Sky+ Packages

[TDGuy]

Is it still possible to change packages with  sky+ hd boxes? When I call sky it is very hard to have a sensible conversation about my options  as all I'm ever told is that I need to upgrade to sky q with no other options presented to me. I don't want sky q for many reasons and will opt for freesat before getting it.  All I would like to know when I call is my true options for other packages on the boxes I already have i.e. if I can get some HD channels instead of kids  and perhaps save some money, or at least get better value, as I am currently paying £43 a month for variety package when I know there are cheaper packages. I have been with sky for many years, and have always loved the service, but feel like it is only a matter of time before I will have to leave if sky q is all I will ever be offered when I want to discuss changing packages.

[SKY1992bf]

@TDGuy  You should be able to yes but you need to be persistent and clear that you don't want to upgrade to Q, as sky will do everything possible to get you to upgrade given that sky plus is an end of life legacy product 

[Mark39]

@TDGuy I vaguely remember another forum post indicating that Sky wouldn't allow a change to the current Signature package from a legacy package such as Variety if you have Sky+.

I'm curious as to your reasons for vehemently not wanting Sky Q. Is there anything we customers can do to reassure you?

[SKY1992bf]

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@Mark39 wrote:

@TDGuy I vaguely remember another forum post indicating that Sky wouldn't allow a change to the current Signature package from a legacy package such as Variety if you have Sky+.

I'm curious as to your reasons for vehemently not wanting Sky Q. Is there anything we customers can do to reassure you?

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@Mark39 yes I believe you are correct 

[TimmyBGood]

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@Mark39 wrote:

@TDGuy I vaguely remember another forum post indicating that Sky wouldn't allow a change to the current Signature package from a legacy package such as Variety if you have Sky+.

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I guess it could be argued that Signature (or rather 'Ultimate TV', because Signature itself has largely disappeared) loses too much value of its inherent value-for-money if used on a legacy Sky+ platform.

[TDGuy]

Thank you for the replies. I think they will end up losing customers by trying to bully people onto Sky Q (if that is what they are doing) as there are so many other entertainment options today and most of them a lot cheaper.  I keep sky because I like the setup I have and recently bought some hd boxes to get the bbc channels. Sky Q is not an option for us. We are old and don't believe in wifi (still use ethernet broadband) and certainly won't have a wifi multiroom option that Q offers. If the Sky Q boxes simply replaced the sky+ boxes and could be put on aeroplane mode like computers and phones to turn off wifi then I would consider them at some point, but not at the moment with the pandemic ongoing. (for many us that are elderly it is still a concern).

[TimmyBGood]

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@TDGuy wrote:

 I think they will end up losing customers by trying to bully people onto Sky Q (if that is what they are doing)

More a business imperative: Sky+ HD was last manufactured in 2015 and sold in 2020.  In excess of 80% of the Sky userbase is now on Q, Glass or Stream, and retaining a minority legacy platform is expensive.

 We are old and don't believe in wifi (still use ethernet broadband) and certainly won't have a wifi multiroom option that Q offers.

Q boxes work just fine (actually better) on ethernet.

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[TDGuy]

 Doesn't Sky Q  require wifi mini boxes for multiroom? This is not for us. Even if the mini  box could be connected to the main box by ethernet and not wifi,  I wouldn't want to watch tv  over the internet as our broadband is slow and I may aswell have sky glass. Also I wouldn't want all the additional cabling which would be tricky given the position of our router ( no where near the tv).  I'd rather use freesat with my existing dish. 

[Mark39]

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@TDGuy wrote:

Sky Q is not an option for us. We are old and don't believe in wifi (still use ethernet broadband) and certainly won't have a wifi multiroom option that Q offers. If the Sky Q boxes simply replaced the sky+ boxes and could be put on aeroplane mode like computers and phones to turn off wifi then I would consider them at some point...

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As @TimmyBGood posted you don't need to use wifi. And you don't need to have the multiroom option, though that may be offered as a cheaper upgrade route. That being the case, you can disable wifi on the Sky Q box.

I entirely understand your concern about the pandemic risk, being in a similar, vulnerable position. Most of the required work is outside, and any time within your home should be short as it's a matter of swapping the box only. I've no doubt the installer would be receptive to your concerns.

[TimmyBGood]

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@TDGuy wrote:

Even if the mini  box could be connected to the main box by ethernet and not wifi,  I wouldn't want to watch tv  over the internet as our broadband is slow and I may aswell have sky glass.

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For live television the main Q box receives the signal over the satellite dish and then retransmits to Mini boxes over either WiFi or ethernet: it has multiple tuners to permit different channels to be watched and recorded.

[TDGuy]

Thank you for the helpful replies. Clearly there are some workarounds for the wifi problem but to be honest we don't watch enough of the paid channels to make the upheaval of new cabling and an engineer visit worth the stress and hassle it would cause us at our age and circumstance.  Also we have just invested in some hd boxes to keep getting the bbc channels and just installed them - which is why I was looking to see if we could get some tweaks to our current package to get some of the hd channels and maybe cinema instead of kids. But if Sky Q is the only way we can get any changes to our package then in the long term recordable freesat boxes are the best option for us.