Complete technophobe needs help please.

swingaloo

Embarrassingly I am completely useless when it comes to Sky packages/broadband etc.

Son has just moved out so I need to ger rid of what I dont need and get what I do need so would love some advice.

At the moment I have a Sky package which is approaching £90 a month and I want rid. We had 2 boxes so son could watch in his annex and we had our landline, calls including calls abroad, broadband internet and Netflix all through Sky.

Now someone has told me that I should get a firestick and will be able to access all the same channels I get now.
I also need broadband which at the moment works through the router attached to the landline. I have no idea how to sort it all. can I cancel the Sky package and just keep the broadband from them or should I be changing to someone else for broadband. 

Whatever, I need to keep it as simple as I can, as I say I am a complete technophobe. Can anyone advise, in simple terms please what is best to do.

43722

I generally would only try to change my contract if I was at the end of it.

oldernonethewiser

Your broadband account and your TV account can be treated separately.

You need to decide what channels you want to watch.

Once you have done that you could then potentially ditch Sky TV altogether.

Do you have a Smart TV ie one which has the ability to connect to the Internet? 

iniltous

As stated , if you don’t need Sky TV , you can cancel that and keep your Sky broadband if that’s your choice , but you may as well check what other broadband services are available , as far as getting a firestick , you can get paid for content for less than the ‘official’ retailers charge by downloading applications, but they are not ‘legal’  , but you can use a firestick to access legal streaming services such as Netflix etc. but not Sky content. 

You can use comparison sites to see what broadband offers are available, but TBH , you can probably get broadband from Sky for around £30 , so that’s £60 less than what you’re paying, if they won’t offer that , simply use someone else 

JSmithy45AD

iniltous said:

As stated , if you don’t need Sky TV , you can cancel that and keep your Sky broadband if that’s your choice , but you may as well check what other broadband services are available , as far as getting a firestick , you can get paid for content for less than the ‘official’ retailers charge by downloading applications, but they are not ‘legal’  , but you can use a firestick to access legal streaming services such as Netflix etc. but not Sky content. 

You can use comparison sites to see what broadband offers are available, but TBH , you can probably get broadband from Sky for around £30 , so that’s £60 less than what you’re paying, if they won’t offer that , simply use someone else 

Not quite true regarding the Firestick and Sky content as there is a NowTV app on there.

@swingaloo Are you out of contract for Sky TV and Sky broadband? If not you can ask to stop any monthly rolling add-ons at least (is multi-room a rolling monthly add-on?).

HaroldWhistler

swingaloo said:

Embarrassingly I am completely useless when it comes to Sky packages/broadband etc.

Son has just moved out so I need to ger rid of what I dont need and get what I do need so would love some advice.

At the moment I have a Sky package which is approaching £90 a month and I want rid. We had 2 boxes so son could watch in his annex and we had our landline, calls including calls abroad, broadband internet and Netflix all through Sky.

Now someone has told me that I should get a firestick and will be able to access all the same channels I get now.
I also need broadband which at the moment works through the router attached to the landline. I have no idea how to sort it all. can I cancel the Sky package and just keep the broadband from them or should I be changing to someone else for broadband. 

Whatever, I need to keep it as simple as I can, as I say I am a complete technophobe. Can anyone advise, in simple terms please what is best to do.

1. You can certainly keep either your Sky Broadband Package or Sky TV package separately (i.e. Cancel one of them). Or Cancel both and switch Broadband providers.

- However, you need to make sure you are out of contract on any contract you cancel (or else pay off the remainder of any contract). For instance, if you were out of contract on your Sky TV, you could cancel that, and keep your Sky Broadband until that finishes and move broadband to someone else later (or renew with Sky). 

2. Sky also offer "Sky Stream" to watch their television services via a 30 day rolling or 18 month contract via their Internet box without a Satellite. 

- It has its pros and cons, but you might be able to renegotiate any pre-existing Sky Q Contract to take up Sky Stream and access your Sky Channels and TV in general via the Internet. 

3. If you find yourself only watching TV channels that are "Free" on Freeview, then you could cancel your Sky TV (or end it at the end of your contract) and just use Freeview via an Aerial, or Freesat via any existing Satellite dish, or get Freeview via the Internet (see point 5).

- Most TVs have Freeview tuners to receive the Free channels via an aerial. 

4. If you cancel Sky TV, then a lot of Sky TV services (the extra TV channels from Sky) can be accessed via their subsidiary "Now_TV" if you want to ever watch them. 

