Can you just plug in a Sky box?

Skeeter · 20 Nov 2011 at 11:52

If I just plug in a Sky box to an existing dish will it work? Or will I need a viewing card to get anything? If i need a card, how much and where from, and is it worth it over just getting a new subscription from Sky?

lucid · 20 Nov 2011 at 12:05

Without a viewing card you'll get a very restricted service. Even some of the Freeview channels won't show up.

What you need is a Free-to-view card. The last time I bought one it was £20. I got it direct from Sky.

Hyburnate · 20 Nov 2011 at 12:06

Get a free-sat card, about £20.

Skeeter · 20 Nov 2011 at 12:46

Do you get any channels on free sky that you don't get on freeview?

lucid · 20 Nov 2011 at 13:26

Dave.

For any other minor channel differences just us one of the numerous online TV listing web sites .

Skeeter · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:25

K. Doesn't seem worth it. A mate has offered me his old Sky + box, but it doesn't really offer any more than my freeview tv.

whitecrook · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:34

recording. I use a sky+ box without a veiwing card. Works fine for the council tv channels

lucid · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:56

You can only record on the box though if you pay for a monthly subscription. AFAIK that isn't what the OP is looking for.

We use Sky in preference to Freeview because the picture quality is generally better. I install aerials, so my Freeview signal is pretty damned good, but Sky (a Sky+ box in our case) still beats it.

whitecrook · 20 Nov 2011 at 21:02

lucid said:
You can only record on the box though if you pay for a monthly subscription. AFAIK that isn't what the OP is looking for.

rubbish.

We use Sky in preference to Freeview because the picture quality is generally better. I install aerials, so my Freeview signal is pretty damned good, but Sky (a Sky+ box in our case) still beats it.

Aye, the PQ does look better on Sky than freeview. (amstrad sky+ box vs panasonic freeview dvd recorder)

lucid · 20 Nov 2011 at 21:19

whitecrook said:
rubbish.

So you're saying you have a Sky+ or a Sky+HD box that is out of contract
(i.e. you are paying no monthly subs) and you can record on that same box?

whitecrook · 20 Nov 2011 at 21:24

lucid said:
So you're saying you have a Sky+ or a Sky+HD box that is out of contract
(i.e. you are paying no monthly subs) and you can record on that same box?

yes. Live pause, series link, scheduling. Sky+, not HD. No viewing card.

Just plugged both sat feeds into the back and off it goes. Only get about 8 channels or something though, but all the ones I normally watch.

iamtheoneneo · 21 Nov 2011 at 09:18

whitecrook said:
yes. Live pause, series link, scheduling. Sky+, not HD. No viewing card.

Just plugged both sat feeds into the back and off it goes. Only get about 8 channels or something though, but all the ones I normally watch.

well then you must be the only person in the UK to do that...bc its not normal at all so calling the other post 'rubbish' was a bit uncalled for.

lucid · 21 Nov 2011 at 09:50

...and I've just checked my box and a customer's just in case my info was out of date. Nope, it's just like I said: Without a subscription none of the Plus box features work.

I'm sure we'd all here love to hear from you how you made your box play/pause/record without a subs package, but I suspect me and the rest of the OC Forum members will be waiting a very long time. But if you can prove me wrong, I'd be all ears

whitecrook · 21 Nov 2011 at 11:26

Ill video it for you alll. Geez

HeX · 21 Nov 2011 at 11:35

lucid said:
Dave.

For any other minor channel differences just us one of the numerous online TV listing web sites .

You get Dave on Freeview...

Prophet · 21 Nov 2011 at 11:42

whitecrook said:
Ill video it for you alll. Geez

It'll prove you either have some kind of modfied box or you're full of it.

Standard boxes without an active subscription do not do what yours does.

whitecrook · 21 Nov 2011 at 11:45

wow. The hate is strong on this one : ) I don't claim to know how or why, but it does work. At work today, wait until this evening.

Prophet · 21 Nov 2011 at 11:51

whitecrook said:
wow. The hate is strong on this one : ) I don't claim to know how or why, but it does work. At work today, wait until this evening.

Hate? Your box does something no one elses does so personally I'm just interested to know how.

lucid · 21 Nov 2011 at 12:43

Similar to above ^. No hate. None at all. Yours does something no one elses does and I'm fascinated to learn how, only for curiosity sake of course

lol

whitecrook · 22 Nov 2011 at 01:01

Well I looked and turns out there is a viewing card in it, so I was wrong and lucid was correct.

I removed the viewing card and the record functions ceased to work.

-100000 internet points to me.