Freesat and Sky

[Apache]

Just closed our account for Sky TV and have gone to Freesat using the Sky HD box (2 cables in the back) I had assumed that this would still allow me to use playback, apparently not and Sky says give us £10 a month and you can.

Now, is this because they can still control the functions on my box? and will I get this function if I ditch theirs and buy another make with 2 inputs and 2 HD drives?

[SS2.]

Apache said:

Now, is this because they can still control the functions on my box?

It's because the Sky+ functions on a Sky decoder are subscription only..

Apache said:

..and will I get this function if I ditch theirs and buy another make with 2 inputs and 2 HD drives?

Yes - Humax manufacture some pretty decent kit which should tick the boxes - like this..

[mmm-five]

I think you need a device that supports Freesat Plus/Freeview Plus to get the recording facility - and maybe that's what Sky are trying to charge you for?

You don't need two HDs though, as it can record & playback from the same device. Some systems offer the bare-bones functionality and you provide the USB HD to record to. Other offer the HD built in.

If you want to dump your Sky box and get another, then there are plenty of unofficial manufacturers offering Freesat/Freeview+ HD equipment, but some don't offer the proper EPG and can get 'confused'. The official list of models is here.

[Apache]

cheers

[warp9]

+1 for humax. Decent bit of kit