Sky Q Connectivity

[blacklion1725]

I know what you mean Dave, mine are not averse to a dabble either. I think Sky have a major issue in that they are no longer the one stop shop for paid content – days gone by they were really the only show in town for paid films, sport etc, and especially for sport you could more or less say if you had Sky you had everything. Now everything is fragmented, you end up having to have 2/3/4 subscriptions to get “everything” (Sky, BT, BoxNation etc) – and still Sky keep upping prices.

Currently swinging between “bin it all together” and “go Sky Q for 18 months then bin it. Just been playing with the YouView DTR-4000 again – really is nice, and with the built in NowTV would allow me to dip in and out of Sky if I felt the need. Tough one.

[Dave Rice]

TBH Game of Thrones was probably the only reason I didn’t ditch Sky 6 months ago.

Since then I’ve been living with extremely paired back Sky and find we rarely very watch anything that’s not on Freesat. I don’t even miss F1 that much, it’s just a case of avoiding the result until the highlights on C4. Catchup is a must but there’s many ways to do that, especially with a Fire TV box. A decent GUI is a must too, my cheap FreeSAT box is fine for the kitchen but would drive me insane on the main TV.

After a major bust up with TalkTalk (I’m now using my own router) they’ll be going when the contracts up too.

[Bob Williams]

Well I watched the last Episode 7 of GoT last night, having recorded all 7 and watched 2 per night, saved 7 for last night. The ending was a glaringly obvious attempt to keep us on tenterhooks until the next Series, probably next year. That has completely p****d me off and is the final nail in the coffin for me, of a greedy broadcaster and media company which sucks the last penny out of customers for the least effort. I forecast a fall in quality of GoT for the next Series. Completely agree with Dave, there is very little left that is not on Freesat for us. A new setup for me soon.

I will record and watch all of “Tin Star” which looks OK from a distance: if it does not live up to expectations and/or I cannot record all in time, I’m off. I want to return to TV that I can record and keep for future viewing at my own leisure in my own time. I have no need of recording more than 2 programmes while watching another: they are having a laugh, most of it is dross, pure and simple.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[JayCeeDee]

Bob Williams wrote:

I will record and watch all of “Tin Star” which looks OK from a distance: if it does not live up to expectations and/or I cannot record all in time, I’m off.

 

Episodes 1-10 are all available for download now. ( Plus 2 “specials”). I watched Ep1 last night – found it a bit slow. Jury’s out atm – will wait to see if Ep2 livens up.

 

Series 7 of GoT was always going to be the set-up for Series 8. With only 7 episodes it would have been rushed to conclude the battle and defeat? of the “Dead Army” and it’s King. I’m looking forward to the special effects and battles that they have done so well, so far.

That has completely p****d me off and is the final nail in the coffin for me, of a greedy broadcaster and media company which sucks the last penny out of customers for the least effort.

Not defending MurkyDog, but that was probably down to a decision by the writers/production company that decided to play it that way.

[blacklion1725]

….looks like Sky is going. Spoke to them again today and confirmed they have lost The Ashes down under to BT. I will find other solutions for my kin on Sky Go…….and looking at various solutions for me – most likely the DTR-4000 Freeview box but also looking at some Linux freesat boxes that are “flexible”.

My pal came round to start tiling my bathroom today – said he binned Sky a year ago and pays the former sub in to a separate account that now pays for a a holiday each year. Nuff said. Might hang on for a bit if they offer me a discount via retentions but if not then tata.

 

[blacklion1725]

Just cancelled. They offered me £26/month discount for 18 months and still the upgrade to the Sky Q box + one mini box free.

Said I would do it if they gave me a second mini installed free they said no. So I said no. Now I know how those ladies felt when they burnt their bras!

They will either come back or they won’t and even if they did would probably say no. Now to break the news to my Sky Go punters…..

