Sky Digital F.A.Q

Ordering Sky online saves time and money. Select your package online at www.sky.com and choose an installation date (including weekends).

The basic Sky service is available for only £16 a month for one mix package of your choice. You get a free dish and digibox when you order online. A £30 installation fee applies.

For more, go to www.sky.com/skycom

When you sign up to Sky, you need to select a number of channel packages you want to subscribe to - this will typically include some standard "Sky Mix packs", with optional "premium packs" (such as Movie or Sports channels). You'll also get a number of free-to-view channels as well. Sky's mix packages are:

• Variety Mix: Including Sky One, Bravo, UKTV Gold, E4 and Living TV
• Kids Mix: Including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Disney, Trouble
• Knowledge Mix: Including Discovery, National Geographic, History, UKTV History
• Style & Culture Mix: Including Sky Arts, UKTV Style, Discovery Home & Health, UKTV Food
• Music Mix: Including MTV, TMF, Bliss, Kerrang!, Q and VH1
• News & Events Mix: Including Sky News, Fox News, CNBC, At The Races, British Eurosport

Sky don't allow you to pick individual channels to subscribe (or not subscribe) to - you select from their preset "packages". To view these options and to see how much your monthly subscription is likely to be, go to packages.sky.com. If you have any questions about packages that are not answered on this page, or on Sky's site, call Sky on 08705 800 874, or ask in our Sky forum.

Sports fans may also be interested in subscribing to Setanta Sports to get football, golf, Racing UK, Celtic TV, Rangers TV and NASN. More on our Setanta page.

Note that Sky often runs offers such as "half price for the first three months". Click here for a summary of their latest offering.

If you're not happy with the packages, channels or prices offered by Sky - remember that there are alternatives - See our Digital TV page for more.

Between 2008 and 2012, the UK will be going digital, as analogue TV is set to be switched off. The good news is, that the TV service from Sky is already digital, and so you won't be losing your service when non-digital telly gets switched off.

For more, visit switchhelp.co.uk, or the official Digital UK site.

If you're interested in having Sky in more that one room, take a look at Sky Multiroom. This gives you a box in each room, so you can watch different Sky channels in different rooms. You will need a Multiroom subscription for each additional box. Details and prices at packages.sky.com/see/EquipmentMultiroom.aspx

Note the following limitation: One Sky dish can't have more than four 'feeds' running from it, so each dish can only provide a feed for up to two Sky+ boxes, or four standard Sky boxes.

If you're looking to give someone a subscription to Sky Digital as a gift, consider getting the "Pay Once, Watch Foverer" Sky Digital Starter Pack. This typically includes free standard installation, a Sky set-top box and access to loads of subscription-free channels.

Sky "Pay Once, Watch Forever" starter packs are available from retailers such as John Lewis and Dixons. (OFFER: 10% off at Dixons when using code SKY10 at the checkout - May 2008 only!)

Sky Digital broadcasts from a group of satellites positioned at 28.2ºE and 28.5ºE above the Equator. These orbit the earth at an altitude of around 22,000 miles.

If you're working out where to point your satellite dish in the UK in order to get Sky, this varies depending on where in the country you are. You'll find that the dish needs to be pointing at a compass heading somewhere between 139 and 147 degrees (i.e. South- East) at an elevation of between 18 and 26 degrees.

Sky Digital's terms and conditions state that you can only watch Sky subscription channels if you're living in the UK (including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands) or the Republic of Ireland. Note though that the satellites that distribute Sky Digital can be accessed outside of the UK.

Sky Digital is transmitted on SES Astra satellites located at 28.2°E and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite located at 28.5°E - these have "footprints" that cover parts of Europe, so the free-to-view channels can be accessed in parts of Europe (with a suitably-sized dish). Pictured on the right is the footprint of the Astra 2D satellite, which provides the BBC Free-to-view channels. You can find coverage maps for the Astra satellite on the Astra or Satcure sites.

