Not upgrading to Sky q

[HisNamesNotBim]

I will not be upgrading to Sky Q when SD channels are switched off in August (due to no internet connection), will I need to cancel my current Sky+ or will my subscription and charges be terminated automatically? Can't find any information anywhere.

Thanks in advance!

[Mark39]

Do you have a Sky+HD box or an older Sky+ box with no HD capability?

[HisNamesNotBim]

Hi!

Just the old Sky+, no HD!! 

[Mark39]

See Sky's guide here: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-channel-upgrade

If you want to keep your subscription without upgrading, you might want to consider buying a used Sky+HD box from ebay etc. They're available quite cheaply - no need to spend more than around £30.

[HisNamesNotBim]

Thanks, I did look at that but I think it will probably only be a matter of time before they will become obsolete too. (?) My main concern is, that if I need to cancel, I do it in time as I don't want to be paying once I have lost the SD channels! They said they would automatically cancel my Sky Sports subscription at the end of May...it has switched off (just the upgrade number on the menu) but I am awaiting a bank statement to check payment has stopped too. Unfortunately there was no information specifying what would happen with everything else!

[HisNamesNotBim]

Thanks for the link.....I just wish they would spell out exactly what will happen with those of us who aren't upgrading in the same way as they did for extra subscription channels (Sports/Cinema etc). For example "make sure you cancel in August when SD channels close" or " no need to take further action we will terminate existing contracts in August". 

[Mark39]

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@HisNamesNotBim wrote:

Thanks, I did look at that but I think it will probably only be a matter of time before they will become obsolete too. (?) My main concern is, that if I need to cancel, I do it in time as I don't want to be paying once I have lost the SD channels! They said they would automatically cancel my Sky Sports subscription at the end of May...it has switched off (just the upgrade number on the menu) but I am awaiting a bank statement to check payment has stopped too. Unfortunately there was no information specifying what would happen with everything else!

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I doubt Sky+HD (and Sky Q) boxes will become obsolete until the current orbiting satellites cease to function at around the end of the decade.

[nigea99]

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@HisNamesNotBim wrote:

Thanks for the link.....I just wish they would spell out exactly what will happen with those of us who aren't upgrading in the same way as they did for extra subscription channels (Sports/Cinema etc). For example "make sure you cancel in August when SD channels close" or " no need to take further action we will terminate existing contracts in August". 

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hi @HisNamesNotBim 

The cancellation of Sports subscription was due to the switch of all Sports to be HD & they didn't want to continue charging people for a service they can't get. 

The other channels are a little more nuanced in that SKY are changing their own channels transmission - which whilst will be in SD the old boxes won't be able to receive them 

With so many channels switching over then again it makes sense for SKY to cancel subscriptions for anyone not tranferring to a SKY HD box or SKY Q.

If you switch to a 2nd hand SKY HD box then you will be able to watch the SD channels that they plan to switch transmission on - SKY HD boxes can decode the different way they will be transmitted 

Of course a 2nd hand SKY HD box may have problems in the future & some services like 'Red button' are becoming unsupported on SKY HD  but SKY HD boxes are like to be OK  for a couple  years or so - possibly until near the time the Satellites used for SKY in the UK & Ireland are due to run out of fuel

Note if you get either a 2nd hand SKY HD box or switch to SKY Q you do not need to take out the HD add on to watch the Entertainement/News channels in SD

[HisNamesNotBim]

Ok, thanks, that is interesting! Would I need to get a different viewing card for a second hand HD box?

[nigea99]

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@HisNamesNotBim wrote:

Ok, thanks, that is interesting! Would I need to get a different viewing card for a second hand HD box?

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@HisNamesNotBim 

AFAIK it should just be a mtter of paring your exiting card with a SKY HD box  - although I am not sure if some cards might need replacement - but if so this is one thing I believe SKY will do - I am sure @Mark39 can advise better

[Annie+UK]

You can pair your exisiting card to a HD box 🙂 All the cards are the same

[HisNamesNotBim]

Great, interesting to know about the card situation, more food for thought!

Thanks for everyone's help! @Mark39@nigea99 @Annie+UK 

[TimmyBGood]

@HisNamesNotBim 

Be aware that if Sky does cancel your subscription automatically, you won't then be able to obtain a new one if you subsequently acquire a Sky+ HD box.

Also note that a main Sky Q box does in fact function for live television reception without having an internet connection.

[HisNamesNotBim]

Thank you @TimmyBGood @I was aware that Sky would not offer support for second hand HD boxes, but I didn't realise that Sky Q could function without internet. Would that only be the case for non subscription channels? I seem to think I read somewhere that Sky Sport could only be viewed with a connection. 

[TimmyBGood]

@HisNamesNotBim 

Live reception on Q is over a satellite dish for subscription and non-subscription content.

The issue with the upcoming Sports+ service is that all the additional content (match choice, multi court coverage and so on) from which the service derives its value will be delivered online: satellite can only carry one item on one channel at a time.

The old Red Button service used multiple satellite channels to offer choice, but that's not going to continue largely because online delivery is much cheaper.