[blacklion1725]

They just offered me 30% off my current set up (no Sky Q upgrade which is fine by me) which takes £92 down to £64.40 – and for 12 months not 18…..hmmmmm……

[Bob Williams]

Well I just wrote  (snailmail) to SkySubscriber Services and cancelled, after receiving a letter from them which offered a “saving” of £20.90/month. On closer reading, it was an increase of £14.70. This was how it was presented and how I worked it out,  amounts are per month:

*Box Sets increase from £10 to £17.90.

*Payment due date 26/10/2017, last date of current contract: Total = £49.39 (includes Phone/Bband/line/anytime calls)

*”Future Bill” Payment due date 26/10/2017: Total = £64.09.

*Increase — (£64.09) – (£49.39) = £14.70. If someone can successfully explain that to me as a “saving” I will eat the Q-Box I will be soon returning!

Going to record all “Tin Star” and binge-watch. I also have a NOWTV box with passes, never used. Getting a Humax box and changing the dish LNB, then I should have Freesat and sufficient choice. Cannot shake off the bemusement at being presented with a saving on next payments, which is actually an increase. And they give a start date and an end date, after also saying “…with no new contract.” Do they believe we are all stupid? I told them I see it as an insult to my intelligence.

Pie in the Sky. Think you were right, BL: Sky is about to hit the buffers. If Senior Murkydag’s plan to buy back works, it will just get worse.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[blacklion1725]

Yeah having slept on it still plan to get rid.

I’ve actually ordered I linux-based satellite/terrestrial box, which aside from running all the freesat/freeview channels will also run kodi and all sort of other goodies! Another bonus (which will please everyone else) is that the EPG can be skinned to look and work almost identically to Sky – so no learning curve. You can load it up with your own media (via FTP) as well as what you record, and stream live channels and recordings/media  across your local network. Be fun to play with if nothing else and has been funded by a big ebay clear out of old stuff.

Either that or the YouView DTR4000 will take over from the main Sky box. Since I’ve been playing have realised just how bad quality a lot of the Sky channels are now – if you watch (e.g. C4+1) via Sky then watch the equivalent on freeview the difference is very noticable – Sky is awful by comparison.

One other option is I’ll pay the £5/month extra to get Sky Go extra on my mum’s account (she has everything except sport) and then connect one of the subs up here on the Xbox. That would cover most bases.

[Dave Rice]

What is the Linux box? One of the Technomates?

[blacklion1725]

Went for the Mutant HD51 Dave. Did a bit of research (that shop’s own forum mainly) and plumped for this one – has the option for two tuners in any combination you like (DVB-S2 or DVB-C/T2). I went for one sat and one terrestrial – but they are apparently easy to reconfigure as the tuners are plug and play. They also flash either of he two main builds (Vix or ATV) which is good as this is new territory for me. Reviews of the box seem very good (aside from a cheap feeling remote). Should get it today, but probably not much time to play before the weekend.

[Bob Williams]

Well I don’t know what happened to TinStar last night. Watched Episode 2 that I had recorded and pixels were chasing each other across the screen about every 10 minutes or so. (did not happen with 2 other recorded prog’s) Was not impressed with the way the story is going anyway, so kicking that into touch now. How a mixed team of disreputable Brit ‘Hit men’ can be expected to fade into a Canadian background amongst oil workers and locals, is a joke I don’t get. Some characters are simply unbelievable, some ‘acting’ OTT. IMO.

Now waiting for Sky’s response, if I don’t get one by the week’s end I am ordering a Humax box and getting the LNB changed ASAP. Moved me telly down the wall, put up an IKEA shelf that is as long as the chimney breast is wide:

http://tinyurl.com/y8t74r5v

Just wish that the online description included the fact that 3 pairs of hands were needed to fit the damned thing! There was just me and No.2 gson, the family Heavy Lifter. After a struggle observed and commented upon by SWMBO ?? we managed to fit it absolutely spot on, checked with my builders’ spirit level. ??? Comes in 2 pieces, which have to be lined up inserted into the steel brackets at each end, then into the centre bracket, then whole assembly held up to measure screw/rawlplug holes, nervy operation! Original length is 158 cm, chimney breast 138. Measured allowing for thickness of centre bracket, there is 2mm of wall at the end of each bracket. It looks great and because the centre bracket tilts the TV stand back slightly, TV is solid  and I can access connections much more easily. I now have a Currys tilting wall mounting kit to sell on local FB site. SWMBO and I can now watch telly at eye level. Which is what I wanted when we bought the TV, but someone else wanted a wall mount…..

