Freeview and Sky sat box all in one?

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robbon44

239 posts

Master Geek

#173676 1-Jun-2015 19:02

Just passed me by but is there a freeview satellite box out there that has a card slot so that I could say switch to sky for 6 mnths for the rugby etc but then switch over to freeview for the remainder of the year...?

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#1315679 1-Jun-2015 19:12

Yes, there are a pile on Trademe such as http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/caravans-motorhomes/parts-accessories/satellites-aerials/auction-893924566.htm

B1GGLZ

1959 posts

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#1315708 1-Jun-2015 19:33

Yes, but the downside is you need a current Sky subscription to use the card so you might as well just subscribe to Sky for the 6 months and get a Sky box. Also you still need to pay for HD Ticket to watch the HD channels (except TV1,2,3 etc) and subscribe to Sports as well.

robbon44

239 posts

Master Geek

#1315714 1-Jun-2015 19:46

Yep I know. I'm trying to kick sky but I like the rugby and the World Cup is coming up.. So was looking in to fan pass and would simply subscribe to sky for the season then scrap it in favor of freeview.. We watch more netflix and film rather than random sky channels but the rugby is still a pull..but would like the option to switch sky back on when I need to..

joshhill96

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Freeview NZ

#1315804 1-Jun-2015 22:33

I have seen the Skybox in action and HD channels are available in HD even if you don't have the HD ticket. you need to subscribe to the channels though.

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The above view is my personal opinion/view and not from Dish TV Technologies

Currently working with Freeview NZ and Owner of Tech Plus Services Limited
Former Consultant at Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

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Apsattv

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#1315830 2-Jun-2015 05:59

I would advise against it, with Sky planning to swap out all older decoders for newer interactive capable ones. There is a likely chance of an update that will knockout non sky approved gear from using Sky cards and may lock the cards so they only work in Sky's Supplied receiver. Just get a splitter so you can have a regular Freeview satellite receiver plugged in along side the Sky supplied one.

B1GGLZ

1959 posts

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#1315856 2-Jun-2015 08:16

joshhill96: I have seen the Skybox in action and HD channels are available in HD even if you don't have the HD ticket. you need to subscribe to the channels though.

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The above view is my personal opinion/view and not from Dish TV Technologies

You still need to pay for an HD ticket AND subscribe to them if you want to watch HD channels other than the Freeview ones (TV1,2 3 etc).

From Sky website

HD Access Ticket SKY HD content is available on selected programmes on SoHo, THE ZONE, SKY Movies Premiere, SKY Movies Extra, SKY Movies Greats, SKY Movies Classics, SKY Movies Action, SKY Sport 1, SKY Sport 2, SKY Sport 3, SKY Sport 4, ESPN, ESPN 2 (may be subject to change during major sporting events). To access SKY HD content you need an HD TV, MY SKY, the HD Access Ticket ($9.99 per month) and subscribe to Basic, SKY Sport, SoHo and/or SKY Movies.

tdgeek

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#1315859 2-Jun-2015 08:27

B1GGLZ: Yes, but the downside is you need a current Sky subscription to use the card so you might as well just subscribe to Sky for the 6 months and get a Sky box. Also you still need to pay for HD Ticket to watch the HD channels (except TV1,2,3 etc) and subscribe to Sports as well.

And pay $20 for the MySky box

tdgeek

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#1315860 2-Jun-2015 08:30

B1GGLZ:
joshhill96: I have seen the Skybox in action and HD channels are available in HD even if you don't have the HD ticket. you need to subscribe to the channels though.

--
The above view is my personal opinion/view and not from Dish TV Technologies

You still need to pay for an HD ticket AND subscribe to them if you want to watch HD channels other than the Freeview ones (TV1,2 3 etc).

From Sky website

HD Access Ticket SKY HD content is available on selected programmes on SoHo, THE ZONE, SKY Movies Premiere, SKY Movies Extra, SKY Movies Greats, SKY Movies Classics, SKY Movies Action, SKY Sport 1, SKY Sport 2, SKY Sport 3, SKY Sport 4, ESPN, ESPN 2 (may be subject to change during major sporting events). To access SKY HD content you need an HD TV, MY SKY, the HD Access Ticket ($9.99 per month) and subscribe to Basic, SKY Sport, SoHo and/or SKY Movies.

What is HD like if you don't have the HD ticket"? That noticeable?

And how often can you turn off sport then turn back on?

I'm wanting to remove Sky, but im locked into the convenience, and I hate the Freeview UI. I should just jump. The rugger will be at bad hours, I assume it will be FTA the following day?

B1GGLZ

1959 posts

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#1316081 2-Jun-2015 12:03

tdgeek:

What is HD like if you don't have the HD ticket"? That noticeable? And how often can you turn off sport then turn back on?

Well if you don't have the ticket then it won't be HD but SD and the bigger your TV the worse it will look. How good the picture looks on your TV depends on it size, type of Sky box and connections. Also how well your Tv handles upscaling.

From the Sky Television Wiki

My Sky HDi

On 1 July 2008, a service called My Sky HDi was launched, and is the successor to the My Sky service released in 2005.

