keeping old sky+ box with sky q

[recharge77]

So I've ordered a new sky Q box to replace sky+ HD and have heard that a new dish will be installed. We actually have 2 sky+ boxes: main one and one that's just used for Freeview in bedroom.

My question is when the new dish is installed, will the free box become redundant/unusable or could we still keep that for Freeview?

[oldfella]

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@recharge77 wrote:

So I've ordered a new sky Q box to replace sky+ HD and have heard that a new dish will be installed. We actually have 2 sky+ boxes: main one and one that's just used for Freeview in bedroom.

My question is when the new dish is installed, will the free box become redundant/unusable or could we still keep that for Freeview?

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Hi @recharge77 

The LNB will be changed on the dish for Sky Q and this only has one pair of connections for the Qbox.

There's a Hybrid LNB that can be used for one Q box and One Freesat box (or HD+ Box freeview only).

Sky will only fit this on demand if there are existing Freesat boxes.

[nigea99]

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@oldfella wrote:

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@recharge77 wrote:

So I've ordered a new sky Q box to replace sky+ HD and have heard that a new dish will be installed. We actually have 2 sky+ boxes: main one and one that's just used for Freeview in bedroom.

My question is when the new dish is installed, will the free box become redundant/unusable or could we still keep that for Freeview?

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Hi @recharge77 

The LNB will be changed on the dish for Sky Q and this only has one pair of connections for the Qbox.

There's a Hybrid LNB that can be used for one Q box and One Freesat box (or HD+ Box).

Sky will only fit this on demand if there are existing Freesat boxes.

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I believe SKY will occasionally fit Hybrid LNBs for people with more than 1 existing SKY HD boxes but this needs to be negotiated up front. 

Note however that SKY HD boxes, whilst used for Freesat are view live channels  only (i.e. no record/playback functionality) 

[recharge77]

Hi @oldfella and @nigea99 thanks both for such speedy response! I see, so if I mention the existing non-subscription sky+ box then they might leave it or at their discretion? Do you know if there's an extra cost for this?

[oldfella]

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@recharge77 wrote:

Hi @oldfella and @nigea99 thanks both for such speedy response! I see, so if I mention the existing non-subscription sky+ box then they might leave it or at their discretion? Do you know if there's an extra cost for this?

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Hi @recharge77 

All Sky + boxes belong to you and you can do what you wish with them as it  is your property

[bob1234]

@recharge77To clarify Sky rarely change the dish or cabling if they are still OK for Q, unless you have agreed in advance for a hybrid LNB to be fitted then neither +HD boxes will work as the standard Q LNB only has two outputs both of which are needed for Q.

The +HD boxes are yours to do as you wish with.

[recharge77]

Thanks for that. Ok I think I'll check with them about the hybrid line then.

[recharge77]

So spoke to them and they said the hybrid LNB can be done by the engineer on the day, as long as I tell them what it will be used for. Apparently didn't need to tell them.

[bob1234]

@recharge77Good luck, the installers don't always carry them unless they are on the order and some will not fit them even if they have them unless they are on the order.

If you are lucky you will get one that both has one and will fit it and connect your +HD boxes, this will require extra work as  normally they would have used existing cables for the Q box so will need at least one additional cable for both +HD boxes to work.

[recharge77]

@bob1234so this is just what the sky q engineer team person told me that they normally all the equipment on them and have had numerous requests to fit it come through. I'm not sure how I would go about adding it to the order if their telling me I can't?

Also took about 4 agent's to speak to before they transferred me to the right team!

[bob1234]

@recharge77At least Sky record all calls and they have promised you something, if it goes wrong you will be able to go back to them and insist they do what they promised.