Is Sky+HD worth the extra monthly cost??

Antrim_Man

For those that have it as I am considering getting Sky+ or +HD. Is the extra €15pm worth it??????

Also is there plans for more HD channels and will Sky add them if you have the HD receiver without upping the prices?

Cuchulain

I dont think Sky+ will charge you an extra €15 a month. Thats just for multiroom. AFAIK one you purchase the Sky+ box the there is no recurring fee.

sandleman1979

I think its well and truly worth it.
I do have all the sports, movie channels and HD does make a huge difference when watching, so much to a point that when a mate asks you round to watch a footy or rubgy match, you are likely to say no if they don't have HD!!

I cannot see sky putting the HD subscription up, this would create murder, however the normal subs are likely to increase as they always have over the years.

I have been an HD subscriber for almost a year, the number of channels has more than doubled in that time, mostly due to getting all the movie channels in HD. As of yet there has been no increase in the 15 euro a month.

Rein-in

I have it too, and while I wouldn't get rid, I'm not so sure that it's fully worth the money (yet). I didn't have the movie channels, just sports, and with that package it certainly wasn't worth the money. I recently subscribed to the movies and I can see better value now.

As channels switch to HD they are automatically added to your HD sub, there's no increase in the price. Hopefully the new channels will start ot come thick and fast this year!

Wizard007

Yup, worth every cent

Antrim_Man

Wizard007 wrote: »

Yup, worth every cent

You would say that. You work for them. Did I not see you on another thread :rolleyes:

Wizard007

I don't work for anyone, I work for myself. Yes, a section in our company does market their products.

You asked for an opinion, I gave you an opinion

Cuchulain

Personally I dont think that HD is worth the extra €15 a month. Only a limited number of HD channels so unless your an video/audio buff then it isnt worth the money.

Sky+ on the other hand is pretty excellent and is well worth the initial outlay (whatever that may cost).

Mr Moon

I have sky+ with multi room in my house and am looking at getting upgraded to HD, what cost's am I looking at?

recycler1

The SKY HD Box gives a better picture on all the main channels (RTE, BBC1...) without any HD.

I have a 32" LCD and I don't see any major difference between the HD and non-HD versions of the channels.

I'd say you'd need a bigger set to get any substantial benefit from HD.

swoofer

hd = bigger is better, and it is only noticed from 37 up, but to watch hd on a 37 you have to,sit 3 foot away so to view normal distance you ned bigger screen = 50".


gb---

nakano3153

I just got Sky HD, switching from UPC cable. The HD is worth it if you take the movie/sports packages. But I have to say that SD picture quality is significantly worse than UPC - I'm still hooked up so I can compare directly. Also, BBC HD is not on the EPG, which is inconvenient to say the least.

dazzerb

GBCULLEN is right IMO. There is a difference on smaller sets but you really notice HD better as the screen gets larger (40"+).

Also make sure your TV has a HDMI interface!

ShaneU

Cuchulain wrote: »

I dont think Sky+ will charge you an extra €15 a month. Thats just for multiroom. AFAIK one you purchase the Sky+ box the there is no recurring fee.

Not anymore they don't.

Wizard007 wrote: »

I don't work for anyone, I work for myself. Yes, a section in our company does market their products.

You asked for an opinion, I gave you an opinion

Christ, you never learn do you.

Antrim_Man

nakano3153 wrote: »

I just got Sky HD, switching from UPC cable. The HD is worth it if you take the movie/sports packages. But I have to say that SD picture quality is significantly worse than UPC - I'm still hooked up so I can compare directly. Also, BBC HD is not on the EPG, which is inconvenient to say the least.

Is that the norm. My UPC picture is fairly poor I think. For example there is only a few days in the year when you can view the Discovery channel on cable (not digital) as the signal is too weak. I was hoping that by moving to Sky I could utilise my new 42" HD TV better :eek:

nakano3153

While the picture quality from UPC/NTL is great for me now, I had a lot of trouble in the past. I have the digital service from them - also we have fiber to the house so that probably helps the PQ a great deal. Whether Sky will be an improvement for you depends on what kind of signal quality you are getting from UPC, and it sounds as though your analogue signal is poor. Watch out though, quality from any digital source depends on the bandwidth allocated (either via satellite or cable). You'll get a different kind of annoying picture with compression errors and artifacts. When that happens, the bigger the screen size the worse it looks.
Is Sky HD worth it? Still making up my mind... but movies look stunning in HD!

