duffer

Unless they are using advanced CIA tech there is no way they can trace the signal. There are over 10 million Sky TV subscribers and a good number of them are based in France, Spain and Portugal. The only sure way for them to know is if you tell them and/or you call them from abroad from a normal phone line and Sky see the foreign number.

Have no idea about Gibraltar based resellers but just remember that Sky UK TV is for UK residents. Any resellers in Europe are basically offering a management service for which you pay them a subscription on top of the Sky fee, i.e. they provide a UK address to go with the Sky card and deal with any correspondence with Sky on your behalf - so they are in effect, hiding your place of residence from Sky.

Ginolatino

Thanks for the answer Duffer,
I had some doubts myself about Sky being able to trace your signal, but I just wanted to be sure.

So basically you can only get a subscription if you have a valid address within the Uk, no matter if it is yours or a friend's one, I guess.
Is it a problem paying the monthly fee with an Italian credit card?
Does the name on the credit card has to be the same as the one on the address you are giving to Sky?

duffer

You can only get a subscription DIRECTLY from Sky with a UK address. The only other way that I know would be through one of the numerous resellers who will charge around 100 euro per year minimum for the admin of your ac.

I know it's possible to use a foreign credit card, I have made a one off payment a couple of years ago with my Italian credit card and it caused no problems. However, I do not know if it's OK for the monthly subscription - depends if the billing address is required for the card in which case it could cause complications.

You should be able to use a payment method in someone else's name too, like a husband paying for his wife for example.

I suggest, you give them a call with these last couple of queries using Skype or a UK Voip number, with the pretense that you want to sign up, i.e. you're a foreigner living in the UK and only have an Italian credit card...

Ginolatino

Yes, I think I will call them using Skype, that's definitely the best way to find out.
By the way,do you know any reliable reseller?
Because the problem is not only how much you pay, it is also if you end up having nothing for what you have paid for .........

duffer

I don't know anyone using a management company for their Sky TV sorry. Lots of people have been on here using their UK subscription in Italy though. I would also suggest posting on the Spain forum, there are a lot more expats with satellites set up for UK TV, who might be able to recommend a firm to you.

sdent12

Thanks Duffer for giving me reassurance about setting up my Sky system in Italy. Sorry it has taken a while to reply but have been incommunicado for a couple of days.
Have you any idea how things might change when "the signal is transferred from 1N to the new Astra channels".
Any additional information would be gratefully received.
Once again many thanks for your help.

duffer

I'm just hoping things stay the same as they were! Obviously with 1N the footprint is now wider and people are receiving channels they weren't previously from 2D. I'm guessing that if you did receive 2D you should be able to receive from the new 2E/F/G satellites when they're up and running in 2013 but this is just speculation at the moment however the opinion is that the signal will be closer to if not slightly worse than 2D and unlike the signal from 1N.

chris120

it seems to me that if you were going to pay a reseller for a subscription this might not be a bad idea, you can get sky plus all the other usual UK channels; http://www.uktv2c.com/

duffer

It seems a lot of people here have friends and family in the UK with Sky who do not use their Sky Go app.

Sky Go is a free app that you download onto iPad, iPhone, Android, PC, Xbox 360 and lets you watch selected channels including movies and sport.

It's free to use if you have a Sky TV subscription otherwise you could even sign up monthly to it although it is rather expensive.

Each household with Sky in the UK can register upto 2 devices for their free Sky Go, so in theory the only thing you need to take advantage of this is a UK VPN or proxy.

Speaking of VPNs, I've recently tried Hide My Ass, it's quite professional and very cheap if you go for the annual payment option. It also provides you with various IPs therefore you could use it for catch-up TV from both the USA and the UK. Also if you have numerous devices in your household, depending on your router, you could set up the VPN on the router without having to worry about fiddling about on each device, e.g. pc, ipad, smart TV, iphone, etc. They have a 30 day money back guarantee as well in case it doesn't work out for you. It seems to be working well at the moment. Sky Go is functioning!!!

Pecora Nera

Hide my Ass Love it.

Wiffy

There is a guy based in Catania who does this. I started off with them 10 years ago when I didn't have a clue what to do. They'll deal with the SKY end (setting up the account with your CC etc.) and getting the box/card to you. You only need to worry about the installer for the dish. They may be able to give you recommendations. Just do a quick search, I think he has a website.

I discontinued their service after about 18 months though because I thought I was paying too much for them to 'manage my account'. Not at all difficult to do this yourself.

Isakat

I noticed that since a few days ago we have lost the UK channels, BBC/ITV/Channel4.
Anyone else experience this?

duffer

No problems for us, we've been watching the world championship snooker. Are you getting any error signals? Are any of the free UK channels still working?

tonber

Hi,

This morning I had to re scan my freeview box (aerial), they have re jigged the channels.

Isakat

I discovered the problem-the mimosa tree that has grown and is shielding the dish a bit. We are hacking branches off this afternoon.

I went to my friend's house this morning and she had no problems.