Sky HD receiver questions: availabilty, price, output options & use with FTV card?

MiketheMechanic

Hi folks,

I just have a few questions about Sky HD boxes - mainly to satisfy my own curiosity, as I don't know very much about them. I've used a Standard Definition Panasonic DSB-30 Sky Digibox with a UK FTV card for about 5 years now. Since there are a few HD channels now broadcasting on 28E, maybe you knowlegable folks can answer the following questions.

1) Are Sky HD boxes available to buy without contract? If so, typically how much do they cost new?

2) Does a Sky HD box also receive/decode SD broadcast? I assume it does.

3) What can it receive with no viewing card inserted? Is it the same channels as a SD Digibox or can it also receive BBC HD, ITV HD and C4 HD?

4) What channels can it receive with a UK FTV card inserted? Can you get Sky 3, Fiver, Five US etc as is the case with a SD Digibox or are there any extra channels? (Yes, I've heard that the FTV cards may be replaced in the coming months)

5) Do Sky HD boxes have any PVR capability without a Sky subscription?

6) Finally, I use the Scart RGB output from my current Digibox to my TV. I don't have HDMI. However I would prefer to use Component out, as it looks quite a bit better on my TV. Do any/all Sky HD boxes have this option?

Thanks in advance.

MtM

steveon

Half asleep so I will answer as best i can

1. New sky Hd boxes cost €449....

2. They receive both HD/SD but pic is upscaled a bit on HD box so standard channels look a little better

3. Without a card it will receive everything you already receive as well as BBC HD and Ch4hd.....ITV HD is only availble on older HD boxes with Newly released software release in last week.....will be available on all boxes later in yr.

4. Exactly what u asked all the channels you listed.

5. cannot use recording features without subscribing to a package or by paying €15 a month may be possible to get one cheaper on ebay or similar

6. Only the older SKY HD boxes have component out, newer boxes, samsung and pace do not..only thomson boxes

hope that helps

snaps

Ch4 HD only available with a FTV card. To be honest if all you want to use the sky HD box for is FTA/FTV stuff with a PVR function, then may i suggest a 3rd party receiver like a Mvision combo (Has HD sat tuner and also a MPeg 4 terrestrial tuner for Irish DTT, around 200e) or a slightly better receiver Technomate 6900 (same specs but more expensive 300e) both have PVR capabiliites with use of USB hard disks. Pair one up with a freesat HD box and you have the full "Twin tuner PVR" set up which allows you to watch one channel and record another. Install a 500gb HD for the cost of a sky+HD box!

Oh the Technomate 6900 will read the UK FTV card as well, not sure about the Mvision.

tomslick

All purchase of third party boxes that you require for reading sky cards should be put on hold for about a month until confirmation of the New Sky card reading in these boxes. When Sky Italy changed cards last year it took a few weeks to sort it out.
Buy with caution now, if the cards can't be read you'd be better off with a Freesat HD PVR box.