The Radio&Telly site is intended for UK residents, and doesn't provide any information on how to access Sky Digital outside the UK and Ireland, but there are a vast number of sites that do. If you're interested in accessing Sky outside of the UK and Ireland, try a Google search.

Sky Digital transmits some of it's programming in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. If you have a compatible home cinema system, you should be able to connect your Sky+ or Sky HD box to take advantage of this superior sound system. To access Surround Sound, go to Services > System setup > Sound settings and select 'Optical output' to "Dolby D"

You will need to run an optical audio cable from the 'Optical out' socket on your Sky+ or Sky HD box to your sound system. If you need an optical cable, try TV Cables or Maplin Electronics

Now and again, we're asked whether it's possible to get Sky Digital via an indoor dish, normally by people that are not allowed to install a dish on the side of their property.

Sorry, but as far as we know, there's no indoor satellite dish option. To get Sky in the UK, you need a 45cm (or greater) dish, that needs to have unobstructed line-of-site to Sky's orbiting satellites.

Update: Thanks to Duncan Hill for the following: "This is incorrect. I have used an indoor dish, no more than 40cm and got perfect reception from Astra 2 (Sky/BBC), Astra 1, Hotbird and Hispasat. Even with curtains in the way. The only problems are on very rainy days. Locations tested: London and Brighton."

If you're not able to get a dish installed where you live, you could consider other options such as Freeview, Cable or TV-over-Internet. See our Digital TV Options page for more. If you're able to get a satellite system installed elsewhere and you have Broadband, you could also consider watching satellite on a PC, using Slingbox

A quick summary of some of the general questions we've received:

• Sky Movies are shown uninterrupted (no ad breaks)
• When you subscribe to Sky, you enter a 12 month contract, and you pay monthly
  
  

Note that this website isn't run by Sky, so please don't contact us with queries about your account, or to report a technical problem with your Sky service. Instead, try the following numbers:

• Sky Customer Services: 08702 40 40 40
• Sky Technical helpdesk: 08702 43 5000
• Sky+ Technical help: 08705 800 800
• Sky Installers: 08705 959595 (re. booked appointments)
• BSkyB Head Office Switchboard: 020 7705 3000
• BSkyB Head Office: 0870 240 3000
  
  
• Postal address: Sky Subscribers Services, PO Box 43, Livingstone, West Lothian EH54 7DD
• Head office postal address: British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 5QD
• Email: Try either skydigital@sky.com or skydigital@bskyb.com

You can find more contact information for Sky at www.sky.com and select "Contact us" from the menu

Alternatively, why not use our Sky forum to discuss Sky, or ask questions...?

If you're looking to get Sky in other rooms of your house, here are the options:

• Aerial cable: If you have one Sky box, you can connect it to other TV sets in the house by running a co-ax aerial cable from one of the RF output aerial sockets on the back of your Sky box. As the Sky box can only output one channel at a time, you're stuck with watching the same digital satellite channel in each room. Once connected, you then need to tune the TV set into the output of your Sky box. You may need to turn on the RF modulated output for this to work.
  
  If you're feeding to lots of TV sets, or have a very long cable run, you may need either a splitter or booster (from Maplin) to allow you to split and amplify the aerial co-ax output without too much quality loss..
  
  If connecting via aerial cable, consider a Sky TV Link/Eye - This allows you to receive Sky Digital in 2 rooms using existing co-ax cable... Watch the same channel on 2 TVs at the same time, and use your Sky remote to change channels from another room. Available from Sky.com, Maplin or considerably cheaper online from Argos (around £15 - cat no 534/3250)
  
  
  
• Wireless connection: If you'd rather not run cables, consider a wireless video sender - these connect to a spare SCART socket on your set-top box. Again, these can only transmit whatever channel your Sky box is tuned in to. See our accessories page for more on AV senders.
  
