Sky Plus is A++ (Sky Plus (Sky+))

Member Name: lynton1983

Product:	Sky Plus (Sky+)
Date:	24/05/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Never Miss A Programme

Disadvantages: Yet to find one

I have found my Sky + box to be one of those gadgets that you soon begin to wonder how you ever lived without it. I wouldn't consider myself to be a telly addict however I certainly get my money's worth from my Sky subscription.

A Sky + box differs from a normal sky box by acting as a digital recorder as well as receiver. This allows you to pause and rewind live television as well as record current and future programmes. Recording can be done at the touch of one button and highlights how simple the system really is.

When you record using the system, the programme is saved onto a hard drive on your sky + box and you are able to save up to 40 hours worth - that's quite a saving on video tapes! So far I have yet to have more than half of this amount waiting to be watched, so for me personally this is a more than adequate amount of memory. I have also found I record quite a number of programmes that I ever get around to watching but at least the option is there.

One of the great features of the box is the series link aspect. This allows you to programme your box to automatically record your favourite shows every time they are on TV. This is an excellent capability and I recommend using it even when you have every intention of watching each episode as it is shown on TV as there has been more than one occasion where I've ended up unexpectedly working late and would have missed what I wanted to watch had I not recorded it. There are other options though if you haven't set your box to record and haven't got time to get home and that is by using the sky + remote record function. This allows you to programme your box to record using your mobile or a PC. I've only used this aspect once from a PC and it worked as it should.

One aspect to be aware of is the fact that you can only record a maximum of two programmes at one time and if you want to watch sky TV at the same time you would have to watch one of those programmes (you could also watch something you've recorded). The system will notify you of time clashes if you have set your box to record multiple programmes at the same time.

Sky regularly has offers on regarding sky + boxes and I believe they are currently offering them free to new customers (with a £30 installation charge). When I signed up a few months ago there was no such offer that I was aware of and they were priced at £99. However when asked what box I was looking to have I said a Sky + box but that I did not want to pay for it - and I didn't. If you don't ask you don't get! On this note - I purchased mine from a Sky stand in a shopping centre in Coventry. When I said I did not want to pay for it to the salesperson he did say they were able to offer better deals than people would generally find online as a way of attracting customers who could otherwise simply sort it all out from home, so this may be worth considering if you have any similar stands etc.

All in all I am yet to find fault with my sky + box.

Summary: A simple great system