Sky stream

[matty147]

I'm debating whether to get Stream. I currently have Q but I know that will be gone in the next few years and I feel how i view programmes has changed to the point where the only things I watch are live are sports until 9pm and then I record whatever I'm watching and finish watching it the next day so if I can do that with Stream then that would suit me. I've also just got Sky Full Fibre Gigafast so surely that would mean no issues with buffering? Don't know if PQ is better than with Q though. 

[Angel_Aka]

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@matty147 wrote:

I'm debating whether to get Stream. I currently have Q but I know that will be gone in the next few years and I feel how i view programmes has changed to the point where the only things I watch are live are sports until 9pm and then I record whatever I'm watching and finish watching it the next day so if I can do that with Stream then that would suit me. I've also just got Sky Full Fibre Gigafast so surely that would mean no issues with buffering? Don't know if PQ is better than with Q though. 

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PQ is slightly better on Stream than Q but it's marginal and depends on what you watch. 

Sky Sport events can be set to 'cloud record' from the TV guide so that you can watch them later. This isn't the same as having a recording on a hard drive though - it can be a bit random and requires careful addition to a playlist from the correct channel. 

All other non-Sky programmes can be added to playlists too, but most of these will play back on demand via the appropriate app, there is no recording of non-Sky channels. Any channels which do not have a catch-up app allow some of their content to be 'cloud recorded' or some are not recordable at all. 

Having Sky Gigafast does not guarantee you will have a flawless Sky Stream service. There are many variables which can affect the quality of service. It's not as simple as pointing a dish at a satellite and connecting it to a box. Sky Stream relies entirely on you providing a fast, constant and stable broadband connection, free of speed fluctuation and interference. The Stream pucks are sensitive to network issues so you really need to try it to know if it'll work for you, but you have to be willing to troubleshoot your own broadband network as there is no engineer support for Sky Stream - it's entirely self-setup. 

[matty147]

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@Angel_Aka wrote:

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@matty147 wrote:

I'm debating whether to get Stream. I currently have Q but I know that will be gone in the next few years and I feel how i view programmes has changed to the point where the only things I watch are live are sports until 9pm and then I record whatever I'm watching and finish watching it the next day so if I can do that with Stream then that would suit me. I've also just got Sky Full Fibre Gigafast so surely that would mean no issues with buffering? Don't know if PQ is better than with Q though. 

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PQ is slightly better on Stream than Q but it's marginal and depends on what you watch. 

Sky Sport events can be set to 'cloud record' from the TV guide so that you can watch them later. This isn't the same as having a recording on a hard drive though - it can be a bit random and requires careful addition to a playlist from the correct channel. 

All other non-Sky programmes can be added to playlists too, but most of these will play back on demand via the appropriate app, there is no recording of non-Sky channels. Any channels which do not have a catch-up app allow some of their content to be 'cloud recorded' or some are not recordable at all. 

Having Sky Gigafast does not guarantee you will have a flawless Sky Stream service. There are many variables which can affect the quality of service. It's not as simple as pointing a dish at a satellite and connecting it to a box. Sky Stream relies entirely on you providing a fast, constant and stable broadband connection, free of speed fluctuation and interference. The Stream pucks are sensitive to network issues so you really need to try it to know if it'll work for you, but you have to be willing to troubleshoot your own broadband network as there is no engineer support for Sky Stream - it's entirely self-setup. 

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So if Im watching say Monday night football and then at 9pm I want to cloud record the rest of it and watch the next day will it start from where I left it or do I have to find the point I stopped? With regards the network I will be hardwiring it to the box so hopefully that help.

[Angel_Aka]

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@matty147 wrote:

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@Angel_Aka wrote:

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@matty147 wrote:

I'm debating whether to get Stream. I currently have Q but I know that will be gone in the next few years and I feel how i view programmes has changed to the point where the only things I watch are live are sports until 9pm and then I record whatever I'm watching and finish watching it the next day so if I can do that with Stream then that would suit me. I've also just got Sky Full Fibre Gigafast so surely that would mean no issues with buffering? Don't know if PQ is better than with Q though. 

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PQ is slightly better on Stream than Q but it's marginal and depends on what you watch. 

