RB170

ooopppss

[Edited by RB170 - 11/4/2003 11:52:35 AM]

DJ140

They could use a different compression technique to increase the recording time, or offer a long play option, with a decrease in picture quality.

[Edited by DJ140 - 11/4/2003 3:35:15 PM]

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

40Gb
edited because i got the hard drive size wrong.

[Edited by Beastie - 11/4/2003 8:49:34 PM]

blair

I've just signed up for the Sky + offer thats on the go at the moment.

I already have a sky box and Sky have offered an extra subscription to the channels I have for an extra £10 a month. I don't want this but quite fancy the idea of being able to use the spare skybox on the bedroom TV.

How do I go about getting an extra viewing card to make this work ?

Cheers

Andy

Scooby96

Havent sky scrapped the £10 a month fee for sky+ if you have the full package?

class_A

Yes, but I think he's talking about a "mirror subscription" where you can have an extra digibox with the same package as your main sub for an extra £10/mth.

Sky should be able to arrange it when they install Sky+ as you'll need three cables from your dish in total (2 for Sky+, 1 for extra box)

Geezer

On a slightly differetn note, we are having it installed this friday, and they have told us they are going to do a software update to all the Sky+ boxes thru the telephone lines atthe end of this month that will enable then to record 2 seperate Sky channels whilst u watch a third.

Which is nice

Geezer

blair

But I'm a tight git and don't wan't to pay for the mirror subscription

If I want to use my exisiting Sky box in the bedroom - what do I need to do?

It sounds like I'll need a feed from the dish to the sky box (should be ok as I believe the transceivers on the sky plus install are 4 terminal one). But I'm not sure how I can get the old sky box to work without a viewing card ?

Is there a work around I can use to get the old box to show just the free to view channels or will I actually need to get a card from somewhere?

Cheers

Andy

Scooby96

Unless you want to view a different channel to whats on in the lounge then get a digisender or something similar, alternatively if you do go for sky+ if you have the full subscription as it will cost you nowt other than the instal cost (£?)

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

[paranoia = ON]
...And who pays for this phone call?

[paranoia = OFF]


[Edited by ALi-B - 11/4/2003 12:17:31 PM]

blair

This may be a bit of a muppet question but how do digisenders work ?

Are you able to change channels from the using a remote at the second TV ?

Roughly how much do they cost and are there any recommendations for a good quality digisender

Cheers


PS I thought that all the software upgrades for Sky were through the satellite ? I might be getting a bit cynical, but that sounds like a ploy to get you to keep the box plugged into the phone and rack up a few expensive phones calls

Dave P

Got my Digisender from Argos, £79. It's basically a transmitter and a receiver. With the latest model you can transmit two different devices and control them via remote. A little eye attaches over the remote sensor of the transmitting device. With some careful wiring you can transmit three signals but only control two. You can buy extra receivers at £39 each (I think).

Quality is very good and it means I can watch Sky or a DVD in bed. Going to get an additional receiver for the kids room as well so that when we have friends round we can send the kids upstairs to watch tv. Only downside is you have to watch upstairs what you do downstairs unless you revert to terestrial.

Re the phone line plugged into the Sky box, when I had mine installed the guy told me to make sure i left it plugged in. He said that it was part of the contract and if you left it unplugged Sky could effectively "fine" you. They would intermittently send test signals down the line. Never read the small print so this could be complete tosh, but the guy was a private installer and didn't work for Sky so can't see how he would gain from telling me this.

Dave

Dave P

So if you don't now pay a monthly subscription, how much is the Sky+ box?

Dave

blair

Cheers for the rec Dave.

Sky also told me to keep the phone plugged in for at least 12 months. I think it lasted about 12 minutes before I pulled it out. I've never heard anything from Sky about not having it plugged in.

I'm pretty sure the only reason they tell you to do this is so they can cream off extra cash from the national rate phone calls the box makes when you dial up to access something

Andy

Newbie123

We had a letter from Sky a couple of months ago to say that our box was not connected to the phone line and it then went on to quote the terms and conditions.

Turns out that when I'd installed broadband I forgot to reconnect the lead from the sky box.

DJ140

£199 plus around £25 to install.

I heard the the next Sky+ software upgrade would allow you to record 2 channels at once and that the record time would be doubled to 40 hours, anyone know if this is correct?

Dan

blair

I already have the sports and movies channels so pay nothing extra for subscription to the Sky + service. I think as long as you have at least one "premium" channel there is no extra charge.

The box costs £199 and there is a £1 charge for installation if you order it on line:

http://www.sky.com/skyplus/launcher?CMP=IL23056

Hopefully mine will be installed by a week on Thursday - an early Xmas pressie to myself

Newbie123

You will be able to record two programs at once, but as I understand it the program guide will only be able to show the next 48 hours in advance rather than seven days at the moment.

I think the rumour about them extending the hardrive capacity to 40 hours is highly dubious.

Geezer

U have to have at least 2 of the Sky premium packages to qualify for free Sky+.

As for the increase in recording time, I would have thought that was limited by the size of the hard disk inside, but I could be wrong.

Geezer

blair

Sky + website says that the facility to record two programs at once is "coming soon".

It was meant to be here this autumn so if it hasn't been rolled out already, it should be soon.

AndyBrew

Cancelled my Sky subscription today after receiving notification of the price going up again! £40 / month

let alone Sky + !

Scooby96

What size is the HDD?

ChristianR

iTrader: (1)

I remember a while ago when people where discussing sky+ (cant find the thread though) that people also recommended a tivo instead as it was better. Someone posted a url that compared the two, anyone have it?

logiclee

The standard fit Hard Drive is a 40GB Maxtor. The Sky+ box will run 120gig HD's but some have problems its wise to stick with Maxtor as they seem to be OK.

If you are upgrading there is no performance advantage going for 7200rpm drives and the 5400rpm drives are quiter and run cooler.

Have a look HERE for all your Sky+ info.

Lee

RUFocused

I got sky+ on monday and went straight out to buy a optical cable, it would only work if someone was holding it in at the back got a replacement cable tonight and its not working at all now. My 5.1 system is a Sony DAV-S400,and it works trough the analouge audio out but not with digital, its only a cheapy £10 cable so would a more expensive cable be better

gregh

tivo vs Sky+ here

http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/TIVOvsSKY.htm

ChristianR

iTrader: (1)

Cheers.

john_s

iTrader: (1)

As far as i understand, the sky+ boxes don't do any local compression but just record the appropriate multiplexed data stream to the disk as received. Apparently it means they record all the programmes on the same multiplex at the same, but sky won't let it playback anything other than the intended programme, as the concept would be far too much for people to cope with.

Good news about being able to record 2 channels at once though. Hope it will apply to the old style boxes, and not just the new shape ones.

John.

logiclee

Rest easy John, it's only a software upgrade and all boxes will be OK. Download will happen as soon as Sky get the bus sorted.

Lee