Sky emails

[DH59]

We've now received our modem/router, but no activation date as yet, but I have a quick question regarding our email addresses. I've had a quick search of the forums, but I am having to do this at work, so don't have too much time to spare and hope someone can help.

When we received the paperwork there was an indication of our username, which, it was said, would also form the main email address. This is in the form of my firstname_lastname@sky.com. I presume we can have more than this one email and set up some aliases, as my husband would also like a personal address?

I have also been reading the information here regarding setting this up in Outlook Express, so I should be able to manage that, but I presume it's an easy enough job to set up the aliases?

Thanks.

[the_sky_goat]

Yes, you can have up to 10 addresses on the account. May I take this opportunity to suggest that you don't use Sky for your email accounts though. Try using Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or one of the many other free email providers rather than the address supplied by your ISP.

[DH59]

Well, I already have a Hotmail account anyway, and I do usually only use that for certain things, but I thought certain places would not let you use a web-based email, such as online banking, which we both use. We would still need a POP account for those instances.

[the_sky_goat]

Well, I already have a Hotmail account anyway, and I do usually only use that for certain things, but I thought certain places would not let you use a web-based email, such as online banking, which we both use. We would still need a POP account for those instances.

Well, it's true that you get the odd place that doesn't allow hotmail addresses. All my banks - Halifax, Natwest, HSBC, First Direct, Virgin Money are all happy with my old gmail address. Of course, you're bank may not.

I wouldn't use Hotmail myself as they do not have free POP access to their servers, but many of the other services do.

[DH59]

Thanks for your replies.

So, you suggest using Gmail as opposed to the Google/Sky service?

I have never done it, but I was always under the impression that you could set up OE to download Hotmail messages.

[the_sky_goat]

Thanks for your replies.

So, you suggest using Gmail as opposed to the Google/Sky service?

I have never done it, but I was always under the impression that you could set up OE to download Hotmail messages.

Personally I would go with Gmail yes. Hotmail does have POP servers (so you can set up Outlook Express) but you have to pay for them.

If you are feeling adventurous you could buy a domain name and use google apps instead - so instead of being youname@gmail.com or yourname@sky.com you could be yourname@yourdomain.com

If you sign up via google apps it costs $10 (about £5) and is all configured for you.

[DH59]

I presume that's the new Live Hotmail, as it used to be free.

I will look into the other options.

Thanks again.

[PaulSky]

Hotmail used to have free POP access but that stopped a while ago now, you can indeed add users to the main Sky account by logging into Sky.com and going to MySky but as above you may as well just use the standard Gmail service instead while the Sky system is stabilising and being sorted out.
We have not long gone onto Sky (during the email migration) and our account has worked perfectly and the additional user accounts are working perfectly too but others have had issues from day one.

[DH59]

Arrived home last night to find a text message sent to our landline saying that the broadband was live. So I set up the router to both PCs (wired) and we were up and running in no time. I went onto MySky, which was very slow and had many 'Page Unavailable' episodes, but I managed to set the POP service and then set up OE with the default email address. That all went smoothly, but with all the page time-outs I never set up my husband's email, although I have managed to do that online today, so I will set up his OE tonight. So, it wasn't all that bad.

[PaulSky]

Sky.com and it's servers are struggling at times, if you find that it's really slow tonight then you may be better off setting up the second account early morning/ afternoon over the weekend.