If you’re signed up to Sky’s digital TV service, you may be considering connecting Sky to other rooms in your house. We explain the options.
Watching Sky in multiple rooms…
If you’re considering getting Sky in different rooms of your house, there are basically three ways you can do this:
- Connect your Sky box to a second TV with high-quality co-ax aerial cable, or
- Connect your Sky box to a second TV with a wireless video sender, or
- Get an extra Sky box for the second TV set
Next, we’ll explain all of the options:
Option 1: Connect your Sky Digibox to a second TV set with aerial cable
Upside: With this option, you won’t need to get an extra set-top box, or get an extra subscription to Sky.- Downside: You have to run an aerial lead through your house to the other TV.
- Downside: A Sky box can only display one thing at a time. You will only be able to watch whatever the main Sky box is showing (i.e. you can’t watch one Sky channel in one room, and a different Sky channel in another).
For this option, you will need to run co-ax aerial cable from the back of your Sky box to the back of the second TV set. Ideally, you should try to use high-quality double-screen co-ax aerial cable to reduce interference.
You can buy extension kits in different lengths at Maplin and Argos. See below for an example of an extension kit.
Pictured: TV aerial extension kits (15 or 25 metres) under £20 from Maplin.co.uk
If you don’t want to use an aerial extension kit, you will need to use a suitable length of co-ax aerial cable, a bag of cleats to nail the aerial cable to your skirting board and a co-ax aerial plug for each end.
Once you have the aerial lead in place, on the back of the Sky box, you will find two aerial output sockets, labeled RF1 and RF2. Connect one end of your aerial extension lead to the RF2 socket, and the other end to the second TV set.
The RF2 socket at the back of a Sky+HD box
With the connection in place, the last step is to tune the second TV into the output of the Sky box. By default, your Sky box should be broadcasting on Channel 68, so tune a spare preset on your telly to that channel, and you should be in business.
More than one TV? If you want to connect to more than one TV, consider a splitter or booster:
 Aerial Splitter. Handy for splitting a single aerial to feed two TVs. Available from Maplin |  Aerial Booster with multiple outputs, handy if you get signal loss over a long cable run. Available from Maplin |
Problems?
If you can’t tune your TV in, or you need to change the default channel number that the Sky box uses, you can check the RF output settings from a hidden menu option on your Sky box:
- Press ‘Services’ on the Sky remote, then type 4 0 1 and press ‘Select’ (HD boxes: ‘Services’ , 0 0 1 then ‘Select’)
- Select the “RF outlets” option
- Change the RF channel number to a number of your choosing (between 21 and 68). It’s important not to clash with a TV service on the same number. If you find that one of your TV channels goes fuzzy, change the RF channel number again.
The RF Outlets setting on a Sky+HD box
Also note that if you’re feeding to lots of TV sets, or have a very long cable run, you may need either a splitter or booster to allow you to split and amplify the aerial co-ax output, without too much quality loss.
Changing Channels with a Sky TV Link…
If you’ve made an aerial connection from your Sky box to a second TV, the next thing you may want to do, is be able to change channels on your Sky box remotely from the second room.
To do this, get a Sky TV Link/Eye. This plugs in between the aerial cable and your second TV set, and has a little infrared eye that you position near your TV. When you point a Sky remote at the eye, the signal shoots down the aerial wire to the Sky box, and changes channel.
Sky TV Links are available from Maplin or Argos (as are spare Sky remote controls).
Full details on how to use one of these on our Sky TV Link FAQ
Option 2: Connect your Sky Digibox to a second TV wirelessly
- Upside: With this option, you won’t need to get an extra set-top box, or get an extra subscription to Sky.
- Downside: A Sky box can only display one thing at a time. You will only be able to watch whatever the main Sky box is showing (i.e. you can’t watch one Sky channel in one room, and a different Sky channel in another).
With this option, you don’t need to run cables. Get a Wireless Video Sender kit, which has a transmitter and receiver. These connect to a spare SCART socket on your Sky box, and a SCART socket on your second TV set.
Wireless AV senders are available from Maplin.co.uk.
See our Video Senders page for more on AV senders.
Option 3: Get a second Sky Box
Getting a second Sky box for the other room is normally the more expensive option, but it does give you the flexibility to watch a different digital TV channel in each room.
- Upside: You can watch one Sky channel in one room, and a different Sky channel in the other room.
- Upside: Sky will come and hook it all up for you – no effort on your part.
- Downside: You will have to take out a Multiroom subscription for each extra box.
To get a second Sky box, you’ll need to order Sky Multiroom. There will be an installation fee and a monthly Multiroom subscription – For current prices, or to order Sky Multiroom, go to sky.com/shop/boxes/sky-multiroom
With Sky Multiroom, you will have a separate Sky box for each room. Each box will be cabled to your satellite dish. You won’t need a second dish – it’s possible to have up to eight boxes running from each dish (the dish has to be fitted with an Octo LNB. Sky+ and Sky+HD boxes need two feeds from the dish, which means that one dish can’t support more than four Sky+ boxes, or eight standard Sky boxes. More on LNBs.
