Digital TV Guides
Sky+ Box Review
Updated: Tuesday 3 April, 2012
Satellite TV provider Sky (www.sky.com) no longer offers a range of digiboxes. Instead it offers a single box from which Sky+, Sky+HD and Sky 3D can be viewed, depending on which package you subscribe to.
The provider also offers the Sky+HD 1TB box, which offers four times more high-definition (HD) storage as the standard box.
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Satellite TV provider Sky (www.sky.com ) previously offered a range of digi boxes, including its award-winning Sky+ box, the standard Sky box and the Sky+HD box, which gives you up to five times more picture detail, sharper images and vibrant colours.
However, Sky now offers one box that allows customers to use the Sky+ service, watch Sky HD and Sky 3D depending on which Sky package they subscribe to.
It also offers the Sky+HD 1TB box, which only differs from the standard box in terms of HD storage capacity.
Getting a Sky+ box will change the way you watch digital TV, as you’ll have the ability to record one channel while watching another, so you’ll never have to miss your favourite shows again. You can even text your box or log-in online to set Sky+ to record show when you can’t make it home in time.
Below is more information on the Sky box, how much it costs and where to get one.
What is a Sky+ box?
The Sky+ box is a personal video recorder (PVR) that combines a satellite receiver with a digital video recorder. It lets you record around 40 hours of programmes and movies without using a videotape or DVD.
The 1TB box lets you record up to a whopping 240 hours HD TV or 740 hours of standard definition programming.
Features of the Sky+ box:
- Watch one channel while recording another
- Record two different channels at the same time, while watching a recorded show
- Browse through a week’s worth of TV with the onscreen electronic programme guide (EPG), selecting which shows to record
- Select recordings from your Sky Planner, and copy them off to your video or DVD recorder
- Series Link can be used to record episodes of your favourite series automatically, keeping track of schedule changes, and avoiding repeats
- Pause and rewind live TV, and fast forward recorded TV, so you can skip the ad breaks
- Connect to the internet to use the Sky Anytime service to access even more on-demand content
The Sky+ box even allows you to set up recordings using a smartphone application or via the web at www.sky.com.
How much does a Sky+ box cost?
The Sky+ box and standard set-up are free if you subscribe to Sky TV for a minimum of 12 months. Sky TV packages start from £20 per month for the Sky Entertainment, which includes the likes of Sky1, Sky Atlantic and MTV. A £10 upfront payment is required for the box, but this will be offset against your first month’s bill.
You don’t need a new box to watch HD TV as the super-sharp service uses the same box, which comes free when you join Sky+HD.
The HD pack costs £10.25 a month on top of a standard TV pack, so Sky+HD starts from £30.25 a month for the Sky Entertainment and the HD pack, again with the £10 upfront payment to be offset against your first month’s bill. This would give you access to channels such as Sky 1 HD, Sky Atlantic HD and E4 HD.
Get a Sky+ box
The Sky+ service is available direct from www.sky.com. Read our provider guide to find out more information about Sky and visit www.sky.com to sign-up for a new service.
Other digital TV providers, such as Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) and BT Vision (www.btvision.bt.com) offer alternatives to the Sky+ box. However, costs and installation charges vary. Similarly, the number of channels and the services available also depend on what you sign-up to, so it’s important that you do your homework before committing to a new contract.
Call Sky on 08442 410582 to join, or call 08442 414 141 if you are an existing Sky customer looking to upgrade to Sky+HD.
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