[slane85]

Is it better to buy a Sky HD box rather than a Humax equivilent? Assuming you can lay your hands on a current sky card of course.

Thoughts?

[grahamlthompson]

If you want to record HD without paying there is no contest. Only Freesat+ allows this

[logiciel]

First thought - what sort of Sky card are you looking to lay hands on?

[slane85]

Originally Posted by logiciel

First thought - what sort of Sky card are you looking to lay hands on?

I'm in Ireland so I would have to 'acquire' a white sky card which they only send to UK adresses, not a problem.

[lbear]

As I understand it, Sky do not allow access to any HD stations other than those that are FTA and unencrypted without a subscription to their HD package in addition to the basic service. You would therefore not be able to access Channel 4HD or E4 HD in the current line up and probably Five HD and Film 4 HD ("coming soon") until and unless they are available on a narrow beam transponder. Currently these is no bandwidth available for them on the satellite and Sky are probably unwilling to move the encrypted and non-copyright stations they park on that transponder to avoid competition from Freesat.

Is there anyway that Sky permit HD access without subscription even with an HD box?

[logiciel]

Without a Sky subscription to at least one Entertainment Pack and without a HD subscription the only HD channels available are BBC HD a few hours a night, ITV HD a few programmes a week, and Luxe 24/7.
A Sky card of whatever type is meant to work only in a Sky receiver.

[Stiggy]

Originally Posted by lbear

As I understand it, Sky do not allow access to any HD stations other than those that are FTA and unencrypted without a subscription to their HD package in addition to the basic service. You would therefore not be able to access Channel 4HD or E4 HD in the current line up

No, you can get Channel 4HD with a Freesat from Sky card and a Sky HD box.