Sky Sport events can be set to 'cloud record' from the TV guide so that you can watch them later. This isn't the same as having a recording on a hard drive though - it can be a bit random and requires careful addition to a playlist from the correct channel. 

All other non-Sky programmes can be added to playlists too, but most of these will play back on demand via the appropriate app, there is no recording of non-Sky channels. Any channels which do not have a catch-up app allow some of their content to be 'cloud recorded' or some are not recordable at all. 

Having Sky Gigafast does not guarantee you will have a flawless Sky Stream service. There are many variables which can affect the quality of service. It's not as simple as pointing a dish at a satellite and connecting it to a box. Sky Stream relies entirely on you providing a fast, constant and stable broadband connection, free of speed fluctuation and interference. The Stream pucks are sensitive to network issues so you really need to try it to know if it'll work for you, but you have to be willing to troubleshoot your own broadband network as there is no engineer support for Sky Stream - it's entirely self-setup. 

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So if Im watching say Monday night football and then at 9pm I want to cloud record the rest of it and watch the next day will it start from where I left it or do I have to find the point I stopped? With regards the network I will be hardwiring it to the box so hopefully that help.

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The ethernet port on Stream pucks is capped at 100Mbps so you won't get faster when hardwiring to your router. As long as you get connected to a decent Sky server (which you have no control over) then you should be fine.

You'll need to wait for someone else to comment on your specific question about cloud recording - I quit Sky Stream ages ago as I found it to be hopelessly unreliable for many things, sport amongst them. Some people claim that it works fine now, but I'm not in any hurry to go back. 

If you've currently got Q and it does what you want it to then personally I'd stick with it, but maybe give Stream a go to see if it works for you. You can still switch back to Q if you don't get on with it. 

[lettice]

@matty147 

Ive moved your posts out to an individual thread.

Think it will flow better like that.

I wrote the below on my cloud recording examples recently, so hopefully it may help you get a picture of how it all works.

Also, have a read of my move from Sky Q to Sky Stream 3 1/2 years or so ago, link in my signature below, hope some of that may also help you. It's still pretty relevant.

One of the most important aspects of Sky Stream/Glass is having a good local network that your Sky Stream puck can work with. Looking at your recent broadband move, you should be in a good position there.

The PQ for me was a noticeable improvement across linear tv channels, On demand and the apps.

I have several high mid to high end TVs connected to my pucks, so that sure shows off the extra uplift also.

Background to cloud recording, with some examples of mine.

Most Sky Sports cloud records, in many forms and stays as the true 'live' cloud recording for a few weeks at most, until Sky converts it to an On demand full replay. The On demand of full F1 sessions and Sky football matches stay  for the season.

For this season have sitting  all the Sky Football channel EFL Championship live broadcast matches of three hour or so from Aug 14th start.

Some rights issues though do exist, the major one being Sky Tennis, that only allows you to get full on demand of the quarter/semi/finals of the tournaments, or the majority of the GB players matches as full replays. But, you can cloud record the live broadcast Sky Sports Tennis channel in its full many hour day coverage, that does stay for a few weeks.

Of course none of the Sky Sports + content that is integrated into Sky Stream/Glass, not via an app can be cloud recorded. But that content does appear as short or sometimes longer highlights in On demand as on other Sky platforms.

All channels, that do not have an app, or any form of 'Sky' On demand can be cloud recorded.

For some examples, I cloud record multiple QVC programmes through the week, Great TV many channels series and films, Together TV series and films, Legend TV series and films, currently have series 3 episodes of Babylon5 that has been cloud recording for last few weeks.

But, some Legend films sometimes do add to playlist but do not appear as a cloud recording, when certain rights exists for other apps. The Legend Sky On demand section (shows some mixtures of source content) does also still have plenty of series/films to play out. Other On demand like on other Sky platforms, is the same.

Also do cloud record some of the International channels series/films also occasionally.

The above stay roughly for a minimum of a few weeks to a few months before being removed.

Where some of the On demand or content with an app is not available, like 5USA that does cloud recorded and stays for long periods, many months I've noticed.

I record/playlist Classic Eastenders on U&Drama and other similar long running series on the  U channels and never missed an episode yet in my three plus years of those regular cloud recordings. They play out as a special cloud type recordings with skip ads option, playing out using the  Stream/Glass trickplay, no app launch.

