Sky TV - Set Top box or App?

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OnceBitten

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#272788 16-Jul-2020 08:49

My Brother is in a permanent care facility and in his room there is a basic TV on the wall that has most / all the freeview channels

it's only about a 22-26" (Phillips?) and the picture quality is pretty average

My brother would like to get sky TV. I've spoken to the management at the facility and they have Sky aerial(s) on the building and each room has a Sky / UHF aerial plug as well as red / white / yellow RCA leads on the wall. Many other residents there have large TV's on the wall

They said the TV in the room is not equipped to get sky - and it is too small anyway. they said we just need to get a new TV and mounting bracket, then get sky to come out and install the set top box.

the maintenance man at the facility will install the TV on the wall if we supply the appropriate bracket

But my wife said you no longer need the set top box - you just need a smart TV with the Sky TV app - is this correct??

I just want to get some advice before I phone sky TV and fork out on a TV for my brother

thanks in advance

davidcole

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#2523961 16-Jul-2020 10:01

You can now use the Sky Go app on a tablet, and with a chromecast you could get it on a tv. This is the only official way of doing full sky. Previously casting was not allowed.

There is the possibility of using Sky Sport Now direct on some devices and tv, removing the need for a chrome cast. But it's only the sport channels.

If you can get your brother to be comfortable with a tablet + chromecast then that might be an ok solution.

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#2523962 16-Jul-2020 10:03

Obviously any app requires an Internet connection.

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trig42

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#2523966 16-Jul-2020 10:06

Just a note to the above. If the facility has some captive portal arrangement for WiFi, a Chromecast will not work. It needs a 'standard' wifi network (with a SSID and password) so that the Chromecast and the casting device (phone or tablet) are on the same network.

Chromecast cannot join a Wifi network where the network directs you to a webpage to sign in (like Hotels, McDs, Airports etc have).

I think it'd be easier to get a new TV and get Sky in to install a decoder.

OnceBitten

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#2523987 16-Jul-2020 10:38

thanks for the replies.... there is wifi in the care facility as he has spark sports installed on his laptop (although there appears to be a bit of buffering - I'm looking into this)

do they make TV mounting brackets with a shelf underneath for a sky decoder.... I 'll have to look into this, as the TV will need to go on the wall and there is no shelf or anything in the room for the sky box to go

Brunzy

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#2524182 16-Jul-2020 15:26

Get a tilt bracket, tilt it forward ,then stick the sky decoder behind the top of the TV obviously with the panel looking towards the ceiling . It will work fine , I’ve done it many times in exactly your situation.

hairy1

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#2524221 16-Jul-2020 16:27

Have you looked at Vodafone TV plugged into the internet and the TV? Runs over broadband. All the freeview and Sky channels and recording if you get the Sky option....

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OnceBitten

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#2524329 16-Jul-2020 20:38

hairy1:

Have you looked at Vodafone TV plugged into the internet and the TV? Runs over broadband. All the freeview and Sky channels and recording if you get the Sky option....

well I need to test his laptop speed and see if there are any issues with the broadband / wifi speed at the place he is in first..... I think sky is easier because the have all the cables there ready...

OnceBitten

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#2528040 24-Jul-2020 10:07

Does anyone know the height of a standard sky TV set top box / decoder?

I'm getting a Samsung TV for my brother as it has more features, and I was wondering if it will fit underneath?

I'm going to get him a dresser / set of draws and my plan is to put the TV on top and the sky box under the TV on top of the dresser / draws

edited to add on the sky website it says they are 58mm high, so there may not be enough room between the dresser and the TV.... but I'll see if I can sort something out!