Bring Your Own [Sky] box thread

[ITguy]

Hi,

I have a SKY Digibox along with a 60cm Dish and viewing card in Ireland. I was wondering if while moving i can take it along with me and use the same to recieve the free to air channels or if possible some pay channels of Sky.

Is this possible ? Also the requirement in ireland is to have a phone line.. Is the same required for CH also ? If 60 cm dish is not sufficient can i get a bigger dish (only) in CH ?

I would be moving to Vevey/Montreux in Vaud and i hope the reception there is good. Whom to contact for installing dish etc ?

I would very much appreciate if somebody who has done the same can reply :-)

Thx

[panamahat]

I currently use a 60cm dish in Zürich ( was also used in Lausanne) but when the weather is bad I lose some channels, most notably BBC1, 2, 3.
I don't have my unit connected to the phonelines.
You can get a bigger dish here.
Regards

Nick

[ITguy]

	Quote:	panamahat
	I currently use a 60cm dish in Zürich ( was also used in Lausanne) but when the weather is bad I lose some channels, most notably BBC1, 2, 3. I don't have my unit connected to the phonelines. You can get a bigger dish here. Regards Nick

So you mean the digibox and the card will still be valid .... ???

[panamahat]

yeh sure, I use both my UK digibox and UK skycard in Zürich. . . .

[Lou]

If you want to keep your Sky channels they still need to be registered at an Irish (or British) address and don't tell Sky you are moving to Switzerland.

[Lob]

important question: you only have one box, I assume? No mutliroom, etc? Then phone line does not matter.

You want an 80cm dish. This should cover you in most weather conditions.

Which package do you have? You might find you get more value from Sky+ - get this done (as in installed and setup) before coming

[ITguy]

	Quote:	Lob Rockster
	important question: you only have one box, I assume? No mutliroom, etc? Then phone line does not matter. You want an 80cm dish. This should cover you in most weather conditions. Which package do you have? You might find you get more value from Sky+ - get this done (as in installed and setup) before coming

I have a sky sports pack... yes only one box. So it should just be the case of getting a 80 cm dish there. Good to hear that.

I think i can't keep the current subsription open as they need a bank account here for direct debit

[Lob]

	Quote:	nhasan
	I have a sky sports pack... yes only one box. So it should just be the case of getting a 80 cm dish there. Good to hear that. I think i can't keep the current subsription open as they need a bank account here for direct debit

credit <cough> card

[Gav]

	Quote:	nhasan
	I have a sky sports pack... yes only one box. So it should just be the case of getting a 80 cm dish there. Good to hear that. I think i can't keep the current subsription open as they need a bank account here for direct debit

Get a 0.3db LNF LNB along with the new 80cm dish. You'll need that for reliable reception of the BBC and ITV channels.

Also, minimise the amount of time the system is switched off for. After a period of inactivity, your card will deactivate and you'll need to call Sky to get it reactivated so .....

... Always be careful if you call Sky. If they pick up your caller ID as being in Switzerland or International, they'll likely block your subscription and cancel the card permanently. Better to avoid calling them if at all possible. If you have to call use something like Skype or VoIP phones. Sometimes the call blocking facility on mobiles and landlines does not prevent them from knowing that it's an international call.


Try Switching your Sky subscription to a credit card before you leave and keep it registered at an Irish address (as long as you know someone at that address to take your mail).

Gav

[Lob]

Gav - the card should reactivate after 24 hours once the box is running again.

If you really do want to cancel your sub, turn the box off as soon as you can. The card may miss the first "kill" signal I don't know how effective this is but I personally would keep my sub open.

[ITguy]

	Quote:	Lob Rockster
	Gav - the card should reactivate after 24 hours once the box is running again. If you really do want to cancel your sub, turn the box off as soon as you can. The card may miss the first "kill" signal I don't know how effective this is but I personally would keep my sub open.

So you mean without a sky card my box is of no use ? Can i get this card some other way in CH ?

[Lob]

	Quote:	nhasan
	So you mean without a sky card my box is of no use ? Can i get this card some other way in CH ?

no, you misunderstand - your Sky card will function.....worst case to give you RTE etc (effectively Free-to-View), best case to get a little "free" Sky Sports for a short time.

[ITguy]

Hi,

I am in UK and i don't have any dish installed as i am with NTL. Will it be better for me to bring the digibox and dish from UK rather than buy it from Switzerland ? It will be cheaper in UK i guess ? What is the cost in CH ?

[Gav]

	Quote:	Lob Rockster
	no, you misunderstand - your Sky card will function.....worst case to give you RTE etc (effectively Free-to-View), best case to get a little "free" Sky Sports for a short time.

RTE isn't Free To View - it requires a Sky subscription of some sort. That would presumably include the other channels, TV3 and TG4 too.

A bit of a ripoff for RoI viewers unfortunately - they pay a license fee there too, have to put up with adverts AND pay Sky a sub to watch the National channels on digital TV.

On the other hand, they now get BBC and ITV channels because they are free to air.


Gav

[Gav]

	Quote:	ITguy
	Hi, I am in UK and i don't have any dish installed as i am with NTL. Will it be better for me to bring the digibox and dish from UK rather than buy it from Switzerland ? It will be cheaper in UK i guess ? What is the cost in CH ?

You can get a digibox in the UK (best to do it via mail order or from eBay) and then get a 'Freesat from Sky' card. Get it going in the UK before you come across.

On the other hand, if you don't mind losing Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky Three you can pick up a cheap sat system over here and get all the BBC and ITV channels plus Film4, Sky News and a few others. I saw a system in Interdiscount today for something like 160CHF for receiver, dish and LNB.

Gav

[Lob]

I am sure my mate with an Irish expired Sky card gets RTÉ - in fact, he prefers their premiership round-up programme....

For eBaying a box; as Gav says, there are occasional offers for FTA systems at good prices - if you want Sky or C4 five and Sky Three, you are best-off with a Sky Digibox.

Either about £30-40 on fleabay or around a ton brand-new. Some also sell with card activated for those three channels (simplydigital.co.uk, I think).

Dish is definitely best-sourced here; 80cm is under 100 francs.

As Gav's highlighted, Film4 is free now too, and they have some decent movies.

[Samsan]

Dear All,

I have asked a friend in UK to get a Sky connection for himself and then ship the box and card to me - but one prob - on the website of Sky they say (Read the part highlighted in RED):
Free Sky box offer: You do not have to subscribe to Sky digital. You must enter into an Interactive Discount Contract (IDC). Offer limited to one per household. You are ineligible if you have entered into an IDC or a Sky TV Month by Month equipment offer or your household has benefited from either. Sky selects your equipment. Standard installation is free for Sky digital subscribers (otherwise £120). Free Sky box must be connected to a fixed telephone line for 12 months. Non-standard install may cost extra. You must get any consents required (e.g. landlord’s).

Is the above true?

Can someone help me asap before I commit 250 £ and then cant use the box

Thanks a lot

[Lob]

one box, activated in Ireland will not need a phone connection UNLESS IT IS MULTIROOM.

So there you go. Rest easy. Or pay €40 or so to opt-out of the telephone connection if it makes you feel easier.

[Samsan]

Dear Lob,

This box will be activated in London. I got worried when I read the conditions from SKY (About phone line connection for 12 months)

Hope this works!! Havent yet applied to SKY though but maybe over this weekend.

[Lob]

ah, £25 then, to opt-out. Do get the box activated with phone connection though, they're making it harder.

Why bump an old thread about Irish Sky btw?