topic Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat in Sky Q

SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

mike+dessi — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:40:36 GMT

I see SKY Q is winding down but I also see new SKY Q boxes for sale on OnBuy.com, could I buy one and then get a subscription from SKY for Freeview/Sat and be able to record and stream from it. If I can what would be the cost and conditions, I am locked into another internet provider for the next year. I must have the record facility not just streaming.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

cuke — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:51:47 GMT

@mike+dessi wrote:
I see SKY Q is winding down but I also see new SKY Q boxes for sale on OnBuy.com, could I buy one and then get a subscription from SKY for Freeview/Sat and be able to record and stream from it. If I can what would be the cost and conditions, I am locked into another internet provider for the next year. I must have the record facility not just streaming.

Any SkyQ boxes remain the property of Sky, thus any for sale are considered to be stolen.

They may cease to work once connected so it's your risk.

As for SkyQ winding down, I don't see the recent inclusion of HBO Max, Disney+ and Paramount Plus apps into a Sky Q subscription suggesting any wind down at all.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

mike+dessi — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:02:20 GMT

I think that its inevitable streaming is the future, sattelites and their upkeep cost a great deal of money while streaming is much cheaper. I stand to be corrected but I dont think SKY will provide a Q box and subscription any more so my feeling is that the writing is on the wall, SKY do currently honour existing Q contracts though.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

nigea99 — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:20:39 GMT

@mike+dessi

SKY do still offer SKY Q but not online - only by calling

SKY used to have SKY Q Essentials which effectively was freesat (note freeview being Terrestrial TV) with Record / playback etc but we think that SKY are no longer offering that

SKy Q boxes, unlike SKY HD boxes, do not work at all without an active subscription

edit : the satellites used for TV in the UK have enough fuel until roughly the end of the decade at which point SKY HD/SKY Q & Freesat will not be able to operate

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

TimmyBGood — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:36 GMT

@mike+dessi wrote:

I see SKY Q is winding down but I also see new SKY Q boxes for sale on OnBuy.com, could I buy one and then get a subscription from SKY for Freeview/Sat and be able to record and stream from it.

No. The boxes (which won't be 'new') are there because Sky is increasingly not requiring them to be returned, but that doesn't mean they will work for anyone else: the hardware is useless without a subscription, and Sky won't provide that.

Freesat-branded receivers and recorders are still available: 'Freesat 4K' hardware is required to work through a Q LNB.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

Angel_Aka — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:46:27 GMT

@TimmyBGood wrote:
@mike+dessi wrote:
I see SKY Q is winding down but I also see new SKY Q boxes for sale on OnBuy.com, could I buy one and then get a subscription from SKY for Freeview/Sat and be able to record and stream from it.
No. The boxes (which won't be 'new') are there because Sky is increasingly not requiring them to be returned, but that doesn't mean they will work for anyone else: the hardware is useless without a subscription, and Sky won't provide that.

Freesat-branded receivers and recorders are still available: 'Freesat 4K' hardware is required to work through a Q LNB.

Manhattan have also just launched a new Freesat recording box called the S4-R which works with the Sky Q LNB and can record up to 4 channels at once.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

mike+dessi — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:01:59 GMT

Hi yes I have heard that but there is nothing on their web site about it and only rumours elsewhere. I have a Manhattan T4-R Freeview box in the bedroom that works very well on a small screen but Freesat has many more HD channels so picture quality is much better for larger TV's even SD broadcasts are better. The roll out of the T4-R was delayed many times over several months before being made available. They have a sattelite non record box and a freeview recorder both proven technology so you would think it could be very simple for them to marry them up.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

cuke — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:37:36 GMT

@mike+dessi wrote:
Hi yes I have heard that but there is nothing on their web site about it and only rumours elsewhere. I have a Manhattan T4-R Freeview box in the bedroom that works very well on a small screen but Freesat has many more HD channels so picture quality is much better for larger TV's even SD broadcasts are better. The roll out of the T4-R was delayed many times over several months before being made available. They have a sattelite non record box and a freeview recorder both proven technology so you would think it could be very simple for them to marry them up.

The S4-R is being advertised on the Manhattan site from £219.99.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

mike+dessi — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:44:26 GMT

I contacted sky yesterday and all they would do is offer me the basic package waive the Sky Q box fee and all for just £42 per month, needless to say the conversation didn't last long. I'm currently using a freesat box (Arris), great picture, recording works well but software a little flaky. I'm ok with it but my wife struggles when it plays up at times when I'm not there. Would like something more stable so with sky now out of the picture (excuse the pun) hopefully the rumour of an S4-R from Manhattan will materialise.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

mike+dessi — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:14:45 GMT

I had to return my Q box last summer but I have heard they aren't so concerned about it now, don't know if that is right. OnBuy state their Q boxes are brand new so perhaps Sky have sold off their now obsolete stock?

