@Jade+Allan wrote:
Hello I'm looking at the sky stream, I currently have sky q ( had for years) how easy is the change over? Also how does it work with having a another box in an other room? Is it all internet connected?
Sky Stream is a completely different way of watching TV so make sure you do some research before deciding to switch from Sky Q.
If you like how Sky Q works, ie being able to record what you want to watch whenever you like, being able to fast forward through advert breaks and such like, then you may be disappointed by Sky Stream.
Sky Stream needs a fast and stable broadband connection for starters - if you don't have this then it's not worth considering. You need a minumum of 25Mbps for HD and 30Mbps for UHD on each Sky Stream puck you choose to have. You need one puck per TV. They are not connected to each other in any way and operate independently so your broadband needs to be fast enough in each room you intend to have a puck.
Sky Stream doesn't record programmes, instead it has a playlist. This is a log of programmes you want to watch later and it will open the relevant streaming app for you to watch those programmes. But (and it's a big but) this relies on the relevant broadcaster making those programmes available to stream on demand. Sometimes it can take a while for programmes to be made available, sometimes they won't be at all, depending on streaming rights.
Movies for example, if they are broadcast on a channel they can be streamed live, but if that channel doesn't have the on demand rights to that movie you will be directed to watch it on whatever streaming service currently has the streaming rights, which may be a subscription service at additional charge such as Disney+, Prime Video, Sky Cinema or Sky Store.
Sky Stream can work very well if you have a good enough network in your home and if you are comfortable with how streaming works. Many people who have come from Sky Q have found it troublesome, but eventually get used to it and don't miss the ability to record. Others still find it glitchy and much less user-friendly than Q.
With Sky Stream the onus is very much more on the customer to make sure they have a sufficient broadband network in their home to support the system. It's not like Sky Q where Sky would send engineers to ensure the satellite dish and cabling were of sufficient enough quality to support the service, Sky Stream is much more in the hands of the customer. If you're comfortable enough with troubleshooting your own broadband network in your home then you may find it works brilliantly for you.
In terms of changing over - you'd need to ring Sky. They would loan you however many pucks you wanted, up to a maximum of 6 (first one usually free, additional ones with an activation fee of £39.95 each) and you would need the Whole Home subscription to allow them to function. Your Sky Q contract would be terminated and you would need to return all your Q equipment to Sky.
