Connecting Own Sky HD Box

November2

Hi, I still have an original standard Sky box and dish and am on the standard entertainment family pack. have just purchased a HD 3D box independently of Sky, do I just connect it to the dish and TV? Will be trying to connect it later today so any advice appreciated.

basill

Just connect it up and ring the Sky helpdesk. They will be able to pair the new box with your viewing card.
B

penrhyn

As above, however if you only have one feed from your dish you will have to replace the LNB, and install new cabling.
Otherwise you won't be able to use all the Sky + features, i.e recording one whilst viewing another programme.

You'll also either have to ring Sky to pair the new box with your viewing card, or connect it to the phone line and run the first time installation programme.

November2

Thanks for replies. I've been a Sky customer for around 15 years and still have the original dish so I've only the one feed. Not really bothered about recording one side whilst watching another so I may be ok on that front. I'm really just interested in improving the quality of the picture with the HD facility and hopefullyaccessing the freeview 3d channels (I picked up one of the cheap 3D Bush Tvs from Argos recently but have yet to watch anything in 3d on it!)

Heinz

Freeview 3D channels?

Freeview is the terrestrial TV service, not a satellite one.

Sky offers only one 3D channel - and that's not included in the Entertainment pack.

basill

November2 wrote: »

I'm really just interested in improving the quality of the picture with the HD facility

just connecting my new LCD TV using the HDMI on a new HD box instead of scart from the old Sky+ made a HUGE difference in the picture quality on standard definition channels. The free HD channels are a nice bonus.
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Gratis

Heinz wrote: »

Freeview 3D channels?

Freeview is the terrestrial TV service, not a satellite one.

Sky offers only one 3D channel - and that's not included in the Entertainment pack.

Nor, alas, is HD for the Sky channels (which include ITV2/3/4 HD and C5 HD as well). And it's HD that the OP wants.

One can no longer add the HD pack to the "Entertainment" pack (nor to the "Entertainment Extra" pack), so, to get HD, the OP would now have to switch to the "Entertainment Extra Plus" pack. (Which will also provide access to the 3D channel for some programmes.)

This costs £32 a month and involves a new minimum term of 12 months. (It doesn't provide the Formula One channel, either.)

Sometimes, if negotiated well, this upgrade from SD will include from Sky the offer of a 2TB Sky+HD box and free installation anyway...

November2

Now I am confused! I thought channels like BBC HD were free to air if you had an HD freeview box or HD freeview built into the TV. I assumed a HD 3D satellite box would provide such channels, I thought a satellite box could be used without subscription to get the freeview channels? Recently the BBC showed Wimbledon in 3D on their free to air BBC HD channel, I couldn't watch it and that is why I started to think about HD. I'm on the basic Family Pack with Sky (or what used to be called the Family Pack) and can't afford to upgrade, I'm not really interested in adding hundreds more channels or movies, I just want to improve the quality of the picture as it really is poor with my old standard box.

Moneymaker

November2 wrote: »

Now I am confused! ... I thought a satellite box could be used without subscription to get the freeview channels?

Yes, that's confusion all right. "Freeview" is the terrestrial aerial service - not satellite. There's a difference in the programme offerings. Checkout the difference between Freeview, Freesat and FreesatFromSky, otherwise you'll remain confused.

davemurgatroyd

The only HD channels you will get on your present subscription are - BBC One HD, BBC Two HD, ITV HD, Channel 4 HD, Channel 5 HD, NHK World HD and RT HD. The only 3D you will receive are the occasional 3D transmissions from the BBC.

To get the HD versions of the Entertainment Extra pack and the non Sports non Movies programmes on the Sky 3D channel you will have to upgrade to the Entertainment Extra + package.

penrhyn

3D is dead in the water.