Sky upgrade from HD to Q box

sheffieldeagle

Hi

I've had a few emails in the past offering an upgrade on my Sky HD box but dependant on taking the multiroom service. Just had a letter the other day offering free upgrade with no mention of the multiroom service. I assume we are getting close to the point where Sky no longer wants to support these boxes and wondered if now is the time to take the plunge. If this really is a free upgrade I still have two issues. One being my lack of a landline and broadband , and the second being my option to cancel and then being able to use Freesat.
Do I need broadband to operate the box for non steaming services and how do I guarantee the required LNB is installed?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Rawrzy

sheffieldeagle said:

Hi

I've had a few emails in the past offering an upgrade on my Sky HD box but dependant on taking the multiroom service. Just had a letter the other day offering free upgrade with no mention of the multiroom service. I assume we are getting close to the point where Sky no longer wants to support these boxes and wondered if now is the time to take the plunge. If this really is a free upgrade I still have two issues. One being my lack of a landline and broadband , and the second being my option to cancel and then being able to use Freesat.
Do I need broadband to operate the box for non steaming services and how do I guarantee the required LNB is installed?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Cheers

I'd assume you're probably best talking with Sky, but the box does still work for watching channels etc without internet. You just lose extra functionality of the Sky Q box, like the catch up downloads, sky store, apps and so on.

Snwps

Quick note to add is that if you get a Sky Q box and then decide to cancel, you'll need to return the Sky Q Box to Sky or they'll hit you with a fine so you're not able to keep the Sky Q boxes after you cancel to use as free sat boxes, like you could with Sky + and Sky HD.

DullGreyGuy

Just keep the SkyHD boxes for FreeSat if you decide to downgrade (assuming your TV doesn't have freesat built in as they increasingly do). Your LNB may need an upgrade but the new one will still work with a HD box

chrisw

I had mine upgraded a few years ago and it was genuinely free, ie it didn't cost me any extra. I found it well worth it, just to be able to record 5 or 6 channels at once with more space. 

They came round and replaced my LNB, you'll have to check up about the landline or broadband, you don't need one to operate the box but you'll lose quite a bit of functionality and Sky used to want it connected so they knew where the box was. See if they'll throw it in as part of the deal.

sheffieldeagle

Thanks for all your comments. Just to confirm do I need to ask for a non standard LNB to maintain compatibility with the HD box?

Cheers

Neil_Jones

sheffieldeagle said:

Thanks for all your comments. Just to confirm do I need to ask for a non standard LNB to maintain compatibility with the HD box?

Cheers

When you upgrade to Sky Q your old subscription to Sky+ will stop working.

This means you cannot record or use on-demand or various other functions.

It will continue to work as a receiver, but that's about it.  A chunky receiver.

You can ask the Sky engineer to fit a hybrid LNB, but whether that's what you get is another matter.

sheffieldeagle

Neil_Jones said:

sheffieldeagle said:

Thanks for all your comments. Just to confirm do I need to ask for a non standard LNB to maintain compatibility with the HD box?

Cheers

When you upgrade to Sky Q your old subscription to Sky+ will stop working.

This means you cannot record or use on-demand or various other functions.

It will continue to work as a receiver, but that's about it.  A chunky receiver.

You can ask the Sky engineer to fit a hybrid LNB, but whether that's what you get is another matter.

Yeh that's the bit I'm worried about I need a guarantee on the hybrid LNB as I don't have an arial. I don't want to pay someone to change it if I cancel. I could do it myself but it's now out my height comfort zone.

Cheers 

brewerdave

sheffieldeagle said:

Neil_Jones said:

sheffieldeagle said:

Thanks for all your comments. Just to confirm do I need to ask for a non standard LNB to maintain compatibility with the HD box?

Cheers

When you upgrade to Sky Q your old subscription to Sky+ will stop working.

This means you cannot record or use on-demand or various other functions.

It will continue to work as a receiver, but that's about it.  A chunky receiver.

You can ask the Sky engineer to fit a hybrid LNB, but whether that's what you get is another matter.

Yeh that's the bit I'm worried about I need a guarantee on the hybrid LNB as I don't have an arial. I don't want to pay someone to change it if I cancel. I could do it myself but it's now out my height comfort zone.

Cheers 

I upgraded to Q last December - the fitter who changed me over from HD+ told me that Sky had stopped them from fitting hybrid LNBs and she didn't actually have any on the van. HOWEVER - I didn't try any bribery !!