Last few doubts

[Jayb]

Hi all

I am a total sky virgin so be gentle......

I am considering signing up to Sky+ and after reading through many threads on this forum and the sky site I still have a couple of questions that I'm sure you can answer no problem....

1. can you use your sky box without connecting it to a phone line, I am not bothered about banking and e-mails or games as I will use my PC for that, but I do want Sky+ subscription.

2. Sky says - "You will need a viewing card from a pay-TV service to view ITV1, Channel 4 and Five. The BBC channels are available as part of your licence fee"
what does this actually mean in terms of cost as I do not have a TV arial and so will not be able to get the said channels unless it is through the sky+ box.

3. I would like.......... sorry I mean my missus would like.........the dish on the back of the house high up out of the way, or even on the chimney if possible. Can I decide were they stick it........ ... or does it have to go were they suggest.

All comments most welcome

Cheers

Jay

[Noodle]

1) Sky will require that it is connected to a phone line for the first 12 months. They will run an extension if required FOC

2) You'll get all of the channels through SKY+, no need for an aerial.

3) Not sure about this. I think they'll probably charge extra if they need to go on the roof.

[JohnG]

Sky installers don't really like to do more than they have to in my experience ! The dish must point in a certain direction and so that may exclude certain walls of the house. Sky installers will only go so far up a ladder - I think I remember someone saying that if it's over a certain height they have to bring someone else in to do it.
If it's so important for you to have the dish in a specific place, it may well be worth going to an independent installer - you'll pay more for it but they will do a good quality install the way you want it doing.

[Jayb]

Thanks For your comments........

Noodle do you get all the channels, ITV, channel 4 & 5 with a Sky+ box without having to spend extra on a viewing card from a third party, if you dont need a viewing card then why do they put that disclaimer on their site.......

JohnG I used to install NTL and what you found was that some installers would go into a house tell the customer it had to go in a certain room in a perticular corner, usually as close to the outside box as possible, they would basicaly feed the customer BS and 9 times out of 10 get away with it. I'm afraid that will not wash with me, if they have objections I will be speaking to a supervisor to clarify.

[Noodle]

I think it just means that if you stop paying sky, you don't get ANY channels.

[sinbrad]

You used to be able to get hold of a digibox for receiving BBC, ITV etc without having to subscribe to SKY. This meant you had to obtain a viewing card which I believe cost around 23 pound. I don't think you can go this way nowadays but I do believe if you want a card you can get around this by subscribing to one of the so-called adult channels for a brief period and cancel the subscription as soon as, works out cheaper than 23 pound. The card that they send you will enable you to receive all the freeview channels. BBC are no longer scrambled so you don't need a card but at the moment ITV etc are scrambled so you need a card to view these channels. However if you are going for a SKY+ subscription you will automatically get a card which will allow you to view these channels. Basically what SKY are telling you on the website is that if you are using the box for anything other than receiving a SKY package then you will have to purchase a card for the reception of ITV, CH4,5 etc

[Jayb]

Thanks guys........ .......Now I am clear on those few points.

Now I just have to keep working on the missus, I have decided that I/we are getting it anyway but I would rather have her on side to make life easier..... I'm sure you know what I mean.

Again any advice in this area would be most welcome....

[Noodle]

I wouldn't worry about the missus too much.

If she likes television, she'll wonder how she managed without sky+ within a week.

[Greg]

With regards to the positioning of the dish, have a look at houses on your road/street and see where their dishes are. This will usually mean yours will be in a similar place.

It becomes a 'specialist' install, if it is above a certain height i.e roof/chimney etc. Don't know if they charge extra for this or not