- This is a Smart App that can be accessed from Smart TVs or smart devices like the Amazon Firestick, Apple TV or Smart Blu Ray players etc. It has rolling monthly contracts that can be cancelled at any time. The only thing to note is the quality of the broadcast is usually maximum of HD and not 4K. You also have to pay a little extra to have it in Full HD with something called "Now Boost". So for instance, Sky Sports Channels are not in 4K on Now_TV. Given that most Sky Channels are not in 4K, this likely wouldn't be an issue, though the Now Boost Add on would be recommended if you want to watch Sky Channels via that App. 
- You would just use the Now App exactly like Netflix whenever you want to watch something on the extra Sky channels. 

5. If you want to access Freeview via the Internet, you could consider the following:

- Most of the Free channels can be accessed via their respective apps (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, 4, My5, UKTVPlay, Discovery etc). These apps can be accessed on an Amazon Firestick (a one off cost) to watch the Live channel feeds or catch up on programmes from those channels.
- An Apple TV 4K box (a one off cost) can also provide an ultra quick way to watch TV and catch up. You have the same channel apps like on the Firestick. It does have far far fewer adverts though and works a lot faster overall. However, you can also get the TV Launcher App (a one off cost of £4.99) which is an App that can act like a TV guide to see the TV schedule. You can also select a programme from the App which will automatically open the respective Channel App and in most cases the Live Feed for that Channel as well. As an example, if you selected a programme on BBC Two, it will open up BBC Two's HD Feed. You can also just hold the voice assistant button on the Remote and say "BBC Two Live" and it will open the channel up as well. 

6. Check if you need to have a landline as mobile deals are usually far more competitively priced.

7. Check if you can get Full Fibre broadband as well to maximise your internet experience. These products are usually known as Ultrafast broadband. "Fibre to the Cabinet" broadband is different (usually they market that as "Super fast Fibre" despite it using Copper to your home). If Full Fibre broadband isn't available yet, then try to minimise your contract length for any broadband products to maximise your negotiating power when Full Fibre/Ultrafast becomes available in your area. 

- You can also consider an Unlimited 4G Mobile Broadband option. Basically you get a Mifi device, or a Home Broadband Wifi Router that has a slot to put in a SIM card. Then get a 30 day rolling (or short contract) Unlimited Data SIM from a network with good coverage in your area (usually for around £15-30 a month).
- Like for like, Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband will be better than the Superfast Fibre to the Cabinet equivalent. 
- Pick a broadband product speed based upon your needs. Consider the broadband speed like the water pressure into a home which is shared across all devices in the home. One person Watching something on a single device in 4K quality usually needs around 25Mbps. So for example if you wanted to ensure everyone gets a seamless service whilst each is working, watching, listening etc then you pick a product of 50Mbps, 150Mbps or 500Mbps or 900Mbps accordingly. 

8. You can subscribe at will to any additional Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Discovery, Paramount Plus etc etc as and when you choose on 30 day rolling. Sky and BT usually give a discounted rate for Netflix, though you are tied into a contract with them for their Sky/BT services. 

9. As an example, if you found you didn't need Sky TV at all, and you are out of contract, then you could go for:

Equipment for a more "Seamless experience"
- An Apple TV 4K box for £169 (one off cost per TV).
- The TV Launcher App for £4.99 (one off cost).

OR Equipment that would still work:
- Amazon Firestick 4K for £40 (one off cost per TV).

Broadband
-  FTTP (Full Fibre) depending on availability for between £25-55 a month.
- OR Continue with FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) until FTTP becomes available at the current Sky price.
- OR Switch to 4G Mobile broadband for between £15 to £30 a month. Pick a network that has high strength coverage at your property. Purchase a Mifi device (about £35 one off cost) or Mobile Broadband SIM Router (for about £60-70 one off cost).

TV
- Freeview channels all free via respective Apps on either equipment option above
- Additional Streaming Services all rolling monthly only paid "as and when" you want to subscribe (NOW TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc etc etc).

Mobiles
- Unlimited Minutes SIM from a network with strong coverage in your area (circa £5 to 15 a month per phone).

In addition, when it comes to landline based Broadband and Wifi, don't worry about subscription services for Wifi products like BT and Sky try to upsell on contracts. Instead, you'd likely be better off buying your own Home Broadband router (a one off cost) that you can use with any provider. These tend to be far more powerful than those rented from broadband providers. It additional wireless coverage is necessary, you can buy your own Mesh system, or Powerline devices to disperse the Internet around your home.