sky v upc

fisherking

Thinking of changing from sky plus as upc plus is cheaper
Any much difference?
Would be intetested to hear how people find changing from one to the other....

Cantona's Collars

fisherking wrote: »

Thinking of changing from sky plus as upc plus is cheaper
Any much difference?
Would be intetested to hear how people find changing from one to the other....

Sky=more channels for less/same price as UPC.

The basic UPC digital tv pack has about 40 channels(they cheat a bit by classing the kids programmes on RTE and TG4 as seperate channels)
Basic(variety) pack with Sky is same price but you get 240+ channels and Sky+ box is superior to UPC's box.
If you go for premium channels such as Sky Sports there's no difference in price although you get no interactive services such as match choice on UPC.
Even UPC's new MD admitted that Sky lead the way for pay tv.
When you sit down and go through what you watch you can tailor your Sky package to suit then adjust the price accordingly,UPC won't let you do that and charge a fee for changing you packages which is a bit sneaky.

Sky has 50+ HD channels,UPC offer only a couple,no ITV2 etc. available on UPC anymore.
FTA could be a better choice,depending on what you like to watch.

http://www.sky.com/ireland/tv/

http://www.upc.ie/television/digitalvalueplus/

Qwikpix

fisherking wrote: »

Thinking of changing from sky plus as upc plus is cheaper

Any much difference?

....

Some months ago I cancelled Sky and now watch Freesat using a Humax FOXSAT-HDR. This does a pretty good job of upscaling the quality beyond that of Sky.

The downside is that I have to use an aerial for the Irish channels. However apart from the initial investment in the Humax and the aerial, viewing is free thereafter. See http://www.freesat.ie/index.php?cat=What_is_Freesat_ for channel list.

I don't miss Sky and I'm saving over €50 a month. BTW the same remote works for the Irish channels via the aerial.

Ranicand

fisherking wrote: »

Thinking of changing from sky plus as upc plus is cheaper
Any much difference?
Would be intetested to hear how people find changing from one to the other....

Sky have the best TV service.

UPC sell triple play 3 services in the one bill.

Their phone is very good their broadband is the best you can get and their tv service is good enough if your happy to get value.

fisherking

Yeah its not really like for like
I think sky is good i might trim off some of the god awful channels though
Thanks for the input!

bk

IMO

Sky has the best TV service (quality not price)

UPC has the best broadband service (both quality, speed and price)

UPC has a very good phone service.

UPC has a reasonably good TV service, but not as good as Sky quality wise.
UPC TV service does have advantages like free multiroom.

UPC has by far the best value for money triple play bundles of TV, phone and broadband.

UPC also now has very good broadband + phone only bundles, so where as before the choice was either all UPC or Sky + Eircom/Vodafone, UPC for phone/bb + Sky is now the best option for those who want both the best TV service and the best phone/bb service.

Jon_459

I agree with BK.

I have UPC for phone and broadband - broadband speed is great.

I have SKY for TV - bigger and better selection. SKY Sports HD is not available on UPC ... HD is the ONLY way to watch sports - unless you have 3D ... that's the ultimate and is not available on UPC either.

newbie2

Glad i found this thread. Was just looking at keeping Sky and getting UPC for my BB and phone - has to be cheaper than Eircon. Are there any downsides to the UPC BB+phone packages? Are the usage limits a pain or will you get away with it (do many of you go over the limit?). I'm with Eircom for years and I've never got a lash for going over my limit - although of late I've been on a package that has unlimited usage.

Cantona's Collars

newbie2 wrote: »

Glad i found this thread. Was just looking at keeping Sky and getting UPC for my BB and phone - has to be cheaper than Eircon. Are there any downsides to the UPC BB+phone packages? Are the usage limits a pain or will you get away with it (do many of you go over the limit?). I'm with Eircom for years and I've never got a lash for going over my limit - although of late I've been on a package that has unlimited usage.

No such thing as unlimited usage,Eircoms NGB has a paltry 10gig limit,you have to pay more for a higher limit,the download limits on UPC are pretty high so unless you are downloading 24/7 you should be fine.
UPC broadband is the best available in Ireland especially that they have increased the speeds even on the basic package.

Sky for tv and UPC for broadband is the best mix you can get.Another advantage is to sign up for the Sky player-it's essentially free multiroom on your computer or X Box 360.

blacktalons

fisherking wrote: »

Thinking of changing from sky plus as upc plus is cheaper
Any much difference?
Would be intetested to hear how people find changing from one to the other....

check out length of contract with upc. have heard it could cost up to 200euros if you want to leave before end of contract :eek:.

bk

blacktalons wrote: »

check out length of contract with upc. have heard it could cost up to 200euros if you want to leave before end of contract :eek:.

12 months, the same as Sky.

If you are moving and can get UPC in the new place, they are generally fine and leave you move the contract.

ninjasurfer1

zerks wrote: »

No such thing as unlimited usage,Eircoms NGB has a paltry 10gig limit,you have to pay more for a higher limit,the download limits on UPC are pretty high so unless you are downloading 24/7 you should be fine.
UPC broadband is the best available in Ireland especially that they have increased the speeds even on the basic package.

