Sky HD...honest opinion

murpho999

Hi there,

Did search and was surprised to find this not asked already.

Our apartment block is in the process of having Sky TV installed and soon I will have to choose what packages we want.

I have a 40" Samsung LE40R7 LCD and I'm wondering if there would be any real benefit in getting Sky HD?

I have seen Sky HD in other houses and TBH I have not been 'blown away' by it and do not notice any major difference with SD?

Do you think it's worth the extra cost of the box and €15 per month?

Should I just get normal Sky+ in?

Are there any other benefits to the Sky HD box/service that I am missing?

Thanks.

Mossy Monk

murpho999 wrote: »

I have seen Sky HD in other houses and TBH I have not been 'blown away' by it and do not notice any major difference with SD?

I certainly can see the difference but if you can't see a big difference then there is no point in upgrading to it.

John mac

I can see the difference and I only have a 32" screen( and I sit 3M away)
.
you also get the advantage of sky+.

You could try it for a year (if that is the min time to subscribe)

and then you will still have the function of recording and BBCHD.

IrishHomer

I have it almost 4 weeks and i view it on a Samsung 50inch plasma.

I like it and i do notice a much crisper image however i do notice the lip sync issue especially on Skysports.

I actually called sky last night to cancel mine as you have a 4 week period to change your mind and have the HD returned to sky. They logged my request and i am awaiting them to call me back today.

I don't think its worth the extra €15 per month. I think would rather spend that €15 on another multiroom sub.

dhaumi

John mac wrote: »

you also get the advantage of sky+.

You could try it for a year (if that is the min time to subscribe)

and then you will still have the function of recording and BBCHD.

Is that right? Can someone confirm that? I thought once you cancel your Sky subscription, the PVR function is disabled altogether (for all channels, SD and HD...).

John mac

I meant cancel the HD sub €15 extra.

the sky+ feature is free now.

( I have a hd box with no hd sub, I do have a sub for regular chanels though)

Hope this helps

dhaumi

John mac wrote: »

I meant cancel the HD sub €15 extra.

the sky+ feature is free now.

( I have a hd box with no hd sub, I do have a sub for regular chanels though)

Hope this helps

Oh I see. Thanks for clarification. I didn't this was possible. Not too bad, till they drop the HD sub...

Mossy Monk

dhaumi wrote: »

Is that right? Can someone confirm that? I thought once you cancel your Sky subscription, the PVR function is disabled altogether (for all channels, SD and HD...).

If you cancel all of your sub you will not have the recording features. You must have some form of a subscription to be able to record.

Vic Vinegar

I've had HD for 6 months nearly, the picture quality is fantastic on my 42in Samsung plasma. I hate watching standard definition stuff now, it offends my eyes greatly! :pac:

Wizard007

I think HD is well worth it

Mossy is right, if you cancel a full sub, you lose Sky+ features.

However, if you cancel HD sub only, you will still have all your Sky+ features.

Laphroaig52

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

I've had HD for 6 months nearly, the picture quality is fantastic on my 42in Samsung plasma. I hate watching standard definition stuff now, it offends my eyes greatly! :pac:

Yes, but if you don't have Sports and Movie channels your are left with only handful of fairly dubious material on HD for your €15.

For me, it will only be worth it when some of the mainstream (RTE, BBCs, C4 etc.) come on HD.

Right now, I have a HD box with no HD subsciption and I can watch BBC HD and Luxe for free. Occasionally there's good stuff on BBC HD but Luxe is rubbish.

200motels

I have HD since it came out and it is brilliant but with more and more channels coming on stream the quality is starting to go abit.

Pappacharlie

Upgraded to Sky HD three weeks ago. I have a 40" Sony Full HD TV. I was given an offer by Sky that if I introduced a friend to sky, they got a Sky+ Box for free and I got a HD Box for 74.50 + 50 installation. This was great value. I find the Discovery HD channels the best. I also have the sports package. I also think that the picture is better on the ordinary channels and the response time and boot-up time is far superior to the standard sky box.
I must admit though that one does become used to the fantastic picture and the wow factor does dwindle over time. Just watch an hour of ordinary TV every so often and the appreciation of HD will be restored.

murpho999

Hi All,

Thanks for all your advice above.

I have decided not to go for HD as I find there are very few HD channels and it's just not worth €15 a month and €149 for the box.

Might go for it in a couple of years when there will be lots more HD channels and hopefully UPC will also have HD and competition will make Sky reduce prices.

So I got a free Sky plus box for main TV, and second Sky+ box for €49 and €7.50 sub for first year. Seems like a good deal.

Thanks again, for your posts, they really did help.

digitaldr

You could always get a Freesat HD PVR up north.

murpho999

digitaldr wrote: »

You could always get a Freesat HD PVR up north.

Why.........why pay money for a box for so few channels?

Also, I am in an apartment block with a new communal sky dish so freesat is not an option.

speedfreak

Pappacharlie wrote: »

I find the Discovery HD channels the best. I also have the sports package. I also think that the picture is better on the ordinary channels and the response time and boot-up time is far superior to the standard sky box.

I have HD a couple of months now and pic quality is deffo much better - very crisp. Sound is fantastic when hooked up to surround sound although there is the sometimes well documented lip sync problem. Its hard to say if its 'worth it' as it really is a personal decision. Its worth it to me for now but I wouldnt hesitate to drop the HD and €15 charge if circumstances demanded. Oh and I really wouldnt bother if you dont have movies or sports packages

Tony

murpho999 wrote: »

Also, I am in an apartment block with a new communal sky dish so freesat is not an option.

Unless they have blocked the satellite signal it is an option