Sky Q Mini Boxes

[ToneArranger]

As I understand it, I could have a main Sky Q and 4 Sky MiniBoxes, though would have to pay extra for the additional miniboxes.

I believe I can watch the main box and any two miniboxes at the same time, or the family can, provided it is a 2TB box and provided the other miniboxes are turned off.

 Q 1 : is that correct

Q2 : if I am watching the main + 2 miniboxes, do they all have to be showing the same program ? Or can I watch a recorded program on1, while watching Sky Sports on 2 and Sky Arts on 3 ?

Q3 : how many channels can be recorded at the same time, while I watch a live program on the Sky main box. ? On Sky+ you can record two channels provided you are watching one of them or a recorded program. What is the difference with Sky Q ?

Thanks for any help given. I so hate phoning Sky becuase it takes forever and I dont feel I can trust their answer as the help desk is "difficult". 

[oldfella]

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@ToneArranger wrote:

As I understand it, I could have a main Sky Q and 4 Sky MiniBoxes, though would have to pay extra for the additional miniboxes.

I believe I can watch the main box and any two miniboxes at the same time, or the family can, provided it is a 2TB box and provided the other miniboxes are turned off.

 Q 1 : is that correct

Q2 : if I am watching the main + 2 miniboxes, do they all have to be showing the same program ? Or can I watch a recorded program on1, while watching Sky Sports on 2 and Sky Arts on 3 ?

Q3 : how many channels can be recorded at the same time, while I watch a live program on the Sky main box. ? On Sky+ you can record two channels provided you are watching one of them or a recorded program. What is the difference with Sky Q ?

Thanks for any help given. I so hate phoning Sky becuase it takes forever and I dont feel I can trust their answer as the help desk is "difficult". 

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Hi @ToneArranger 

You can have up to four minis installed on loan each subject to a one off upfront charge and all under by one single Q monthly Multiscreen subscription
However only two minis can be used simultaneously on all 2 TB boxes and the 1 TB UHD Main boxes to watch Sky Q content.
The original 1 TB non UHD box (32Cxxx) only permits the use of one mini at a time.
If Sky Apps are already being used on some of the minis these will not normally be counted as in Q use and therefore can be used in addition to the above limits.
See the following link for the Versions of main Q box referred to above.
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-software-updates.
Subject to the above limits Sky Q minis can be used completely independently of the main Q box and the same or different program or recording can be viewed on each Q box. Even if viewing the same content it is completely independent and can be viewed at the same or different point.
Minis can do all the features same as the main Q box and can set or delete recordings on the main Q box hard drive. There is one single storage area on the main Q box with no profiles and no indication of which Q box has set a recording. (Unlike Sky+HD Multiroom which has independent storage and planners).
It should also be remembered that minis cannot view UHD recordings or content.

You can record 6 programs at a time with Q

[Laing1]

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@ToneArranger wrote:

As I understand it, I could have a main Sky Q and 4 Sky MiniBoxes, though would have to pay extra for the additional miniboxes.

I believe I can watch the main box and any two miniboxes at the same time, or the family can, provided it is a 2TB box and provided the other miniboxes are turned off.

 Q 1 : is that correct

Almost,  all 2TB and the newer 1TB boxes that are UHD capable will allow you to watch on 2 mini boxes at the same time

Q2 : if I am watching the main + 2 miniboxes, do they all have to be showing the same program ? no they can be different programmes

Or can I watch a recorded program on1, while watching Sky Sports on 2 and Sky Arts on 3 ? yes you can watch the same or different programmes recordings etc 

Q3 : how many channels can be recorded at the same time, while I watch a live program on the Sky main box. ? you can record upto 6 channels at the same time whilst watching a 7th 

On Sky+ you can record two channels provided you are watching one of them or a recorded program. What is the difference with Sky Q ? as above 

Thanks for any help given. I so hate phoning Sky becuase it takes forever and I dont feel I can trust their answer as the help desk is "difficult". 

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@ToneArranger see my resposes above in bold 

[PandJ2020]

You don't need the 2TB box for that nowadays.  (The current 1TB boxes support 2 concurrent minis).

You can have 2 concurrent mini's showing TV content (either live or recorded).

Each box can watch any subscription channel independently.  The main Q box acts as master - the recordings are shared between all boxes.  (There are no user profiles)

Of the top of my head I think you can record 5 or 6 channels simultaneously.

Bear in mind that all Q hardware is loaned - you do not purchase it.

[PandJ2020]

All see this from @nigea99:

Please may I suggest you read some notes I have made for people considering switching from SKY +/HD to SKY Q which cover some of these points & more

SKY +/HD to SKY Q 

[ToneArranger]

Thanks for your replies; that's been a big help.

In an ideal world I am looking for a main + 5 minis, as we have a TV in 6 rooms. But there are only 2 of us, sometimes 3, so being able to watch on 3 at the same time is good enough.

But I am wondering, given we would be 1 short, 5 boxes for 6 TVs, is it simple to move one of the miniboxes around, using it ocasionally with TV 6 by removing it from TV 5 ?

[PandJ2020]

Sky won't lend you more than 4 boxes.  But you can physically move them around - they only need an HDMI connection and standard power lead.

However, they connect wirelessly to the main Q box over a 5GHz network and the signal may not extend to all locations.  Sky can supply extenders should the need arise.

[nigea99]

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@ToneArranger wrote:

Thanks for your replies; that's been a big help.

In an ideal world I am looking for a main + 5 minis, as we have a TV in 6 rooms. But there are only 2 of us, sometimes 3, so being able to watch on 3 at the same time is good enough.

But I am wondering, given we would be 1 short, 5 boxes for 6 TVs, is it simple to move one of the miniboxes around, using it ocasionally with TV 6 by removing it from TV 5 ?

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Yes the minis are quite portable to move from room to room - although I would not suggest it being a very regular thing just to protect the HDMI sockets on either or both the box & TV

The one thng you need to be aware of (as mentioned in my notes) the minis get their signal from the main box (usually via wifi) - if you have SKY then this can be via any part of the wifi mesh (SKY Q  boxes forming part of it) but if your home wifi is not SKY then the wifi used is one generated by the main box 

[philip+cullen]

I have a mini box how much is another one please 

[Laing1]

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@philip+cullen wrote:

I have a mini box how much is another one please 

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@philip+cullen to loan another mini box from Sky then there is a charge of around £50 

[MightyQuinn]

Hi @philip+cullen   Go to my products on the My Sky website and you should see additional Mini boxes at the bottom of the page. Increase the quantity and it will show you the one off admin fee for the loan.

https://www.sky.com/mysky/tv