Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Does Sky Q only work with broadband access?

  • 25-03-2021 11:52AM
    #1
    beya2009
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 682 ✭✭✭


    Hi,


    We are thinking of upgrading to Sky Q as it looks like it would be cheaper in the long run as we currently have 2 multi room digital boxes & 3 boxes in total.


    Our broadband connection is ok which is around 20mb which I think is very good for us as we're in the countryside. We had satellite broadband before which was awfully slow and had data limits of 50gb.


    I just wanted to know does the sky q box depend on broadband for the box to work or is it more that the broadband is used to access the on demand content that obviously would be optional? We would need 4 sky q boxes in total.


    If it relies on broadband then I am not sure even with on average a 20mg connection would be good enough.


Comments

  • #2
    fman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 435 ✭✭fman


    It's more integrated than sky+ was but as someone who uses it with an inconsistent 4g connection, it's fine.
    It only impacts on downloads, streaming from apps etc but your speed should be more than enough.
    I can't remember the limit on the number of boxes though.
    Edit, just checked. It says elsewhere you can have up to 4 minis alongside the main box, but can only use 2 of the minis at a time if that makes sense.


  • #3
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Just to add though, while this isn’t strictly a need for broadband, you will need a LAN of some description (WiFi or Ethernet) to use multiroom with Sky Q. The mini boxes effectively “slave” off the main box, they aren’t satellite receivers in their own right like Sky HD multiroom boxes were and have no direct connection to the dish.


  • #4
    eguiney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53 ✭✭eguiney


    beya2009 wrote: »
    Hi,


    We are thinking of upgrading to Sky Q as it looks like it would be cheaper in the long run as we currently have 2 multi room digital boxes & 3 boxes in total.


    Our broadband connection is ok which is around 20mb which I think is very good for us as we're in the countryside. We had satellite broadband before which was awfully slow and had data limits of 50gb.


    I just wanted to know does the sky q box depend on broadband for the box to work or is it more that the broadband is used to access the on demand content that obviously would be optional? We would need 4 sky q boxes in total.


    If it relies on broadband then I am not sure even with on average a 20mg connection would be good enough.

    The box will work with any broadband connection over 1-2mb (to download pictures for the menu and to download any on demand programmes)
    It uses your internal Wi-Fi capacity to send data between the boxes, but the speed of your broadband connection does not matter for this.
    You can only use the main box and two of the mini boxes at any one time.


  • #5
    beya2009
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 682 ✭✭✭beya2009


    Okay thanks for the information everyone:) That seems to be a serious limitation only getting to use the main box and 2 mini boxes at the same time as we would need 4 boxes in total but it seems worthwhile and cheaper long term. Guessing the boxes are quite pricey. I wonder how much a main box and 3 mini boxes will cost. I will give them a call to find out.


  • #6
    1641
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,290 ✭✭✭1641


    If you need 4 minis plus the main box you probably do a lot of recording. If so, you should consider going for a 2TB box.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    edward901
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 147 ✭✭edward901


    Is the picture quality on the mini boxes as good as the main Sky Q box if they are depending on the home Wifi to work?Do you get all the same Sky plus functionality?


  • #8
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Most of the time you wouldn’t notice the difference. You have the same Live Pause functionality as the main box. Note that the main box is the only box with a hard drive, but you have access to your recordings on all boxes (and any tablets/phones with the Sky Go app while connected to your LAN). Also not so much a good thing, if you are paying for UHD, only the main box is UHD capable.


  • #9
    Damien360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,000 ✭✭✭Damien360


    edward901 wrote: »
    Is the picture quality on the mini boxes as good as the main Sky Q box if they are depending on the home Wifi to work?Do you get all the same Sky plus functionality?

    It is the exact same for picture quality. Everything is recorded to the main box and the mini boxes can play anything that is on the main box. Your phone/tablet is also a fully functional sky mini inside your home also. Once you have multiroom it is enabled for “free”. Multiroom is an extra 18 per month. Outside the home it reverts to Sky Go content. But you can download content from box to your phone to watch outside the home also. The remote is slightly different on the mini as it’s not touch sensitive like the main box.


  • #10
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,051 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    Is there a lag on the mini-boxes? Like if you had say 2 mini-boxes and tuned the main box and the 2 minis to the same channel, will they all be in sync?


  • #11
    Damien360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,000 ✭✭✭Damien360


    dulpit wrote: »
    Is there a lag on the mini-boxes? Like if you had say 2 mini-boxes and tuned the main box and the 2 minis to the same channel, will they all be in sync?

    I have one mini and there is no delay between it and the main box. Not sure why it would matter. If the lag was in minutes maybe but I don’t see any lag whatsoever even for sound.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    edward901
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 147 ✭✭edward901


    You mentioned in a previous thread that the mini boxes work through the home wifi system.Does this mean that if you had no broadband and you set up a wifi system in the house the mini boxes would still work?


  • #13
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Damien360 wrote: »
    I have one mini and there is no delay between it and the main box. Not sure why it would matter. If the lag was in minutes maybe but I don’t see any lag whatsoever even for sound.

    I do have a lag, but it’s in seconds, it’s not huge. Probably still not suitable for a pub or venue, but grand at home.


  • #14
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    edward901 wrote: »
    You mentioned in a previous thread that the mini boxes work through the home wifi system.Does this mean that if you had no broadband and you set up a wifi system in the house the mini boxes would still work?

    My understanding is Sky officially don’t support Sky Q without a broadband connection and may not install it in a house that permanently (as opposed to temporarily) has no internet connection. However, the mini boxes should still work with only LAN and not an internet connection - you would not have access to On Demand and any internet dependant apps.


Advertisement