Setting up a second Sky box upstairs

mwddrwg

Hi all,

Quick Sky installation question....

We have a dish with a Sky+ LNB with four outputs on the wall outside our bedroom. Two outputs are currently being used for our main Sky box but I want to install a box in the bedroom due to the signal from Freeview being rubbish in our area.

My thinking is that all I need is a second hand Sky box with a cable running to the dish through the wall, connected to one (or both if I want Sky+) spare outputs on the dish. Would this work to pick up basic channels or do I need another viewing card?

Any advice appreciated. Cheers.

InsideInsurance

Certainly "in the old days" you would get more channels on a sky box with a viewing card in it than without even if there is no subscription associated with the card any more.

You can by a Sky Freesat card for £25 to get the extra channels including some HD ones if you pickup a HD box

mwddrwg

That's great news. Thanks for that. Even without the viewing card would the box still pick up popular free channels without using a viewing card?

InsideInsurance

It certainly picks up some without a viewing card but the list is fairly small and from my distant memory it also used to miss a few significant ones like Channel 4 (I know someone explained to me once why but I've long since forgotten).

For the sake of a one off £25 i'd get the freesat viewing card from Sky and get the 100+ channels

Edit....
A quick google suggests Channel 4 and 5 can now be got without a viewing card

mwddrwg

Great, freesat viewing card it is then. Thanks!

nickcc

If you just use the Sky box without the free sat card you don't get the local news in your area, as well (as previously stated) the extra channels. I bought one a couple of years ago and the cost was £20, I suppose the cost has risen due to Mr Murdoch having to pay out all the compensation for the phone hacking.

Avoriaz

You could also consider a Freesat box, with or without a recording function, which will work with your Sky dish.

There are far fewer channels than Sky but they are all free.

Google "freesat" and see if the channel choice suits you.

garynuman

Would this work to pick up basic channels or do I need another viewing card?

I recall reading somewhere that the SkyBox "disables" its abilities to record TV unless you have at least their basic pack. If you have freeview only - you're stuffed. Could be mistaken though!

Gaz

InsideInsurance

You used to be able to pay a small monthly fee (£5 i think) to keep just the recording functionality of a Sky+ box.

Given the OP has already got a subscription it would obviously be sensible to look into multi-room before considering any standing charges for functionality etc

garynuman

You used to be able to pay a small monthly fee (£5 i think) to keep just the recording functionality of a Sky+ box.

Thanks II - Didn't know that. I do think its rather mean of Sky to stoop to these levels though..

macman

If you pull the card on your existing box you will see exactly what channels can be received without it.
In order to retain the PVR functions on a box without a subscription will cost you £10pm, not £5. It's been a tenner for as long as I can remember.