Sky Stream Puck Review - Should You Really Ditch Sky Q

[@stevemarruk]

So have you got or thinking of going to Sky Stream?

[@stevemarruk]

No trouble Wi-Fi wise?

[@stevemarruk]

That’s good 👍

[@karluk]

Nice review of Sky stream. Only had it 3 weeks and impressed so far as its definitely the future of TV delivery. The picture is great and BBC1 region in HD. I also think the SD channels are better quality than Sky Q (or terrible Freeview quality). Wifi connection has also been fine (BT Smarthub 2 on FTTP 900). The only issue I've had was with dodgy stream remotes (basically going dead, see Sky Forum). I have a newish Sky Q (V1.01) remote which paired easily with stream (although you can only pair one remote at a time). Playlist seems to be mainly catchup but some channels do record to cloud, so still working this out.

[@stevemarruk]

Wow I will check that out also I have issues with ITV Hub and sometime playlist playbacks. But yes the future of TV is here for now.

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

Sky are now charging an extra £5 per month to skip advertising. It’s called Ad skipping and is on a 31 day rolling contract.

[@leemason666]

Thank you so much for your video. After watching this I finally took the plunge this morning and upgraded my Sky Q to Sky Stream. It’s coming tomorrow and can’t wait to set it up. We’re in the middle of renovating the living room and the thought of having sky satellite cables running round my room would’ve done my head in. I looked at Sky Stream as it’s perfect as don’t need an aerial or satellite cable. After watching your video I decided to give Sky a call and they were super helpful. I’ve also subscribed to your channel. Look forward to future uploads 👏🏻

[@stevemarruk]

That's amazing keep us posted in the community on how you get on and thank you it means a lot to me

[@davidgarrigan1898]

I've tried the Sky Stream puck for over 2 weeks and whilst there are some great things about the product, there are some things that are not so great. Firstly I should say if you don't have, or can't have a dish, Sky Stream is a no brainer. It is a great way to access Sky content in 4K UHD HDR and Dolby Atmos. The lack of a hard drive and the ability to record and save content is already well documented. For the most part the playlist feature I found worked great for Sky's own content. Not so much for 3rd party content though. The reliance on catch up services to replay content I found particularly clunky, especially for ITVX and All4. I know that there are licensing issues, but if Sky could get those catch up services to work on the playlist in the same way that their own content does, Sky Stream would be a complete winner. That aside, picture and sound quality are excellent. The menu layout is also good, as is the remote, although the fast forward/rewind function isn't as responsive as I'd like. Overall, it's definitely a great start, but the issues I mentioned on the playlist function means that I'll stick with Sky Q. Hope that helps anyone who's thinking about giving it a go. Sky offer a cooling off period where you can try it and send it back if you don't like it.

[@stevemarruk]

100% correct

[@cooldad4]

Great video; in my case I had no choice, because of the trees my sky Q box no longer worked. I do think sky will eventually abandon the idea of satellite as the Internet is cheaper; not sure why sky didn't include a hard drive for recording!

[@stevemarruk]

Yeah streaming is the future I think

[@camptube7621]

I just got one. I am more than impressed. It is good value. I left Sky 10 years ago.

[@matsmith4282]

can you record programmes and sport gamea on this? if not what sky products can record

[@stevemarruk]

No you can’t but there are ways apparently

[@alantaylor2162]

Great comparison video. One thing, how long do the recordings stay in the playlist? I heard 7 days which means you have to watch the recording within that time or they drop off. I like to record a series and binge watch if any good.

[@stevemarruk]

To my knowledge For instance, many shows on BBC iPlayer are available for 30 days after television broadcast. If the show has already been removed from catch-up, you won't be able to watch it even if it's still on your Playlist! However I think Sky might be longer.

[@alantaylor2162]

@@stevemarruk Thanks for the reply. In view of that then it may not be for me, but I'll check with sky I think.

[@stevemarruk]

Thanks man means a lot your feedback by the way

[@andrewwilliams4217]

Great video, Thanks for this demo

[@stevemarruk]

Thanks for the feedback I am now doing Sky puck vs now TV this week

[@delmay175]

Excellent demo, thanks 👍

[@ste9430]

I get my sky glass next week do I need a puck and if so will I get it with the TV ????

[@geoffclarke8434]

Good, informative review. Seriously thinking of getting sky stream puck now having been on the fence. Cheers

[@stevemarruk]

Thanks Geoff means a lot

[@MrTrevorbush]

Great review, as always. We have sky glass and a 65” tv (brilliant when watching sport!). Wasn’t too difficult to hang on a load bearing wall, may be an issue on a plasterboard wall tho. We have multiple pucks in the house and haven’t had an issue with Wi-Fi drop out. Keep up the good work pal!

