Sky/Satellite

[wattsey]

I have read various threads on this subject. I have a spare Sky + box which I can bring out to Portugal. I currently have Sky HD and Sky + at home - can I have another Sky + subscription and just ask them to send me another card?

In Portugal I will just need the dish and cabling. Does anyone have any recommendations and ideas of how much it will cost please, incl fitting.

Thanks

[suziebear]

Dont tell em where you want the card for, may have to give another uk address. There are a number of companies out here that will be able to wire you up, all advertise in local press. Although I am sure people on forum will recommend who they have used themselves always better I think. Cant even remember who we used it was that long ago! Ha!

[maccasa]

regarding Sky+ boxes - has anyone used these as a Freesat box? if you have a dual LNB input can you still use the recording system?

[steve]

When I looked into this matter I was told that you needed a card from Sky to operate the recording and playback system at a cost of about £10 a month. It would be easy to test though - take out the Sky card and see what the box will still do.

[EMM]

Our SKY box loses its signal when card removed, NO channels.
But our Freesat Box ( not Sky ) defaults to its basic ( non SKY ) channels when the card is removed retaining all its other features.

[steve]

In addition to my Sky+ box I have another Sky box which used to run on an ex-subscription card giving a limited range of channels (I think basically the free to air channels plus Five) This card has now been cancelled by Sky under its programme of issuing new cards and the Sky box now gives the same free to air channels with or without the card being inserted. I don't understand why your Sky box does not act in the same way as your freesat box unless of course it is a Sky+ box

[EMM]

THe new cards are BOX specific, once registered on a particular SKY box they cannot be used on another ( its to stop us takeing our cards on holiday ).
We are happy enough with the basic ( Non Sky channels ). but have lost C4 and C4+1

[steve]

That's odd. We still get Channel 4 without a card. You can tune in additional channels manually and I have not checked but perhaps 4 is available from this source. I tuned in Five on other channels so we can still get that. I also have tuned in several ITV regions so that I can switch if the main signal is weak. If you Google the subject you will find plenty of information. It was also covered in earlier posts.

[EMM]

We get C5 on the BBC world news slot, I have been reluctant to play around too much in case we loose more.
We have loads of C4 slots but " NO SIGNAL " comes up on them all.
Will have to look for the instruction bool and break the habit of a lifetime.

[Michael Crane]

We recently stayed in a townhouse with FreeSat installed with a digital HDTV. The reception was very impressive and the picture quality superb. It was far better than Sky and it didn't break up once. The choice of channels was extensive and I would recommend it over Sky any day.

[Mike,Chislehurst]

We recently stayed in a townhouse with FreeSat installed with a digital HDTV. The reception was very impressive and the picture quality superb. It was far better than Sky and it didn't break up once. The choice of channels was extensive and I would recommend it over Sky any day.

Does this mean I have to upgrade

[Michael Crane]

...Does this mean I have to upgrade

Yes please!

[md 600 driver]

Our SKY box loses its signal when card removed, NO channels.
But our Freesat Box ( not Sky ) defaults to its basic ( non SKY ) channels when the card is removed retaining all its other features.

emm

i am not sure what sort of boxes you have but bbc freesat does not have a card reader

your sky box should give you all of the free to air channels when the card is removed [you wont get c5 on a sky box without a valid card or rutuning your box to other channels ]

the new cards are not completely box specific using a card from from another box at home will allow you to watch all of the sky programs exept the premium channels ie movies and sport

other answers

wattsey

to get a extra card from sky [this is called multiroom ] you would need to have both boxes plugged into the same phone line at home in the uk ,other wise sky will and do charge 2 full subscriptions if you dont want to watch the premium channels you could leave the second box here in portugal and just bring your card from home . it is very important that your box in portugal has the latest software [this is a easy thing to do you need to press a few buttons in the correct order ]] the new cards only work in sky boxes with the latest software


sky + boxes can not be used for recording with a expired card you can watch free to air channels to record you need to subscribe to sky for the recording function

i am in the uk at the moment if any one wants to call me for any advise send a pm and i will send my tel numbers

[maccasa]

I had a 1.4 m sat dish and standard SD freesat fitted in Aug - the quality is very good and you get all the necessary channels - havent counted yet but its about 100 - the 42" plasma TV was my old one from home and its a better picture than my Sky+ was in the uk. I also have a second LNB output to a multi channel satellite receiver in the bedroom, which gives some 1500 channels on Astra 28 - the picture is also very good with that unit. I have also tried an offset LNB and can get hotbird as well as the ASTRA channel - I will probably change to this permanently when I can get hold of a (low priced) dual channel offset LNB.

I cant see the point in HD at the moment as the number of channels is small - I have HD at home on a full 1080P LCD and although the pictures for series like "LIFE" are stunning - using the SD signal there isnt that much difference - and if you play it through an HD DVD theres basically non at all - probably a mid 30's person wth excellent eyesight would see it but when youre over 50......

I confess there is a small difference with sports when its fast moving, but its minor.