Freesat/Saorview if I cancel Sky package

phantom60

Hi,

I've had look around to try and understand things a bit better but I can't get an answer to my questions (perhaps I'm not loking in the right place ) so if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking of getting Sky, with a Sky+ HD box.
My understanding is that if I cancelled the Sky in the future then I would be able to receive Freesat and Saorview.

1. Will the Freesat and Saorview channels both be in one EPG ?

2. I've seen from another thread that I would lose any recordings I have on the box, but will I be able to make new recordings with Soarview/Freesat ?

3. The Sky rep mentioned that the box will have a USB port - what benefit will this be, both during Sky contract or if I cancelled ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

The Cush

phantom60 wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting Sky, with a Sky+ HD box.
My understanding is that if I cancelled the Sky in the future then I would be able to receive Freesat and Saorview.

1. Will the Freesat and Saorview channels both be in one EPG ?

2. I've seen from another thread that I would lose any recordings I have on the box, but will I be able to make new recordings with Soarview/Freesat ?

3. The Sky rep mentioned that the box will have a USB port - what benefit will this be, both during Sky contract or if I cancelled ?

1. Not with the Sky box. Saorview requires an aerial and Saorview TV or STB. Freesat is a branded service requiring a Freesat receiver.

The Irish channels are only available on a Sky box if you have an active Sky sub, when you cancel the Irish channels are not available. The Sky box without a sub will allow you to view certain FTA uk channels.

2. If you cancel your Sky sub you will no longer have access to your Sky+ recordings and you will not be able to record anything else.

3. Don't know what the USB port on the Sky box is for.

muffler

When your contract is up and you cancel your subscription the Sky+ box will only receive UK free to air channels. It will not be able to receive Irish channels.

You will not be able to use the box for recording or live pause etc as you need an active Sky sub to avail of those features.

To get Saorview you will need an aerial and a Saorview approved TV or older TV with a saorview box.

mgbgt1978

The USB port on the Sky box is for.........charging your smart-phone, all it does is provide a 5vDC output.
However it may be of use sometime in the future as technology advances, Sky say that it there to future-proof their boxes.

phantom60

Thanks for all the info guys.

I guess I didn't understand what the Sky rep was telling me. Or else he wasn't being honest.
But I'm pretty sure he was telling me I'd still be able to get the Irish channels with the Sky box after I cancelled my contract.
Are there new boxes from Sky that can do this ? I have it in my head that he mentioned some kind of 2-in-1 box, whereas before you'd need to 2 boxes to get the FTA and Soarview channels but this box could do both, or there was some way of doing both. Maybe I was dreaming it!!

I see that the UK FTA just has now and next on EPG, which would be a drawback.
And not being able to record would be an even bigger drawback.

The Cush

phantom60 wrote: »

I guess I didn't understand what the Sky rep was telling me. Or else he wasn't being honest.
But I'm pretty sure he was telling me I'd still be able to get the Irish channels with the Sky box after I cancelled my contract.

The Irish channels via Sky are encrypted and require an active sub to view them. After you cancel your sub you'll require an aerial and Saorview receiver to view them.

phantom60 wrote: »

Are there new boxes from Sky that can do this ?

Not without a Sky sub.

phantom60 wrote: »

I have it in my head that he mentioned some kind of 2-in-1 box, whereas before you'd need to 2 boxes to get the FTA and Soarview channels but this box could do both, or there was some way of doing both. Maybe I was dreaming it!!

Combi Saorview/FTA satellite receivers - http://www.saorview.ie/saorview-combi/, nothing to do with Sky.

Now & Next info for the sat channels (no 7 day guide), no built-in recording option.

phantom60 wrote: »

I see that the UK FTA just has now and next on EPG, which would be a drawback.
And not being able to record would be an even bigger drawback.

I posted this recently in another thread on a similar topic - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84680535

phantom60

Thanks a million for that Cush, you've explained it very clearly - much appreciated.

I'm currently with UPC (in Dublin), but I don't watch much Tv so I wanted to get away from paying a monthly fee.

So the plan was to switch to Sky for one year (11 monthly payments of €27) and then cancel the subscription.
I'd get a dish, recording box and installation with this at no extra cost.
I thought then, after a year I would be able to get the free channels (including the Irish ones) and still have the recording facility and this would be the cheapest way to achieve this.

I guess it's not to be though.

iba

phantom60 wrote: »

Thanks a million for that Cush, you've explained it very clearly - much appreciated.

I'm currently with UPC (in Dublin), but I don't watch much Tv so I wanted to get away from paying a monthly fee.

So the plan was to switch to Sky for one year (11 monthly payments of €27) and then cancel the subscription.
I'd get a dish, recording box and installation with this at no extra cost.
I thought then, after a year I would be able to get the free channels (including the Irish ones) and still have the recording facility and this would be the cheapest way to achieve this.

I guess it's not to be though.

That would still cost €297

There is a guy on adverts.ie selling sky dishes with a quad LNB for about €20 he also does installations, cant remember the price but have a look on adverts. But maybe it costs like €40 or €50 Then you buy a combi STB at between €50 - €100 And an aerial at between €10 - €15

So all in, your looking at only €150

phantom60

Thanks everyone for your help.
I've cancelled the Sky installation