LNB Sky Q compatible with Sky+HD box?

[Spunglefoop]

I've noticed my 83 year old father only watches channels that you get on Freeview/Freesat, yet Sky enticed him to sign up to Sky Movies and 4K resolution. He doesn't even have a 4K TV let alone watches the movies! He's now paying way over the top for his Sky and he can't really afford it.

I've just picked up a Sky+HD box on Freecycle with the intention of cancelling his Sky subscription altogether and just use this box to view Freesat channels instead. I know he can't keep and/or use his current Sky Q box if he cancels. Also, he no longer has an aerial to receive Freeview.

However, I know when the Sky engineer came round to install the Sky Q box, they upgraded the LNB or LNBs. The question is, will the Sky+HD box still work with these LNBs? Will it be just a case of swapping the boxes over or is there more to it than that?

If all this is moot, what is the absolute minimum package Sky does?

I did call Sky about this but that was a long time ago. I can't remember what was actually said but I remember being told a basic package doesn't include any HD channels which I thought was a bit a rich and put me off because Freesat has HD channels and they're of course free!

Thanks very much for any advice.

[Annie+UK · Accepted solution]

You will need the wideband LNB swapped out for a standard Sky+ compatible LNB

Note: you will not be able to record on a Sky box with no sky subscription, you could look at a newer Freesat box that is wideband compatible that way you'd just need to plug into the existing dish setup  🙂

[Mark39]

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@Spunglefoop wrote:

I did call Sky about this but that was a long time ago. I can't remember what was actually said but I remember being told a basic package doesn't include any HD channels which I thought was a bit a rich and put me off because Freesat has HD channels and they're of course free!

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A Sky+HD box with any subscription, or indeed no subscription will receive the free to air HD channels.

[Spunglefoop]

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

Just to clarify, I understand a Sky Q box would not work with a standard LNB but are you saying the wideband LNB is not backward compatible for a Sky+HD box?

[Spunglefoop]

Apologies, please disregard last question, I found the answer. Unfortunately and as you already stated, it won't work 😥

[TimmyBGood]

@Spunglefoop 

A 'Freesat 4K' branded receiver or recorder will work through a Q LNB. 

HD Freesat boxes, Sky+ HD boxes and the vast majority of smart television set built-in satellite tuners will not do so.

All SD satellite reception hardware is now terminally obsolete as for most channels there's no longer a broadcast signal it can decode.