Sky Stream assistance

[mickscully]

Hi. We've taken delivery of Sky Stream, just before Xmas, and I wondered if anyone could help with the following.

When it comes to 'recording' programmes, I understand that you don't record them in the conventional way, but instead, add them to a playlist. The issue we have is that we clicked to add a programme, that was being broadcast tonight, to our playlist but when we've come to watch it, as the episode is not available on BBC iPlayer yet, we're unable to watch it. Am I missing something here as this seems a step back from the old way of recording programmes, where they were available to watch immediately?

Also, when we had Sky Q, we could watch a channel and, when scrolling up/down to see what was on the other channels,  you could see the live channel in the preview window, but this function seems to have gone too. If we do change channels, there seems a delay before the picture appears. Is this the same for everyone?

We have set the parental settings so that the Family Setting and PIN for daytime viewing are both off, but we still get prompted for a PIN for anything rated 15 and over.

Finally, is there a way of defaulting the system so that, when you turn the puck on, it goes straight to the last tv channel, rather than to the homepage?

Apologies for all of the questions but, so far, I'm not that impressed!

[mikealanr · Accepted solution]

Hi @mickscully 

There is no facility to record as it doesn't have a local drive to record to. Some programs "cloud record" you will notice the wording on the banner at the top is different when it records or just playlists. However for the Public Service Channels (BBC, ITV, C4 etc) they will only allow playback via their catch up service and we are at their mercy as to how long it takes to appear on their catch-up service. See: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/your-playlist-and-tv-guide-sky-glass

Picture in picture isnt supported on Entertainment OS. Presumably due to the fact that you are restricted by broadband bandwidth rather than physical tuners in the device.

Even with the PIN settings off, Sky broadcast post watershed content pre watershed, and this will always require a PIN. This is due to Ofcoms Mandatory Pin Protection. It should have been the same on Q. See: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/your-sky-glass-pin

And no entertainment OS only loads the home screen however scrolling left will list the last channels and apps used for you to quicky access.

MikeAlanR

[Jason+Golding]

@mikealanr not true. All CH5 programmes record to the cloud 

[mickscully]

Hi @mikealanr 

Thanks for the quick response and the explanations. It does seem to be a step back in functionality and user experience. I do understand the reasoning for the PIN protection, but don't see the point in Sky giving you the option to turn it off if it is mandatory anyway 🤷🏻

Thanks again.

[TimmyBGood]

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@mikealanr wrote:

Hi @mickscully 

However for the Public Service Channels (BBC, ITV, C4 etc) they will only allow playback via their catch up service and we are at their mercy as to how long it takes to appear on their catch-up service. 

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And as referenced in another recent post, that means in the Republic of Ireland content from BBC channels will only be viewable live, because on-demand through iPlayer is geo-blocked.

[TimmyBGood]

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@mickscully wrote:

Hi @mikealanr 

don't see the point in Sky giving you the option to turn it off if it is mandatory anyway 

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Sky permits the additional Parental Controls embedded in their platforms to be on or off: this cannot apply to Mandatory Daytime Protection because it's specifically stipulated in the Broadcasting Code.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/parental-controls-sky-glass 

[TimmyBGood]

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@mickscully wrote:

Also, when we had Sky Q, we could watch a channel and, when scrolling up/down to see what was on the other channels,  you could see the live channel in the preview window, but this function seems to have gone too. If we do change channels, there seems a delay before the picture appears. Is this the same for everyone?

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In satellite television, data for every possible channel is falling simultaneously on the dish all the time, so changing channel (and live preview) is just a function of tuning circuits and can be effectively instantaneous with no additional data demand.

For Stream, the data for a particular channel has to be requested, received and buffered before viewing can begin,  and this takes a perceivable amount of time, while running a preview window would double the bandwidth required and for many households on FTTC that's just not possible.

[MR111]

Is Sky stream better than SkyQ

[Ellie_TV]

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@MR111 wrote:

Is Sky stream better than SkyQ

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Only you can answer this question. 
Both systems give you a TV service. They do it differently. Some prefer Q and some prefer Stream. 
You can try Sky Stream for a month and return it if you don't like it. Sky will revert you back to Q quite happily. 

[AndrewF_UK]

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@MR111 wrote:

Is Sky stream better than SkyQ

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It depends what you want from it. There's pros and cons and the products aren't directly comparable. Sky Q is a satellite DVR, Stream is a internet streamer. 

Personally Stream has been a better fit for me than Q was. I found Q old fashioned, bad at streaming, and frustratingly dependant on weather at times. I barely recorded, because there's little need for me to do that these days so the playlist idea of stream is far more useful for me.  For me Stream just works, but slows down from time to time.

I've had bugs with Stream, but I've had bugs with Q too. 

[TimmyBGood]

@MR111 

It's 'better' if you need several screens with Sky television in UHD : six Stream pucks is a lot more than one main Q box (plus two Minis in HD)