Advice needed re. Sky+ free to air?

Mango Joe

Long and slightly confusing post warning - Sorry

We've just moved into rented accommodation which has an existing Sky Mini-dish on the Chimney and 1 cable run to the Sitting room TV area.

Not sure re. the Quad LNB but assume there's just the standard old style setup in place (?)

I have 2 Sky Subscriber Cards - 1 is an old-style card like the below which I used to use for Free to air in my last House. The account it was formerly associated with was officially closed by Sky approx 5.5 years ago - AFAIR if there was no Card present I got a UK EPG, with my Sky Card inserted I used to get an Irish orientated EPG up until ~2 years ago when I last checked but now I just get a message saying that I need to contact Sky.



At the moment I am using an old style non-Sky+ Panasonic set top box and the Subscriber Card for my Sky+ account (Newer white type Card) that was recently cancelled (due to House move)

Ideally I'd like to use my Sky+ set top box as it has hours of recorded Kids Programs and Movies that we'd like to keep and for the moment just access the free to air programming only.

Can anyone confirm that it will work with just 1 cable run? Ours used to always go blue and say "No Satellite Signal is being received" when one of our cables became detached (poor installation using co-axial cable in wall socket) - Although I think that this may have been only when live pause had kicked in and one tuner was being used up?

I still have the option of going and swapping Dishes if need be and running another cable - Or is it possible to simply just swap LNB's to save time and hassle?

Also my current Sky Box will tell me on occasion that the Subcriber Card is being used in the wrong set top box - Will this become a problem?

Finally, just to mention that there is no phone line present or available in case that's a consideration!

Cantona's Collars

Sky+ will work with one cable BUT you can't watch one channel and record another.So best to put a quad lnb on the dish instead of the single one thats on it.A subscription to Sky is needed to use the recording facility of Sky+ so contact them and get a card sent out.Not sure about the previous recordings being viewable,but assume that if you had a previous account they may be available once you set up a new one.If you have movies from Sky Movies recorded you won't be able to view them again unless you have a Movies sub.If the recordings aren't too important just sign up as a new customer again and get the new Sky+ Box and the installer will do all the work and will probably work out cheaper than buying and installing the bits and bobs yourself.

Cantona's Collars

Just did a quick check-you can't access the old recordings,had it happen to a friend of mine.Best do the sign up as new customer again routine.At least then all your equipment is brand new and the new box has 185 hours standard defininition recording.If you contact Sky directly to order- Don't let them give you the HD pack if you don't want it.The boxes are the same.