topic Re: Don’t think I need sky in Account & Billing

Don’t think I need sky

mikewestmorland — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:59:50 GMT

My contract ends 1st August 2026. Id like to see how id manage without sky. Can I simply switch off the Sky Q box and see what happens? I'm very non technical and it's an oldish tv, but I've got a fire stick and hbomax via bt.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

Me134 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:05:18 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:
My contract ends 1st August 2026. Id like to see how id manage without sky. Can I simply switch off the Sky Q box and see what happens? I'm very non technical and it's an oldish tv, but I've got a fire stick and hbomax via bt.

You can turn off the box now and check surely? By the way, your minimum term contract ends in August, not the contract. You'll be paying the full non-discounted price which is expensive so you'll need to contact Sky if you decide to cancel. Not turning the box on won't entitle you to a refund or discount I'm afraid.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

MightyQuinn — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:16:50 GMT

Hi @mikewestmorland There is no need to turn it off, just don't watch it.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

mikewestmorland — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:17:30 GMT

How do you know this hardware stuff for my system? Assume you're a Sky employee.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

Me134 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:34:02 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:
How do you know this hardware stuff for my system? Assume you're a Sky employee.

If you're replying to me then no, I don't work for Sky and never have (not even sure why you'd assume that).

I don't understand your first sentence I'm afraid.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

DaveDrizen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:03:36 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:
My contract ends 1st August 2026. Id like to see how id manage without sky. Can I simply switch off the Sky Q box and see what happens? I'm very non technical and it's an oldish tv, but I've got a fire stick and hbomax via bt.

I bought a fire stick just before last Christmas since I bought it I used for all my viewing that I used watch on my Sky mini box. My Sky mini box never got switched on again. So much so a couple of months ago I canceled my multiroom room subscription and returned the mine. Box to Sky. Since then I not missed it at all Tthe suff I watched though Sky is all available on my firestick. The only Sky channel I watch on the Sky box was Sky news however that is free on though fire stick as a free app. Every thing else like net, prime video , Disney and HBO max I still watch on my firestick stick I have also found there is a lot content including moves is available on the bbc iPlayer and ITV x all free. I can still watch TNT sport thoughHBO max app. Yes I may want to Watch some Sky content on sky sports or cinema from time to time, No problem I just subscribe to now tv for a month at a time. I don't want any thing on therefore some months just cancel any time no notice given your subscription Ed's at the e d of that moth billing period. At the moment we still have Sky on the main box as we have still a minimum term however it only my wife that watches that and when mininum term ends we will probably cancel that as well and my wife can have a firstick in there as well, as what she mainly watches on Sky is also available on the fire stick. Also the life of satellite tv is coming to a end in the next couple of years and I do not want Sky stream impaired to what available on my firestick. It rubishey system.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

MarkGoldsmith — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:26:45 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:
My contract ends 1st August 2026. Id like to see how id manage without sky. Can I simply switch off the Sky Q box and see what happens? I'm very non technical and it's an oldish tv, but I've got a fire stick and hbomax via bt.

@mikewestmorland Your contract only ends when you contact Sky and cancel it, its will be your minimum term that ends, which means when that expires you move to a rolling 31 day monthly contract at higher prices.

When you cancel, your Sky equipment will typically need to be returned to Sky.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

mikewestmorland — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:27:37 GMT

The purpose of turning it off is to replicate what I'll have if I cancel my account within the notice period. I'm not sure what I would still have via my ancient tv and a fire stick.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

mikewestmorland — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:31:02 GMT

I'm sorry! It's just that under your reply, the following appears -

Sky Q with 2GB UHD box using WiFi
Samsung S95C TV
Sky FTTP 500Mb to Max Hub (WiFi disabled)
A pair of TP-Link Deco BE65's in AP mode used for WiFi access, main Deco hardwired to Max hub
2 Windows desktop PC's hardwired to each Deco, everything else using WiFi

Re: Don’t think I need sky

Me134 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:37:01 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:
I'm sorry! It's just that under your reply, the following appears -

Sky Q with 2GB UHD box using WiFi
Samsung S95C TV
Sky FTTP 500Mb to Max Hub (WiFi disabled)
A pair of TP-Link Deco BE65's in AP mode used for WiFi access, main Deco hardwired to Max hub
2 Windows desktop PC's hardwired to each Deco, everything else using WiFi

No problem. You actually made me update it to add the "not a Sky employee" bit 😉

You can change your own "signature" in your account settings. It makes it easier if requesting help that everyone can see your setup, it saves having to repeat it all of the time.

Edit: ah, just realised what your previous post meant by the "hardware stuff". That's purely my setup unless it is a mirror of yours which would be a bit freaky!

Re: Don’t think I need sky

caesarome — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:38:34 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:

My contract ends 1st August 2026.

It doesn't end on that date unless you give Sky 31 days notice to cancel it and should you do this then the Q box has to be returned to Sky.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

MightyQuinn — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:46:23 GMT

Hi @mikewestmorland I did something similar, I took out a one month's subscription to Now TV to see if I could live with it. My answer, nothing was as good as Sky Q so I abandoned that idea.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

mikewestmorland — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:16:47 GMT

My subscription includes £9 for HD, which I probably don't need. Without it, would the picture be any different to what I watch on Firestick via a 14 yr old 55cm Sony Bravia? I watch a lot of cycle racing via HBOmax, which I pay for via BT.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

Me134 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:36:14 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:
My subscription includes £9 for HD, which I probably don't need. Without it, would the picture be any different to what I watch on Firestick via a 14 yr old 55cm Sony Bravia? I watch a lot of cycle racing via HBOmax, which I pay for via BT.

I'm going to take a wild guess that your TV is 55" rather than 55cm? If the latter then no, you won't notice the difference 😉

If the former then yes, unless you've got sever eye issues I'd wager that you would notice, the audio is usually worse as well. £9 is too much BTW (I don't think it should be a separate charge in the first place). If and when you're due to renegotiate get it down to £5 at the most.

Re: Don’t think I need sky

TimmyBGood — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:46:14 GMT

@mikewestmorland wrote:

I'm not sure what I would still have via my ancient tv and a fire stick.

A television will receive free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels if it has an aerial feed and a DTTV tuner. Which channels are available depends on the local broadcast infrastructure: the minimum is channels 1 to 5.

A Fire Stick can host the streaming apps for the same channels: note this still requires a TV Licence to watch anything as it is being broadcast.