  
• Sky Multiroom: If you want to be able to watch different satellite TV channels in different rooms, consider getting "Sky Multiroom". Effectively this is a second Sky Digital box fed from your existing dish. This allows you to watch two different satellite channels at the same time in different rooms. Details and prices at packages.sky.com/see/EquipmentMultiroom.aspx
  
  

Even though Sky programmes get delivered via satellite, I understand I have to connect my box to a phone line. Why is this, and what happens if I don't?

Sky Digital customers get subsidised installation, dish and box provided they keep the box connected to a working phone line. This is so that the box can be used with Interactive services. From the Sky terms and conditions (Dec 2006):

"We will supply a free Digital Satellite System (Box, Minidish and remote control) provided that you pay for installation (if applicable - see below for the costs of this) and enter into the Interactive Discount Contract with Marketing Contributions Limited . Under this offer you agree to have your Digital Satellite System installed in your home in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands by an authorised installer). You also agree to keep your telephone line (which must be fixed and operational) connected to your Box, and a viewing card in the Box (if you receive one), at all times during the first 12 months following installation. You do not have to subscribe to Sky digital to take up this offer. If any of these offer terms or any terms of the Interactive Discount Contract are broken you agree to reimburse our costs of providing your Digital Satellite System of up to £80 to Sky."

What about if you don't have a phone line close to your set-top box? The common solution is to run a telephone extension cable from your home's Master phone socket - kits are available from Argos and Maplin Electronics.
If you don't fancy running cables around your house, or messing around banging cleats into your skirting board, there is another option - You can use your home mains wiring to connect to your master phone socket. The Wireless Telephone EXtender from manufacturer One For All provides an instant phone socket without any wiring, and can turn a standard electrical socket into a phone socket. Available direct from Maplin Electronics (Cat No: A82FY) and Amazon.co.uk.

Note that this works with standard Sky boxes, but not Sky+ boxes. Let us know if you know of a solution for Sky+ boxes

Sky boxes have what's known as a modulated output , which means you can use an aerial lead to connect to a TV or recorder without using a SCART lead - this is commonly used when you want to feed Sky into another room via an aerial cable. You need to run a co-ax aerial feed from the Sky box RF output to your second TV or recorder. When connected in this way, you can then tune the TV or recorder into the output of the Sky box in the same way as you tune your TV set to an ordinary analogue TV signal. You can set the Sky box modulator to output on any channel between 21 and 68 UHF, as follows:

• Press 'Services' on the Sky remote, then type 4 0 1 and press 'Select'
• Select Option 4 "RF outlets"
• Change the RF channel number to a number of your choosing (between 21 and 68). It's important not to clash with a TV service on the same number, and if after you've finished, one of your TV channels goes fuzzy, you have a clash and need to change the RF channel number again.

Latest versions of Sky and Sky+ software:

Our Pace Sky+ Box reported the following version numbers as of 25 Jan 2007:

• Pace Sky+ Box Model: 4.012
• Version number: 9F2006
• Operating System Version: 1.31B02
• EPG Software Version: sky+ 4.20.a

To check your version number, use the Services button, System Setup menu, option 5, 'System Details'.
You can force your Sky box to update to the latest software. The procedure can be found on the Satcure FAQ

Please visit our Sky forum to discuss version numbers and updates.

Having problems with your Sky Digital signal, or your set-top box? Here's some general advice:

• If you're having a problem with your box - first, try a reset (by removing the power plug for 30 seconds then reconnecting the power.
• The message "No Satellite signal is being received" is fairly self explanatory. Try a box reset, in case it's a software glitch, and if not, check the following: Is your dish damaged or out of alignment? Is the cable from the dish to the box damaged? Are the cables going into your box damaged or not connected firmly? Has anything happened to block your signal? (bird's nest, scaffolding, tree / building blocking line-of-sight to the satellite?)

