Can I legally get Sky Channels through a Firestick?

Associate
Joined
15 Jan 2023
Posts
128
Location
scotland
Looking for a bit of help. I have a TV in a spare room which is quite basic and the standard of sound is really quiet. As a result I attached a couple of Amazon Echo's to a Firestick and just use that as a bit of a booster for the sound and it actually works really well what what I want it to do. I use the firestick to watch Netflix, Prime, Discovery etc etc through the apps and all is good. However the Echo sound doesn't work with the Sky Q box because it is only paired to the Firestick. Is there any way of streaming Sky through the Firestick? The Sky Go app doesn't appear on the Amazon app store any more, I cant seem to cast Sky Go from my phone or iPad and I haven't had any luck sideloading through Google Play. I'm not looking for any IPTV solutions I'm only talking about accessing the current subscription I already have with Sky through the Firestick so I can take advantage of the boosted sound.

Its only a spare telly so dont want any surround sound solutions or anything I d have to spend money on, just wondering if there was a work around for what I have. there is no Bluetooth on the TV itself as far as I can see so I cant set the Echo's up are wireless speakers and pair them with the tv that way either.
 
It's frustrating, but the last I heard is that the Go app does not permit mirroring, casting or output over HDMI from phones or tablets.

What you're left with then is paying for an extra Q mini to stick with the spare TV. That, or some solution to transmit the existing main or a mini box HDMI out either via your aerial coax, or a HDMI extender, or a Slingbox. None of these is free though.
 
It's frustrating, but the last I heard is that the Go app does not permit mirroring, casting or output over HDMI from phones or tablets.

What you're left with then is paying for an extra Q mini to stick with the spare TV. That, or some solution to transmit the existing main or a mini box HDMI out either via your aerial coax, or a HDMI extender, or a Slingbox. None of these is free though.

Ive got a Sky Q box attached already with a full sub. This is purely a mechanism to get it through the firestick so that I can benefit from the additional sound provided by the two echo's that are paired to the firestick. Its not important enough for me to spend any money on it really but if there had been a way to stream my Sky subscription i.e if the Sky Go app was available, then its an easy hit. there doesn't seem to be any way of doing it though. i suppose Sky would see it as people trying to work round a multiroom sub and get their sub on a second telly but it all seems a bit sledgehammer to crack a nut to me.
 
Ive got a Sky Q box attached already with a full sub. This is purely a mechanism to get it through the firestick so that I can benefit from the additional sound provided by the two echo's that are paired to the firestick. Its not important enough for me to spend any money on it really but if there had been a way to stream my Sky subscription i.e if the Sky Go app was available, then its an easy hit. there doesn't seem to be any way of doing it though. i suppose Sky would see it as people trying to work round a multiroom sub and get their sub on a second telly but it all seems a bit sledgehammer to crack a nut to me.
The bit of info that you have a Q (mini?) box attached to the TV is useful (if that's what you meant).

Yes, I also understand that your end goal is better sound than the TV speakers, and to achieve that with the gear you have - a Fire TV and a couple of Echoes, and without spending any extra, either on hardware or subs. Does that summarise it adequately?

You still have the problem though of bits from different jigsaws.

We know about the restrictions with the Sky Go app; no casting, mirroring, or displaying via a HDMI connection. It is claimed that the Go app can be loaded onto a Fire Stick. That's probably your route.

https://tvexpertguide.com/sky-go-on-firestick/

Of course, it's not without its own issues. You might not be comfortable side-loading the Go app. Or maybe there's insufficient memory. Or you hate paying for a Mini and multiroom app that you then don't use. Or the picture quality sucks, which as been a complaint of Go. Or maybe Sky still manage to throw a spnner in the works that audio from the app can't be accessed via Fire TV to Echoes. Who knows??

If any of these turn out to be deal breakers for you then the remaining option is to get sound into the Echoes in a more direct way. Bluetooth is one idea, but lag becomes a big issue.

A line input on the Echoes would be useful, but they dont have it. There was a device called an Echo Input or similar. This was an analogue line in to the Echo ecosystem. That might have used the house Wi-Fi which is less laggy. You'd have to find a used one.
 
Last edited:
The bit of info that you have a Q (mini?) box attached to the TV is useful (if that's what you meant).

Yes, I also understand that your end goal is better sound than the TV speakers, and to achieve that with the gear you have - a Fire TV and a couple of Echoes, and without spending any extra, either on hardware or subs. Does that summarise it adequately?

You still have the problem though of bits from different jigsaws.

We know about the restrictions with the Sky Go app; no casting, mirroring, or displaying via a HDMI connection. It is claimed that the Go app can be loaded onto a Fire Stick. That's probably your route.

https://tvexpertguide.com/sky-go-on-firestick/
Thanks for your help, sorry I probably didnt give enough detail in the OP but I didnt want to write an essay!

