

watty

Alternatively you can get a Satellite TV card for a PC....

NOT to be confused with WinTV card that only connects to a TV aerial, camera or cable TV/ Satellite / VHS etc box..

You still need LNB and dish extra of course.
Two kinds:
1) About £60. Just a satellite digital tuner. The PC works VERY hard to do the pictures. No TV out or built in remote control.

2) About £180, Similar MPEG-2 HARDWARE (to Digibox) built in and Multimedia transfer "bridge". Will receive Satellite and output it on inbuilt TV out connector even if CPU crashes, NO work for PC. Works better on PC screen and records to disk with less chance of drop out. Built in IR remote and option for a CAM.


Advantages:
* Direct to Disk recording just like Sky+
* BBC programs can be authored to DVD +R or DVD -R without re-encoding.
* Easily connect up to FOUR lnbs (3 on one dish easily) via Disqc
* Scheduled recordings, even pause Live TV
* Can add CAM and pay TV card for European TV providers or BBC Prime
* Recieves all those "wierd" SR channels Digibox can't (SR 2000 to SR40,000)
* Receive entire Teletext magasine and Search or Save As Web Site!

Disadvantages:
* Not for faint hearted to install
* Needs a PC (1GHz+ for £60 card or P90 MHz or higher for £180 card)
* NO SKY pay TV, nor ITV, C4 and "Five"
* NO Teletext reinsertion on TV out, only on PC screen.
* Only Now / Next EPG on Sky Channels (though some German Channels have 2 day EPGs)
* Record any channel, even encrypted ones. (Encrypted ones need a decoder and card later to play back!)

Sky Digibox:
* Can be used for Free TV only, but only SR22,000 and SR27,000
* ONLY box for FREE BBC and SKY "Interactive Digital Text" Services
* ONLY works for SKY PAY TV or UK FTV Card, no other Providers.
* Up to 2 week EPG info
* Sky+ has built in disk, but EVEN with Free TV you need a basic recording monthly subscription. NO "other channels" recording.

Non Sky Digital Reciever:
* Only FTA not ITV, C4, FIve
* Only NON-Sky Pay TV card
* No INTERACTIVE services from BBC or SKY News
* Teletext re-inserted to TV signal
* Only Now / Next EPG on Sky Channels (though some German Channels have 2 day EPGs on SOME TVS)
* No ongoing rental on Hard Disk recording on boxes with disk built in. Record any Channel. Some models can record all the channels on one transponder.

The only hard part of installing is pointing a dish at a small object 22,500 miles away. The bigger the dish the more accurate the "pointing" must be to get ANYTHING.

You really don't get anything unless the dish is pointed better than about 0.5 degree vertical and horizontal!