Freesat & Sky+ box

[RickyC]

Sky+ is free to use provided you are paying/subscribing to at least the minimum channel package. You can have, for example, a HD box in one room with the subscription card and a Sky+ in another with a Freesat card (£20, call 0870 240 5651 to order), no problem. If, IF, you're a subscriber then the Sky+ functions will work.

if thats true i didn't know that!

[DangerMouse]

Oh thats cool then.

Can I use the card thats coming with the box (second hand) or would it be wise to order sky's own freesat card?

Sorry for all the questions, but at least this looks like it will be a goer now.

Cheers

Tony

[greyrider]

As it's already been paired to the box, why not just connect things up and see what happens, worst case you'll have to buy one of your own, but it ought to work fine.

[Fez]

Does it seem like madness and more importantly greed on sky's part that you have to pay for a service thats totally free if you go for the none sky variant of free sat?

Humax have released their HD PVR to the masses this week. No cards, no ten pounds a month for anything, just a one off payment for the box which looks like £299. Does this not seem like a bargain to anyone else?

Why should we pay to be able to record? they've had our money for the boxes! Would you have paid to record on tape in the VHS/Beta days?

Madness!

[Nigelh]

You're not actually paying to record, you are paying for the additional channels, and functionality that you get EPG, Series Link etc. Whilst I know little about the Humax Freesat boxes, if they are similar to the Freeview PVR's, the EPG isn't a patch on Sky's, it takes agers to load and you can't series link (you can set a daily/weekly recording, but only at the same time) I would agree that a £10 HD sub and a £10 multiroom sub is a bit steep, and certainly puts me off the HD option for now. It might be that Sky should look at reducing this if both are taken, and even if you have more than 2 boxes.

[murdock]

O.K. I admit to being confused by this thread.

According to Sky, if you have Freesat from Sky
to use Sky+ you need to buy the Sky+ box for £299
and then pay £10 a month to use the recording facilities.

Instead, they suggest you buy the minimum package (£17)
per month plus £99 for the box.
This is financially better, you get more channels, but
you will no longer be Freesat but a Sky subscriber.

Therefore, from a practical point of view you can use Sky+ and Freesat.
It just doesn't make financial sense, compared to being a subscriber
especially as you should be able to get a new customer deal.
Right?

[psu300]

Another option is:

Humax Foxsat High Definition freesat box with integrated recorder and 320GB hard drive allowing you to watch and record up to 80 hours of high definition TV or 200 hours of standard definition TV from over 130 digital channels. Also features twin tuner, pause live TV function and 8 day electronic programme guide.
£292.00

[Smithy99]

That's one hell of a lot of money for one HD channel

I'd rather get Sky+ with the minimum viewing package for a year.

[psu300]

BBC Hd and Channel 4 Hd are free.

[Smithy99]

BBC Hd and Channel 4 Hd are free.

BBC HD hardly ever shows current HD programes, not a full channel line up like C4HD