Another Sky+ Question.....

Dr. Nick

Just a quick one.

I don't want a phone line across the sitting room so I'm thinking of buying a box seperatly and hooking it up (already have quad lnb).

Let me be sure this is correct:
I then ring up Sky (I'm on full package) and they simply switch the signal to marry my old card and new sky+ box?
They can't demand I have a phone-line if I didn't buy th box from the, right?

Just checking before I take the plunge

TIA.

watty

They can if they need to send a new card. Sky+ and SkyHD NEW cards will only activate if box can phone home. (The card is actually activated by satellite).

You only need to "marry" a box for premium channels I think, though sky+ may be different.

I have no idea if a non-Sky+ Sky card can be "upgraded" to Sky+

byte

Any active Sky card will work in a Sky+ box. YOu will need to ring them with your new box details, so they may re-pair the card, and also to activate Sky+ features.

Dr. Nick

Thanks Byte.Will the new box need to be connected to a phone-line for this?

muffler

Dont know if this is relevant but I upgraded to sky+ multiroom back in July and had both boxes connected to phone lines for about ........ 5 minutes. About 6 weeks later a letter arrived from Sky stating that they were aware that the lines were not connected and to do so or else. Did that and the boxes apparently then do something or other after they are connected.

Took the lines out again and a month later another letter (more strongly worded) came and I had to connect the phone lines again. That was about 4 weeks ago and I have kept the lines in the boxes since but I will probably take them out again shortly.

Before upgrading I had the standard digibox here for a couple of years and apart from the day the guy installed it I never had it connected to the telephone line but Sky are more uptight with the Sky+ setup

watty

You MUST have both boxes connected to same working phone line if you have a Mirror/multiroom sub. Otherwise you are liable for two full prices subscriptions. It's a REASONABLE security system to stop fraud. The boxes can detect each other using the line to a limited extent, and are told by satellite when to phone home. Also they are probabily told to phone at SAME time, if that succeeds then they are on different lines. If phoning home never succeeds then they are not connected.

The call is free. The boxes check to see if line is in use and never try to dialout if the line is in use.

Dr. Nick

muffler wrote:

Dont know if this is relevant but I upgraded to sky+ multiroom back in July and had both boxes connected to phone lines for about ........ 5 minutes. About 6 weeks later a letter arrived from Sky stating that they were aware that the lines were not connected and to do so or else. Did that and the boxes apparently then do something or other after they are connected.

Took the lines out again and a month later another letter (more strongly worded) came and I had to connect the phone lines again. That was about 4 weeks ago and I have kept the lines in the boxes since but I will probably take them out again shortly.

Before upgrading I had the standard digibox here for a couple of years and apart from the day the guy installed it I never had it connected to the telephone line but Sky are more uptight with the Sky+ setup

Thanks Muffler. They're fairly persistent are the not?
I don't intend having a mirror sub.

NoEscape

Dr Nick, just plug the digibox into the mains across the floor, make your phone call to Sky to pair the card to the new box and activate the sky+, then remove the line again.

Alternatively, don't plug into a phone line, tell them if asked that it is (they won't check you as a customer) then get them to set up. Never listen to anyone who tells you you need a telephone line for Sky+, this simply isn't true...apart from if on multiroom

SatOne.tv

Sky are currently trying to enforce policies on their staff not to allow pairing to boxes without a callback and the telephone line installed. Whilst this may be the case when engineers phone up, they cannot request a callback from an customer as it means going in to the 'not-so-hidden' menus! All they can do is ask if the line is installed, just say yes, and they'll get on with it for you.

A telephone line is only really enforced on multiroom, and they do check it, quite often infact, but on a single subscription, doesn't matter whether you have a standard digibox, a sky+ or hd, they won't need it. As previously mentioned, whatever is suggested by ppl, a telephone line doesn't affect sky+ or hd services, it will only effect the price you pay for multiroom, and the ability to order box office and use interactive services.

Hope that helps clear things up....i'll be here all week

watty

It is now 100% needed if a new card is to authorise on Sky+ or SkyHD AS I SAID BEFORE. They are very strict on this now. Afterward not needed.


Good news that this should work now on selected Wireless Internet VOIP services

muffler

NoEscape wrote:

Never listen to anyone who tells you you need a telephone line for Sky+, this simply isn't true...apart from if on multiroom

If that comment is aimed at me then yes you are right as I have multiroom and I have the letters from Sky warning of the consequences of not having the telephone connected.

If its a general comment then I think watty and byte would be the people who I would take advice from on this forum

SatOne.tv

Muffler - noescape is right, a telephone line is only needed for a few facilities and multiroom, nothing more.

Watty - very true, for a new card, a telephone line is required to activate (although not always ), but if someone is just upgrading to a Sky+ box from a standard box, then there would be no need for a new card.

muffler

SatOne.tv wrote:

Muffler - noescape is right, a telephone line is only needed for a few facilities and multiroom, nothing more.

As I said in an earlier post I had the standard installation for a couple of years and never had it connected to the telephone line and had no problem with Sky.

The Sky+ multiroom is a different beast alright

SatOne.tv

oh yes, without a doubt, they police and enforce multiroom, and the second (not literally!) someone pulls the telephone line out, they will start charging as if a seperate subscription, ouch!

watty

muffler wrote:

If its a general comment then I think watty and byte would be the people who I would take advice from on this forum

We can be Wr-ng, but of course will never admit it.

byte

watty wrote:

We can be Wr-ng, but of course will never admit it.

What he said!

Dr. Nick

All seems clear now, cheers.

I'll get the ball rolling next week so.....

John R

I bought a Sky+ box from an independent dealer without the sky discount and had no trouble from sky getting my existing card married to the box and the recording features turned on. No phoneline connected and they dodn't ask for it either.

It took one phonecall, gave them the box and card ID an and was working almost instantly. This was 3 months ago.

loyatemu

so does this mean you can marry a UK card to an Irish Sky+ box and record BBC3, Cbeebies, Ch4 etc?

has anyone managed to do this. I'm quite interested in Sky+ but the inability to record the extra BBC channels is putting me off.

watty

You need a UK subscription, which can be for Sky+ only, no pay channels. A FTV card is no use. Or have what ever level sub you want. but you need a UK address for card and you pay basic sky+ on top of any package less than premium


There is no difference between the boxes.