The boxes allow connection of to up to four satellites which can work with its four TV tuner cards in any combination. Two channels can be recorded at once, while another can be watched live and the fourth is for a non-real time pay per view service. The device has a 320GB HDD however only 160GB is available for recording, the remaining is reserved for on-demand downloads. The quality of My Sky HDi is 576i via component and 720/1080i via HDMI

grant_k

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#1316093 2-Jun-2015 12:14

tdgeek: What is HD like if you don't have the HD ticket"? That noticeable?

We've been watching TV1/2/3 in HD for the past 4 years without needing an HD ticket. Yes, the picture is significantly better when something is actually being broadcast that was HD originally.

However, with the dumbing down of the FTA channels, the number of times they show anything in HD that I actually want to watch are few and far between. If they do, then it's usually available from BBC iPlayer anyway, without any adverts at all.

With Sky's latest price increase we've decided to ditch Sky completely as it's not worth $50 per month just for the privilege of getting TV1/2/3 in HD, on the few occasions when they actually show HD source material.

grant_k

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#1316107 2-Jun-2015 12:26

Apsattv: I would advise against it, with Sky planning to swap out all older decoders for newer interactive capable ones. There is a likely chance of an update that will knockout non sky approved gear from using Sky cards and may lock the cards so they only work in Sky's Supplied receiver.
...

Interesting comment. I've been enjoying using a Sky card in non-approved gear for the past 4 years, but figured that Sky would nobble it eventually. Doesn't matter to me now as all their gear is about to be returned.

robbon44

239 posts

Master Geek

#1316149 2-Jun-2015 12:50

grant_k: . Doesn't matter to me now as all their gear is about to be returned.

Does this include the dish ?

We are thinking of getting sky to install on our house (currently being built) then once installed switch over following the RWC.

I like the convenience of MySKy and will want the season pass form sky for next seasons Super XV, hence my need for a freeview box with a sky card option.

the best of both worlds would be ;

1) Sky acknowledge my long term history with them and allow me to keep my SkyHDI box. OR I purchase a freeview PVR with sky card compatibility.

2) Cut the basic package to a FTA package (freeview) and charge me a few dollars for the privelage of using their decoder and PVR interface. I don't see why I should pay for FTA channels.

3) Allow me to purchase a season pass for Super XV.

grant_k

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#1316171 2-Jun-2015 13:24

robbon44:
grant_k: . Doesn't matter to me now as all their gear is about to be returned.
Does this include the dish ?

No, we are keeping the dish. It's pretty old and quite rusty in places so I doubt that Sky would want it anyway. I replaced the LNB a couple of years ago after the original Sharp unit installed by Sky failed. I've never seen Sky remove dishes in our area as the installer is always far too busy.

robbon44: We are thinking of getting sky to install on our house (currently being built) then once installed switch over following the RWC.

Not a bad idea, but I suspect you will be hit with some sort of minimum term.

robbon44: I like the convenience of MySKy and will want the season pass form sky for next seasons Super XV, hence my need for a freeview box with a sky card option.

I've been using a Vu+ Duo which does everything MySky does and a whole lot more besides such as Ad-Skipping, access to recorded files over the LAN and vastly improved UI.

robbon44: the best of both worlds would be ;

1) Sky acknowledge my long term history with them and allow me to keep my SkyHDI box.

I know what you're saying because we also paid $600 in 2005 when MySky was first released. However, the outright buy has worked out to be a far cheaper option than paying $15 per month for 10 years -- would have added up to $1800 by now!

Sadly, I don't think there's any way Sky will allow you to keep MySky after you leave. 3rd party decoders such as Vu+ Duo are much better anyway.

robbon44: OR I purchase a freeview PVR with sky card compatibility.

Yep, definitely the best idea, but be prepared for the Sky card compatibility to be disabled at some point.

robbon44: 3) Allow me to purchase a season pass for Super XV.

Have a look here: http://www.as.setantasportsplus.com/home

I know of someone using a VPN terminating in Singapore to access this site. I think you'll find that streaming options will expand hugely with RWC about to happen.

robbon44

239 posts

Master Geek

#1316184 2-Jun-2015 13:32

cheers Grant

I am liking the lure of the Vu+ duo, don't know much about them or where to even purchase one.. I accept that Sky will pull the plug at some point on the cards but they must see streaming services as a big challenge for them, their content has seriously failed to lure people back to a sky subscription... and neon...hmmm well..

grant_k

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#1316189 2-Jun-2015 13:37

robbon44: cheers Grant
I am liking the lure of the Vu+ duo, don't know much about them or where to even purchase one.
...

Have a look here: http://www.world-of-satellite.com/forum.php

There are various companies in the UK and Europe offering them but you will need to import your own unfortunately. Current model is Vu+2 and there are various plug-in tuners for some models offering DTT and DVB-S/S2 in the one box. DTT is not available where we live, so I've never explored that option.

The forum linked above provides excellent support for the Vu+ family, and in particular the VIX image which I've been using for the past 3 years. The boxes run on Linux and are extremely reliable compared to just about anything else.

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