Sky HD on single satellite feed

[theurbanpixie]

I would like to start off by explaining the situation I am in. Basically I live in a private block of 12 flats where we share a communal dish for satellite. There is a multi switch in the building that feeds each flat with ONE satellite feed. I have located the multi switch and there is no more capacity to feed my flat with an additional satellite feed.

At the moment I use SKY+ but on a single feed. I am able to use all sky + features without the ability to record one program while watching another and scheduling recording is also a problem. This is an inconvenience but I do get around this by using the PLAYTV product with my PS3

I would now like to upgrade my decoder to SKYHD but am concerned how running off one feed will effect this. Will it be the same as SKY+ without HD or are there further complications.

Another question is what is the best way to get an HD decoder. I spoke with SKY who said they could provide this to me for £99 plus £60 installation if I took some call package for free. I am prepared to do this as I don’t even use my landline other than for broadband. So seeing as it is free, I won’t have any additional cost per month and get the box for £99. (obviously there will be the £9.75 charge for HD). I am not happy paying £60 installation for an engineer to come to my house to simply tell me what I already know. i.e. cannot run a second feed.

Does anyone know of any other better deals or how I can get out of the £60 installation

Thanks in advance ...

[Ratcliffes]

The HD box will work in exactly the same way as your Sky+ box in your configuration. The same issues will be there but the problem won't be any worse either.

Stupidly IMHO Sky don't let customers self install so the only way to buy a box without paying the £60 install fee is by buying a box second hand which means you get no warrantee. You can expect to pick up an HD box for between £100 and £150 on ebay. The other advantage (if you see it that way) of buying an HD box second hand is that you are under no obligation to take out the £10 pcm HD sub - You will still get the FTA HD channels though and the abililty to connect to your TV via HDMI.

[dms05]

In addition to Radcliffes comments - if you go the 2nd hand route and just want FTA programmes remember you won't get ITV HD or C4 HD. ITV HD isn't (yet) available through a Sky box and C4 HD is encrypted and you need a Sky card to watch that.

[Kenedin]

Originally Posted by theurbanpixie

............
At the moment I use SKY+ but on a single feed. I am able to use all sky + features without the ability to record one program while watching another and scheduling recording is also a problem. This is an inconvenience but I do get around this by using the PLAYTV product with my PS3

I would now like to upgrade my decoder to SKYHD but am concerned how running off one feed will effect this. Will it be the same as SKY+ without HD or are there further complications.

...

The Sky HD box functions in the same way as your existing Sky+ with no added complications, other than not being able to record a channel and watch another at the same time. You can of course watch a recording, and simultaneously record a channel .

As for scheduling a recording, you should use the 'dummy recording' method to ensure the recording takes place. If you need advice on this, let us know.

[ezdub]

Have you thought about having the multi switch upgraded?

I am not sure how many flats there are in your block.

But we had to do this on a block we maintain as people wanted Sky+ and HD. We did not have to run any more cable, just upgraded the multi switch and added combiners and changed the wall plates in the flats.

It's not the cheapest options but saves a load of labour time and money.

[eshop600]

Originally Posted by Kenedin

The Sky HD box functions in the same way as your existing Sky+ with no added complications, other than not being able to record a channel and watch another at the same time. You can of course watch a recording, and simultaneously record a channel .

As for scheduling a recording, you should use the 'dummy recording' method to ensure the recording takes place. If you need advice on this, let us know.

Are you saying you can't view hd and record hd at the same time, that is pants!

[NewsreadeR]

Originally Posted by eshop600

Are you saying you can't view hd and record hd at the same time, that is pants!

Only on one feed. If you have both feeds for HD you can do that.

[Kenedin]

Originally Posted by eshop600

Are you saying you can't view hd and record hd at the same time, that is pants!

Not quite totally pants, certainly a severe limitation. We are talking about a one-input setup here. Nothing to stop you watching and recording the same live HD channel. Or recording one and watching a playback simultaneously. The point is that you cannot watch one live and record another at the same time, as you could with the normal 2-input setup..

[Tezcatlipoca]

With a Sky+HD box, you could get hold of an SPS1 Smart Priority Switch (or similar) to split the feed enabling you to connect both tuners.

Obviously, there is some signal loss, plus you can only watch/record two channels at once if they are the same polarity & the same band...But it makes things a lot easier than using "dummy recordings" in the Planner, as the switch gives priority to tuner 1 when the STB is turned on, and priority to tuner 2 when the STB is turned off, so unattended recordings actually work without fake entries.

It has a flylead which connects to pin 8 on the STB's TV SCART - which is what makes me suggest it for Sky+HD but not Sky+, as if you have a Sky+HD box the TV SCART should be free as you'll be using HDMI, but if you have a Sky+ box, you're obviously going to be using the TV SCART.

I bought mine last year. Not ideal, but works very well. Either got it from Satcure or Pulsat, I can't remember.

[theurbanpixie]

sorry for not gettting back to you all sooner

Well this morning i spoke with sky and decided to reduce my BB package from the max to mid, took out the call package moved my line rental to sky from BT with a reduction on the line cost for 6 months at £5. This also locks in the price of BB to £5 so wont be effected by the price hikes in March

I also took out HD @ £99 for the box and £60 installation. Have to wait a month for engineer to visit and although i only have the single feed, this is just something i will need to live with.

Have you thought about having the multi switch upgraded?

I am not sure how many flats there are in your block.

But we had to do this on a block we maintain as people wanted Sky+ and HD. We did not have to run any more cable, just upgraded the multi switch and added combiners and changed the wall plates in the flats.

It's not the cheapest options but saves a load of labour time and money.

I do have a question for "ezdub"... you mentioned we can upgrade the multi switch and use combiner and face plate upgrade, can this be done without a switch upgrade?? i.e. if i do this myself as i have access tot he switch!!

With a Sky+HD box, you could get hold of an SPS1 Smart Priority Switch (or similar) to split the feed enabling you to connect both tuners.

Tezcatlipoca, you mentioned i could use a SPS1 Smart Priority Switch but i cannot find this online.. is this still available or has it been superceeded by another model