Sky plus box options?

[blindswelledrat]

Are there non 'Sky' digiboxes which work with sky?
Failing that are there places I can buy sky ones whhich don't involve me paying any further cash to those bastards.
Thanks

[GregE240]

Well, you could buy off e-bay, as I did. Then, all you do is connect it, phone 'em and say you've swapped boxes and they will then "re-pair" your viewing card to the new box?

I've got a spare Grundig one if thats any good to you, chief?

Greg

[Corpulent Tosser]

I bought one from a company called Insat for £150

I use it in Norway, Sky will not provide to an address outside the UK.

[viper_larry]

My mate wanted Sky plus but refused to pay the full whack as an existing customer. So he called to cancel his subscription and when asked why, said "Because I want Sky Plus and don't see why as an existing customer I have to pay £149 & £60 installation, when a new customer can get it for £99."

They said "So if we did it for £60 all in will you stay with us?"

[benyeats]

viper_larry said:

My mate wanted Sky plus but refused to pay the full whack as an existing customer. So he called to cancel his subscription and when asked why, said "Because I want Sky Plus and don't see why as an existing customer I have to pay £149 & £60 installation, when a new customer can get it for £99." They said "So if we did it for £60 all in will you stay with us?"

I did the same and got it for £99 all in. You have to stick to your guns but worth it

Ben

[Don]

GregE240 said:

Well, you could buy off e-bay, as I did. Then, all you do is connect it, phone 'em and say you've swapped boxes and they will then "re-pair" your viewing card to the new box? I've got a spare Grundig one if thats any good to you, chief? Greg

SO do you have to pay the Sky+ subscription then, Greg? Personally I find this aspect of Sky a total rip-off. My Media Center has *better* series recording/program recording etc functionality and EPG and that service is "free" (after buying the eBox).

When I move to Sky's HD service I will be looking at the channel packages very carefully. Sky costs too much for the service I use. All I really want is Sky One in HD. Might get rid of Sports/Movies...and just use Box Office HD...

[whatever]

blindswelledrat said:

Are there non 'Sky' digiboxes which work with sky? Failing that are there places I can buy sky ones whhich don't involve me paying any further cash to those bastards. Thanks

Also, if you get hold of a Sky+ box, it's relatively easy to do a diy upgrade to a larger capacity, without spending more £ to the retailer. Very much like upgrading the HDD in a PC. Have a google for Sky+ upgrade and there's loads of stuff about which drives work, etc.

[Tuna]

whatever said:

blindswelledrat said: Are there non 'Sky' digiboxes which work with sky? Failing that are there places I can buy sky ones whhich don't involve me paying any further cash to those bastards. Thanks Also, if you get hold of a Sky+ box, it's relatively easy to do a diy upgrade to a larger capacity, without spending more £ to the retailer. Very much like upgrading the HDD in a PC. Have a google for Sky+ upgrade and there's loads of stuff about which drives work, etc.

Upgrading doesn't help much if you're still paying a monthly fee to them to use Sky+.

Has anyone tried a Guide+ dvd recorder?

[blindswelledrat]

Thanks for the offer Greg- is it a sky+box?

To the rest of you- I already have a Sky + box which is playing up which is why I needed a new one.

Ooooooh I hate those sky s

[whatever]

Tuna said:

whatever said: blindswelledrat said: Are there non 'Sky' digiboxes which work with sky? Failing that are there places I can buy sky ones whhich don't involve me paying any further cash to those bastards. Thanks Also, if you get hold of a Sky+ box, it's relatively easy to do a diy upgrade to a larger capacity, without spending more £ to the retailer. Very much like upgrading the HDD in a PC. Have a google for Sky+ upgrade and there's loads of stuff about which drives work, etc. Upgrading doesn't help much if you're still paying a monthly fee to them to use Sky+. Has anyone tried a Guide+ dvd recorder?

That's a different point, though.

The question (seemed to me) to be about sourcing another sky box, from a 3rd party rather than sky.

I suggested that (if replacing a sky+ box with another one, from anywhere) then the lower model could be modified to match the high model's performance, potentially saving some cash.

I didn't think it was about getting sky+ functionality without (the nominal) monthly fee, and in any case, at least as much benefit (ime) of sky+ is the extra decoder circuit.

[GregE240]

Don said:

SO do you have to pay the Sky+ subscription then, Greg? Personally I find this aspect of Sky a total rip-off. My Media Center has *better* series recording/program recording etc functionality and EPG and that service is "free" (after buying the eBox). When I move to Sky's HD service I will be looking at the channel packages very carefully. Sky costs too much for the service I use. All I really want is Sky One in HD. Might get rid of Sports/Movies...and just use Box Office HD...

Sorry Don, no, its just bog standard Sky, no recording facility. Until the Sky offering around HD is bedded in I'm not shifting at all. I'm not 100% sure i could pipe out any stuff recorded with Sky+ a la DVD recorder / WMC type recording, so whats the point? As I see it at the moment we're at a point where we're all waiting for Sky's HD offering to see if its any good (and based on the initial HD offering, I'm not that bothered TBH).

blindswelledrat said:

Thanks for the offer Greg- is it a sky+box?

No, sorry chap, just bog standard Sky. I've seen Sky+ boxes on E-Bay before - have a look here:

http://tinyurl.com/g6dvu

HTH,
Greg

[Cotty]

benyeats said:

viper_larry said: My mate wanted Sky plus but refused to pay the full whack as an existing customer. So he called to cancel his subscription and when asked why, said "Because I want Sky Plus and don't see why as an existing customer I have to pay £149 & £60 installation, when a new customer can get it for £99." They said "So if we did it for £60 all in will you stay with us?" I did the same and got it for £99 all in. You have to stick to your guns but worth it Ben

Yep same here £99 and no subscription

[Cotty]

Tuna said:

Upgrading doesn't help much if you're still paying a monthly fee to them to use Sky+.

If you have a high ££££ package you dont pay a subscription for sky+