Sky stream , honest review

[OKcambridge]

Over time, this will never get better than Sky Q as the chips inside it are rubbish. Sky Q feels like a premium product, Sky Stream is a cheap hardware product.

If they release a new box with better hardware and software then possibly, released as a premium product like Sky Q was years ago. 

It is just clearly done on the cheap, the UX has not been done by the best of the best and the hardware is absolutely not the best.

[Super+Anthony]

Completely agree @OKcambridge . Yes it's a great product but box is not up to it in its current format and it needs major updating. This has also been mentioned by a few engineers I have bumped into 

[Chrisee]

@OKcambridge you are entitled to your opinion but I do not agree.

I used Sky Q from launch in 2016 and at that time it was a step forward especially with its support for UHD and ability to record mutiple streams. However after 5 years the system was showing its age, In 2021 I switched to using Sky Stream/Glass and had many issues with the early firmware especially with the  pucks. However within a year these were largely resolved, the pucks were stable and give better picture and audio quality than my old Sky Q boxes. 

The SOC Sky uses is not substandard in anyway and actually beyond handling the video and audio processing is not what is managing the service.  The apps and playout are managed on the servers not on the local puck which means new services and features can be added without needing upgraded firmware. The local operating system does get updated every month or so but the back end servers are continually being improved. The introduction of the low latency sport service is an example of work on the backend. 

If you add a title  to the playlist you can access all previous seasons and the system will add all future seasons as they are released. Practically you are not limited by hard disc size. You have instant access to several hundred thousand titles meaning linear channels need only really be used for live events like sports. 

Sky Q however is very different the main box acts as the server for the system so adding features and apps is far more complex. and fixing bugs takes longer. The use of a physical hard disc limits usability while it gives customers the illusion that they "own" the recordings in practice Sky can and do delete anything they want. Given the likely ending of satellite broadcasting in the UK around 2030 development of Sky Q has ceased. 

The number one requirement to use Sky Stream is a good home network without that the experience is miserable far too many people confuse the speed of their broadband service with the speed and stability of their home's WiFi network and blame the pucks. My home network is getting quite old but my pucks are more stable than my Q boxes were. 

[OKcambridge]

@Chrisee everything you say is true. However it does not address the fact that the hardware and UX themselves are less superior than the Q. The stream just has less capable chips and the experience is not as smooth as a result. 

UX wise there will be other preferences for individuals, but not being able to have a default channel play when you turn it on for e.g. is mildly annoying, and it has other little things like this that make it harder to use.

I'm glad some people are enjoying it, I just hope for others that enjoy a premium hardware experience they bring out some better hardware in the future.

[Mackemjet]

The home network excuse is often just that, an excuse.

Plenty have already stated other devices streaming live content often in much higher quality (Sky still can't manage full HDR Dolby Vision). There are people who have tested Sky Go or Sky Now (with 4K package) via other devices without issue while their stream is still spluttering away. 

Also Sky, to their credit, have acknowledged many of the issues users have been mentioning in the threads and do continue to work on them but who wants to pay so much for a product that constantly needs it?

The UI and playlists are also miles behind things like the Apple TV Box. 

Each to their own, the fact we can chose content via multiple different devices or subscriptions including Sky exclusive which can be done by Now TV on any device is only good for us.

I get to give my notice today 🙂

[Bill051]

For me not having a home channel is a feature not a bug.

[Graeme87]

Only had it a few days, so far so good. No issues just a little different to sky Q. Like I am used to pressing the back button couple times and that would return to the picture of what's showing on tv but on stream that doesn't work. 

also have to navigate extra steps to get to tv guide. I guess I can just say tv guide in the remote instead. 

[Chrisee]

@Graeme87 the home button takes you to last channel or app you were watching press left to go back to see previously viewed sources.

[Super+Anthony]

@Chrisee I have an excellent stable broadband and WiFi and it works perfectly fine on everything except stream. If it was my network or ISP, I would have issues with everything, which I don't. As @OKcambridge points out, the stream puck is not sufficient and it's up to Sky to sort, and no one else. Stream is a great product, it's just not up to it in its present format and needs enhancing 

[Anonymous]

@Super+Anthony it's untrue to say that because something works on other devices it's necessarily the fault of Sky if Stream doesn't work.

For example just this last week there's been ongoing threads that an ISP called 4th Utility has had issues with Stream when other things worked and when users switched ISP or replaced their router Sky Stream started working for them. It looks like that specific ISP was doing weird things like routing traffic to the USA, but because Sky is UK only it wouldn't play. And of course that ISP claimed it wasn't their fault. 

This is not to say about your particular situation, but that it's not helpful to keep saying that when we have real evidence that local network and ISP is a major factor on Sky performance. 

[Hunter2660]

@Anonymous  I do agree with you. I'm having zero problems with Stream, even the lip synch issue seems to have disappeared. I don't know what is happening to those that have issues, but it's not the puck (or Glass TV, I have one in my little man cave).

[Fothergill1]

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@Hunter2660 wrote:

@Anonymous  I do agree with you. I'm having zero problems with Stream, even the lip synch issue seems to have disappeared. I don't know what is happening to those that have issues, but it's not the puck (or Glass TV, I have one in my little man cave).

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@Hunter2660  It's interesting that you mention your lip sync issues have disappeared..  Although my lip sync issues were never as bad as many subscribers, I used to see it every 2 or 3 days and a quick flip to another channel resolved it.  Like your experience the issue seems to have gone as I have not had any issues for the last 3-4 weeks 🤞. 

[Super+Anthony]

I don't agree I am afraid 

I have had several tests with my ISP and it's all working fine and all my gadgets are working fine, apart from intermittent issues from the puck. As others have said, the puck is not as it should be

I have to say the team who are constantly helping are being helpful. We just need more from the tech team to improve the puck

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@Super+Anthony wrote:

I don't agree I am afraid 

I have had several tests with my ISP and it's all working fine and all my gadgets are working fine, apart from intermittent issues from the puck. As others have said, the puck is not as it should be

I have to say the team who are constantly helping are being helpful. We just need more from the tech team to improve the puck

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Easy way to potentially test, do as some of the affected 4th Utility customers did, and purchase a different router and don't use the one provided and configured by your ISP.

As we have repeatedly pointed out to you other, gadgets worknig fine does not actually gain any useful information as the sky streaming platform works in a completely different way to your othere gadgets. The hardware in the puck is perfectly suitable for the way the platform operates.

[Super+Anthony]

I agree to disagree with you I am afraid and lots of others have also said the software is not to it in its current state. It's a lot better than it was but still problems. Not going to get into a debate on it as more important things in life