Sky Boxes and Telephone Lines

Telephone line for Sky

This question was submitted online:

“I have Sky+ HD being connected this week. I have been informed on documentation that they need to connect to my phone line. Why is this?

My phone socket is upstairs at the other side of the building. Will the engineer really run a wire through the house as well as the wire from the dish itself?”

Why does Sky need a phone line?

Sky boxes have a built-in modem. They use this to dial back to Sky’s HQ. The phone line is used when ordering Sky Box Office movies (to request and pay for movies). Also, the Sky Interactive service uses the built-in modem for connecting to Sky’s services, such as shopping online and the ability to access your account and check your bills.

What happens if I have no phone?

The Sky agreement states that you need to connect the box to a phone line. You are getting a subsidised set-top box. From the terms and conditions:

“Each box you have must be connected to the same fixed telephone line at all times.”
“Your Sky box(es) must be connected to a fixed telephone line for 12 months.”

If you don’t have a phone line, or are unwilling to connect your box to a phone line, there will be an additional charge. As of 2011, the minimum charge was £41.25, but you are advised to check with Sky for the current price.

Will Sky connect my box to a phone line?

The Sky engineer will try to connect your new Sky box to the nearest telephone point. In some situations, they may fit an extension socket, connected to the master phone line point. If the run is overly complicated or too long a job, the Sky engineer may not have enough time to do the job, and in some cases, a return visit may be needed.

Note: If Sky is installing a telephone extension point for you, make sure you are happy with the route that they will run the cable, and the neatness of the job.

Can I fit my own extension socket?

Yes. Kits are available from places like Argos and Maplin – See telephone extension kit

Don’t want messy wires on your skirting board?

If you don’t fancy having Sky running wires around your house, and nailing bits of wire to your skirting board, and you’re not keen on doing the job yourself, you could consider getting a wireless telephone extension point. See wireless DECT Telephone Extender

Can I connect using Ethernet or Wi-fi?

No. The Sky box needs a standard voice phone line, not an Internet connection.

 

Related questions

• Moving a Sky box to another room
• Sky Telephone Line Connections