Does SKY+ box need phoneline to work?

piggybankrupt

I'm looking at having sky+ in my living room and using existing box in bedroom under multiroom. I don't have a phone line in a suitable place for the sky+ box in the living room, and don't want to run wires along skirting etc, but I do where the spare box will be in the bedroom. When I asked sky if the phone line will be ok just on the ordinary box and not the sky+ she said it needs to be with the sky+ box because otherwise you can't use some features like ffwd tv/ pause live tv etc Is this true? I don't want the expense of putting in new phone socket if I don't need to when I have one in the bedroom next to where the second box will be. Someone said they police the phone conection for multiroom - how/why . Leaflet for sky+ offer says "Sky+ box must be connected to a fixed telephone line for 12 months" - surely this would be permenantly if it was really required for the sky+ features to work? Any help appreciated!


P.S I haven't had a phone line connected to my normal sky box for years as that extension became faulty and is now tiled over so no chance of repair - sky have never mentioned that box not connected to phoneline since

Zagu

You dont need one. When the fitters come out to install it, they will tell you that you need a phone socket. As I didnt have one anywhere near, I had to get an extension that they left right in the middle of the room. As soon as they left, I unplugged it. I cant use some services, but they are hardly worth using anyway. If I want to wach a pay to view film, I just replace the extension, or call Sky. I know that you are supposed to have the box always connected, but it doesnt matter if you dont, at least in my experience.

Oh, and expect to re-install the box after the fitters have left. They tend to leave it in a bit of a mess.

Mulitroom may be different though.

knowledgeman

Zagu wrote: »

You dont need one. When the fitters come out to install it, they will tell you that you need a phone socket. As I didnt have one anywhere near, I had to get an extension that they left right in the middle of the room. As soon as they left, I unplugged it. I cant use some services, but they are hardly worth using anyway. If I want to wach a pay to view film, I just replace the extension, or call Sky. I know that you are supposed to have the box always connected, but it doesnt matter if you dont, at least in my experience.

Oh, and expect to re-install the box after the fitters have left. They tend to leave it in a bit of a mess.

Mulitroom may be different though.

Sky can charge you extra if it isnt connected up or even kill your box

They do regular checks to make sure they are connected and if they arent they can apply varying charges to your account on top of your normal subscription

sambo31

knowledgeman wrote: »

Sky can charge you extra if it isnt connected up or even kill your box

They do regular checks to make sure they are connected and if they arent they can apply varying charges to your account on top of your normal subscription

Well i've been with sky+ for over 8 months now and i unplugged the phone line 5 minutes after the installers left and mines okay and so is my friends who unplugged hers also.

piggybankrupt

knowledgeman wrote: »

Sky can charge you extra if it isnt connected up or even kill your box

They do regular checks to make sure they are connected and if they arent they can apply varying charges to your account on top of your normal subscription

I am happy to have the phone line connected to my second box - just not the sky+ box - does this count as staying connected?

piggybankrupt

Zagu wrote: »

I cant use some services, but they are hardly worth using anyway. If I want to wach a pay to view film, I just replace the extension, or call Sky. I know that you are supposed to have the box always connected, but it doesnt matter if you dont, at least in my experience.


Mulitroom may be different though.

Which services can't you use? and does anyone kow if multiroom is different?

knowledgeman

sambo31 wrote: »

Well i've been with sky+ for over 8 months now and i unplugged the phone line 5 minutes after the installers left and mines okay and so is my friends who unplugged hers also.

Dont worry they'll catch up with you eventually

They use a system which checks so many connections every so often, if/when they catch yours out the letter will drop through the door

I think they normally give you a warning and if they catch you again they start hitting you with additional charges, although i dont think there particularly high (£10 a month springs to mind)

System

I think with multiroom, both boxes need to be connected to the same phone line. mainly to stop people having the second box at a different address.

I believe that they actively police this.

Zagu

piggybankrupt wrote: »

Which services can't you use?

Things like the games, betting, etc. Basically, the 'services' functions, but its no biggie. It still records/live pause etc. with no problem.

Ive never seen it suggested that they can charge extra if it isnt connected, and havent been charged extra. I really cant see Sky saying that they will terminate the contract if it isnt connected. Im sure they would rather recieve something than nowt.

Edit: I believe you are right !!!!!!.

cocoluvsmummy

we disconnected our sky+ box and our multiroom whilst decorating..with in a couple of weeks we had a letter informing us we MUST keep them connected at all times. This appears to be particuarly so with the multiroom box because the discount is based on it being in the same home as the main box, we actually want another multiroom subscription, rang up and enquired but because i cant get a phone line to it they wont supply me with one on the discounted rate it would have to be full rate, unfortunatly i dont love my daughter THAT much

FallingDownMan

Sky will threaten to disconnect if you have the multiroom package and unplug from the phone line. You basically agree to it when you sign up, so you are in breach of that contract if you disconnect it

Same as the people above, you get letters about it.

Incidentally, when they fitted mine they did a really neat job putting the extension cable in from the main phone box all around the skirting boards.