[@stevemarruk]

Thank you so much that means a lot

[@stephenpeat3885]

To create a record facility you need an HDMI converter to digital colaxal to create a digital signal for a DVD or freeview recorder to record the programme.

[@hothanduk]

Hi, can I ask what package you went for? I may have missed it. Also I notice that the channel list name had "HD" next to them, is that standard quality for the channel or is that because you got the UHD active for them to say "HD" Thanks

[@stevemarruk]

Well I got the entertainment package but upgraded to UHD and they threw in movies for me which also gives you paramount

[@tomhumphreys9910]

Hi Iiked the review. just had my sky stream for a week huge miss from me from the Q was recording, multiple crashes with remote and Netflix seem down on it not loading even with fast internet. not sure to go back to Q or go with another provider box? Iptv etc but not sure you can record on that.

[@stevemarruk]

I’m doing a full review of smart TV, Apple TV and Sky stream next week.

[@stroudswebs]

Wont be freesat but normal tv signals from transmitter restriced viewing in some areas

[@stevemarruk]

Yeah true sorry

[@davidlevy7068]

That was a very helpful review of Sky Stream. I did not know that you could press the select button twice to get your selected program from the TV Guide to go full screen. Also I did not know you could hold the up/down button to scroll a page at a time on the TV Guide. I will definitely be using both of those features. Thanks 👍

[@stevemarruk]

Thank you that means a lot and so glad it helped

[@shearer6932]

I got stream to replace sky q and once used to it its brilliant and won't go back, I just bought a new tv so wouldn't by glass. pity one remote but my sky q remote can pair to it but only the voice one not the standard one

[@harryammon2274]

Very useful review, thanks. Do you know if the remote control needs line of sight to the puck to work? Want to put the puck in a cupboard

[@stevemarruk]

No I think it’s Bluetooth.

[@CrappyEntertainment]

The remote control uses IR so you have to point it at the box

[@djdazwillott808]

We just ordered sky glass, and we are upgrading from Q. I was under the impression that you could fast forward TV adverts until the subscription ends and then have to pay for the feature?. Also can you add you tube subscription channels to the playlist. Btw great review your straight to the point with good content 👌

[@stevemarruk]

Thank you so much it means a lot

[@djdazwillott808]

@Rate My Tech so with the fast forward through the advert feature is it not as described?;)

[@stevemarruk]

No I’m fact the ITV player on sky is dreadful it really is in face I want to Apple to TV and watched it there so much better thus why next week I am doing a full Apple TV vs Sky Stream.

[@djdazwillott808]

@Rate My Tech is the apple sky app, the apple TV?

[@stevemarruk]

@@djdazwillott808 yes it is but without all the apps of course

[@alisonthornton3251]

I’ve never had Sky before so can’t compare but this is a really helpful start. Really helpful tips about WiFi and Ethernet. How do you get to settings? I’ve pressed every button on the remote and I can’t find it??? 😊

[@stevemarruk]

Settings at the bottom

[@alisonthornton3251]

@@stevemarruk Thank you for that. I've watched the clip again and just sitting down in front of the box, using the remote a bit more on the back of that, I've been navigating about better. Thanks so much.

[@ianhope6429]

I like it - maybe try 1 & 3 on the old sky q remote - that worked on my other tv box

[@stevemarruk]

Yeah I tried all that I’ll try again see what happens

[@paulshrubb1407]

It’s a NO from me I don’t fancy being 90 seconds behind from live broadcast. And yes for another puck you pay the same set up fee plus you need whole home subscription added which I think is £10 or £12

[@stevemarruk]

I haven’t noticed any delay so that is interesting I will definitely check that out thanks for the heads up.

[@paulshrubb1407]

@@stevemarruk Will be difficult to compare as you no longer use skyQ. If any of your family or friends have Q switch a live channel on from your end and ask them to tune into the same channel on Q then your know. I’m guessing you can do this by face time.

[@stevemarruk]

That’s what I will do thanks for that buddy

[@fhbooker]

Only downside is if broadband goes down... Mine coming next week 👍

[@edmeister78]

If you take the UHD bolt on 6 quid do you get watch Netflix in 4k or do you still have to pay £8 premium on that too? Sky says you need either UHD bolt on or premium which suggests paying for the cheaper UHD BOLT ON you'd get access to 4k without having to purchase premium too is that right?

[@stevemarruk]

You get Netflix basic by default

[@peanut35100]

At the moment we have virgin with sports package and it's costing a fortune, I want to keep the broadband and phone with them but am thinking of changing to sky stream for TV with sports. Do you think it will be any cheaper?

[@stevemarruk]

No idea without knowing what your paying for sky sports is £25/month plus you entertainment subscription that come with Netflix basic.

[@peanut35100]

Over £100 a month but that includes 1 gig broadband and phone

[@stevemarruk]

That does sound pricey.