Essentially yes you are correct. I have a living room with main Sky Q box and all my bits and pieces in there. That's completely fine. I have a kitchen/diner which has a TV on the wall with a Sky Q mini box. This is the one with an issue. The sound from the TV isnt great and given the size of the room if Im cooking in the kitchen part I really have to crank up the TV volume. Its a 4 year old Samsung Smart TV but is just a basic one. As I have a firestick and a few dots and pops dotted about the house I though if I put the firestick on the kitchen telly and paired the dots to it I could get a bit better sound. It absolutely works a treat and when there is any streaming app on in the background, happy days. However I cant pair my Sky subscription to the firestick. I cant seem to load it through downloader or filesharer either, that link says it no longer works and that has been my experience. I suspect there is no work around but it feels like there should be!

The TV doesn't have Bluetooth either as that could have been a work around to pair the dots just as speakers and my understanding is that Bluetooth only goes the other way with a Sky Q box so that's out too!
 
Even if you could you would still legally need a sky subscription and sky login.

You might as well go get a sky stream.

I’m not 100% sure if you can get 2nd hand sky stream boxes or not but just ask sky how much it would cost for 1?
 
Last edited:
Even if you could you would still legally need a sky subscription and sky login.

You might as well go get a sky stream.

I’m not 100% sure if you can get 2nd hand sky stream boxes or not but just ask sky how much it would cost for 1?

Not sure a Sky Stream solves the sound setup problem compared to the Q Mini he already has though?
 
Could you link me to such a device? Can you pair more than one?

There are lots of different makes on the market, It does have to be an audio only transmitter though. I have the above paired with my phone, ear buds, tv and soundbar, so yes it can be paired to many things.
 
Even if you could you would still legally need a sky subscription and sky login.

You might as well go get a sky stream.

I’m not 100% sure if you can get 2nd hand sky stream boxes or not but just ask sky how much it would cost for 1?

I have a Sky subscription and login. I have a full Sky package and Sky Go on any device that supports it. I just cant get it through the firestick which would be the specific requirement for this. I dont need a Sky Stream system, I need a method to watch my current Sky system through a firestick.
 
I have a Sky subscription and login. I have a full Sky package and Sky Go on any device that supports it. I just cant get it through the firestick which would be the specific requirement for this. I dont need a Sky Stream system, I need a method to watch my current Sky system through a firestick.

There isn't one, there used to be but not any more therefore you need a compatible device to stream sky go.
 
Last edited:
There isn't one, there used to be but not any more therefore you need a compatible device to stream sky go.

Thats what I figured, thanks, No i dont need a compatible device because the only reason i want it is to pair it with the echo's which is specific to other amazon products unless I'm using them as Bluetooth speakers. Once I start going down the rabbit hole of actually spending money the logical thing to buy would be different speakers! I was just trying to get the use out of what I have really.
 
I have a Sky subscription and login. I have a full Sky package and Sky Go on any device that supports it. I just cant get it through the firestick which would be the specific requirement for this. I dont need a Sky Stream system, I need a method to watch my current Sky system through a firestick.

Er.. no. What you really need is a method to get sound from the TV to the Echoes. Achieve that, and you've got the solution to hearing the mini box on the Echo speakers.

The Fire TV stick is what you're fixated on because that's what you know. I think it's clouding your vision though. You're trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Full Sky Q doesn't fit in Fire Stick. No matter how hard you push, it just won't go. Trying to use what you've got is all well and good if it does it. But it doesn't. You've been all round the houses on this. Explored it from every angle. It's time to accept that this is the wrong path.

Forget the Fire TV stick for this and concentrate on getting TV sound directly into the Echo speakers. Maybe the USB Bluetooth thing that @kitfit1 mentioned, or just bite the bullet and buy a small flipping sound bar. Life's too short and it's only a bit of money.
 
I know it's exactly what you haven't asked for but have you thought about maybe seeing if you could get a cheap 2nd hand AppleTV?

I use an AppleTV in my shed to use SkyGo.
 
Er.. no. What you really need is a method to get sound from the TV to the Echoes. Achieve that, and you've got the solution to hearing the mini box on the Echo speakers.

The Fire TV stick is what you're fixated on because that's what you know. I think it's clouding your vision though. You're trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Full Sky Q doesn't fit in Fire Stick. No matter how hard you push, it just won't go. Trying to use what you've got is all well and good if it does it. But it doesn't. You've been all round the houses on this. Explored it from every angle. It's time to accept that this is the wrong path.

Forget the Fire TV stick for this and concentrate on getting TV sound directly into the Echo speakers. Maybe the USB Bluetooth thing that @kitfit1 mentioned, or just bite the bullet and buy a small flipping sound bar. Life's too short and it's only a bit of money.
Wow, settle down. I was replying to someone suggesting something I don't need. I have already "accepted" the situation I just asked the question and responded to the replies. There is absolutely no need for that response.
 
Back
Top Bottom