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Sky V Eir V Vodafone

  • 09-06-2023 11:13am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭


    Hi

    I am with eir for last 2 years for broadband and tv. Have main tv Apple box in sitting room and another Apple box in bedroom. Box in bedroom is handy, works via WiFi so no messing around with running cables/wires etc

    eir bill is 82 Euro a month and will jump once contract ends next week but can get them down again with a phone call.

    I am half thinking of switching to sky or Vodafone (Virgin not available)

    rang sky and they can give a sky q box for main room and sky q mini for the bedroom, prices for year 1 seem ok versus eir


    any comments on sky q or q mini.

    or anyone with experience of eir v sky v Vodafone for tv and broadband.



«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 191 ✭✭rhinosaurious


    Whatever you do, do not go with Vodafone. Vodafone TV never works, search on twitter @VodafoneIreland TV, and you'll see the culprit. I think stay with eir, if it's not broken don't fix it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    What are the boot up times like on sky q?

    I was with sky before and had a sky+hd box (I think that was the name) and it used to take forever to start up, like 3+ minutes.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    It takes forever, yes. Never timed it but guesstimate it was about two minutes.

    Sky’s position FWIW is that shouldn’t matter, you are meant to keep it plugged in the whole time and only reboot it in rare circumstances.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭JimmyCorkhill


    Out of interest why would someone need to boot up their Sky box regularly? We have had Sky Boxes over the years and just turn off the box each night with the remote control, don't unplug it or anything. Just takes less than 20 secs to turn on again the next morning.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    My default every night is just to simply switch off the power by flicking the switch beside the plug, it’s just what I do.

    Post edited by obi604 on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,512 ✭✭✭NewClareman


    I was with Sky for many years but left it as the cost was getting so high. I used FTA for a few years but moved to Eir, when we were moving house. I really like the AppleTV box and the freedom to place the TV anywhere. I use NowTV for sports and Netflix for entertainment. Each TV is set so that eirTV starts automatically when the TV is turned on.

    I use Spotify on the AppleTV to listen to music. (The main TV is connected to a Sonos soundbar and subwoofer.)

    My only gripe is that some shows, mainly on RTÉ, are protected and cannot be recorded. Also recordings are automatically deleted after six months. I've just bought a satellite dish to get FTA TV as a supplement to eirTV to get around this. (I like to keep permanent copies of some programmes.)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,170 ✭✭✭The Ayatolla


    When joining eir, do you get an Apple TV by default?

    And when eventually cancelling eir; do you have to give them the Apple TV back?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    I got an Apple TV box by default with eir (2 of them as one in bedroom also)


    I am not sure if I am allowed to keep them though if I end my contract.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    My recollection is that, at least when eir TV launched, you were allowed keep them after two years, otherwise you had to pay some sort of exit fee to keep them.

    They are off the shelf Apple TV’s (though I think you get a different remote now) and have plenty of use beyond eir tv.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,512 ✭✭✭NewClareman


    There is a charge if you don't return them, €50 if I remember correctly.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    If I was to go with sky for broadband and tv.

    I think I get 3 things;

    1. the modem which connects to the fibre internet connection.

    2. main sky q box which connects to the sky dish and maybe to modem via WiFi

    3. Sky q mini box in bedroom which connects to modem and/or main sky q box via WiFi


    can the main sky q box and sky q mini act as wireless or as a mesh or are they purely just tv set top boxes only?

    Post edited by obi604 on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 441 ✭✭Boxcar_Willie


    If you go with Sky I wouldn’t bother with multiroom , you can simply install SkyGo on your Apple TV and use your Sky ID to login .



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    You have to have Multiscreen/Whole House entitlement to use Sky Go on an Apple TV.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604




  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    In a word, yes. But the Sky Go service is only available to Sky subscribers in any case, so you’ll already be paying Sky money.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,512 ✭✭✭NewClareman


    From searching online it would appear that the Sky Q box connects with the minis using a private wifi 5GHz network. With multiple minis it appears that they create a private mesh network. There are reports that this can conflict with other 5GHz mesh networks, if present.

    Hope this helps, I've no firsthand knowledge.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    I currently have amazon prime video etc

    If I was to keep the apple box from eir, I presume I could just use it to view Amzon prime?



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  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    It’s a normal Apple TV - you can watch any tvOS apps - not just Prime Video, but Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, Discovery+ etc.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Nice one. Is anybody aware if one can keep the Apple TV box after being with eir for 2 years?

    Post edited by obi604 on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 441 ✭✭Boxcar_Willie


    Yes you could , you could also put whatever apps you like onto it , IPVX is very good if you have an IPTV subscription but that cannot be discussed here .