[@peanut35100]

Yep we just need basic TV package with sports

[@stevemarruk]

I would speak to them can’t hurt to ask

[@stroudswebs]

Have sky router but use a 4K Amazon Prime Fire box for TV and films the slow internet and dropouts spoil the fun but that was the same with trading at critical exit times

[@stevemarruk]

That’s not good

[@tradingcardboss]

I nearly didn’t watch this as I thought I’d seen it last week 🎉 great review

[@stevemarruk]

Lol thank you that means a lot.

[@tradingcardboss]

@@stevemarruk I’ve ordered mine today . There’s a deal with sky vip at the moment Apple TV free for 6 months . Then you can cancel after the deal finishes

[@stevemarruk]

Nice as Xmas approaches I’m guessing there will be some good deal to be had

[@tradingcardboss]

@@stevemarruk Agree

[@mikey187lfc]

My question is, if I record a football game on BT Sport, for example, does it open the BT Sports app? If so this will be a problem because from my experience on BT sport, if you start a game from the beginning, once the live program finishes, so does your "watch from the beginning program"

[@stevemarruk]

Yes it will that is how the playlist works.

[@jo_mooney]

I have watched through. How do I delete episodes from shows in my playlist. Great video.

[@stevemarruk]

Once your done with watching it all click the playlist button again and it will remove the serials from the playlist but you can’t remove episodes to my knowledge.

[@lordhamptonwick5320]

I've had SKY Puck for 3 days and I'll give you my honest opinion. It's rubbish I hate it, thankfully I'm within the 31 days cooling-off period. I intend to cancel first thing in the morning. I came from Virgin because I had an issue with them. However Puck is even more of an issue. I hate the menu and the selection process. Also I hate the remote control, it's featureless compared with the Virgin equivalent. Trying to access the batteries is an absolute nightmare. As for streaming I would rather have a recording capability. Also I've got fewer channels for the same cost. Marks out of 10 = 0

[@misterrightuk]

Wow, is it that bad?

[@pokemonultralegends6160]

So looking at this why would anyone with an existing sky subscription need multiroom? And pay a monthly subscription? Just buy one independently?

[@stevemarruk]

Indded

[@pokemonultralegends6160]

@RateMyTech so if you've got an existing sky Q subscription, could I buy a puck and connect to my existing Q account I.e. not needing a separate streaming subscription?

[@rickdurro1091]

With the Netflix on the sky puck does it support dolby vision and dolby atmos?

[@stevemarruk]

Yes I think it does

[@justchilling4491]

Is there anyway you can have one of these as well as a sky q box on one subscription

[@stevemarruk]

I would think so for the bedroom you mean?

[@justchilling4491]

@@stevemarruk yeah so we have two LG OLED’S and sky q with a mini box but obviously the mini box is none uhd so I’m thinking if we can replace the mini box with one of these sky stream boxes and get the uhd add on we are sorted

[@stevemarruk]

@@justchilling4491 I don’t see that being a problem I’m sure sky can accommodate that

[@nicksmith557]

No you can’t run two systems

[@kobirelf97]

No you can't do they have sky q or this u can't have both

[@JohnnyD90]

Got sky stream and almost calling it to switch back to Sky Q. The playlist has bugs where it doesn’t add the programme when you add it. The apps have a lot of bugs and don’t play and show spinning wheel especially ITVX. Going forward or going back on pause doesn’t work very well and at times the box freezes. One of my other pucks in the bedroom won’t turn off the Panasonic TV with the remote when trying all codes. Sky UHD content not showing up even I’m subscribed. Netflix shows in UHD. Lots of bugs but the positive is the user interface is good 👍 finding stuff across all platforms and using pass through on sound settings is mega! My room is alive with sound throwing all round the room on the Bose Soundbar 700 than when on Sky Q.

[@stevemarruk]

Great feedback and I feel your pain. Keep us posted.

[@paulpatrick885]

It's an extra £12 per month for multi room on Stream. I've signed up to SkyQ because of the 30 second plus delay that you still get with the live sports channels on Stream. Stream does look slick and easy to navigate.

[@stevemarruk]

There is no delay on stream I tested it this week with a friend watching Q on FaceTime they were like for like.

[@leemcqueen500]

@@stevemarruk There will always be a delay with streaming

[@stevemarruk]

I’ve not noticed one on stream yet

[@debbiewarde2750]

I can skip the adverts by holding down the right button.

[@stevemarruk]

Nice

[@cliffdawson8881]

I have found if I turn my to on tv to play my ps5 my Sonos arc will now not wake up and the tv speakers are on, the Sonos speakers only wake up when the sky is turned on, very very strange never happens until the puck was installed

[@stevemarruk]

I will report this to sky see what’s going on

[@mattnunns]

If Sky could fix all the bugs that would be ideal, to name 3:- Audio turning off when audio codec changes Subtitles don’t work Unit turns off when paused on sky channels! Bonkers that Sky can’t get the basics right! Will be returning to sky q shortly, all support do is try to get you to factory reset the unit!

