SKY Q any good?

Author
Discussion

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
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They change the LNB on the dish, yes. Only a Q box will operate with it.

a4cabrio

898 posts

158 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
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Are sky movies now being shown in UHD or is it just selected films?? Also how do you know which films are in UHD??

Chris Stott

13,180 posts

196 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
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UHD launches 13th August.

a4cabrio

898 posts

158 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
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Chris Stott said:
UHD launches 13th August.
Movies are already available in UHD apparently, a few people have mentioned it on this post, UHD launches on the 13/8 for the football when the PL starts

Chris Stott

13,180 posts

196 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
No they aren't. Sky have upped the resolution of HD films a bit with the launch of cinema, but UHD isn't available before sept 13.

a4cabrio

898 posts

158 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
Chris Stott said:
No they aren't. Sky have upped the resolution of HD films a bit with the launch of cinema, but UHD isn't available before sept 13.
Ok, thanks for clearing that up.

uber

855 posts

169 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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Had it for a few weeks now and like everyone else (including the engineer) have binned the touch controller. It feels very much like the UI designers liked the look of KODI when creating the new layouts.

It's does seem to be a little buggy sometimes from silly things like not being able to change channel to stuff not recording. A reboot does fix it but thats a pain!


MissChief

7,095 posts

167 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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a4cabrio said:
Chris Stott said:
No they aren't. Sky have upped the resolution of HD films a bit with the launch of cinema, but UHD isn't available before sept 13.
Ok, thanks for clearing that up.
That should be August 13th, not September.

joscal

2,072 posts

199 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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I found it frustrating at first as it is different but after a week or so I definitely prefer it. I initially used the normal controller as I couldn't get on with the Bluetooth one but have now got the hang of it and actually like it now although it is very sensitive.

Works out cheaper for me too as I had multi room so very happy. I'm also very impressed with Sky's customer service when I've needed to use it, they seem to have really upped their game.

surveyor_101

Original Poster:

5,069 posts

178 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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mandos_01 said:
UHD will be live in time for the football season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36793510
Extra £10 on normal q isn't though they have just sent it live.

MissChief

7,095 posts

167 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
mandos_01 said:
UHD will be live in time for the football season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36793510
Extra £10 on normal q isn't though they have just sent it live.
You need a Sky Q silver box and Sky Sports. Once you have those there's nothing extra to pay.

the prescotts

386 posts

192 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Had an engineer round last week to solve a problem that had developed with one of the other boxes. I commented how impressed I was with the call handler when I rang and he told me that all Sky Q customers are classed as premium customers at the moment so get direct through to someone who knows what they are talking about. All issues now resolved and very impressed with Sky Q, great to record 4 or so channels at once so no need to search out programmes on +1 in SD anymore. Great news that 4K will be no extra, looking forward to the sport.

surveyor_101

Original Poster:

5,069 posts

178 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Sticking with my 2tb box at half price with £3 multi room, I think until q proves itself or comes down in price.

Big_Dan

481 posts

251 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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First world problems, I know, but Q isn't really ready for consumers yet

I'm technical and the number of issues that should have been ironed out with proper testing is ridiculous

The mini boxes frequently loose connection to the main box and they get red hot - I mean so hot that they need coasters underneath them as they are too hot to touch

There appears to have been a complete lack of user interface testing - the functionality has gone backwards and is inconsistent - eg the up and down arrows scroll through the channels in a different direction depending on whether you are in the menu or the search and scan banner. You can't fast forward a set time anymore, favourite channels have gone, no remote record, planner is an afterthought. The ipad download feature is only available on some recordings ... the list goes on

My experience of support is that they couldn't care less - certainly not premium!


rscott

14,690 posts

190 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
1. Sky Q silver has 5 tuners instead of the usual 2. So, depending on the number of mini boxes used on other TVs, you can record 5 programs at once. Or record 4 and watch 1. Or record 3 and watch 2. Or record 2 and watch 3. (if you have 2 miniboxes)

2. The main Sky Q box covers the whole house. So all the min boxes in other rooms all feed into the main box. If your kids have sky in their room at the mo, it runs separately to the sky box in the main tv room. With sky q you have the main box and miniboxes feed into it. If you and the wife record adult movies, then junior will be able to see that on the planner in their room!!! Because their planner is your planner. So it's not for everyone.

