Sky Glass

[catweazle]

I discussed in a previous thread the problems I was experiencing with my TV and Sky Q box. Despite trying all the ( very helpful, thanks guys) suggestions I had, the problem persisted.

I then got a marketing email from Sky, with a 25% discount on a new Sky Glass TV.  I was out shopping at a large retail park, and wandered into  Currys. I then found that they are agents for Sky. They had display versions of the various Sky Glass TVs.

A very pretty young assistant asked if she could help ( maybe we shouldn't appraise all females this way, but given our hobby....).

I sat down with her, asked all my techno- phobic questions, and ultimately signed up for it, keeping my existing Sky bundle at the same cost. I am to pay £7.50 a month extra, which is the credit cost for the actual TV itself)

It was delivered the following Thursday, along with what they describe as a "puck" - a little mini box for the second TV.

Unpacking and setting up was a doddle, and in no time both TVs have everything ( slight hiccup as I couldn't remember my Paramount + password ( I have this outside the Sky package)).

So far, three weeks in, I'm very happy with the set up. Only one remote, less clutter, and the "skip advert" feature is brilliant.

[RandomGuy99]

But you're now dependent on the internet for TV. See how you feel when your internet develops a problem

[PilotMan]

But you're now dependent on the internet for TV. See how you feel when your internet develops a problem

With regular sky (satellite), all the streaming services are served through the internet anyway, so you would still lose a lot of channels.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

They, sky, are going down the internet type connections as there is a problm with the ASTRA satellities in use. I belive its to do with the fact that they are running short of fuel this is used to be keep them in the same place by a series of correction burns as they can drift and need to have ther position corrected all the time. It costs quite a lot to replace them.

Aslo a sat connection is very one way, so a net connection is very usefuill for pay to view and more.

The BBC want to dump their exising broadcast system and the new way would suit them very well pay-to-view and the like it will happen they might have to wait till 2030 when ther transmission contracts expire..

[DastardlyDick]

But you're now dependent on the internet for TV. See how you feel when your internet develops a problem

Now that BT have gone to the internet for your phone line (no copper wires to fix/replace) and your router is mains powered, in the event of a power cut, you don't even have a phone line. Apparently, if you don't have a mobile, BT will send you a "power pack" which may last a day or two, but you have to recharge it.

[catweazle]

So to respond to some of the comments:

My broadband is with BT, fibre to premises. In the 5+ years I've lived here, it's never failed me, plus, they have a fallback in that if the broadband does ever go down, it automatically switches to EE .mobile.

If you get a power cut then you can't watch TV no matter what the input method.

I don't have a 'landline' number ( which would be VoIP anyway). It would need a major power outage to knock out the mobile network.

As stated, all the 'catch up ' TV (iPlayer. Itv x etc) is internet based already.

Finally, Sky are slowly withdrawing support for their boxes. Sky + is already no longer supported, and Sky Q boxes are no longer available.

[DastardlyDick]

So to respond to some of the comments:

My broadband is with BT, fibre to premises. In the 5+ years I've lived here, it's never failed me, plus, they have a fallback in that if the broadband does ever go down, it automatically switches to EE .mobile.I

If the router is mains powered, during a power cut, it doesn't work, so how does it switch over?


I don't have a 'landline' number ( which would be VoIP anyway). It would need a major power outage to knock out the mobile network.

That's effectively what BT have done, it's VoIP, but it goes through your router - see above
I speak from experience from about 4 months ago

[Monaco]

The actual Sky Glass TV is really old technology and not a patch on more modern OLED or LED TVs.

[PilotMan]

The actual Sky Glass TV is really old technology and not a patch on more modern OLED or LED TVs.

I'm hanging on until next year and buying a new OLED TV. I'm hoping I'll get a deal on an older 2026/2025 model in 2027

[george r]

a mate i know has got sky glass air , which i think is a cheaper version ? but dont quote me on it , have seen his 55inch tv and the picture is very good

[catweazle]

I didn't say "if the broadband went down due to a power cut it switches to EE mobile". If the actual internet connection fails without a power cut it switches over to EE.  But as I said, in 5+ years it hadn't failed me yet.

[berksboy]

Now that BT have gone to the internet for your phone line (no copper wires to fix/replace) and your router is mains powered, in the event of a power cut, you don't even have a phone line. Apparently, if you don't have a mobile, BT will send you a "power pack" which may last a day or two, but you have to recharge it.

Sorry but you  are wrong . Yes they are moving to digital voice that comes over the internet but that can still come over copper wire. Yes they are also looking to get rid of the copper network and replace it with a full fibre network , but they are 2 different things. The mainstream press often get the 2 things mixed up as well .If interested you are far better off reading proper comms related sites not newspapers

[berksboy]

You are right about digital voice not working in a power cut.

[Stevelondon]

I thought about Sky Glass but as someone mentioned

The tv tech is old.

[PilotMan]

I thought about Sky Glass but as someone mentioned

The tv tech is old.

I think it suits people who are not overly interested in having the best quality screen currently available, but more interested in the overall feature set and of course VFM - i.e. the mass market.

[mrwhite]

They, sky, are going down the internet type connections as there is a problm with the ASTRA satellities in use. I belive its to do with the fact that they are running short of fuel this is used to be keep them in the same place by a series of correction burns as they can drift and need to have ther position corrected all the time. It costs quite a lot to replace them.

The Astra satellites were built with at least 15 years of fuel on board, and the last one that was decommissioned actually lasted 22 years before being retired.  That means the existing Astra satellites are good until about 2035, so there is no real rush for Sky to move from broadcasting to streaming.

I'm guessing the real reason is to move more of the broadcast costs away from themselves and onto the customer.  After all any unencrypted channels are floating through the stratosphere for free, there is no cost to receive.  Moving to streaming means you have to pay for a landline and broadband package and some people are still on packages with download limits.

Not every Sky Glass customer will opt for Sky broadband, but lots will, and that just opens another revenue stream.  (or if you are cynical another way to subsidise Sky Sports)

[Jaderat2]

For anyone not wanting sky glass, I can recommend sky stream device. Its a small square not much bigger than an oyster or debit card. No dish needed, 4K/UHD and HD quality on many things, plus I can choose my own TV and the sky stream device is portable (within the UK). I'm a pretty satisfied customer.

[RandomGuy99]

For anyone not wanting sky glass, I can recommend sky stream device. Its a small square not much bigger than an oyster or debit card. No dish needed, 4K/UHD and HD quality on many things, plus I can choose my own TV and the sky stream device is portable (within the UK). I'm a pretty satisfied customer.

but no recording capability