[@rickdurro1091]

Problem is Netflix for me I don't want to have it on the puck and what about in other rooms you have to get pucks in every room if you want Netflix?

[@stevemarruk]

Unless you have a smart TV of course then you can login to it there

[@rickdurro1091]

@Rate My Tech thanks for clearing that up didn't know if you could do that

[@CraigSteelyard]

I wonder why the channel 5 catch up app is missing?

[@stevemarruk]

What on sky?

[@CraigSteelyard]

@@stevemarruk yes, on the apps menu with BBC iPlayer and itv etc. Thanks for the good review. I'm surprised how clean the menu system looks

[@stevemarruk]

Thanks you so much and yes it’s very well put together I am doing a review for next week sky stream Vs Now TV

[@JimmyBellLoyal]

If you could show us the quality of UHD in a future video that would be appreciated. Surely you have/want this to compliment you’re lovely 4K LG TV??

[@stevemarruk]

Sure I’ll get it done for you

[@StuartRidout]

I’ve just cancelled my contract under the 31 day cooling off period. It’s just not ready for mainstream and I can’t be tied into an 18 month contract. Problems include - dropping WiFi - remote unpairing - no change HDMI source button - Apple tv and Disney+ have snowy pictures - Netflix doesn’t load or is bright green It seems like there might be a problem with Sky Stream and LG tvs but some of the other stuff is poor hardware.

[@stevemarruk]

Yeah I have cabled mine makes a huge difference

[@sabinacook2239]

@@stevemarruk Is it correct that there's no way to change HDMI source? What if you want to switch between Sky Stream and a Play Station plugged into a different HDMI port?

[@stevemarruk]

I don’t know I think there has been an update as now my HDMI is switching one when powered

[@StuartRidout]

Mine will switch HDMI when it’s powered on but there is no HDMI switch button on the remote so you can’t use it as the only TV remote like you could before with SkyQ.

[@stevemarruk]

Oh ok

[@laytonh8806]

I’ve got sky glass and it is a fantastic TV however, I wish I waited and got sky stream instead I did have sky plus HD and upgraded to glass as I wasn’t able to get sky Q in my block that I live in I also have an Apple TV 4K box which I haven’t used since getting gloss

[@stevemarruk]

Well this Saturday I do a Sky Stream Ava Apple TV it’s interesting

[@shaunhw]

Won't be getting it. Too many missing channels including Talking Pictures, and the fact that they want an extra fiver a month for advert skipping, as if we're not paying enough, along with an extra 12 quid for multi room. Even though my missus and I watch in different rooms, we don't watch stuff separately so would only want to use one box at one time.

[@stevemarruk]

Cool if that’s works for you Shaun

[@sebaszwarc]

Just someone find a way to use SKY Q with VPN please

[@stevemarruk]

How come

[@sebaszwarc]

@@stevemarruk Sorry I should write "I wish someone found" not sure what kind of router is necessary more problematic is ability to catch Astra 23.2 uk beam in the eastern europe

[@stevemarruk]

Oh ok

[@ianhope6429]

U need to have the home - then buy the extra £20 box

[@stevemarruk]

Cool

[@jimrandall1739]

extra puck is £20 up front and £12 a month extra.

[@stevemarruk]

Nice

[@jimrandall1739]

@@stevemarruk nice for Sky. Imagine have a big family. I've just signed up yesterday, I think £5 a month for auto ad skip is good value for money. Not sure if it works on streaming live tv but if it works on playlists it's a game changer 🤣🤣

[@stevemarruk]

Yeah exactly

[@stevemarruk]

Keep us posted

[@pcjc2006]

Do you get all the same channels as sky q

[@stevemarruk]

No not all of them but I won’t miss them

[@pcjc2006]

Do you know what's missing

[@stevemarruk]

productivityandmore.com/what-channels-are-on-sky-glass/

[@sassythesasquatch4425]

no dont throw your Q box. i just got puck today and its already broken. got told by sky to wait until tomorrow for them help me fix it. well wow, seems pucks are as shit than i imagined.

[@stevemarruk]

That’s not good at all

[@sassythesasquatch4425]

@@stevemarruk it seems the puck are very sensitive to activation and it can only be done by a team which is responsible to activate puck serial number once delivery is confirmed that receipt has got the item. after 4 hours the puck came online.

[@stevemarruk]

Oh right interesting

[@sassythesasquatch4425]

@@stevemarruk this was said by their customer service and i think they are right. he did mention to fill out a ticket to get my puck online asap and it worked so cannot argue. if it does not get activated it will not fetch updates.