Leaving Sky TV - Will my Sky+ box still work?

Tethior

Hi all,

First time poster here. Over the last year, we have found that we are watching less and less TV, and most of the channels we do watch are on Freeview. So, it occurs to me that the £20 a month that is going on out basic Sky TV package is a bit of a waste.

However, we have a Sky+ box which we rely upon and we dont want to lose that functionality.

I've heard all sorts of different things about if we cancel our Sky subscription.

1. Will we still be able to record the freeview channels (I think not)
2. Is there a card we can buy that will allow us to carry on using our Sky+ box as a recorder?
3. What will happen to the programs we still have on there (that we haven't got around to watching yet)?

My line rental is currently with BT and our broadband is also with BT, so cancelling the Sky should not cause any other issues.

If anyone has any other suggestions, let me know.



Thanks all,

Paul

giraffe69

I believe
a. you will lose the recordings you have made from any Sky channels once you stop subscribing.
b. You cans use the box to receive non subscription channels but will have to pay (£10 per month?) to use the box to do so
c. You won't be able to use the recording function so you may think buying a PVR is., other than in the short term, a better bet.

macman

The box will continue to receive all the Sky FTA channels (Freesat From Sky).
The Sky+ functions will cease to work and you will lose access to existing recordings. If you pay Sky £10 a month you can retain these functions. But at £120pa you'd be much better off just buying a Humax Foxsat PVR (from Richer Sounds) and using that to get the Freesat platfrom for free (which will of course include the 4 HD channels). This uses your existing dish and LNB and is just a straight box swap.
Sky TV has nothing to do with Sky phone and broadband services, you can still have Sky phone and broadband without a TV sub.

almillar

As above - you'll have 'freesatfromsky' when you cancel. This doesn't include recording. DON'T buy any cards, you've already got one. Think about the money you'll save in a year in subs costs, then buy either a FreesatHD+ (using the 2 Sky feeds) or FreeviewHD+ box, to get HD recording.

spike7451

giraffe69 wrote: »

I believe
a. you will lose the recordings you have made from any Sky channels once you stop subscribing.
b. You cans use the box to receive non subscription channels but will have to pay (£10 per month?) to use the box to do so
c. You won't be able to use the recording function so you may think buying a PVR is., other than in the short term, a better bet.

A-You WONT loose the recordings you havae made unless they are box office/On Demand. (I know that for a fact as I still have recordings I made from channels like FX when I first got the system installed,my Sky sub was off for around 6 months AFTER I had recorded them & I can still watch them)

B-You DONT have to pay £10 a month to watch FTA channels

C-You will however,have to pay £10.50 a month to continue to use the Record/Play functions after you stop your subscription BUT you won't be ably to watch any programmes you have recorded that are encrypted (ie-subscription)

davemurgatroyd

spike7451 wrote: »

C-You will however,have to pay £10.50 a month to continue to use the Record/Play functions after you stop your subscription BUT you won't be ably to watch any programmes you have recorded that are encrypted (ie-subscription)

You will NOT be able to watch any recordings at all without a subscription.

spike7451

davemurgatroyd wrote: »

You will NOT be able to watch any recordings at all without a subscription.

I believe that's what I said....

£10.50 per month to use the record/play facility after cancellation but not able to watch any encrypted programmes recorded prior to cancellation.

loopy136

I would also like some help on this topic. I have recently canceled sky in the hope to still receive freesat from sky through the box. I haven't been able to get any channels, the sky menu comes up but no signal to receive any channels.
I am able to get channels on the freeview tv, but wondering if i need to do anything to the sky box to start it up. It's been connected since we canceled the subscription, on the setting menu it has nothing on the signal strength page. I have rebooted by unplugging and then plugging back in but didnt do anything.
Hope this makes sense and someone has some solutions.

Thanks in advance.

Heinz

Just ending your Sky subscription does not stop the box receiving free channels (e.g. 101, 102, 103, 501 etc.).

Sounds like your dish has moved or the cable(s) from it have been cut.

loopy136

oh no!:(

I will disconnect everything and try again. Thanks anyway.

paulwellerfan

dont you have to give the box back to sky?
i thought you just rented the box from them
i dont know as i am with virgin.
however if i cancelled they would come and take their box back.