Uk Sky TV Box do we bring it?

[sat]

also the satellite providing UK TV is focused on the UK so the signal here in southern Spain is very weak (requiring the big dish).

Non Sky Channels like BBC and ITV are on the "UK beam" and require the larger dish.
Most of the Sky pay channels are on the European beam, and can be received on a smaller dish

Sky already operate in Italy and are planning to come to Spain very soon.

Sort of.
Sky UK also operate satellite and IPTV services in Italy and Germany.
And are going to launch their Now TV service in Spain. But due to rights of programmes being with other broadcasters, the Spanish Now TV will not have the same content as offered on Now TV UK.
Sky are NOT planning to operate a satellite TV service in Spain...

[Karen4]

Sky already operate in Italy and are planning to come to Spain very soon.

[Elgin]

Do we bring our sky tv box and can we use it to get English channels. Any info please?

Yes, especially if you are using some of their additional features.  However,

1) Do not give Sky an address outside the UK but it is best to give them a change of address.  Best to an address of a family member or friend in the UK who will advise you of any important mail and send over any replacement card (when changed).

2) You will need a large good quality dish (1.9m - 2.2m).  This will have to be properly installed.  This will cost you several hundred euros (ours cost €800 but they have come down a bit now). 

3) If you want to download movies or watch catch up TV then you will need a VPN service giving you a UK IP address and a specially encoded router (DD-WRT or similar).  There are various ways of doing this (see http://strongvpn.com/vpn-routers-new.html for some examples).

4) Do not ring Sky with a Spanish phone if you have a problem.  Try t resolve any issues online.

5) You will not get all Sky channels but you should get most of them with some variation throughout the year.

Why is this all so necessary?  Sky are not supposed to offer their services in Spain so if they get to know you are in Spain they have to cut you off also the satellite providing UK TV is focused on the UK so the signal here in southern Spain is very weak (requiring the big dish).

There are a number of other options including using internet based services but the internet around here is a little limited so you will not get the same quality but it will cost you a lot less.

[guest4538]

As a new member soon to retire to Los Guillenes with absolutely no idea on tv/broadband technology do you know if a TalkTalk Youview box will enable us to access UK channels? Also what would be the strongest wifi signal in that area? Are Rednet as good and as cheap as anyone? Many thanks, Karen

A YouView box enables you to receive terrestrial TV live broadcasts through a terrestrial aerial, and catch-up TV (BBCiPlayer, ITV Hub, etc) via the internet.

Terrestrial TV in Spain is, as you might expect, Spanish TV: there are however many channels showing old English-speaking films which you can listen to in the original language. You might pick these up with a TalkTalk box and a terrestrial aerial, but you will definitely not get UK live TV broadcasts. In fact using a normal modern digital TV with a terrestrial aerial you'll receive all the Spanish channels without the need of any other receiver boxes.

Your YouView box might pick up catch-up TV provided it is connected to a dedicated VPN router, and your VPN provider manages to stay ahead of BBCiPlayer's VPN blocking.

But, apart from everything else, TalkTalk might well block all your activities because your ip address does not conform to your TalkTalk account address!

So, all-in-all, I would leave a TalkTalk YouView box in the UK.

[Karen1990]

As a new member soon to retire to Los Guillenes with absolutely no idea on tv/broadband technology do you know if a TalkTalk Youview box will enable us to access UK channels? Also what would be the strongest wifi signal in that area? Are Rednet as good and as cheap as anyone? Many thanks, Karen

[RedEyes]

Yes and yes, but don't tell Sky!

[redrobo16]

Do we bring our sky tv box and can we use it to get English channels. Any info please?