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

daveNOS — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:38:22 GMT

@mike+dessi Onbuy are just a marketplace like ebay, they don't have any physical goods.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

TimmyBGood — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:13:14 GMT

@mike+dessi wrote:

I had to return my Q box last summer but I have heard they aren't so concerned about it now, don't know if that is right.

It appears they only want recent models back: realistically 2016 2TB version (which doesn't do HDR) is now obsolete, as is the non-UHD 1TB model released alongside it. With Q now in its final half decade (at most) and the vast majority of new Sky users opting for Glass/Stream they just don't need warehouses full of the things.

OnBuy state their Q boxes are brand new so perhaps Sky have sold off their now obsolete stock?

That would be entirely counterproductive because, as I said above, the boxes are useless apart from hard drive salvage and Sky wouldn't want support staff time being used in fielding calls about them.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

Angel_Aka — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:05:04 GMT

@mike+dessi wrote:
I contacted sky yesterday and all they would do is offer me the basic package waive the Sky Q box fee and all for just £42 per month, needless to say the conversation didn't last long. I'm currently using a freesat box (Arris), great picture, recording works well but software a little flaky. I'm ok with it but my wife struggles when it plays up at times when I'm not there. Would like something more stable so with sky now out of the picture (excuse the pun) hopefully the rumour of an S4-R from Manhattan will materialise.

It's not a rumour, the 500Gb model is due on sale imminently. The 1 and 2TB models will follow in the next month or so.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

Maniatore2006 — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:58:57 GMT

@daveNOS

I Know so much exaples, in that SKY to not wantet the SKY Q Box Back from the Custumers.

The World is not just Black and White.

I Thought only the People in Germany are that Annoying, who says "That is Stolen and not Yours"

And Yes even In germany the Most SKY Q Boxes are Rentet, but in Some Cases, Sky say "Keep the Box" I have 3 Of Them here.

And as i said, the SKY Q Box Will be a "Legacy Box" soon. And Everyone can Keep it.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

daveNOS — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:07:04 GMT

@Maniatore2006 If Sky say they don't want it back that is not a sign you can sell it, your selling or buying something that is not permitted to be sold or bought, and that by definition is stolen.

You can try and justify your stance all you like but its wrong pure and simple.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

Me134 — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:40:30 GMT

@daveNOS wrote:
@Maniatore2006 If Sky say they don't want it back that is not a sign you can sell it, your selling or buying something that is not permitted to be sold or bought, and that by definition is stolen.
You can try and justify your stance all you like but its wrong pure and simple.

If Sky say they don't want it back then surely it's the (new) owners right to do what they want with it?

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

mike+dessi — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:06:57 GMT

Yes I would agree totaly

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

daveNOS — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:09:51 GMT

@Me134 wrote:
@daveNOS wrote:
@Maniatore2006 If Sky say they don't want it back that is not a sign you can sell it, your selling or buying something that is not permitted to be sold or bought, and that by definition is stolen.
You can try and justify your stance all you like but its wrong pure and simple.
If Sky say they don't want it back then surely it's the (new) owners right to do what they want with it?

@Me134 Not really, the boxes can and have been blocked when used without the card that is registered to it, and the card cannot be given away.

Selling the boxes knowing there is a high chance they may be blocked is simply appalling and may well be seen as fraud(obtaining money by false representation).

If people have that low of a moral compass they are happy to do that then that's on them, I just hope they get the appropriate consequences.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

TimmyBGood — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:47:50 GMT

Personally I think it's rather cynical of Sky, because it creates a (pointless) second-hand 'market' in unviable hardware simply so that they save a small amount in logistics and recycling cost, and the boxes will probably end up in a household domestic waste stream.

Re: SKY Q with Freeview/Sat

Me134 — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:27:03 GMT

@daveNOS wrote:
@Me134 wrote:
@daveNOS wrote:
@Maniatore2006 If Sky say they don't want it back that is not a sign you can sell it, your selling or buying something that is not permitted to be sold or bought, and that by definition is stolen.
You can try and justify your stance all you like but its wrong pure and simple.
If Sky say they don't want it back then surely it's the (new) owners right to do what they want with it?
@Me134 Not really, the boxes can and have been blocked when used without the card that is registered to it, and the card cannot be given away.
Selling the boxes knowing there is a high chance they may be blocked is simply appalling and may well be seen as fraud(obtaining money by false representation).
If people have that low of a moral compass they are happy to do that then that's on them, I just hope they get the appropriate consequences.

That isn't what you said originally though.

"If Sky say they don't want it back that is not a sign you can sell it, your selling or buying something that is not permitted to be sold or bought, and that by definition is stolen."

Can you point out the actual law that says it's not permitted? As for your "definition" of stolen, I'm sorry but that's absolute nonsense.

I've had a few old HD boxes that Sky have never asked to be returned and ripped out the HDs to be used in PC builds (with the rest recycled), does that make me a thief?

Your comment "I just hope they get the appropriate consequences." seems a bit personal to the OP to be honest.