Sky for tv and UPC for broadband is the best mix you can get.Another advantage is to sign up for the Sky player-it's essentially free multiroom on your computer or X Box 360.

Not quite correct.
eircom Next Generation Broadband (NGB) Basic is 10GB.
NGB regular and NGB ultimate are "unlimited" download.

http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/?selection=ngb

omg a kitty

ninjasurfer1 wrote: »

Not quite correct.
eircom Next Generation Broadband (NGB) Basic is 10GB.
NGB regular and NGB ultimate are "unlimited" download.

http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/?selection=ngb

But all their salesmen and ads never really mention those packages tho. I have a friend who moved to Eircom after being convinced by their salesmen that its cheaper than UPC and only finding out about the 10GB limit just a few days ago. He wasnt even told that its only €39.99 for the first 6 months and that his monthly bill would increase by €7 after 6 months

Cantona's Collars

ninjasurfer1 wrote: »

Not quite correct.
eircom Next Generation Broadband (NGB) Basic is 10GB.
NGB regular and NGB ultimate are "unlimited" download.

http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/?selection=ngb

Hence the bit where I stated you have to pay more with Eircom for higher download limits and trust me-there's no such thing as unlimited downloads with them.

tlaavtech

If you value picture quality, stay away from UPC, especially if you are used to the Sky picture quality. Make sure you see the UPC picture quality before you move.

Had a friend who dumped Sky for UPC despite my warnings and regretted it immediately. Sky phoned him up a few weeks later with a discount for six months and he is now subscribed to both!!

MrVestek

tlaavtech wrote: »

If you value picture quality, stay away from UPC, especially if you are used to the Sky picture quality. Make sure you see the UPC picture quality before you move.

Had a friend who dumped Sky for UPC despite my warnings and regretted it immediately. Sky phoned him up a few weeks later with a discount for six months and he is now subscribed to both!!

In my personal experience this can depend heavily on the receiver box they actually supply you with - some seem to be much better at decoding the signal without fragments than others.

That old NTL small form factor Pace box that they still have doing the rounds for instance was good for it's day but with the expanded service now it's terrible... especially since their software update to rebrand the unit in UPC colours.

I have one of their new mediaboxes and whilst it can be a little flaky coming out of standby at times the picture quality on the same line is 100 times better than my old receiver.... even the missus commented on it and you know what they're like!

The recording functionality of these boxes is on a par with Sky+ too (I'd go so far as to say that it's better imho).

I'd still love an on demand service on the go though as Sky have done... with the bandwidth available on their fibre optic network then this shouldn't be too much hassle for them especially as the box has a built in cable modem which doesn't get used.

I'd say for the value of three bundles packages it might be worth it... just don't ever expect to talk to anyone not even a manager with two brain cells to rub together if you ever have a problem with anything. Incompetence isn't the word.

bk

ninjasurfer1 wrote: »

.
NGB regular and NGB ultimate are "unlimited" download.

http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/?selection=ngb

Eircoms, so called "unlimited" products have a 250GB fair usage policy, similar to UPC:

Unlimited monthly usage allowance

With Next Generation Broadband Regular you have an unlimited monthly allowance. This is subject to a fair usage policy of 250GB per month. For more information see the standard Broadband Terms and Conditions.

MrVestek

No ISP in this country has a truly 'unlimited product, unfortunately.

MarVeL

One thing to watch for with the UPC boxes is that you can't record more than one thing at a time and watch something else. With the Sky box we'd regularly have two things recording and be watching something else

MrVestek

MarVeL wrote: »

One thing to watch for with the UPC boxes is that you can't record more than one thing at a time and watch something else. With the Sky box we'd regularly have two things recording and be watching something else

Yes you can, technically. It still time shifts as you're recording so... that's two recordings at a time.

Now if they could allow you to turn timeshifting off them you COULD record two things at a time with the same box.

Just sayin' ;-)

Crackity Jones

Achilles wrote: »

Yes you can, technically. It still time shifts as you're recording so... that's two recordings at a time.

Now if they could allow you to turn timeshifting off them you COULD record two things at a time with the same box.

Just sayin' ;-)

Yea but as things stand with UPC you can't record two separate programs from the EPG and watch an already recorded program so that's a negative with the UPC box. How can you say

" The recording functionality of these boxes is on a par with Sky+ too (I'd go so far as to say that it's better imho)"

when it clearly isn't!

MrVestek

Crackity Jones wrote: »

" The recording functionality of these boxes is on a par with Sky+ too (I'd go so far as to say that it's better imho)"

when it clearly isn't!

I'm sorry but when did I say that?

Crackity Jones

Achilles wrote: »

I'm sorry but when did I say that?

Are you not talking about UPC service in your post at the top of the page?

