Satellite TV Questions

sheffix1

Apologies if this is the wrong forum - it's linked to the current Sky offer which runs out tomorrow so it's focussing my attention. Never having had satellite before I'm a bit confused.
We currently have poor reception Freeview and are thinking of moving to a satellite system to get better reception. However we have some concerns and wonder whether anyone can help. Our options seem to be a) Wait for the ITV/BBC freesat launch which is currently delayed. I’d expect that this would cost in the region of £150 to install a dish/box. b) Go for Sky’s freesat option at £150 plus possible card charges c) Go for Sky Digital at the minimum £15 per month (total £180) and get a dish and box then revert to Sky Freesat after 12 months (if I do this soon I also get 6 months free Sky Sports).
Option 3 seems favourite but I have some issues. Apparently there has to be a telephone line next to the TV which has to be used by the Skybox. Currently we haven’t got one there, does standard installation cover fitting a phone socket from existing extensions? Is the Skybox hardwired into the box or is it plugged in so that the socket can be used by phones as well?
Are there sockets on the back of the Sky box which allow it to output to a DVD/ Hard Disk recorder or do you have to get Sky+?
As for channels available, am I right in thinking that Sky don’t replicate the free Freeview channels? Would we have to pay extra for Film4 and More4 etc?
And what happens at the end of 12 months with Sky, can we just continue to use the dish and box for free channels or is it more complicated than that?
I’m most grateful for any help you can provide. TIA.
Steve

smithysaver

or you could take the sky offer here

https://survey.sky.com/ordersky/cdwow/Default.asp

which gives you sky half price for 5 months so if you took the 2 mix package the 12 moth contract would cost a total of £142.50 and as a bounus you get £35 of cd wow vouchers to spend on their website!

Yes you need a phone line but all you do is get a telephone extention cable and plug it in to your exising telephone socket with a doubler and as to recording sky the are scart inputs in the back for recording purposes

and after 12 months just cancell you subscrition and you will just recieve freesat the kit is yours! also filmfour is a free to air channel now as well

Go For It!

Tallymanjohn

Plus, you don't need to keep the phone cable plugged in after installation - it's only for interactive bits & for Sky to obtain info about your viewing habits - bit like spyware on a PC!.

You'll get all the same channels as freeview, plus a load more, but you'll still struggle finding something to watch sometimes!

tin

1) Telephone line. Either get an extention lead and fit it yourself, or Sky will fit one for you. Beware they will pin it to your skirting board and around doorframes etc if they have to. It plugs in like a normal phone, and if they fit the extention, it will have 1 or 2 sockets on it so you can still plug the phone in where you do now.

2) The sky box has a TV and a VCR SCART, you can use either to output to your DVD/Hard disk recorder, although with a little bit of quality loss (still way better than Video though) Beware the box only outputs RGB (higher quality) on the TV SCART, which you might want to use for your TV obviously.

3) The basic package I *think* replicates the Freeview channels, although it might depend on what mix(es) you get. However Freesat does not, there are several missing, however that might have all changed in 12 months.

4) After 12 months, yes the box is yours, the card reverts to freesat.

<edit> I wouldn't be so sure about the phone line thing, Some subscribers have been threatened with Sky recovering the interactive discounts if you unplug the box inside the 12 months. Best to prepare to have it plugged in all the time , or re-plug it in just in case. It's not like spyware (yet), it only goes online to charge you for your PPV movies if you watched them, or for the various interactive services if you ise them. The software isn't advanced enough to track viewing habits (yet?).

sheffix1

Thanks all for taking the time to reply.

audirob

My gf's mum got charged £25 for her second sky box not being plugged in to telephone line,, We got it back after a shout to be fair!:mad:

OK_Sauce

Sky totally subsidise the digibox, effectively giving it to you for free. Their 'hold' on you is to write the 12 month minimum connection to the phone into your contract. Unplugging it within the first twelve months means you have broken the contract/agreement and they can charge you for the box. They hope to make money out of you with their interactive stuff and PPV movies by leaving it plugged in. Once the minimum twelve months are up you never have to plug in in again...unless you upgrade to SkyPlus.

nicola.1

have a look at https://www.wizardsatellite.co.uk

gaahmad

Hi there, a quick question, if the OP was to go for option 3, i.e. £15 per month for 12 months and take up the 6 months free Sky Movies/Sports, can they cancel this offer after 5/6 months and therefore only pay £15/month again or do you HAVE TO keep the Sky Movies/Sports for a full 12 months, with 6 months free?

jackb_2

though i do have a telephone line with my sky, I have just recommened a friend to join and they do not. it is a new build property, so i am not sure if they have different rules. but they had sky installed last weekend with no problems

gaahmad

When signing up, I saw that one of the questions was "Do you have a landline installed?". If you answered No to this question,you couldn't continue with placing the order online. I guess your friend must have answered Yes to this question.