3. You'll need Sky Q to get 4k broadcasts, currently some movies and PL football as of next month.

4. SkyHD is owned, Sky Q is rented. Any faults, it's down to Sky to sort it.

I think those are the main differences, plus a host of less important stuff.
Not quite. The Silver box has 12 tuners. 4 used for recordings, 2 for minis, 2 for tablets, 1 for live viewing on the main box, 1 for miniguide PIP on main box, 1 for EPG/background data transfers and 1 spare.
So you can record 4 programmes, and watch 5 different ones (across the main box, 2 minis & 2 tablets).


TwigtheWonderkid said:
_Rich_ said:
Out of interest,
Do you need super fast broadband for the 4k content like i believe you need with bt?

and

Do they change the LNB on the satellite? i only ask as I've changed mine not so long back to allow me to run eight satellite cables through the house (freesat in the other rooms)

4K is tempting me especially for football and film.
No, the 4K signal comes in via the dish, not broadband.

Yes, they keep the original dish but ugrade all the attached components.
Only live sport is via the dish, movies & entertainment are on-demand via broadband (at the moment, anyway). They'll re-use your dish if it's in decent condition, but swap the LNB for a wideband one. If you've got additional freesat devices, make sure you request a hybrid LNB, otherwise they won't work.

Tycho

11,554 posts

272 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Big_Dan said:
remote record
The ipad download feature is only available on some recordings
Remote record through the Sky + app worked for me last time I tried it.

The download feature is due to rights issues such as BBC wanting you to use iPlayer for downloads.

surveyor_101

Original Poster:

5,069 posts

178 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
Big_Dan said:
First world problems, I know, but Q isn't really ready for consumers yet

I'm technical and the number of issues that should have been ironed out with proper testing is ridiculous

The mini boxes frequently loose connection to the main box and they get red hot - I mean so hot that they need coasters underneath them as they are too hot to touch

There appears to have been a complete lack of user interface testing - the functionality has gone backwards and is inconsistent - eg the up and down arrows scroll through the channels in a different direction depending on whether you are in the menu or the search and scan banner. You can't fast forward a set time anymore, favourite channels have gone, no remote record, planner is an afterthought. The ipad download feature is only available on some recordings ... the list goes on

My experience of support is that they couldn't care less - certainly not premium!
This was my concern and certainly the case when they launched hd, first 6 months had 3 new boxes.

Sky don't seem to care, my 2tb box isn't that reliable and my friend got the 1tb which he is only his umpteen replacement.

Don't think I have ever had a box that didn't need some attention every 6 months.

Chris Stott

13,180 posts

196 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
Big_Dan said:
First world problems, I know, but Q isn't really ready for consumers yet

I'm technical and the number of issues that should have been ironed out with proper testing is ridiculous

The mini boxes frequently loose connection to the main box and they get red hot - I mean so hot that they need coasters underneath them as they are too hot to touch

My experience of support is that they couldn't care less - certainly not premium!
Early adopter here - had my Q installed wk 2.

In 4 months, I have had 2 occasions where my mini box won't show a TV picture (but all recorded content is available). A quick re-boot of router/silver/mini and all is back to normal.

1st time this happened, support we're VERY helpful.

Other than that, it's been faultless (though the bluetooth remote is st and was quickly replaced by my old Harmony One).

tdm34

7,365 posts

209 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
Chris Stott said:
Big_Dan said:
First world problems, I know, but Q isn't really ready for consumers yet

I'm technical and the number of issues that should have been ironed out with proper testing is ridiculous

The mini boxes frequently loose connection to the main box and they get red hot - I mean so hot that they need coasters underneath them as they are too hot to touch

My experience of support is that they couldn't care less - certainly not premium!
Early adopter here - had my Q installed wk 2.

In 4 months, I have had 2 occasions where my mini box won't show a TV picture (but all recorded content is available). A quick re-boot of router/silver/mini and all is back to normal.

1st time this happened, support we're VERY helpful.

Other than that, it's been faultless (though the bluetooth remote is st and was quickly replaced by my old Harmony One).
This has been my experience as well, My Mini box developed the same issue, a quick phone call to Sky and all was well, since the the 4k update a couple of weeks ago i've not had a single issue (touches wood)

tdm34

7,365 posts

209 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Has anyone noticed that there's a few bits of UHD on SkyQ already?

Pixels and Forrest Gump on Sky Cinema
Big Cats on Sky Box Sets, which is stunning..

Also Liverpool vs Barcalona tonight is being broadcast in UHD..

Edited by tdm34 on Saturday 6th August 12:32