MrVestek

Crackity Jones wrote: »

Are you not talking about UPC service in your post at the top of the page?

In terms of raw picture quality imho yes these mediaboxes record a much better picture than the Sky+ box. I have a very sensitive eye to fragments due to my earlier work in the film industry and I spot this on alot more of Sky's transmissions than on UPC's.

So it can only record one channel at a time instead of two... so what? It fits my needs for the price that I pay for it.

Are you done being pedantic now?

Crackity Jones

Achilles wrote: »

In terms of raw picture quality imho yes these mediaboxes record a much better picture than the Sky+ box. I have a very sensitive eye to fragments due to my earlier work in the film industry and I spot this on alot more of Sky's transmissions than on UPC's.

So it can only record one channel at a time instead of two... so what? It fits my needs for the price that I pay for it.

Are you done being pedantic now?

Ha, pedantic?! Right. It's great that you only have need for recording one channel at a time but that is not the point of the thread. I am trying to give the OP an objective comparision between the two services and quite clearly the 'recording functionality' of the UPC box is inferior to the sky+ system. As to the picture quality I can't say as I havent seen UPC HD in action side by side with Sky Hd as you obviously have, but to to my untrained, non sensitive eye it looks pretty good.

MrVestek

Crackity Jones wrote: »

Ha, pedantic?! Right. It's great that you only have need for recording one channel at a time but that is not the point of the thread. I am trying to give the OP an objective comparision between the two services and quite clearly the 'recording functionality' of the UPC box is inferior to the sky+ system. As to the picture quality I can't say as I havent seen UPC HD in action side by side with Sky Hd as you obviously have, but to to my untrained, non sensitive eye it looks pretty good.

I was giving my opinion just as you are. Clearly both of our opinions differ on this occasion, there's no need to be such a tard about it, internet tough guy.

Crackity Jones

Achilles wrote: »

I was giving my opinion just as you are. Clearly both of our opinions differ on this occasion, there's no need to be such a tard about it, internet tough guy.

Hey, you are the one with attitude and throwing insults. What you seem to be quite unable to understand is that its not my opinion that the Sky+ recording functionality is better/more advanced than the UPC box it is a fact.

PQ is in the eye of the beholder so you could be right with your sensitive eyes that there is fragmentation or whatever with Sky, but that's a different argument which I have no desire/interest to take up with you.

MrVestek

So anyway OP imho the service isn't that bad, I hope it suits your needs wether you decide to go for it or not :-)

spurious

If either of them could give me a viewer guide/planner that JUST lists the channels I have access to, I'd switch in a heartbeat.

I keep forgetting about ITV on Sky, it's so awkward to get to.

John mac

spurious wrote: »

I keep forgetting about ITV on Sky, it's so awkward to get to.

services,9,5,select,select, only 2 extra button presses than going to another channel . (assuming you have itv set up as the first of the other channels)

pinkfiona30

Hi, very old thread I know...... but can't find anything newer! Has anything changed at all! I am with sky for tv and upc for phone and broadband! looking to change to sky for all. A bundle with sky is 82.50 for the three included (no movies or sports but everthing else) Is sky's phone and BB any use at all?? None of my friends are on it and i am skeptical as UPC was always better (or so I have heard). I am with it a LONG time. Thanks, Fiona

MrVestek

Sky will find it hard to match UPC for their broadband speeds and level of service... if that matters to you at all.

Cantona's Collars

pinkfiona30 wrote: »

Hi, very old thread I know...... but can't find anything newer! Has anything changed at all! I am with sky for tv and upc for phone and broadband! looking to change to sky for all. A bundle with sky is 82.50 for the three included (no movies or sports but everthing else) Is sky's phone and BB any use at all?? None of my friends are on it and i am skeptical as UPC was always better (or so I have heard). I am with it a LONG time. Thanks, Fiona

Stay as you are,UPC have the best broadband in the country.Until Eircom upgrade to fibre in your area you'll never get the speeds you are currently getting with UPC.

galtee boy

pinkfiona30 wrote: »

Hi, very old thread I know...... but can't find anything newer! Has anything changed at all! I am with sky for tv and upc for phone and broadband! looking to change to sky for all. A bundle with sky is 82.50 for the three included (no movies or sports but everthing else) Is sky's phone and BB any use at all?? None of my friends are on it and i am skeptical as UPC was always better (or so I have heard). I am with it a LONG time. Thanks, Fiona

Would also advise that right now, nobody can touch UPC for broadband, because of their fibre network and likewise nobody can touch SKY for TV, their choice of channels, particularly HD, the easy to use SKY +, remote record, on Demand library, SKY GO, better customer service. You currently have the best of both worlds.

MrVestek

That may all change with UPC's new Horizon service though.

murpho999

Achilles wrote: »

That may all change with UPC's new Horizon service though.

Not so sure how good that new UPC box is.

See boards thread here.

I currently have Sky for TV and UPC for broadband and phone.

UPC menus TV picture quality and menu systems would need to improve dramatically to make me consider switching for TV.