Could someone explain Sky multiroom to me?

G

gnubbit

Registered User
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344
Hi,

I've only ever had NTL basic package but NTL are driving me mad and I would love to switch to Sky. The only problem is that I like having the option of watching (and recording) different channels in different rooms and as far as I can tell from reading other posts on Sky, this would not be possible.

Ideally I would have TVs in 4-5 different rooms and it would be nice if people could watch different channels in all of them - is there any cheap/free way of doing this? I don't mind paying to set it up but would like to avoid paying extra every month to Sky if possible.

If it makes any difference, I'm getting my house rewired and am considering getting extra cables (Cat6, CT100 or some kind of all-in-one) put in.

Also, I'm looking into getting some kind of HTPC - could that be used? I won't be the one building it so please pitch any advice at a 'Satellite for Dummies' level! :)

Thanks,
G
 
gnubbit said:
Ideally I would have TVs in 4-5 different rooms and it would be nice if people could watch different channels in all of them - is there any cheap/free way of doing this? I don't mind paying to set it up but would like to avoid paying extra every month to Sky if possible.
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I wouldn't say so becasuse this, to me, looks like you would also need 4-5 boxes (recievers) so they may charge more for those each month.
Anyway, You would be looking at a twin LNB dish. It will have 2 connections on it's LNB, and as far as i know these are very expensive. And you might need two dishes for the other 2 boxes in the house.
 
No legal way to do it without paying sky loads unless you are happy to have some of the room with the free channels and move around the sky card when someone needs something on pay tv....
 
If you wanted separate sky in four rooms, you will have four cables coming off the dish and routed to the four rooms. Very messy.Also a mirror sky-card for each box @15£ per month.
 
Will you really be watching four seperate channels at the same time ? 2 seperate chans at the same time is feasible enough on sky (3 channels if one of the is off of your terrestrial ariel), but the thing that bugs me about sky, is having to pay extra for an extra room if you want to watch a different channel. I have 2 kids in the house, so we have a few telly's about the place, but all fed off the one sky box, we decided not to go for sky multiroom. 180 quid a year for the pleaseure of wathching a different channel !!

What way are NTL bugging you if you dont mind me asking, and what is your current set up with them, cos I think sky will probably bug you also, as it does me. The service is good enough I admit, but with regards additional stuff, do you have BB off of NTL, what about phone ?

With regards your HTPC, PC world are doing some nice ones now, drop in and have a look. At least it will give you an overview.

Wexfordman
 
Isn't this thread lovely - let's all sit in our own rooms so we can not talk to each other and watch our own flavour of mind numbing trash on the old box! Not a very helpful post I know but feck it I had to say it!
 
Lol Ceist beag!

Thanks for all the replies. I suppose I wouldn't need the facility to watch more than 2 different channels. At the moment we use different TVs (with VCRs) to record programmes on different channels. Am I right in thinking Sky+ (or a homemade PVR) could record multiple channels at once? I really don't have a good understanding of how it all works, am just researching at this stage.

Wexfordman, at the moment we have the basic NTL cable service - I have heard that they will be offering 6 months free digital in the near future so maybe we should consider that. I've been living in an apartment where we weren't allowed get Sky but now I'm moving to a house in 'the burbs' so have more options. We're doing it up so could put in whatever wiring is needed - I'll be in touch to ask you about the optimal setup!

The problems I've had with NTL (or NTHell as I heard them described :)) include poor quality reception that comes and goes, service engineers that don't turn when I've taken time off to be at home and billing problems. The most annoying is the customer service over the phone. I have found the staff rude, poorly informed and unreliable. There have been one or two exceptions over the years but it's impossible to follow up with a single person. I eventually gave up and decided that I should just defect to Sky whenever I get the opportunity.

Thanks,
gnubbit
 
Hi Gnubbit,

I've heard NTL cust service is poor alright. With regards the actual service, as you are on analog at the mo, and have the option of getting digital, you are comparing apples with oranges. I have no experience of NTL, so cant comment, but it woudl be worth considering the fact that you may be able to get TV,BB and phone off of them, which would be significantly cheaper than getting, sky, eircom and BB seperate. In my opinion, I would love to be able to go to one provider for all, but cant.

WRT sky+ recording feature, you can watch 1 channel, and record another at the same time. You cant record multiple channels while watching another at the same time.
Wexfordman
 
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