MySky - Buy or Rent

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alisam

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#67986 12-Sep-2010 21:19

I have the Sky basic package, but am fed up with trying to:
a) switch channels
b) record the correct time. Sky seems to move times at the drop of a hat.

So, I thought a MySky would do the job (I already have a NZ Tivo and really do like the convenience).

I am more inclined to buy rather than pay on the 'never never' as they used to call it in the good old days.

I see that Sky is going to re-introduce internet TV.

Buying makes sense to me.
However, if I have I read the T&C's correctly, if I rent I have to pay $99 plus $15 month (Yes HD would be nice, but on the basic Sky Package, it isn't worth it). Otherwise I pay $599.

Should I rent or buy?
Will internet TV require a different box?

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#379162 13-Sep-2010 00:01

Personally I'd rent it, at $15 a month (with $99 install) it'd take 33 months (2 years 9 months) to cover the buy price. Do you know what you will be doing in 3 years time? Will you still be using Sky? Will Sky have introduced a new box? If its rented you have more freedom to jump ship or upgrade.

IMHO I thought Sky's internet offerings were going to be through a Computer?

mattbush

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#379164 13-Sep-2010 00:15

Im hoping we get some competition with internet television...give Sky a run for their money..

dukester

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#379180 13-Sep-2010 06:10

My preference was to pay the $599 when myski first came out. I have only had to pay one extra fee and that whas $50.00 to upgrade to the myskihd box. I did this about 4 years ago so I am now on the winning side not having to pay rental.

openmedia

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#379192 13-Sep-2010 08:16

Also remember that you don't own the box.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

bazzer

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#379213 13-Sep-2010 09:14

kingjj: Personally I'd rent it, at $15 a month (with $99 install) it'd take 33 months (2 years 9 months) to cover the buy price. Do you know what you will be doing in 3 years time? Will you still be using Sky? Will Sky have introduced a new box? If its rented you have more freedom to jump ship or upgrade.

Even longer if you take into account the time value of money. At 6% interest it's over 3 years. It's a hard choice I think. Once you get Sky it's easy to keep it, inertia prevents you from getting rid of it. At least paying the $599 one off fee, you know with certaintly your cost. If you're happy with it go for it.

Paying $15pm for 10 years equates to about $1350 in today's money. Of course, a lot changes in 10 years. Most people don't rent their home appliances, do they?

LookingUp

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#379228 13-Sep-2010 10:08

Check out the likes of a Vu+Duo box. For a one off cost it will solve all your problems.

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bazzer

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#379235 13-Sep-2010 10:20

Not really. I guess it depends what it costs, but what benefits does it offer the OP over MySky? What happens when it breaks, especially out of warranty?

Kyanar

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#379434 13-Sep-2010 20:18

bazzer: Not really. I guess it depends what it costs, but what benefits does it offer the OP over MySky? What happens when it breaks, especially out of warranty?

Sky will always repair or replace it, as even if you pay $599 you still aren't buying it. You're just paying the rental fee in a lump sum.

Just pay the $15/month. It's unlikely you'll still be using the same device in the 2 years it takes to break even, so there's no point paying more for less.

clevedon

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#379513 14-Sep-2010 07:51

Kyanar: Sky will always repair or replace it, as even if you pay $599 you still aren't buying it. You're just paying the rental fee in a lump sum.

Just pay the $15/month. It's unlikely you'll still be using the same device in the 2 years it takes to break even, so there's no point paying more for less.

We paid $599 upfront four years ago for MySky1 and when HDi came out two years ago they upgraded us for free. $360 saved by not renting and no extra costs incurred for the latest available STB.

LookingUp

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#379534 14-Sep-2010 09:00

bazzer: Not really. I guess it depends what it costs, but what benefits does it offer the OP over MySky? What happens when it breaks, especially out of warranty?

IMHO the Vu+Duo is far superior to a MySky box. The part most likely to "break" will be the HDD, but in the case of the Vu+Duo it's not copy protected, so you can back-up your recordings or save them to DVD and siomply replace the HDD. You can't do that with a MySky box - if it loses it's HDD it will be replaced by Sky, but your recordings (the few that will FIT on it!) are lost.

The Vu+Duo can take up to a 2TB HDD on-board, plus external drives via a SATA, 2x USB connections, or Ethernet to home network. ie. effectively unlimited storage.

Another cool feature is the ability to stream media from the Vu+Duo to PCs on a network. It's possible to have someone watching the main TV feed, while recording other channels, while PC users on the local network are watching still other channels!

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bazzer

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#379721 14-Sep-2010 15:44

Kyanar:
bazzer: Not really. I guess it depends what it costs, but what benefits does it offer the OP over MySky? What happens when it breaks, especially out of warranty?

Sky will always repair or replace it, as even if you pay $599 you still aren't buying it. You're just paying the rental fee in a lump sum.
Just pay the $15/month. It's unlikely you'll still be using the same device in the 2 years it takes to break even, so there's no point paying more for less.

I was referring to the Vu+Duo unit mentioned.

LookingUp: IMHO the Vu+Duo is far superior to a MySky box. The part most likely to "break" will be the HDD, but in the case of the Vu+Duo it's not copy protected, so you can back-up your recordings or save them to DVD and siomply replace the HDD. You can't do that with a MySky box - if it loses it's HDD it will be replaced by Sky, but your recordings (the few that will FIT on it!) are lost.

The Vu+Duo can take up to a 2TB HDD on-board, plus external drives via a SATA, 2x USB connections, or Ethernet to home network. ie. effectively unlimited storage.

Another cool feature is the ability to stream media from the Vu+Duo to PCs on a network. It's possible to have someone watching the main TV feed, while recording other channels, while PC users on the local network are watching still other channels!

It does sound pretty cool. Where'd you get yours and how much are they, for comparison?

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LookingUp

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#379737 14-Sep-2010 16:19

I got my from http://www.satgear.co.nz/ and paid $700 for the base unit, plus $220 for the addition of a 2TB HDD. I see they've put their price up a bit now, but it's still a great buy.

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alisam

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#379840 14-Sep-2010 20:45

By the way, what is the $99 actually for.
I feel quite sure I could plug in all the cables myself.

steve98

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#382462 20-Sep-2010 21:12

I'm confused by this vu+duo thing. The website linked to above makes it sound like it's a Freeview box -- how is it a solution for MySkyHDi functionality?

Handle9

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#382468 20-Sep-2010 21:32

alisam: By the way, what is the $99 actually for.
I feel quite sure I could plug in all the cables myself.

Depends on what you have now. They generally need to upgrade your lnb and run a second cable.

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