Using Sky+ HD box without a Sky subscription?

[FallOutBoy]

Is it possible to keep my Sky+ HD box and end my contract with Sky, but still use the box to receive free channels, including free HD ones?

I am looking to at least cancel my HD Pack next month, since the 12 months is now up and I only signed up for it to get a free HD box. I know I will still be able to get the free HD channels this way, as long as I am still paying for Sky, but if I left Sky all together, could I still use the box in any way, or would I need to get a FreeSat+ box or something? Am I correct in saying that I won't be able to use the recording functionality of the Sky+ HD box if I don't have a Sky subscription anymore?

 

[garyb9900]

yes you are pretty much correct in what you say.

 

[FallOutBoy]

yes you are pretty much correct in what you say.

Thanks, so does that mean the box would still receive 'free' TV channels through the dish as it does now, but not allow me to record them?

I think if I end the sky contract next month (as opposed to just stopping the HD pack) I would switch toe FreeSat HD instead, with a box that allows recording, as I wouldn't want to lose that ability, since we do a lot of recording!

 

[logiciel]

if I left Sky all together, could I still use the box in any way

The answer to that has to be - yes, of course you could - why not?
Here are the three ways of getting free satellite TV, including FreeSatFromSky using your expired card, and Freesat which would be a good idea if you want to continue to record programmes: http://www.avforums.com/forums/freesat/1307423-free-satellite-freesatfromsky-freesat.html.

 

[FallOutBoy]

Thanks for that, looks like FreeSat would be best then, as I can cancel my Sky subscription completely and still record TV and watch some HD channels.

Next step is to find a new Internet and phoneline provider then...

 

[logiciel]

OK, and that's the way to go, with one of these: freesat+ HD TV recorder - freesat.
Why change phone and ISP?

 

[Stevenage Neil]

Why change phone and ISP?

Because, at a guess, he is using his Sky subscription to subsidise them via Sky......

 

[FallOutBoy]

Because, at a guess, he is using his Sky subscription to subsidise them via Sky......

Correct, at the moment I am paying £10 a month for unlimited broadband and about £11 a month line rental. Just need to see if I can actually find a good broadband service and line rental cheap enough to make it worthwhile leaving Sky TV! The cheap o2 broadband isn't available in my area

 

[logiciel]

Ah right, not being able to have Sky's phone and internet I don't know how they link them in to TV.

 

[Stevenage Neil]

Correct, at the moment I am paying £10 a month for unlimited broadband ...

Should only be £7.50......!!

 

[FallOutBoy]

Should only be £7.50......!!

Correct, sorry I forgot about the price change! hmm, I don't think I will find a cheaper unlimited service than that, might not be worth getting rid of sky afterall, I could save £18 a month by not having sky TV, but some of that would have to go towards more expensive internet from another ISP.

 

[logiciel]

More arithmetic - how do you work out the £18?

 

[FallOutBoy]

What I meant by the £18 was that it costs about £18 a month on top of my Sky Internet and Phoneline, for the TV service.

Just discovered that Sky now offer broadband and/telephone without Sky TV. They didn't do this a couple of years ago when I wanted it! So I can get Sky Unlimited Broadband and Line rental for £21.25 a month, and cancel the tv and switch the freesat+

 

[logiciel]

The lowest TV subscription is £19.50 and I thought they reduced the phone and internet charges to TV customers, not the other way round.

 

[FallOutBoy]

I was estimating it to be around £18, you are correct it is £19.50.

Yes the broadband is cheaper for Sky package customers, at only £7.50 a month for unlimited. But what I mean is, if I cancel my tv subscription and Keep ONLY phone and Internet, it costs £21.25 per month for the pair. Line rental @ £11.25 and £10 for Internet (or £12.50 for Internet only, without sky's landline phone package).

So I would be saving £19.50 by getting rid of the TV, but paying an extra £2.50 a month for the broadband (because I won't be having the TV anymore). So will be saving a total of £17 per month by switching to freesat+ and keeping broadband and telephone with sky

 

[logiciel]

Top marks for arithmetic.