unsure. Sky HD or Virgin HD

Robert1986

Robert1986

Robert1986

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Been looking into getting one of these services but I am not sure which one to go for.

I currently have a HUMAX FOXSAT HD freesat box but it doesn't have much channels and only has 2 HD channels but its free!

I really don't know the difference between Virgin HD and SKY HD. The only thing I know is Virgin is cheaper and the HD channels are free, limited but free.

I only want to pay around £30-35 a month.

The package I chose with sky is just the variety pack plus the HD pack... but it doesn't give me a full list of channels I get with this pack. The virgin page is great as it shows you all the channels you get.

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/tv/channels/index.html

I think ESPN on the xl pack still needs a subscription though? Along with the sky sports channels.... correct? Its shown as ticked but ESPN is £12 a month on sky and theres no way the XL pack includes ESPN for £30 a month.

I am just alittle confused with all these options. I have to make my mind up quickly as sky are giving away their HD boxes just now.

Another question, am I right in saying, virgin tv doesn't use a dish like sky? How does that work then?

Another question, is there a list of all the channels I will receive with the variety pack with sky? The sky order page is very vague.

last questions, which HD BOX is better? which remote is better? which EPG is better? and which gives the better sd picture?
 
Last edited:
Just ordered sky HD+. Came to £33 a month with the channels I picked. Didn't take any of the sport or movie packages as they're far too expensive.

I already have a dish and the coaxial cable set up. I just need the box now.
 
On Sky HD you will receive every HD apart from the premium channels you don't subscribe to. So if you dont subscribe to Sky Sports or Movies, you won't get them.

So long as you subscribe to at least one pack and the HD pack, you will get every HD channel (bar sports and movies as mentioned) regardless as to whether you subscribe to the other parks. Example: You will get Discovery HD even if you don't subscribe to the "Knowledge" pack, but you won't get any of the SD channels in that pack.

Just as a note, on Virgin the XL pack does include ESPN HD for free (you need to pay a lot more for Sky Sports and Sky Movies though), it is cabled so no dish, has better On Demand and is 'generally' cheaper than Sky. Also, the V+Box upscales SD content brilliantly.

With regards to the Sky HD boxes, anything but the Thomson box is fine. I don't think they supply the Thomsons anymore, so it should be fine. You will get the "new" EPG with any HD box too as well as the same remote. SD quality is were Sky suffers badly. The box isn't as good as even the older Sky+ boxes when it comes to SD. Just for some reason doesn't output it well.
 
How does it compare to the HUMAX FOXSAT HD box? The SD picture on that is pretty good. Good enough for me anyway.

I've ordered and will have it on thursday. ESPN HD being free on virgin and not sky is a little disappointing.

Still, should be very happy with the pack I picked on sky. Free HD+ Box and £32 a month.. seems like a pretty good deal to me.

btw, I picked.



£22 Monthly
Entertainment Packs
Variety Pack, Children's Pack, Knowledge Pack, Music Pack, News & Events Pack


Sky boxes
Sky boxes Sky+HD Box FREE
HD Pack FREE
Set-up FREE

Offers / Discounts
Upfront payment 10GBP off 1st month's HD Pack
Total Costs
Initial monthly cost £22
Ongoing monthly cost £32
Upfront payment towards first bill £10
 
Not had experience with the Foxsat box, but a quick Google seems to suggest it does upscale SD.

The Sky HD does upscale to 1080i (if its set to 1080i in the menu), but it doesn't do it very well and tends to look the same or worse than SD on a Sky+ box.

Package seems fine for what you want. Mines pretty much the same, but I have Sky Sports 1 (just 1, not the full Sports package since most Premier league games I like are on Sky Sports HD1) and I pay £40 a month for it.

When I move house though, Ill be changing to Virgin. Cheaper and offers the same and more for me what with On Demand stuff.
 
Robert1986 said:
Might upgrade to sky sports 1 once the premier league starts in august.
Click to expand...

Thats what a lot of people do. Most cancel in the Summer and get it again in the August when the games start. I should really cancel it, but I guess it will only save like £16 since I've left it this late.
 
FA cup and champions league are on bbc/itv.
Foreign leagues are on eurosport.. right?
real madrid channel shows all madrid games right?

What other football can I watch without the sky sports package?
 
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