It is with no shame that we claim how Sky TV is a leading company in TV distribution: may it be satellite, aerial, or home AV. And now that Sky Q has been released, with just one box, a Sky multiroom set-up is ready to go! It would work even if there was a tv in every room, as Sky Q was built to function for TV in multiple rooms! This works best because it eradicates confusing wirework and it makes it easier to catch up on shows from any TV in your house!
Although, to any great thing there are certain problems arising. Some common issues on migrating from existing Sky TV packages such as Sky Standard or Sky HD to Sky Q are of the following:
Playback doesn’t work for you anymore
A common set up to have Sky in another room or Sky in different rooms is to use an i/0 link add-on modulator or RF2 output via a coaxial cable to reach a TV in another room. You may also have an aerial amplifier connected in the middle of the Skybox and the 2nd TV so as to create some sort of multiroom set-up. This would then sync everything up, especially your desired playback. The problem with this is that the Sky Q receiver does not support this system anymore, so we built this blog to help you fix it.
a Sky multiroom system or having Sky Q in another room won’t work
Sky multiroom is a £10 offer to have Sky operate in multiple rooms individually inside one household. This does not work for Sky Q anymore because the LNB is not compatible anymore for this new service, rendering the old system obsolete. But don’t worry we have this blog for you to help you figure out what’s going on.
How to have Sky Q as a Multiroom TV System
Below are some ways in which we can have the optimal tv multiroom Sky experience.
Go Wireless
Sky offers the option to ditch wires and to have other TVs outsource from the Sky Q box to a Sky Q mini-box. This is not only efficient and space-saving but also serves as a WiFi amplifier. Sky Q makes use of the mesh wireless network so it does not disrupt your WiFi signal but you have to make sure the repeaters are in the range of the main box and in between one another. Currently, a maximum of 4 mini boxes can be installed while only 2 can run simultaneously.
However, if you are thinking of using a Sky Magic Eye to conceive a Sky multiroom set-up, then I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The Magic Eye, unfortunately, does not run on a Sky Q set top box but rather on standard Sky boxes, the Sky HD box, and the Sky Plus HD box. Again, the closest thing you can get to a multiscreen subscription with the Sky Q plan is by availing of the additional Sky Q mini boxes for an additional upfront cost per box.
Run it over wired LAN
If your walls are thick or foiled and wireless is not the best way to go, try using either a Cat5e or Cat6 data cable. There are already built-in RJ45 ports in both the Sky Q box and it’s mini boxes, eliminating the hassle of wireless if that’s your problem. Although comparatively, it’s a lot of work and it limits you to 4 mini boxes still.
Opt for Coaxial Cabling but with an HD modulator
It’s a quick fix if your current set-up is having an RF2 output or i/0 link outsourcing signal from a Sky system. You can put an HD modulator in between and have it linked to the HDMI port of the Sky Q box. This would make it a sort of digital multiplex and have it connect to your aerial amplifier turning it into some sort of a Sky Q multiscreen that can be viewed as a digital channel. Be careful though, choose wisely on the UHF output on the modulator so it would not clash with the transmission of other signals in the area.
The only problems that come with this are modulators are a luxury in the market right now. The price might be too steep to justify this fix unless you have the pounds to spare. Another problem here is having 4K transmitted from your Sky Q box. Unfortunately, an HD modulator can’t do this, so you get yourself an HDMI switch to fix this. Now you have to run HDMI cables from the 4K TV to the switch then to the modulator to fix the solution, but it’s a hassle and a dent on your finances. A good thing to note about this though is that you get to have the pictures in a clearer digital format that an RF2 or i/0 can’t provide.
Final Thoughts
While Sky Digital TV’s Sky Q requires you to completely overhaul your multiroom viewing set-up, it does improve the overall viewing experience. This multiscreen subscription package ensures that while you are viewing from essentially one main TV box, it will look, feel, and sound as though you’ve got multiple Sky TV packages running in your home.
Additionally, you will get access to Sky TV, Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and many more! Sky Q offers several channels on 4K Ultra HD, and a choice between a 1TB box or a 2TB box, both of which are UHD-ready. For an extra cost, you may also avail of Sky Ultimate TV, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, and the ultimate On Demand TV options. If it interests you, may opt-in for access to BT Sport with Sky, Sky Box Office, the Sky Store, Sky Go Extra, and many more.
For existing Sky customers, you may upgrade to Sky Q by contacting your service provider directly. Meanwhile, for those looking to switch over to Sky from other service providers, you may want to check this out and make sure you’ve got the right kind of satellite dish for the TV deals you want to avail. To do this, you may call us to set up an appointment.