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[JayCeeDee]

With Tin Star, I was hopeful, but it was slow on Ep 1, so I was dubious, but with all the hit-men nonsense in Ep2 I gave it the elbow!! Shame, because he’s a good actor, but those hit men would have blended in Lock, Stock…….etc, but not in Canada.

Also, the top North Star oil man was played by the “Swede” from Hell on Wheels, and he was a character that dragged on for too, too long.

[The Duke]

BL that’s the first live TV pvr box that has peaked my intrest since we rid ourselves of sky, about 4/5 years ago. I’d like a review of you once you have all up and running for a month or so please.

Or better still, one off your wife. As if yours is anything like mine, she won’t put up with ‘quirks’ and work around to watch her crap. Then again, when it comes to tv I just want brain dead simplicity, as when I want to watch TV it’s usually because I’m in a lazy cba mood.

[Tippon]

blacklion1725 wrote:

Since I’ve been playing have realised just how bad quality a lot of the Sky channels are now – if you watch (e.g. C4+1) via Sky then watch the equivalent on freeview the difference is very noticable – Sky is awful by comparison.

I noticed a change when they started broadcasting Sky in HD. I still had the standard box, and the quality suddenly dropped on some channels, eventually spreading to more and more.

[The Duke]

Skys HD was never great, just look at Netflix HD, YouTube’s or even skys own now tv, so the games are filmed in much higher quality than the sky than what sky broadcast  at.

One could think they reduce the HD broadcast quality to make their UHD look better? Just speculating I’m yet to see skys UHD, or any UHD out side of a curry’s.

UHD football may be great, and once you see it you can’t go back, I don’t know, but I’m more than happy to happy with now tvs offering.

Does skys hd football still ghost? It use to look really poor, and you couldn’t swap to the regular sd as the lines would go all pixelie weird on a 1080p large screen. I found with HD football skys offerings wasn’t great once HD tvs became a thing. I susspect its changed now there is football broadcasting Compition.

The BBC HD chanel was always the best on sky, apparently the used a higher bit rate. Wimbledon always looks fantastic. Maybe it’s easier for the BBC just having on channel to broadcast in HD over skys multitude.

[Ed P]

Footie in Ultra is good and a lot better than HD in terms of both colour & resolution..

[Bob Williams]

Taking your word for that Ed, but I have watched it in UHD on a mate’s Fancy 65″ monster-box and was unimpressed. Does not seem different enough to games watched in HD on my Sony Bravia Full HD 40″.

Steve highlighted another bitch about Sky from me: the “multitude” of channels. By the time I have skimmed through all the dross and repeated repeats in channel after channel, when I find something watchable it is already halfway through. Not only that, but they repeat the repeated repeats next night on the same krap channel. “You never swore at Freeview on the old TV like that,” says SWMBO….

It’s supposed to be a relaxing leisure (in)activity, ffs!

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[blacklion1725]

Got the mutant (Linux receiver) plumbed in temporarily in the kitchen – lots to learn but first impressions its one of the most interesting things I’ve bought – incredibly flexible – and its already running kodi, has an epg skin that looks just like sky and has a HDD inside that will record, store and play anything you want. It will stream channels across your LAN to a browser or phone app, and can be fully controlled easily in all manner of ways. Going to be fun.

[Dave Rice]

Yes I must rediscover the Linux box world before I jump, some of them had some “interesting” firmware, like the ability to read a Sky card over the internet.

That’s old hat now, the latest dodginess is around IP TV but from what I gather popular stuff clearly suffers from bandwidth issues at the server end. That didn’t happen with “shared” Sky as it still came via your dish, just the permissions to watch it came via the internet.

I’m just not interested in that game, too much potential to get locked up.

[Author]

Posts