Sky+ box recording

ussel_2

Hi
Can someone clarify my position, if I buy a sky+ box and put in my existing Freeview card I bought from Sky for 20 pounds , would I still have to ring sky and register my already active card with the new box. Also would I be able to record the free programs while watching other channels. Some of the posts I have read say you have to have a subscription with Sky o do this. I already have a twin LNB set up to two boxes and a dvd recorder which allows me to watch and record separate programs but I would like to use just one box for the same end result.

spike7451

ussel wrote: »

Hi
Can someone clarify my position, if I buy a sky+ box and put in my existing Freeview card I bought from Sky for 20 pounds , would I still have to ring sky and register my already active card with the new box. Also would I be able to record the free programs while watching other channels. Some of the posts I have read say you have to have a subscription with Sky o do this. I already have a twin LNB set up to two boxes and a dvd recorder which allows me to watch and record separate programs but I would like to use just one box for the same end result.

No,you would possibly need to get an upgrade card from Sky & you will have to pay pay Sky £10 per month in order to use the record/play function.You would then be able to watch one FTA programme & record another.

macman

It's not a Freeview card, it's a Freesat from Sky card. Freeview is a terrestial platform.
Yes, the card needs pairing with the box in order to get all the channels, though without it you'll only lose 3 (Five, Fiver, Five USA). The PVR functions of the Sky+ box are disabled unless you have a TV subscription, otherwise you will need to pay £10pm to enable it. So using a Freesat PVR with your existing dish and LNB (straight box swap) is a better route, as it will pay for itself in a year or so.
Edit: as pointed out by pokerlad below, I should have said 'a card is required in order to get the additional encrypted channels, but pairing is not required'.

Pokerlad

Pairing of card and box is only needed to get sky's "premium" channels (sports and movies) which seen you dont subscribe you dont need to worry about. It will still allow you to access all FTA and FTV channels unpaired. If you decided to pay for the recording functions it would also need paired but would be done when you contacted sky and set it up.