buying on ebay

settopbox

if i bought a sky+ box on ebay is there any other equiptment i would need like a new lnb or anything like that . do you think buying a sky+ box on ebay is a good idea
regards

pH

Well a satellite dish, and a sky subscribtion to start with!

the sky+ box needs 2 feeds from the satellite and a dual (or quad) LNB on the dish to provide both feeds.

netwhizkid

Originally Posted by settopbox
do you think buying a sky+ box on ebay is a good idea

While i'm no expert on Sky+ i know that they are now offering them for €149 from Sky themselves so if i were you i'd go for that as it proabably has some sort of guarantee. Buying of ebay is okay i've done it twice, The simple rule is just lookat the sellers feedback if it's good and theres lot of it, it gives peace of mind. As for how safe is online shopping, i'd say your as likely to robbed walking down the street as online imo, just a little common sense and it generally helps.

watty

Without a recording sub of about 15quid, the Sky+ is just a Sky box, no PVR. If you get a high enough Sky sub the recording is free. I think you can get the Sky+ PVR sub on its own if you are using just free channels or UK FTV.

It is abuse of monoploy that they charge for PVR. Lots of better Sat HD recorders, some with DVD record exist but they won't use the Sky EPG for timing and of course won't work with a Sky Card.

If Sky+ was boycotted and taken to EU courts how long would it be before Sky released CAM for non-Sky systems and/or removed subscription to record?


So really a S/H Sky+ is worthless. It is MUCH better to buy the Sky+ package and get the install with free QUAD LND (output for existing Sky box or up to two boxes or 2nd Sky+) and remote, Dish, Sky+ and sub.

If after a year you cancel entirely it is at least a slightly better FTV/FTA sky box without PVR than a regular Sky box (5.1 Digital o/p, not that much outside of a few subscription movies uses it).

pH

watty wrote:

Without a recording sub of about 15quid, the Sky+ is just a
If Sky+ was boycotted and taken to EU courts how long would it be before Sky released CAM for non-Sky systems and/or removed subscription to record?

I believe that in the US, this is the case for exactly these reasons. To stop one monopoly controling everything sat/cable operators have to split their security system from the consumer unit (I presume a CAM like system). This means that consumers are free to use whatever equipment they like

watty wrote:

If after a year you cancel entirely it is at least a slightly better FTV/FTA sky box without PVR than a regular Sky box (5.1 Digital o/p, not that much outside of a few subscription movies uses it).

That's not quite true!

I believe that a Sky+ box won't come out of standby when a program is scheduled (say to be recorded) like a 'normal' digibox will. I guess you could leave it on permanently but they're not quite as handy for videoing off as a normal box.

kaisersose77

If your getting the basic channel plus the sky sports channels and you want to get sky+, do you have to pay a subscription fee each month still for sky+? And also, does your phone line have to connected if u have sky+ (or can you leave it disconnected so that you can use ur FTV card without any problems). Any info would be great.

pH

The rule is if you are getting 2 or more 'premium' channels (sports/movies) then the Sky+ subscription is waived.

No sky phone line needs to be in 24/7. I have a Sky+ box and it's never connected, and I disconnected it during the 1st year. Sky only seem to enforce the phone connection when there is multiroom involved.

kaisersose77

thans 4 the info, one more question, can you put any 250GB HD into the box, for example the ones aldi were selling for 99 euros or is there certain HDs that only work, plus is there any other stuff u need when you put in a new HD.

Sponge Bob

I heard something about 7200rpm drives not working but 5400rpm drives being OK but there is no size problem up to 250Gb that I know of .

Lennoxschips

I also think it's a disgrace that Sky charge extra subscription costs for Sky+. The one-off hardware costs are all you should be paying for.

It's like RTE charging a higher license fee for people with stereo televisions.

byte

Lennoxschips wrote:

I also think it's a disgrace that Sky charge extra subscription costs for Sky+. The one-off hardware costs are all you should be paying for.

It's like RTE charging a higher license fee for people with stereo televisions.

Well, even if they charged a higher fee for a lifetime access to Sky+ features, a bit like TiVo when it was available. You paid extra for the box but lifetime HDD control.