What do we need to be able to watch Sky TV

ymfb

ymfb

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What do we need to be able to watch Sky TV in our new Kingham.

We are already Sky subscribers, if that helps.

Thanks
 
Two ways:

1. On a tablet using the SkyGo app.

For this you will need a proper WiFi connection, not mobile data. You're restricted to using the tablet because the SkyGo app does not permit mirroring to an external display.

2. On your TV.

For this method obviously a satellite dish is the first thing you will need.

Then the simplest thing will be to take your Sky box from home with you and use that. You could always obtain a second box, permanently install it in your van and then just take your viewing card from home but I know a lot of people have issues with the card and box not pairing with each other properly.

This won't work if you have Sky Q because it uses a different type of LNB. You also can't use a Sky Q viewing card in a Sky + box.

I've been investigating changing the LNB on our van to a hybrid one but nobody has been able to give me a definitive answer as to whether the satellite controller on our Alden system will work properly with it so I haven't gone any further.
 
Thats very helpful, maybe I need to put my efforts into getting the best wifi/data connection first and try just using my iPad.
 
ymfb said:
Thats very helpful, maybe I need to put my efforts into getting the best wifi/data connection first and try just using my iPad.
Click to expand...

You will munch huge amounts of mobile data if you go down that route so be very careful. You'll also have issues with buffering if it's not a good connection.
 
Before you spend a lot of money rumours are sky will be fasing out TV by dish in favour of cable. Many engineers have already been finished as they wind down. It had to happen as greed increases and cable is easier and cheaper for them to install.

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Whilst I imagine Sky might like to move customers to cable and subject to cost I can't imagine why customers would disagree but how will they manage the vast number of rural users ? My village is about 2 miles from Wilton who have cable, originally installed by NTL about 20 years ago.
 
One word answer:- Money. I've never been able to fathom out why satellite systems for motorhomes or caravans are so expensive?
Still if people are crazy enough to pay crazy prices then this non-sense will just carry on.
 
If bandwidth isn't an issue you might also consider a Slingbox.
 
wiljoy said:
Before you spend a lot of money rumours are sky will be fasing out TV by dish in favour of cable. Many engineers have already been finished as they wind down. It had to happen as greed increases and cable is easier and cheaper for them to install.
Click to expand...

Cable TV in a motorhome?

Really?

You'd need a bloody long cable :rolleyes:
 
NickNic said:
Two ways:

1. On a tablet using the SkyGo app.

For this you will need a proper WiFi connection, not mobile data. You're restricted to using the tablet because the SkyGo app does not permit mirroring to an external display.

2. On your TV.

For this method obviously a satellite dish is the first thing you will need.

Then the simplest thing will be to take your Sky box from home with you and use that. You could always obtain a second box, permanently install it in your van and then just take your viewing card from home but I know a lot of people have issues with the card and box not pairing with each other properly.

This won't work if you have Sky Q because it uses a different type of LNB. You also can't use a Sky Q viewing card in a Sky + box.

I've been investigating changing the LNB on our van to a hybrid one but nobody has been able to give me a definitive answer as to whether the satellite controller on our Alden system will work properly with it so I haven't gone any further.
Click to expand...
As far as I'm able to determine the "Hybrid" LNB is simply an LNB with more than the standard number of outlets. I can't see it being more than that anyway - an LNB is simply a frequency down-converter with a 4 (or more) way splitter built in.

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tonyidle said:
As far as I'm able to determine the "Hybrid" LNB is simply an LNB with more than the standard number of outlets. I can't see it being more than that anyway - an LNB is simply a frequency down-converter with a 4 (or more) way splitter built in.
Click to expand...

Nope. It's quite a bit more than that and has nothing to do with the number of outlets.

It's not a mainstream piece of kit because the only use for it is where you have the requirement for both Sky Q and a conventional satellite service (Sky +, Freesat etc) to be supplied from the same dish. Sky don't publish the tech specs for it so unless you already know what it's for you can't tell just by looking.

Sky Q requires a Wideband LNB which is different to a standard one. Sky Q won't work with a standard LNB and Sky + & Freesat won't work with a wideband LNB

The Hybrid is able to determine what is connected to each outlet and send the correct signal.

It's been suggested to me by someone who knows that the Alden SSC can be temperamental about these things and may not take kindly to being connected to this type of LNB. As it's an expensive bit of kit I'm not keen on just plugging it in and hoping for the best. I've contacted Alden to see if they will commit to an answer but I'm not holding my breath.
 
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Buy an automatic Roadpro dome, stick it on the roof and connect your sky box from home - simple
 
Sorry chaps but this all seems an incredible amount of unnecessary faffing around. Why on earth would you want Sky in the motorhome - you are on holiday! Go and do holiday things; you can watch Sky at home!!!!
 
