Sky TV for the elderly

[Rick1013]

Hi. My elderly in law's house burnt down and lost their Sky+ box. They have been living in an AirBNB flat for the last year using SkyQ and they hate it. They are in their 80s and just can't get their head round streaming and ' not being able to record '.......🤷🏼‍♂️

Has anyone any experience with asking Sky if they could have an older box ? Is their any point if streaming is ' the way forward ' ? 

Haven't called sky yet as their house isn't ready to move back into yet, but just wondered people's thoughts on this.

Cheers

[Daniel0210]

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@Rick1013 wrote:

Hi. My elderly in law's house burnt down and lost their Sky+ box. They have been living in an AirBNB flat for the last year using SkyQ and they hate it. They are in their 80s and just can't get their head round streaming and ' not being able to record '.......

Why haven't they been able to record using Sky Q? 

Has anyone any experience with asking Sky if they could have an older box ? Is their any point if streaming is ' the way forward ' ? 

Haven't called sky yet as their house isn't ready to move back into yet, 

Personally I don't see why they can't buy a used Sky+HD box when they are ready to move back in. The problem may be if they need a new dish and cabling as Sky no longer support Sky+ issues. That's something they'll need to discuss with Sky. 

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[Rick1013]

Thanks for the reply.

My mistake.....they don't actually have Sky Q...they don't have any sky products in the flat at all. Think they just have ' free to air '. They struggle with netflix etc. I was wondering about getting them an older 2nd hand Sky+ box .....that might be they way forward.

Cheers

[Daniel0210]

@Rick1013 

In that case I've moved your thread to the Sky+ board as it doesn't involve Sky Q. 

[Mark39]

@Rick1013 Sky won't provide a Sky+ box, but as you mentioned, you can obtain a used replacement quite cheaply from ebay etc. DRX890 and DRX895 models are the most recent, albeit still from 2015. If they have a Sky subscription they'll need a replacement Viewing Card if the original was lost with the box. If they don't have a Sky subscription, a replacement box will work without one to receive the free to air channels.

The issue will be with the dish and cabling. It's very unlikely that Sky will replace them, unless your in laws upgrade to Sky Q Sky Q isn't quite as radical as streaming only, as it still receives and records TV channels (not Netflix etc)  via a satellite dish. That might work them.

[Daniel0210]

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@Rick1013 wrote:

I was wondering about getting them an older 2nd hand Sky+ box .....

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@Rick1013 

If Sky Q is definitely a no-no it's worth remembering that Sky+ and Sky+HD boxes haven't been made for 8 years. If you look for a replacement it will be preferable to go for a Sky+HD box. A number of channels have already moved to HD only, and more will no doubt follow. They/You can  buy a used Sky+HD box on ebay for £30-40. Look for either a DRX890 or DRX895 model. 

[Daniel0210]

@Rick1013 

As I mentioned in an earlier reply, and mentioned above by @Mark39 Sky may not replace the dish and cables. Your in-laws might have to use a local satellite company for that but hopefully the cost would be covered by their house insurance claim for the fire damage. 

[Exiled-in-HH]

By "free to air" do you mean Freeview?

Do they struggle with Freeview?

Do they require access to recording functionality?

Do they require access to Sky subscription channels?

To which specific channels do they require?

Finally as confirmation did they have a Sky+ box or Sky+ HD box?

[nigea99]

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@Rick1013 wrote:

Thanks for the reply.

My mistake.....they don't actually have Sky Q...they don't have any sky products in the flat at all. Think they just have ' free to air '. They struggle with netflix etc. I was wondering about getting them an older 2nd hand Sky+ box .....that might be they way forward.

Cheers

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hi @Rick1013 

if they don't currently  have a SKY TV subscription they won't be able to get one for SKY +/HD so no point in searching for an older SKY HD box

SKY now only take out new subscriptions on SKY Q or Stream 

[Daniel0210]

@nigea99 

I read the situation as @Rick1013 in-laws have Sky+ at home but not in their temporary accommodation? 

[Exiled-in-HH]

The house burned down a year ago!

[Daniel0210]

@Exiled-in-HH 

Yes, I realise that. The OP suggested they'll be moving back when repairs/rebuild is complete.