If the abobe doesn't help, contact Sky Customer Services. They'll run through some basic diagnostics with you, but if they can't help over the phone, they'll arrange for an engineer to visit (normally chargeable). If you'd rather not pay to have an engineer visit to check or repair your system, there are a few self-help things you can try. The obvious one it to work out if it's a digibox or a dish problem. We recommend borrowing a friend or neighbours's box and trying it with your dish.

There are a couple of sites we can recommend for Sky self-help - Sam Radford and Steve Larkins - also, tey asking in our Sky Digital forum

Sometimes we hear from people reporting problems with the Sky reception - such as temporary picture drop-out or lockups. Here are a few tips:

• Check your signal using 'Services' > 'System Setup' > 'Signal test' and take a look at your signal strength and quality
• Bad signal can be due to a number of factors - most notably something that breaks line-of-sight between your dish and the orbiting satellite - obstructions include trees, power cables, scaffolding and buildings. Also, bad weather, especially heavy rain, can affect your signal
• Dish problem - any chance strong wind could have moved your dish? Taking a look at the dish - and check for obvious damage or obstructions on the dish itself? Any cable damage?
• Terminals on the box - The dish I connected to the digibox using co-ax cable terminated in a screw-thread connector (or two for Sky+ / Sky HD). Double check that the connectors are secure
• It's also worth resetting the box, but removing the power lead for 30 seconds, as sometimes software glitches can cause reception problems

If you're still having problems, contact Sky Customer Services

Other problems: If your remote is working, but isn't controlling the Sky box, you may have pressed the TV button, so press Sky and try again. The only thing that can wrong with a remote control, is if it's left without batteries for more than ten minutes - if this happens, it may lose it's ability to control the TV. It should still be fine with Sky / Sky+ though. To get the remote to work with your TV, you need to enter a four digitl number that matches your TV manufacturer. Refer to your Sky / Sky+ manual for these codes

Replacement: Spare remote controls for Sky and Sky+ are available from

eSpares or Partmaster.

You could also consider a universal controller, that can handle multiple remote control devices. Our favourite is the Kameleon, a stylish multi-device controller that can learn commands from an existing handset, or use one of a number of special codes for situations where you don't have the original. Also, take a look at the range from Argos or

The technically-minded out there may be interested in the hidden "installer" menu, that can be accessed by pressing the following buttons: 'Services 4 0 1 Select':

For the particular part of the UK in which you live, BBC and ITV stations broadcast a selection of regional programmes (such as local news). With Sky TV, all of the UK regions are transmitted via their satellites, and the postcode of your Sky Card decides which region you receive.

All of the BBC regions are tucked away at the top end of the EPG, including BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Wales. S4C Digidol is available on channel 151, and the regional BBC stations such as BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Scotland also feature. The ITV channels also appear, but they're hidden from the EPG menu, and you have to add them manually. Click here for info on how to do this.

Sky's system makes use of a PIN code to control viewing of inappropriate content. We've had reports of people seeing prompts for PIN codes whilst watching programmes, or playing back Sky+ content. According to Sky, by default you should be prompted for a PIN when trying to watch a programme rated 12 or 15 before 20.00, and when trying to watch a programme rated 18 before 22.00

To change or disable these parental control options, go to 'Services' > 'Parental Control', enter your four digit PIN code and select 'Other restrictions'. Here you'll have the option to enable/disable PIN prompts when trying to play back a programme before watershed (Sky+), to demand PIN entry before going online, PIN-protecting recorded programmes on Sky+, and to set spending restrictions

Looking to be able to take Sky radio around the house with you? Sky's answer is the Sky Gnome - This became available in October 2005, and is a wireless device that receives audio transmitted from the Sky digibox wirelessly. This lets you listen to the Sky Digital radio stations from around the house. The box has a range of about 30 meters, and allows remote channel switching of Sky and Sky+ boxes.

Available in Blue and Orange, it runs from rechargeable batteries for up to 8 hours of remote playback of sound. These are sadly no longer available direct from Sky, but you can pick them up quite cheaply on Ebay.co.uk.