Sky without a telephone connection?

[frankg4553]

If I buy a Sky box and subscription, can I just plug it in to my current set-up and receive the progs or do I have to have a cable running through the house to my phone line as they state in their blurb

If I have to have a cable, why do they insist on this and what's the reasoning behind it. Is it only for 12 months or not?

Thanks

Frank

[4dbennett]

If I buy a Sky box and subscription, can I just plug it in to my current set-up and receive the progs or do I have to have a cable running through the house to my phone line as they state in their blurb

If I have to have a cable, why do they insist on this and what's the reasoning behind it. Is it only for 12 months or not?

Thanks

Frank

Sky insist that you keep the telephone connection for 12 months,

i removed mine after 1 month because someone told me that they monitor your viewing preferences and of course you need the telephone line for some interactive devices,

take it out m8 and sodemm!!!!

deep joy

dave

[Analoguesat]

If you supply your own equipment then you can ring up and ask for a "second hand box" contract. There is no telephone line requirement if you do this.

The exception is if you are adding a box for multiroom - in that case there is a phone line requirement for both boxes to be connected to the SAME phone line for the entire life of the multiroom sub.

[dasteelman]

As soon as the Sky engineer left, my telephone connection was pulled out immediatly...4 years on!

obviously dont tell Sky this

[frankg4553]

If you supply your own equipment then you can ring up and ask for a "second hand box" contract. There is no telephone line requirement if you do this.

The exception is if you are adding a box for multiroom - in that case there is a phone line requirement for both boxes to be connected to the SAME phone line for the entire life of the multiroom sub.

My idea is to get rid of BT Internet as my ISP (as they haven't bothered to upgrade my line to 8 meg since last April despite 2 phone calls!) and replace it with the 2 or 3 picks package from Sky along with the broadband and phone. Quite a good deal at £19 or so compared to the £15 I'm paying to BT just for broadband.

I am thinking of taking out the subscription, getting the box and running it through a switch box on my current motorised set-up.
I would install it myself as there's basically nothing to it...just connect up the box and cables.
Any drawbacks to this masterplan or is it pretty sound?

Frank

[Topper]

My idea is to get rid of BT Internet as my ISP (as they haven't bothered to upgrade my line to 8 meg since last April despite 2 phone calls!) and replace it with the 2 or 3 picks package from Sky along with the broadband and phone. Quite a good deal at £19 or so compared to the £15 I'm paying to BT just for broadband.

Your plan sound great however just be aware that Sky will be using the exact same infrastructure to supply you what with what BT are unable to currently so do not bank on anything near 8Meg. My BT 8Meg line varies dependent on the weather (or so it seems) and alters between 2.5 M and 4.8Meg but never any higher and they say it is because of my distance from the exchange and the fact that the first BT box in the house cannot be utilised for the router (as recommended) because it is in the downstairs loo. I wish you luck

[frankg4553]

Your plan sound great however just be aware that Sky will be using the exact same infrastructure to supply you what with what BT are unable to currently so do not bank on anything near 8Meg. My BT 8Meg line varies dependent on the weather (or so it seems) and alters between 2.5 M and 4.8Meg but never any higher and they say it is because of my distance from the exchange and the fact that the first BT box in the house cannot be utilised for the router (as recommended) because it is in the downstairs loo. I wish you luck

Thanks Topper...I know it's unlikely to reach 8 meg, but BT haven't even bothered initiating the change....I'm still on 2.2meg...the same as it's always been even before renewing the contract on the promise of faster speeds.

I think that because I'm an existing customer and not a new one, I'm at the back of the line and they give preference to setting up new ones!!

Frank

[rolfw]

I am thinking of taking out the subscription, getting the box and running it through a switch box on my current motorised set-up.
I would install it myself as there's basically nothing to it...just connect up the box and cables.
Any drawbacks to this masterplan or is it pretty sound?

Frank

What do you mean by a switchbox? Sky digiboxes have no switch controls built in and running on a dish which may or may not be parked on Astra 28.2 East overnight, will lead to lost updates on the box and possibly other problems.

You are better off to let Sky put up a separate minidish and for the phone line, just get yourself an extension reel for the duration of the installation.

[frankg4553]

What do you mean by a switchbox? Sky digiboxes have no switch controls built in and running on a dish which may or may not be parked on Astra 28.2 East overnight, will lead to lost updates on the box and possibly other problems.

You are better off to let Sky put up a separate minidish and for the phone line, just get yourself an extension reel for the duration of the installation.

Hi Rolf....by switchbox I mean a scart control box...similar to the one I have now with 2 feeds in (sat and freeview) and one out to the TV.

I'm assuming I could use the same system with a Sky box?

Reading some other threads it seems that with only having the single Inverto LNB, it would be a waste to pay for a Sky+ box and should go for the basic box, is that right?

Parking it on 28.2E each night would not be a problem.

Thanks

Frank

[rolfw]

Yes, but if you are going to use the LNB loopthrough on the Technomate, you will have problems, as even in standby, the digibox still powers the LNB, you really need a separate dish, or at the very least, a twin LNB.

But if you are going to go for Sky, why not go the whole hog and get Sky+, it is leaps and bounds better than a standard box. .