DS Forums

 
 

Thinking of ditching Sky


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 21-04-2010, 22:33
wicker.man
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: South West
Posts: 333

We currently have a multi room subscription Sky+HD in the living room and normal Sky+ in the kitchen via a magic eye (the second Sky+ box is also in the living room and can be used with the main TV too).

We don't have Movies, Sports or any premium channels so our monthly sub is £43. When I looked at our Sky+ planner, it struck me that most of the recorded pro grammes were off FTA channels. This got me thinking about alternative solutions.

I'd like to keep the same sort of set up, but just reduce my monthly payments by dropping the Sky channels. I can see several ways of doing this:

1) Keep both Sky+ boxes, get a FTA viewing card but pay Sky for the recording capability. I assume you can still do that, but I have no idea what the charges would be.

2) Keep one of the Sky+ boxes and replace the other with a different PVR.

3) Replace both Sky boxes.

Does anyone have any advice on the best approach? Would other PVRs work like the Sky+ box with a magic eye?

Thanks!
wicker.man is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 21-04-2010, 23:50
Flyer 10
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,556
Replace both Sky boxes. My mother paid sky for years and I got her thinking why she paid so much (7 grand) to watch a few games of tennis. She cancelled it and then went out a Humax HDR and is always mentioning how she loves it. With the money saved, she could go to a major tournament and watch it live.

You really dont miss sky once its gone. You have to pay them £10/month to record so a PVR pays for itself after a couple of years and your saving a £20/month forever afterwards.
Flyer 10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-04-2010, 09:09
Sleeper17
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rossendale Valley
Posts: 106
We currently have a multi room subscription Sky+HD in the living room and normal Sky+ in the kitchen via a magic eye (the second Sky+ box is also in the living room and can be used with the main TV too).

We don't have Movies, Sports or any premium channels so our monthly sub is £43. When I looked at our Sky+ planner, it struck me that most of the recorded pro grammes were off FTA channels. This got me thinking about alternative solutions.

I'd like to keep the same sort of set up, but just reduce my monthly payments by dropping the Sky channels. I can see several ways of doing this:

1) Keep both Sky+ boxes, get a FTA viewing card but pay Sky for the recording capability. I assume you can still do that, but I have no idea what the charges would be.

2) Keep one of the Sky+ boxes and replace the other with a different PVR.

3) Replace both Sky boxes.

Does anyone have any advice on the best approach? Would other PVRs work like the Sky+ box with a magic eye?

Thanks!
I would give it some thought before jumping ship.
The initial cost will be high to replace both boxes with freesat enabled ones but your monthly bill will be zero so within 12 months you will have paid for your boxes.
The big thing in your setup that you may not have considered is that it is not as easy to get the freesat boxes piped through to your kitchen as they do not use the very convenient magic eye system. You would have to look into an alternative way to distribute your box. One alternative if your tv has freeview built in is just to use this in the kitchen?

You could (if convenient) run extra downleads to serve each box.

I had sky myself and now have main TV running Humax HDR and two bedroom Tvs running freeview.
I really don't miss SKY at all.

Do give it some thought though. I guess you could recoup some early money by selling the SKY boxes.
Sleeper17 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-04-2010, 09:17
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,288
The big thing in your setup that you may not have considered is that it is not as easy to get the freesat boxes piped through to your kitchen as they do not use the very convenient magic eye system. .
You can use a freesat box with magic eyes but you do need to purchase additional bits.
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-04-2010, 09:42
Sleeper17
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rossendale Valley
Posts: 106
You can use a freesat box with magic eyes but you do need to purchase additional bits.
I am sure the poster would appreciate you posting what additional bits is required rather than pointing out my lack of full explanation.
Sleeper17 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-04-2010, 10:44
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,288
I am sure the poster would appreciate you posting what additional bits is required rather than pointing out my lack of full explanation.
Basically you need an external modulator to send the AV, a 9V power supply for the eyes and a gizmo at the receiving end to convert the remote control signals back to IR (this will work with pretty well any remote control)

Kit available here

http://www.bluedelta.co.uk/buy-now.h...otecontrolkits

or here

http://www.satcure.com/accs/page3.htm

I did not post details simply because it's not clear if the OP needs the capability.

A cheaper alternative is to simply get a modulator to send the AV and buy a pair of powermids to handle the remote control (ditch the eye)
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-04-2010, 19:46
wicker.man
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: South West
Posts: 333
That's great thanks! Looks like I've got some research to do!
wicker.man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2010, 11:40
swedish cook
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 821
Basically you need an external modulator to send the AV, a 9V power supply for the eyes and a gizmo at the receiving end to convert the remote control signals back to IR (this will work with pretty well any remote control)

Kit available here

http://www.bluedelta.co.uk/buy-now.h...otecontrolkits

or here

http://www.satcure.com/accs/page3.htm

I did not post details simply because it's not clear if the OP needs the capability.

A cheaper alternative is to simply get a modulator to send the AV and buy a pair of powermids to handle the remote control (ditch the eye)
I use the blue delta remote sender and a cheap RF modulator to watch from bedroom, works well, approx £45 additional cost. If you really do not value the Sky Sports and Movies its a no brainer, just do it, years will pass before you know it otherwise.
swedish cook is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 16:12.