[PMATHS]

Hi - Basically I've been a subscriber to sky for a good few years now - Unfortunatly my DVD recorder packed up this week and has left me pondering "do I get another DVD recorder or just go out and get sky+".

Anyway - If I get sky+ installed will I still be able to watch sky upstairs via the coax cable and magic eye as I do now with my standard sky box. Will I also be able to watch things recorded on sky+ upstairs.

Cheers guys.

[pcbbc]

Originally Posted by PMATHS

Anyway - If I get sky+ installed will I still be able to watch sky upstairs via the coax cable and magic eye as I do now with my standard sky box. Will I also be able to watch things recorded on sky+ upstairs.

Yes to both questions. Your existing magic eye can just be transferred over to the Sky+ unit.

Obviously if you currently have a second Sky remote for use upstairs, it will need to be replaced to get full access to the Sky+ functions. However it can be reprogrammed to allow access to the basic Sky functions (channel changes etc).

Edit: Please remember that Sky+ should not be seen as a replacement for long term storage, but rather purely as a time shift device. If there are some things you never want to lose, you will still need that DVD recorder.

[Colin V]

I've had mine since just after Christmas. I wouldn't be without it now.

Of course it's great for time shifting but I find it comes into its own for recording things I might not otherwise bother watching. I record programmes just to see what they are like and if after a couple of minutes I don't like it then I just delete it.

[PMATHS]

Cheers - Also if I was to subscribe to sky multiroom so I don't pay the installation fee and use my existing box - is there a minimum contract term for sky multiroom.

Again "Also" - would it be possible to connect my spare standard sky box upstairs via the coax cable so I will have the sky+ box downstairs and the normal sky box upstairs connected by the coax - could I then watch two different programs using the two sky boxes. "I'm guessing the answer will be no" and that the only way to do this is to subscribe to sky multiroom.

[pcbbc]

Originally Posted by PMATHS

Cheers - Also if I was to subscribe to sky multiroom so I don't pay the installation fee and use my existing box - is there a minimum contract term for sky multiroom.

The minimum term is 12 months I believe.

Again "Also" - would it be possible to connect my spare standard sky box upstairs via the coax cable so I will have the sky+ box downstairs and the normal sky box upstairs connected by the coax - could I then watch two different programs using the two sky boxes. "I'm guessing the answer will be no" and that the only way to do this is to subscribe to sky multiroom.

No - To be of any use the second Sky box needs to be connected to the dish via coax, not the main box.

It will work as a freesat box, so you don't need a multiroom subscription as long as you are happy with just the non-subscription channels (you can still use the magic eye to view subscription channels from the Sky+ box downstairs). If you ask the installer nicely and ply him with tea and biscuits and a bit of cash on the side, he may run a spare cable from the dish to your bedroom.

[PMATHS]

Thanks again for the response. So let me try and get this straight.

I can have sky+ cabled downstairs - also another cable ran from the dish which will feed my sky box upstairs "without multiroom subscription".

I will also have a cable "as I do now" ran from my sky+ box to upstairs and operate via an eye.

Although if I'm then sat in my bedroom would not both the sky box and the electronic eye respond to the remote?.

Cheers again

[pcbbc]

Originally Posted by PMATHS

I can have sky+ cabled downstairs - also another cable ran from the dish which will feed my sky box upstairs "without multiroom subscription".

Correct, a direct cable from the disk to the Sky box is required for it to operate, either as a freeview or a multiroom box.

I will also have a cable "as I do now" ran from my sky+ box to upstairs and operate via an eye.

Again correct.

Although if I'm then sat in my bedroom would not both the sky box and the electronic eye respond to the remote?

No. The Sky and Sky+ boxes have different remote command sets. The Sky remote will control the Sky box, the Sky+ remote will control the Sky+ box via the magic eye.

You can also program either remote to operate the basic functions of the other box if you want. Then program it back again when you want to control the original box. Personally I'd just get a second remote.