BT TV, Sky TV and interconnectivity

[Skyedriver]

Hi Guys
I’ve been around so many different sites and forums and am more confused than ever at the differing answers but the PH responses are always the best and factually correct. (Hopefully flattery will help!)
We are currently paying over £30 for a fairly basic Sky package and about £50 to BT for phone and a 2Mb internet.
BT have an offer for BT Infinity (whatever that is but it seems like it includes BT TV) and their TV box has the usual record/catch up facility. That offer includes “fibre” internet and the phone, for about £50. So in theory I could ditch Sky.
The problem that we have is no aerial, co-ax cable or socket.
BT TV relies on Freeview via an aerial for many of its channels apparently.
So if I ditch Sky but keep the Skybox and card I’ll still get most channels through that but I don’t think I can continue recording on the Skybox. (Correct me if I’m wrong please).
What I’m wondering is, can I connect the Skybox to the BT TV box, as an alternative to the aerial (but using the HD cable possibly) and record the programmes on the BT TV box.
Guidance would be greatly appreciated.
TBH even keeping Sky and paying the £50 for the better BT fibre without worrying about TV might be an option, I’m just trying to reduce costs at the same time as improving the services.

[gizlaroc]

Skyedriver said:

Hi Guys
I’ve been around so many different sites and forums and am more confused than ever at the differing answers but the PH responses are always the best and factually correct. (Hopefully flattery will help!)
We are currently paying over £30 for a fairly basic Sky package and about £50 to BT for phone and a 2Mb internet.
BT have an offer for BT Infinity (whatever that is but it seems like it includes BT TV) and their TV box has the usual record/catch up facility. That offer includes “fibre” internet and the phone, for about £50. So in theory I could ditch Sky.
The problem that we have is no aerial, co-ax cable or socket.
BT TV relies on Freeview via an aerial for many of its channels apparently.
So if I ditch Sky but keep the Skybox and card I’ll still get most channels through that but I don’t think I can continue recording on the Skybox. (Correct me if I’m wrong please).
What I’m wondering is, can I connect the Skybox to the BT TV box, as an alternative to the aerial (but using the HD cable possibly) and record the programmes on the BT TV box.
Guidance would be greatly appreciated.
TBH even keeping Sky and paying the £50 for the better BT fibre without worrying about TV might be an option, I’m just trying to reduce costs at the same time as improving the services.

Infinity is their Fibre.

Using the Sky box without a sub is a horrible experience, even stuff available through Freeview (aerial) is missing.

No, of course you can't hook your sky box up to the BT Youview box.
You will need an aerial installed.

Your other option is go with a Freesat box, this uses your Sky dish instead of an aerial.


http://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/all-boxes/fre...

Then maybe look at fibre for £9.50 to get all the catch up stuff...

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/aff...

[Skyedriver]

gizlaroc said:

Infinity is their Fibre.

Using the Sky box without a sub is a horrible experience, even stuff available through Freeview (aerial) is missing.

No, of course you can't hook your sky box up to the BT Youview box.
You will need an aerial installed.

Your other option is go with a Freesat box, this uses your Sky dish instead of an aerial.


http://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/all-boxes/fre...

Then maybe look at fibre for £9.50 to get all the catch up stuff...

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/aff...

Thanks Gizlaroc

Hadn't heard of Freesat just freeview.
So I think, if I read that right, I can get all the benefits of the BT box except things like Discovery History & geography channels.
Can I get Motors TV? I assume I can still get BT Sport (for the motoGP.2/3) if I pay BT for that.

[gizlaroc]

BT Sport is not on there, well it is but it is encrypted.
I was expecting them to have added it by now, but they haven't

Best thing is a Chromecast for £25 and if you have BT Fibre you get BT Sport free, just cast it to your TV using that.

[bristolracer]

A free view aerial should cost between £100 to £150 to have professionally installed. Ask around for a local recommended installer

[gregs656]

gizlaroc said:

Using the Sky box without a sub is a horrible experience, even stuff available through Freeview (aerial) is missing.

Your other option is go with a Freesat box, this uses your Sky dish instead of an aerial.

Using a sky box without a sub gives you the Freesat channels, don't necessarily need to buy a new box if you don't need to record.

The BT TV boxes (YouView) are really good however, and I think it would be worth having an aerial installed if you were going with BT.

[gizlaroc]

gregs656 said:

Using a sky box without a sub gives you the Freesat channels, don't necessarily need to buy a new box if you don't need to record.

The BT TV boxes (YouView) are really good however, and I think it would be worth having an aerial installed if you were going with BT.

The problem with the Sky box is you can't organise the channels you have to a Favourites folder, so you have to go through hundreds of channels you don't have.

Plus I am sure some of the stuff on Freeview and Freesat still don't play on through the Sky box.

[gregs656]

It's not ideal but most the of the freesat channels are towards the top of the menu anyway - on the first 4 or 5 pages IIRC.

Freesat and Freeview don't share the same channels anyway, on sky with no subscription you get all the Freesat channels. Not sure what the current set on Freesat is but it wasn't as good as Freeview a couple of years back.

Edited by gregs656 on Saturday 17th September 12:00

Edited by gregs656 on Saturday 17th September 12:01

[Big_Dan]

When you go through the order process with BT, there is an option to have an aerial installed - it was either £40 or £60, but cheap