topic Re: Replace old Sky+HD Boxes in Sky Stream

Replace old Sky+HD Boxes

niperry64 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:26:37 GMT

I have two Sky + HD Boxes with a multiroom subscription.

One box is a stand alone with its own feeds. Its attached to the internet via ethernet (Cat 5)

The other box is located in a store room on the second floor along with the internet router. This sky box feeds 4 other rooms using a Magic Eye system and the RF2 connection on the sky box.

I would like to upgrade the system but realise the new technology doesnt work with magic eyes and the location of the router probably rules out Sky Q especially as i have a lot of issues with the satellite dish and signal amplifiers in the past. So an internet system is intuitively appealing if only i could find out what type of installation i need and how much its likely to cost. Any advice welcome.

Re: Replace old Sky+HD Boxes

Padam_Padam — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:47:27 GMT

@niperry64

If you want to go down the Sky Stream route in multiple rooms of your house, you will firstly need a fast and robust broadband network which can provide a stable 35Mbps to each room in order for the service to run simultaneously and reliably.

Each TV will need its own Stream puck (first one free then £39.95 activation fee for each additional puck) and one Whole Home subscription (around £12pm) will cover all pucks.

You would then need an Entertainment subscription (currently around the £30pm mark depending on contract length) which includes Netflix basic with ads. This will be accessible on all pucks. There are additional charges for higher tiers of Netflix which you would need if you want to be able to watch Netflix on multiple screens at the same time and in 4K. There are also additional charges for ad skipping and UHD/Atmos if that's of interest, and then additional subscriptions for Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, TNT Sports and such like.

Package prices vary, depending on when you purchase and if you use an affiliate link or speak to Sky directly.

Most important thing to do first is to check your broadband. Without a fast and stable network it's pointless even considering Sky Stream as it simply won't work without one.

Re: Replace old Sky+HD Boxes

niperry64 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:11:47 GMT

That is really helpful. I have a several hotspots set up using ethernet connection to main router. The house has solid floors so 1 router will never reach all the bits of the house but wifi is good using the hotpsots or access points?

Re: Replace old Sky+HD Boxes

Jporch316 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:50:28 GMT

@niperry64 wrote:
That is really helpful. I have a several hotspots set up using ethernet connection to main router. The house has solid floors so 1 router will never reach all the bits of the house but wifi is good using the hotpsots or access points?

A decent mesh system is a must if your router doesn't reach all areas of your property. Or a cheaper alternative is powerline adapters. One note .... the speeds mentioned in the above post are for UHD streaming. Standard HD streaming requires a lot less bandwidth

Re: Replace old Sky+HD Boxes

TimmyBGood — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:55:49 GMT

@niperry64 wrote:

So an internet system is intuitively appealing if only i could find out what type of installation i need and how much its likely to cost.

Note there's no installation service with Stream: you'd pay one content subscription monthly, one monthly Whole Home subscription and then a one-off fee for each puck after the first one (or two depending on how generous Sky is feeling at the time)

Actually getting them to work is up to the user.