As for any  ITV, C5 or C4, any playlist bookmarks for series/films play out in their apps without issue.

BBC iPlayer plays out any playlist bookmarks of series/films in iPlayer. BBC iPlayer is the only one that plays out watch from start from their iPlayer app as opposed to playing out via Sky Stream/Glass.

All channels have a Watch from Start option.

The apps on stream are pretty seamless, compared to Sky Q, quick to launch and return or swap over instantly from the Sky Stream rails/menus/playlist/continue watching, voice called within another app or from a previous return to home menu,

Obviously you have to initially setup the app access on your first setup of the Sky Stream/Glass.

Plus, the Sky Stream/Glass ad skipping is one essential add on, in my view.

[matty147]

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@lettice wrote:

@matty147 

Ive moved your posts out to an individual thread.

Think it will flow better like that.

I wrote the below on my cloud recording examples recently, so hopefullyit may help you get a picture of how it all works.

Also, have a read of my move from Sky Q to Sky Stream 31/2 years ago, link in my signature below, hope some of that may also help you. It's still pretty relevant.

One of the most important aspects of Sky Stream/Glass is having a good local network that your Sky Stream puck can work with. Looking at your recent broadband move, you should be in a good position there.

The PQ for me was a noticeable improvement across linear tv channels, On demand and the apps.

I have several high mid to high end TVs connected to my pucks, so that sure shows off the extra uplift also.

Background to cloud recording, with some examples of mine.

Most Sky Sports cloud records, in many forms and stays as the true 'live' cloud recording for a few weeks at most, until Sky converts it to an On demand full replay. The On demand of full F1 sessions and Sky football matches stay  for the season.

For this season have sitting  all the Sky Football channel EFL Championship live broadcast matches of three hour or so from Aug 14th start.

Some rights issues though do exist, the major one being Sky Tennis, that only allows you to get full on demand of the quarter/semi/finals of the tournaments, or the majority of the GB players matches as full replays. But, you can cloud record the live broadcast Sky Sports Tennis channel in its full many hour day coverage, that does stay for a few weeks.

Of course none of the Sky Sports + content that is integrated into Sky Stream/Glass, not via an app can be cloud recorded. But that content does appear as short or sometimes longer highlights in On demand as on other Sky platforms.

All channels, that do not have an app, or any form of 'Sky' On demand can be cloud recorded.

For some examples, I cloud record multiple QVC programmes through the week, Great TV many channels series and films, Together TV series and films, Legend TV series and films, currently have series 3 episodes of Babylon5 that has been cloud recording for last few weeks.

But, some Legend films sometimes do add to playlist but do not appear as a cloud recording, when certain rights exists for other apps. The Legend Sky On demand section (shows some mixtures of source content) does also still have plenty of series/films to play out. Other On demand like on other Sky platforms, is the same.

Also do cloud record some of the International channels series/films also occasionally.

The above stay roughly for a minimum of a few weeks to a few months before being removed.

Where some of the On demand or content with an app is not available, like 5USA that does cloud recorded and stays for long periods, many months I've noticed.

I record/playlist Classic Eastenders on U&Drama and other similar long running series on the  U channels and never missed an episode yet in my three plus years of those regular cloud recordings. They play out as a special cloud type recordings with skip ads option, playing out using the  Stream/Glass trickplay, no app launch.

As for any  ITV, C5 or C4, any playlist bookmarks for series/films play out in their apps without issue.

BBC iPlayer plays out any playlist bookmarks of series/films in iPlayer. BBC iPlayer is the only one that plays out watch from start from their iPlayer app as opposed to playing out via Sky Stream/Glass.

All channels have a Watch from Start option.

The apps on stream are pretty seamless, compared to Sky Q, quick to launch and return or swap over instantly from the Sky Stream rails/menus/playlist/continue watching, voice called within another app or from a previous return to home menu,

Obviously you have to initially setup the app access on your first setup of the Sky Stream/Glass.

Plus, the Sky Stream/Glass ad skipping is one essential add on, in my view.

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Thanks for this. Also read your review which explained it in great detail.