Antrim_Man

nakano3153 wrote: »

While the picture quality from UPC/NTL is great for me now, I had a lot of trouble in the past. I have the digital service from them - also we have fiber to the house so that probably helps the PQ a great deal. Whether Sky will be an improvement for you depends on what kind of signal quality you are getting from UPC, and it sounds as though your analogue signal is poor. Watch out though, quality from any digital source depends on the bandwidth allocated (either via satellite or cable). You'll get a different kind of annoying picture with compression errors and artifacts. When that happens, the bigger the screen size the worse it looks.
Is Sky HD worth it? Still making up my mind... but movies look stunning in HD!

No fibre here in Bray

nakano3153

Another thing - when I called UPC to cancel they told me HD would be coming around March. Having heard many tales from them before I would take this with a pinch of salt, but I thought I'd pass it on anyway. If they had HD now I would have stayed with them.

von Smallhausen

IMHO i dont think its worth it yet...if you had the full package then it would be worth it but not if you only have the basic 6 packs and no premiums. If they dropped the extra charge for HD then i would go for it.

JDxtra

nakano3153 wrote: »

While the picture quality from UPC/NTL is great for me now, I had a lot of trouble in the past. I have the digital service from them - also we have fiber to the house so that probably helps the PQ a great deal. Whether Sky will be an improvement for you depends on what kind of signal quality you are getting from UPC, and it sounds as though your analogue signal is poor. Watch out though, quality from any digital source depends on the bandwidth allocated (either via satellite or cable). You'll get a different kind of annoying picture with compression errors and artifacts. When that happens, the bigger the screen size the worse it looks.
Is Sky HD worth it? Still making up my mind... but movies look stunning in HD!

Fibre to your house? Are you sure? Did not think UPC did this. Only thought Magnet had service like this in some developments...

JDxtra

recycler1 wrote: »

The SKY HD Box gives a better picture on all the main channels (RTE, BBC1...) without any HD.

I have a 32" LCD and I don't see any major difference between the HD and non-HD versions of the channels.

I'd say you'd need a bigger set to get any substantial benefit from HD.

So, you are paying Sky €15 a month for nothing then if you see no difference on your 32". Madness! Also, how can a HD box improve quality on RTE etc??

JDxtra

€15 per month, or an extra €180 per year is hard to justify for the same content in a different resolution. Especially if you do not have movies or sports. Thats like paying another TV licence.

200motels

JDxtra wrote: »

So, you are paying Sky €15 a month for nothing then if you see no difference on your 32". Madness! Also, how can a HD box improve quality on RTE etc??

I have a 32" TV and the HD picture is stunning, RTE is better through the HDMI cable than say a scart cable but not by much.

Sleipnir

€15 is 3 pints and some change really. I'm still on UPC at the moment but am getting SkyHD next week. Not much point having a 40" 1080p T.V. and watching SD, might as well watch it in full HD!

But, I just found out the other day that I can finally get NTL broadband which I've been waiting four years for so I'm going to have to hang on to the NTL T.V. service also if want that.

nakano3153

JDxtra wrote: »

Fibre to your house? Are you sure? Did not think UPC did this. Only thought Magnet had service like this in some developments...

We got fibre in mid-2008, although UPC is not ready to do much with it yet. Good to have the option to go back when they eventually come up with HD, VOD, etc.

watty

you can get the BB without the TV.
My daughter has UPC BB and Free Satellite.

eirebhoy

Do not get HD if you have 37" or smaller. I have a brilliant 37" HD TV. The picture quality is fantastic without the HD. HD makes no difference unless, as someone else said, you're less than a couple of feet away from it.

Sleipnir

watty wrote: »

you can get the BB without the TV.
My daughter has UPC BB and Free Satellite.

Well that's good news. Thanks Watty.

Antrim_Man

Sleipnir wrote: »

€15 is 3 pints and some change really. I'm still on UPC at the moment but am getting SkyHD next week. Not much point having a 40" 1080p T.V. and watching SD, might as well watch it in full HD!

But, I just found out the other day that I can finally get NTL broadband which I've been waiting four years for so I'm going to have to hang on to the NTL T.V. service also if want that.

Phoned NTL/Chorus/UPC about broadband a month ago and there is none for my area. Everything is ****e in South Bray. Eircom cant provide faster than 2meg due to a crap phone line. NTL cant do anything due to a crap cable line and Digiweb cant tell me if wireless broadband will work properly. Its fecking unbelievable that being so close to Dublin yet the infastructure is 3rd world. :mad:

200motels

eirebhoy wrote: »

Do not get HD if you have 37" or smaller. I have a brilliant 37" HD TV. The picture quality is fantastic without the HD. HD makes no difference unless, as someone else said, you're less than a couple of feet away from it.

Totally disagree with you as I've already said above I have a 32" HD Ready TV and the HD picture is superb, of course the reason is HD is 4 times better than SD even on a 32".:mad: