sky into sky+

spike7451

Sky have an offer on at the mo that I saw on TV this morning.Free Sky+ box,free isntallation plus £50 cash back.

erasion

macman wrote: »

Why? If the OP already has a twin feed from the LNB, it's a straight box swap. Assuming they already have a Sky sub, the service is already included. Sky+ boxes are available for next to nothing on eBay, why pay Sky £65?
If the OP does not have a Sky sub, it won't work anyway, so hardly 'illegal'.
If no second feed, any local independent can provide that (and change the LNB if required) quite cheaply.

"Illegal" as in using the box with a non-Sky card.

Why such hostility? My suggestion was merely that it might be worth checking what Sky has on offer as the box would at least come with a warranty (not always the case with eBay et al). And, as spike7451 says, Sky does have an offer. Might not be the cheapest way to do it, but always worth checking as an option.

macman

The existing card simply has to be removed from the old box, placed in the new one and paired to it by means of a quick call to Sky. Nothing illegal about that. Where did you come up with a 'non-Sky card'?
There is no hostility whatsoever , but you are suggesting that the OP spends money on a Sky call out or equipment install that is not required.

erasion

No, I am suggesting the OP looks at what Sky is offering and considers that as ONE POSSIBLE option. Hence I used the phrase "might be" rather than "would be". You are accusing me of saying something I did not.

IMHO: a legal card is one where there is a valid Sky subscription for that card and the channels it entitles the user to. By illegal I mean a card that has been altered/cloned to allow the owner to receive channels or services to which they are not entitled by their existing subscription (e.g. Sky Sports).

Hope that clarifies the matter.

macman

Where in post 9 did I introduce the idea of using an 'illegal' card? You've dreamed that one up all by yourself. The OP has a sub, so his card is already 'legal'. There is no issue with using it whatever box he wishes to.
It's pointless to pay Sky or anyone else a fee to install/supply Sky+, when it's free with any sub and the box is also available free or nearly free.
The only unknown is whether he already as a twin feed or not.

erasion

macman - you said in post 9: "If the OP does not have a Sky sub, it won't work anyway, so hardly 'illegal'."

I merely made the observation in my original post that a Sky subscription would be needed unless the box/card was in some way modified and therefor illegal. It is not an important point in what I originally said, but I thought you wanted a clarification as to what I meant. Obviously we were on different tracks with this point; sorry for any confusion caused.

HI understand your point about not paying out money you don't need to - after all, that is a large part of what these forums are about - but as I said: I merely suggested it was worth seeing if Sky had a special offer on to include a free box and installation. If this is the case - and I did not say it was - why would getting a free new Sky box (with warranty) and free installation be worse then paying a small amount for a used one via eBay? Surely in searching for the cheapest/best way of doing something you should explore all appropriate avenues?

macman

OK, thanks, let's set aside the red herring of the 'illegal' card.
Since the OP is an existing subscriber, he would not be able to get any offer currently available for new subscribers.

erasion

macman wrote: »

Since the OP is an existing subscriber, he would not be able to get any offer currently available for new subscribers.

Depends how long the OP has been a subscriber; usually after the initial period (12 months?) things change.

I had been a Sky subcriber for about 18 months when I moved to Sky+ and I got a free Sky+ box and installation as long as I signed up for another 12 months.

Sky - like all big companies - are very keen to retain customers and are more often that not prepared to make offers to existing customers. I have had Sky unlimited broadband for several years but now have it free for 12 months because I asked. Never any harm in asking.

prowla

BTW, you do not need a subscription or even a Sky card in order to use a Sky box.

I have a basic Sky box with no card in a 2nd room, with which I receive the free channels. I also tested a Sky+ box in that mode, and it too received the free channels, but would not record.

Our main box is a Sky HD one that I got for nothing on freegle, and which Sky paired to my (valid current paid Sky+ subscription) card without any issue. I don't have a HD subscription but I do get the free HD channels just fine and can schedule and record them too.