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Discussion topic: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

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This message was authored by Mister_Dalek This message was authored by: Mister_Dalek

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?


@StevieD54 wrote:

OK, can we have a small re-set here after all the useful information posted?  I've had yet another phone call from Sky offering 'a cheaper cost' if I switch to SkyQ, blah blah blah. This happened whilst I was out shopping and it was very difficult to understand the strong Asian accent.

 

Anyway, he seemed to be saying a SkyQ box would connect via WiFi to my kitchen tv (which is currently connected via a cable from my Sky+ box (RF Out) in the lounge, and a magic eye clipped onto the tv). We have an LG smart tv in the lounge but the small kitchen tv is not smart, so won't accept WiFi.

 

Can anyone tell me in simple terms what actual hardware this guy is talking about? How many SkyQ boxes would I need? The main one? A mini box? If so, where would the mini box have to sit? I don't want multi room.  And his claim that he could make my current (basic) package cheaper, is that **bleep**?  Any more random phone calls on this from Sky and I'll be writing a strongly worded letter to their HQ!

 

thanks all in advance,

Steve 

 


I'm afraid that without a multi-room subscription and a minibox you wouldn't be able to (easily) have Sky Q on your kitchen TV.

The minibox would have to sit near the kitchen TV and would have an HDMI cable connection to it. It would also need a power socket. It would also need to be able to connect to the WiFi network generated by the main Q box so if your kitchen and the room with the main Q box are far apart, or separated by thick walls, then you may also need some kind of booster. 

In terms of whether it would be cheaper than your existing package or not is impossible to say. Sky have dynamic pricing and it's very rare for any two customers to pay the same. 

This message was authored by nigea99 This message was authored by: nigea99

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more

@Mark39 wrote:

A Mini Sky box in the kitchen would replace your RF/magic eye setup. The Mini box would connect over a dedicated wifi channel to the main Sky Q in the lounge.


@StevieD54 

 

THe mini box connects to the TV itself via HDMI & is usually fairly close  to the TV (although you can have longer HDMI cables than  when using a main box with 4K)

 

You also need the  multiroom subscription to use a mini box which I note you don't want

 

Edit - Sorry  I missed that @Mister_Dalek  also explains this & more

This message was authored by StevieD54 This message was authored by: StevieD54

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Thank you all.

So things appear to be as I suspected, i.e. I'd need another power socket near the kitchen tv for the mini box (unavailable), plus have it sitting on my breakfast bar, which I don't want either. The bloke from Sky kept banging on about cost, but I just couldn't get through to him that my concerns were practical/technical, not financial. And I don't see how a multi room subscription would lower my costs either, which some of you say would be necessary. I put the phone down in the end! 

This message was authored by Si74 This message was authored by: Si74

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Why not just install sky Q then install an HD rf modulator with an HDMI loop out and the kitchen tv will work fine so long as it has an HD freeview tuner it 🤷‍♂️

This message was authored by AlM1 This message was authored by: AlM1

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Thanks. My 94yo father in law has just had the same update message. Similar problem that getting him to learn a new machine will be difficult if not impossible so this reply is really helpful.

 

This message was authored by Mark39 This message was authored by: Mark39

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more

@AlM1 what is your father-in-law's setup? There's no need for him to do anything yet.

This message was authored by AlexGray This message was authored by: AlexGray

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

I've just had the same offer and have a similar setup as you, excpet that beause my kitchen TV's RF input broke,I ended up running a 20-metre long HDMI extension cable from the Sky+ box to the TV. Obviously whether that is practical or not depends on the layout of your house (unless you go to the extent of having an electrician or other install a cable more completely.

 

As others have said, an RF modulator is an alternative so you can still use your RF aerial wiring. It's also possible to get quite cheap HDMI-over-Cat5 converters to send the feed over network-type cable, which can be easier to hide.

 

For remote control, the Sky Q remote uses Bluetooth rather than the usual infrared, so it doesn;t nee dline of sight. However, whether the range would be enough to work in your kitchen depends again on the layout of the house. It's specified to work up to 10 metres, but of course doors and walls will reduce that substantially.

 

Hope that helps.

This message was authored by AlexGray This message was authored by: AlexGray

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

What about remote control? A magic eye system won;t work with Sqy Q's Bluetooth remote will it?

This message was authored by AlexGray This message was authored by: AlexGray

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Update - I've just read that Sky Q can work in IR or Bluetooth modes, so it should be possible to continue using a 'magic eye' system to control a rmeote Sky Q box as we do with the Sky + box.

 

(should have done more reading before posting previous message about Bluetooth, but I don't see a way to delete that post!)

This message was authored by StevieD54 This message was authored by: StevieD54

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Exactly Alex, this is my issue. Magic eye in the kitchen, wired connection to the kitchen tv from my Sky+ box.  I've had the same message from Sky today. Do I need to panic or justify hope everything carries on as normal.

This message was authored by AlexGray This message was authored by: AlexGray

Re: Why upgrade from Sky HD+ to Sky Q?

Stevie - if your 'magic eye' is connected into the RF2 wired connection to your present Sky+ box, then that would have to change, but if it is the sort that has a little IR emitter that you just place in front of the box to mimic an IT remote control, then that should continue to work with Sky Q. 

 

In my case, although the Sky+ is wired to the kitchen TV using a long HDMI lead, the magic eye remote works over the old RF aerial cabling, and there's no reason that should need any changes to work with Sky Q. 

 

The only thing you would have to do is put the the Sky Q remote handset in IR mode (which I beleieve is done by holding buttons 4 & 6 down together for a few seconds) 

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