Sky+ box instead of dedicated PVR?

owen22

Hi,

My Mother-in-Law's (non-smart, non-HD, non-HMDI) TV has just stopped working so she needs a new 32" one.

She currently has an old non+Sky box (without subscription so just has the 'freesat' channels) but she really wants the ability to pause/record TV and access on demand stuff.

The only option as I initially saw it was for her to get a new 32" HD TV + PVR (wifi installed, so she doesn't need to get an adaptor) and this would send her on or slightly north of about £450 (c£250 for the TV + c£200 for the PVR).

When doing some research for her however I've seen mention online that Sky now allow pausing/recording without a subscription... is this correct?

If so this would seem a much easier & cheaper option than a PVR as you can pick up Sky+ HD boxes off eBay for a lot less than £200 (and she comfortable with Sky's controller/menu system). What I've read however seems to suggest that the Sky+ box would still require a card in it (presumably an expired, or equivalent, one) to be used, even without subscription.

I'm guessing the card in her current old Sky box wouldn't work (wouldn't it?) however the only 'replacement' Sky cards I've seen for sale on eBay state that they don't allow you to pause or record. If so does this make the Sky+ box idea a non-starter?

I'm also unsure what the deal is with on-demand services without a Sky subscription. The HD TV she gets will probably have it's own Freeview box in it that will have access to on-demand stuff (given that all new TVs pretty much seem to come with one as standard these days) however it would be useful for her not to have to change the TV's source in order to flick between live TV and on-demand.

Any ideas?

Thanks :beer:

Kernow666

ask sky they will tell you

i always though part of the sky deal was the ability to pause record live TV , it might have changed though

VisionMan

The last time I checked it was £10.50pm for the privilege. So in roughly 20mths buying a PVR would have paid for itself. Go for the PVR.

teddysmum

Sky charge for the record, pause, rewind facility.


However, some people (including me) were offered the service free ,provided they kept the line rental, but this was after cancelling tv and not taking up a new offer immediately, so they won't be offering the service with no strings.

macman

The on-demand services are not accessed via Freeview, but via a broadband connection, with the TV or PVR connected to the router. I'm not clear if your MIL has broadband?
If she wants PVR functions and on-demand, then a Humax Youview box is the obvious solution, subject to having unlimited broadband. If not, then stick with Freesat from Sky. Either have no ongoing cost.

flashg67

Have you looked at Freetime from freesat?

Rev

Humax direct sell refurbished boxes. You can get a 500gb freesat pvr for £99 with a years warranty.

Since sky charge for record and pause etc this will have paid for itself after 10 months.


http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/refurbished/hdr-1000s-500gb-dd125d.html


But it has no build in wifi But you could get a dongle or home plugs.