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    If you are watching live tv on the sky q box and want to rewind, will it rewind?



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Yes, except for manually tuned channels and the very odd programme where the PVR features are disabled for rights reasons.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Nice. eir does not allow me rewind live tv.

    do sky store/buffer a certain amount of live tv to allow this.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Up to one hour, I think, unless you’ve been recording the programme in question. You can’t go back beyond the point you last changed the channel.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604



    if I was to go with sky, would I be able to use my sky go login on the Apple TV box - to watch sky tv in an additional room.

    Post edited by obi604 on


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Yes, but you’ll need to have a Multiscreen sub. (This applies only to Apple TV, not to other devices, provided you stay under the limit).



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    who is this multi screen sub with - Sky is it?

    how much is it roughly per month



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Ill ask this differently as not sure I am making sense

    I will probably end my eir contract soon, I have 2 x apple tv boxes with them.

    Lets say I get to keep these 2 boxes.

    I then sign up to sky for TV and broadband - so an official sky customer etc

    Can I install 'sky go' on one of the apple TV boxes and login with my sky details and watch TV like this in a 2nd room?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    I just downloaded Sky Go on my current Apple TV (still with Eir)

    My parents have Sky TV and I use Sky Go on my mobile phone with their account etc

    Tried to login to Sky go on my apple TV and got below error

    I guess sky go on mobile phone is different to sky go on an apple TV box and demands an extra cost

    How much extra a month is sky Q multi screen?





  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    It’s the princely sum of €20pm these days, I’m afraid.

    No you don’t need it for normal Sky Go, as I gather the reason you need it for Apple TV is because Sky don’t want you using Apple TVs as an alternative to Multiscreen.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    thanks for reply

    what a bargain, sky really are doing themselves no favors in this market 🤔



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604



    many one know the answer to this?

    can you keep the Apple TV boxes or do Eir ask you to send them back?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 447 ✭✭tipperary


    I recently cancelled eir after 1 year. They looked for the Apple TV box back, and charged me €80 for not returning it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604



    thanks.

    I signed up for a 2 year contract.

    were you in or out of contract when you cancelled?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 447 ✭✭tipperary


    Just out of contract



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Hi

    In regard to the sky q interface

    let’s say you go in to the TV guide and find a programme from a few hours ago.

    when you go to view this programme, can you fast forward it.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Theres no “backwards EPG” feature on Sky, if that’s what you mean. (Oddly enough Freesat has it, though it’s useless for ROI viewers).

    You can fast forward on demand content.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Let’s say I wanted to watch last nights 9 o clock news.

    Is there a way via sky to find this and watch it? (And then the main point being — the ability to fast forward it)



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Yes and yes.

    There is an RTE Player section in On Demand. I’m given to understand the full app is available nowadays.

    You can fast forward on both (the on demand version may be easier to do this and you can fast forward pre roll ads - the app will make you watch them).



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Ok, so you kind of have to use the rte player scenario and not the native sky interface to do this.

    Post edited by obi604 on


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    No you can use the native Sky interface, as I say it’s easier and you can skip the ads (if any). The Sky version only has 7 day catch up iirc while the RTE one is longer.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    I signed up with sky for TV and Broadband. (Signed up online)

    not a bad deal and get €50 Mastercard gift card

    moving from Eir

    question - do I have to contact eir to tell them I am moving or is it all taken care of via sky.

    Post edited by obi604 on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Hi,

    Does Sky Q allow you to view in Multi screen?

    as in watch RTE1 on top half of screen and Watch BBC 1 on lower half



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    No. Not natively, your TV may support it. I don’t know of any pay TV service that does support it.

    I would call that “picture in picture” btw. The term “Multiscreen” is used by Sky Q in a different context - being able to view in multiple rooms / devices (they’ve changed it to “Whole Home” on Sky Stream for whatever reason).

    You will need to call eir to cancel - good luck with that bit, maybe you’ll have a better experience than I did.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,572 ✭✭✭Gerry Wicklow


    The Zgemma H7S combo box running openVix supports picture in picture but it is kinda clunky to use.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Where is this done?

    I tried

    home>catch up tv>rte player>news>rte news:9 0 clock>watch

    gives error: “to use this service , you need to upgrade your subscription “

    I don’t see anything in below about RTE

    home>on demand>channels


    any ideas?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭obi604


    Im answering my own question here, but just an FYI for others.

    Cancelled with Eir and got a letter a few days letter:

    To avoid a charge on next bill, please return items

    Charge for non return is

    Eir Modem = 60 Euro

    Each apple TV box = 100 each

    Post edited by obi604 on


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