Switching from SKY + / SKY HD to SKY Q - some points to note

[Willow+1000]

Hi Nigea99

Thanks for that. Yes it has two separate cables from the LNB into the house. Two connectors into the box. 

I've been with Sky for 20 yrs odd so will I be able to move to the sky Q box free of charge? I was offered a free upgrade a year or so ago, but I wasn't ready then. Also I have struck a new subscription deal with them last year as I wasn't happy with their increasing charges. Will I have to start bargaining with them again to get the price down?

And is there a charge to have the Q box installed?

• Thanks. Willow.

[nigea99]

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@Willow+1000 wrote:

Hi Nigea99

Thanks for that. Yes it has two separate cables from the LNB into the house. Two connectors into the box. 

I've been with Sky for 20 yrs odd so will I be able to move to the sky Q box free of charge? I was offered a free upgrade a year or so ago, but I wasn't ready then. Also I have struck a new subscription deal with them last year as I wasn't happy with their increasing charges. Will I have to start bargaining with them again to get the price down?

And is there a charge to have the Q box installed?

• Thanks. Willow.

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hi @Willow+1000 

Unfortunately we can never be certain what SKY will offer & may depend on various factors. 

When they do offer 'free' upgrades they can come with strings,  so do make sure you discuss fully & understand the offer

They are keen to get everyone to move off SKY +/HD but that doesn't mean they won't try to get something out of the move but you may, equally, be able to move for free without any strings (other than continuing  your current subscription)

Any further questions, do not hesitate to ask (but I probably can't help further with what they may offer)  

BTW 2 cables is fine -  SKY Q does need 2 as it sends the different polarities (H/V) down the separate  cables 

[Willow+1000]

Thanks. Appreciate your help. 

[Mike-S]

I have been with Sky for 20+ years and currently have a Sky+ HD box installed in my upstairs home office which I pay a subscription for. I also have a second Sky+ HD box downstairs which I stopped paying for a number of years ago but it still receives Freesat signals.

I am coming up to the end of my contract soon and if the last renewal is any guide they will once again be pressurising me to upgrade to SkyQ.  I am reluctant to upgrade as I understand that they will fit a new LNB which will mean I can no longer recieve the Freesat signal. I called into a Sky store to ask if I could get SkyQ installed with a hybrid LNB but was told that it would be dependent on the installer having one in his van and they couldn’t pre-arrange that so it would be pot luck.

So my question is this: If I purchase a hybrid LNB from elsewhere, will the engineer be happy to fit that instead?

If so, would the following LNB be the correct one?:

https://freesatspares.co.uk/products/4k-hybrid-lnb-run-your-freesat-sky-more-from-one-dish

One last thing – depending on what sort of deal I am offered, I may just cancel my subscription. If I do this and then want to rejoin at a later date, presumably they will insist on a SkyQ installation rather than allowing me to continue to use my Sky+ HD box?

[TimmyBGood]

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@Mike-S wrote:

If I do this and then want to rejoin at a later date, presumably they will insist on a SkyQ installation rather than allowing me to continue to use my Sky+ HD box?

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There would be no option to return to Sky+

It's a quarter-century old platform which last had hardware manufactured a decade ago.

The suspicion is that Q itself will only be still available to new customers for a couple of years at most: Sky claims over 90% of new customers opt for Glass or Stream.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Mike-S wrote:

So my question is this: If I purchase a hybrid LNB from elsewhere, will the engineer be happy to fit that instead?

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They don't have to, but may be possible to convince.  You'd definitely want a genuine Sky-branded Hybrid LNB.

[oj01]

@Mike-S 

For reference, I last renewed my contract on my Sky+HD Box in May this year. A 24 month contract paying the same as my previous contract, which I'm very happy with. Switching to Sky Q wasn't even mentioned this time, perhaps because it's noted on my record that I'm happy with Sky+ and aren't interested in switching. 

So , if your Sky+ boxes are working fine, there shouldn't be any need to switch if you don't want to. 

[Willow+1000]

Hi. I have Sky+HD and it gives me everything I need. It's a 2TB box and apparently a good reliable model. One of the last ones. I also use the Amazon Fire stick and that works great. I have a Samsung Smart TV too and all in all I'm happy with all of it. However, when I heard that Sky offered a streaming Puck, I thought great, just like my Fire stick. But........... the reviews I've read about it are terrible! I'm now completely put off. I just hope my Sky HD Box continues to operate correctly? 🤞

[TimmyBGood]

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@Willow+1000 wrote:

. But........... the reviews I've read about it are terrible! I'm now completely put off. 

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Reviews are quite good.  Posts in the Stream forum are less so, but that's in the nature of such things: happy customers rarely post.

[Willow+1000]

OK thanks, however I've read that navigation is tedious and when returning to a partially watched programme, it doesn't return you to where you left off? 

[PandJ2020]

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@Willow+1000 wrote:

OK thanks, however I've read that navigation is tedious and when returning to a partially watched programme, it doesn't return you to where you left off? 

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Navigation perhaps 'tedious' (although recently watch programmes are in their own list) but you've read wrong about where you've left off.

[Willow+1000]

OK thanks. When my Sky box finally dies I'll take a look. I'd buy a refurbished box but I hear that sky won't let you use it. Seems a bit harsh! 

[Godfrey]

@Willow+1000   If you search for 'sky+ box repairs' you should be able to find a company who offer a 3-5 day turnaround repairing your own Sky+ receiver.

Godfrey.

[Willow+1000]

Excellent! Thanks for that. So my Sky card will still work and Sky will be none the wiser? Brilliant! Thank you. 

[Mike-S]

@TimmyBGood 

"They don't have to, but may be possible to convince.  You'd definitely want a genuine Sky-branded Hybrid LNB."

Can you please expand on that. Why do I need a genuine Sky branded LNB? Where could I get one from?