Sky+ recording

[Marcellus]

Does anyone know if when you use a sky+ box to record a programme does it store the programme on the box or on a server somewhere, do you need a subscription and a phone line to use it?

[bigTee]

Stores in on the box.

[LeoSayer]

Marcellus said:

do you need a subscription and a phone line to use it?

You must have a subscription to use it.

If you get the box through Sky or Sky agent then you must be connected to a phone line for a year, according to the contract.

[Marcellus]

LeoSayer said:

Marcellus said:

do you need a subscription and a phone line to use it?

You must have a subscription to use it.

If you get the box through Sky or Sky agent then you must be connected to a phone line for a year, according to the contract.

and if you buy one through an auction site and have a freeview card from Sky?

[LeoSayer]

Marcellus said:

LeoSayer said:

Marcellus said:

do you need a subscription and a phone line to use it?

You must have a subscription to use it.

If you get the box through Sky or Sky agent then you must be connected to a phone line for a year, according to the contract.

and if you buy one through an auction site and have a freeview card from Sky?

Then you need a Sky subscription, but don't have to use the phone line.

[Klankie]

You need two inputs for sky+, so plugging a sky+ box into an existing system won't work.

[LeoSayer]

Klankie said:

You need two inputs for sky+, so plugging a sky+ box into an existing system won't work.

In my experience, it does work with just one input, but you'll only be able to record one channel at a time.

[Tiggsy]

misses the point of sky+ though...you need twin inputs to get the most out of it.

[ymwoods]

there are "ways" of running a Sky+ box without paying but for £10 a month and the fact that you could brick a very expensive box if Sky decides to update the firmware its probably not worth it.

[Marcellus]

I can do a dual input so sounds like I could watch one channel whilst recording another.. what I can't do is a phone line or a subscritption package.... so it sounds as though it will work albeit with freeview channels only

[GregE240]

We do no have a phone line in our HD box; only needed for Box Office.

I have no intention of plugging it in to the phone line either.

[Marcellus]

GregE240 said:

We do no have a phone line in our HD box; only needed for Box Office.

I have no intention of plugging it in to the phone line either.

Superb, thank you, the categoric answer I was looking for!

[bigTee]

GregE240 said:

We do no have a phone line in our HD box; only needed for Box Office.

I have no intention of plugging it in to the phone line either.

same here.

[ymwoods]

bigTee said:

GregE240 said:

We do no have a phone line in our HD box; only needed for Box Office.

I have no intention of plugging it in to the phone line either.

same here.

That IS true to a point. the reason they want you connected to a phone line is because when they sell you a dicounted box they do this on the basis that they sell (anonymous) viewing data of what you whatch. this is downloaded via the phone line. I disconnected mine as soon as i got my box and promptly recieved a letter a few months after telling me that if i did not put the line back in then i would be charged the difference for a full price box.

[GregE240]

I'd love to know how they could tell your phone line wasn't connected?

[sonic_2k_uk]

GregE240 said:

I'd love to know how they could tell your phone line wasn't connected?

Because they wont be receiving data from your box.

[GregE240]

What does it send?

[ymwoods]

When your still in the 12 month contract with a discounted box it sends viewing figures, what tv channels you watched, how long for, the shows that you watched etc.

From that we get all the sexy statists like so many million watched this show, so many another, most households enjoy this type of show but not this. The usage data is all anonymous.

And yeah they know because they dial the box through the satalite and then the box is supposed to dial back over the phone line over a free phone number...no phone call back from the box and its pretty obvious if your viewing card is still active over the satalites.

[Lordbenny]

I'e had my Sky + for over a year now, are you saying I don't need or I should disconnect the phone line?

[ymwoods]

Lordbenny said:

I'e had my Sky + for over a year now, are you saying I don't need or I should disconnect the phone line?

Pretty much, they have only ever done the 12-month contracts with discounts as far as I know. Although its worth bearing in mind after the 12months they stop collecting the viewing data too so keeping it connected does not save you any provacy, just means if you want to connect to any services or order a movie you have to go plug it in again.