A simple query

[ruthicle]

Hi there

I apologise first if I am posting this in the wrong place or on the wrong site altogether, or if it has been answered before - the vast majority of info on here is beyond my comprehension! I just have what is hopefully a simple query:

I am moving to a new flat shortly and as the previous tenants are leaving the country, they are going to leave behind their Sky+ box and dish all set up. Obviously they will be cancelling their contract though so the viewing card will no longer work. So my question is, can we get a new contract with Sky and just get a new viewing card sent to us and go? Or will we need a visit from an engineer and the subsequent installation costs?

There is also a second possibility that we may decide not to get a Sky package. If so I believe that I can get a card for £20 that will enable us to use it like a Freeview box? If that is correct do we still need to keep the dish (we only have a small roof terrace and it's presence is really annoying) or can it go through the aerial as per a Freeview box? The main benefit of doing this is to keep the Sky+ recordable features so I assume they will still work with this card or not?

Lastly, we may just get rid of the Sky system and stick with Freeview box. If so is it possible to give the Sky+ box to someone else? My 'rents only have an old Sky box - can I just swap it for the Sky+ box? Or does an engineer need to do this? Will they need to call Sky to tell them?

Ok that's all my questions! Thank you very much in advance to anyone who can help.

R

 

[Huevos]

If you are going to watch satellite TV you need a dish. Whether the channels are encrypted or not is irrelevant in this respect.

If the old residents leave the deactivated card it will continue to work for FTV channels. There are only a handful, Fiver, Five US and Sky 3. The rest of the free channels you don't need a card.

If you want subscription channels start a new contract. Just ring Sky, tell them you need a card but don't need installation and they will send you one. They will probably ask the receiver number which you can get by pressing "services 45".

 

[Analoguesat]

You need to keep the dish.

Just ring sky up and ask for a "second hand box contract". That will give you the card and you just stick it in the existing box when it comes & follow the instructions that come with it.

The 20 quid card gives you Five / Fiver / Five USA / Sky 3 and correctly regionalises the box for BBC & ITV. Nothing more, so if you dont watch those channels dont worry about it.

 

[Huevos]

The 20 quid card gives you Five

There's an unencrypted version of Five so no card needed for that.

 

[jasonx1]

if the card is a blue and yellow house bear in mind that the card be turning off in a few months as the new white card is comming shortly..
the sky +box will only work for the free channels which there a good hand full you cant record on the box as you need a min sub off £16.50 to get started . if you want sky you just phone them pay a month upfront and your on your way .. as for freeview some channels are free then on sky. but the picture is not that good .. best bet if you got the box free is take up £16.50 package with free recording and you be channel hopping in no time and you dont need a phone line req for £25 fee

 

[Analoguesat]

There's an unencrypted version of Five so no card needed for that.

Yes I know that, but it can only be accessed through the clunky Other Channels