Huwmari said:
Sorry chaps but this all seems an incredible amount of unnecessary faffing around. Why on earth would you want Sky in the motorhome - you are on holiday! Go and do holiday things; you can watch Sky at home!!!!
Click to expand...
I have a 4 year old to keep entertained on the journey

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Huwmari said:
Sorry chaps but this all seems an incredible amount of unnecessary faffing around. Why on earth would you want Sky in the motorhome - you are on holiday! Go and do holiday things; you can watch Sky at home!!!!
Click to expand...
I'm not entirely sure I need to know too much, but what do you do when it gets dark ? I also like to keep up with a bit of sport, which is the main reason we have Sky.
 
BMM said:
I have a 4 year old to keep entertained on the journey
Click to expand...
That's no excuse at all and you know it! How do you think the rest of us have managed to keep four year olds entertained on a journey without resorting to technology?! You might actually have to play games (like counting red cars or I-spy) and actually speaking to the child or singing songs together.! I reckon it's for you and if you are prepared to go to all the trouble of organising it, then so be it but I still think it's not worth all the hassle. Each to his own.
 
ymfb said:
I'm not entirely sure I need to know too much, but what do you do when it gets dark ? I also like to keep up with a bit of sport, which is the main reason we have Sky.
Click to expand...
Sport can be kept up with on the radio and whatever happened to the art of conversation, a board game or two, doing crossword puzzles or a game of cards, or even parleying with the natives?!
 
We do all of that, but the radio doesn't do it for me, except the cricket test matches. Although the radio reception for TMS can be appalling as DAB is not always available.
 
s-l300.jpg

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ymfb said:
I'm not entirely sure I need to know too much, but what do you do when it gets dark ? I also like to keep up with a bit of sport, which is the main reason we have Sky.
Click to expand...
Last time I checked, this was a free country, where you have freedom of choice and can spend your hard earned on whatever you like, without having to explain to anyone.

No issues with anyone that doesn't want to watch Sky in their motorhomes (including me now) but that isn't the question you asked !

I hope you get your question answered and enjoy your set up when you get there (y)
 
Did anybody mention you'll need a telly screen?:whistle2::imoutahere:
 
Gellyneck said:
Did anybody mention you'll need a telly screen?:whistle2::imoutahere:
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Apart from if I just use the iPad I'd assumed I'd need a screen and having read about excellent customer service from Avtex that's where I thought I would start. But thanks for mentioning it.

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Given the age of the 12v Pace Javelin boxes and the lack of software updates, is there a point at which they just won't be supported by Sky or functional anymore? We've got one in the loft somewhere, last time I contacted Sky to pair a viewing card was many years ago now, which required someone from a specialist team to assist as the frontline customer service team struggled with the model.
 
Huwmari said:
Sorry chaps but this all seems an incredible amount of unnecessary faffing around. Why on earth would you want Sky in the motorhome - you are on holiday! Go and do holiday things; you can watch Sky at home!!!!
Click to expand...

Because not everyone is "on holiday" when they travel.

A lot of people do much longer trips. They're travelling but still try and live as they normally do as much as possible. Why wouldn't they want to be able to watch Sky in the motorhome if they're paying for it anyway?
 
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Huwmari said:
Sorry chaps but this all seems an incredible amount of unnecessary faffing around. Why on earth would you want Sky in the motorhome - you are on holiday! Go and do holiday things; you can watch Sky at home!!!!
Click to expand...

Because, we like to watch a bit of Tv when darkness comes. Plus, Management, because of her disabilities, travels lieing on the bed, please don't tell the fuzz !! Now in doing so, the ceiling view gets a bit boring after a while, so she either reads a magazine, listens to music with her headphones, reads a book, faffs around with her iPad or most of the time, watches the TV.
 
NickNic said:
Nope. It's quite a bit more than that and has nothing to do with the number of outlets.

It's not a mainstream piece of kit because the only use for it is where you have the requirement for both Sky Q and a conventional satellite service (Sky +, Freesat etc) to be supplied from the same dish. Sky don't publish the tech specs for it so unless you already know what it's for you can't tell just by looking.

Sky Q requires a Wideband LNB which is different to a standard one. Sky Q won't work with a standard LNB and Sky + & Freesat won't work with a wideband LNB

The Hybrid is able to determine what is connected to each outlet and send the correct signal.

It's been suggested to me by someone who knows that the Alden SSC can be temperamental about these things and may not take kindly to being connected to this type of LNB. As it's an expensive bit of kit I'm not keen on just plugging it in and hoping for the best. I've contacted Alden to see if they will commit to an answer but I'm not holding my breath.
Click to expand...
At Nicks request we have spoken to ALDEN about this, and they have requested that we supply them with a Sky Q box with an active subscription

Not that practical so we declined

The other problem is reworking the roof top unit to facilitate the additional cables. The ALDEN AS4 has a lifetime warranty and knowing the French I guarantee that they would be pissy about us rewiring the system

I suspect that the answer will remain no for Sky Q

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