Sky Gnome and Freesat

Ozzie

I know there are 2 threads on this but can someone answer will the bloody gnome work on freesat.... is it possible that you need to be a subscriber before you can even buy it. Also could someone be watching Corrie on the TV and someone else listening to radio 5 in the bath?

Charles Slane

There seems to be no reason why Sky Gnome would not work with freesat, although you might have a point about it not being available without a subscription - which is not to say it wouldn't work, they just wouldn't sell it to you. As it stands, it won't be available to Irish subscribers at first anyway.

But no, as best as we can figure out, you won't be able to watch Corrie in one room and listen to radio in the other - it'll just relay what's coming out of the box.

watty

It's just a radio transmitter and receiver at 864MHz with Sky remote buttons (some) built in using 433MHz to return.

Why they would limit sales to subscribers only would be wierd. Anyone can buy the Sky Eye, made by same folks, "Global".

It only feeds sound of whatever channel is on the Digibox. Just like a video sender, except no picture and batteries instead of plug top PSU for receiver.

It will even work with a non-Sky box except for channel change or whatever remote buttons its got. I _KNOW_ it has "remote control" features, I just don't know which buttons it has.

Even in Sky Anaog Days, the "Channel Expander" while available from Sky Directly, could be purchased elsewhere. It too, and my 4-Way Disqc switch which won't work at all with a Digibox is made by "Global".

Ozzie

....... not as good as it sounds then.....

Charles Slane

watty wrote:

Why they would limit sales to subscribers only would be wierd. Anyone can buy the Sky Eye, made by same folks, "Global".

It would seem odd alright, but it also seems odd that it will not be available to Irish viewers, and that's there in black and white from Sky themselves - "Sky Gnome is currently not available in the ROI."

The Sky+ recording service is restricted to Sky subscribers, and I'm fairly sure that the Sky Eye was originally only available to Sky subscribers when it was first released (and it also was not available to Irish subscribers).

watty

Sky have a continuing problem with us haveing NO postcodes. (Dublin has area codes not post codes).

If we are talking phone and web site mail order it will be as simple as that and eventually sorted. Sky can't do Direct Debit on Phone for ROI allegedly due to lack of Post Code to type into the computer form!

Even more curiously I know from writing SW for Postal Meter industry (Franking Machines), "that it is alleged" An Post DOES have post codes but keeps them "secret" to have a competitve advantage over other people offering direct mail campains!

Tis all very curious, and indeed Sky selling something that has not much profit and little value in increasing subscriptions.

Like Sky Remotes, Sky Eyes, Sky Eye compatible distribution amps etc, it will be in HomeBase, Argos, B&Q, Dixons/Curries etc soon enough.

If you want one now I can describe how to legally use a video sender and a spare Sky Remote plus case and charge from maplin's to make something with identical functionality with option for LCD screen

It would be a little larger but hook on belt or go in small "bum bag". If you buy a video sender at about 60 Euro (possible) and a cheap sky compatible remote it will only be about 15 to 20 euro more