More details at sky.com/shop/boxes/sky-multiroom
Your questions answered
Q. How do I get HD from my Sky+HD box into a second room?
The RF output is not capable of sending HD, neither is SCART, so a video sender is out of the question. Your two options are
- Run an HDMI cable to the second TV (a long cable run will be very expensive) – as the Sky+HD box only has one HDMI out, you will need an HDMI splitter, or
- Go for Sky Multiroom and get a second HD box installed.
Q. Can I change channels if my Sky box is in another room?
Yes. You have two options – use a Sky TV Link (connected via a co-ax cable between the TV and Sky box), or get a wireless remote control extender.
Q. My Magic Eye TV link is not working!
Here are some things to check:
- Socket: Make sure that you have connected the TV Link to the RF2 socket on your Sky box, as the RF1 socket is not powered.
- Power: You must ensure that the RF2 socket has the power turned on to it. This is a setting in the secret engineers menu. To get to this, press ‘Services’ on the Sky remote control, then type 4 0 1 and press ‘Select’. (Sky+HD boxes, it’s ‘Services’ > 0 0 1 > ‘Select’). Go to RF Outlets, and tun on the power to RF2
- Booster? Some users may have problems if using a signal booster and a Magic Eye TV link, as these can block commands from the Sky RF2 socket. Look for a booster with a Digital Bypass
- Last resort: If you still have no luck, check that the cables are connected correctly, power off the Sky box and try again
HELP? – Got a question on getting Sky in another room? Ask in our satellite TV forum
On our other pages:
- Satellite TV in the UK – General information on services in the UK
- Free Satellite TV – A summary of what’s available for free
- Subscription-free TV – What can you get for free
- Sky Digital – Details on what Sky’s pay-TV service has to offer
- UK Satellite TV forum – Talk about satellite TV in the UK
FAQs
How can I watch Sky in different rooms? ›
Depending on the Sky packages you have, Sky Multiscreen gives you the power to watch Sky's TV channels in different rooms, and even outside of the house using mobile and tablet devices. It also allows you to pause the channel in one room and continue watching in another.
How can I watch Sky Q in multiple rooms? ›Sky Q Multiscreen is a paid-for add-on available with a Sky Q TV subscription that enables you to watch your Sky TV content in more than one room of your home. It costs extra on top of your Sky TV package and comes with one Sky Q Mini box as standard so you can watch TV in a second room of your choice.
Can I watch Sky in another room without multiroom? ›Yes. You have two options – use a Sky TV Link (connected via a co-ax cable between the TV and Sky box), or get a wireless remote control extender. Q. My Magic Eye TV link is not working!
Can I have Sky TV in two rooms? ›For a fee added to your monthly subscription, you can activate Sky in more than more room, and the digital feeds are separate, so you can have different channels on at the same time. You will need at least one Sky Q Mini box, as well as your main Sky Q 1TB, Sky Q 1TB UHD box or 2TB Box.
How do you distribute Sky Q around the house? ›- 1- The Sky playback system no longer works. ...
- 2- Sky Multi-room boxes can no longer be used. ...
- Distribute Sky Q Wirelessly. ...
- Distribute Sky Q Over Wired LAN. ...
- Sky Q Over Coaxial Cabling With A HD Modulator. ...
- Sky Q over HDMI-Cat5/Cat6. ...
- HDMI over Coaxial Cabling. ...
- HDMI over LAN/ Network.
Unfortunately, there's no way that you can get Sky Q multiroom without paying the additional monthly fee. Although there are alternatives for you to consider, the way that multiroom is set up makes it impossible to hack or trick your way into a free service.
Can you split Sky Q signal? ›As mentioned above, you cannot physically split your Sky signal over two TVs but you can use your main Sky box as the source for other TVs by using an aerial cable or by upgrading to Sky Q and purchasing a Sky Q Mini box.
Does Sky Q remote work through walls? ›The Sky Q remote uses Bluetooth which does not require line of sight with the box so you should be fine.
How many devices can you watch Sky on at the same time as the main box? ›Sky Go and Sky Go Extra customers can stream on two devices at a time. Sky Q Multiscreen and Sky Glass/Sky Stream Whole Home customers can stream on four devices at a time.
How does a Sky magic eye work? ›Sometimes known as a “Sky Magic Eye”, these can be used to change channels on your Sky, Sky+ or Sky+HD box from another room. To use a TV Link, you need to have an aerial cable running from your Sky box to a second TV. The Sky TV Link is a dongle that plugs into a second TV set and has an infrared receiver.
Why is my Sky multiroom not working? ›
@First try rebooting the main Q box and then when this is completely back up and running reboot the mini. To reboot press Standby on your Sky Q remote, then switch off and unplug at the mains. Wait at least 30 secs and then Plug back in and switch your Sky Q box back on at the mains.
Can Sky Q work wirelessly? ›Whether you have broadband from Sky or not, you can use your Sky Q mini boxes as WiFi hotspots. If you have your broadband from Sky, this is automatically set up. If you don't have your broadband from Sky, you will need to turn this feature on.
How much is Sky multiroom per month UK? ›Sky Multiscreen – Summary of terms and conditions
Multiscreen subscription: £15 per month. Requires Sky Q box, Sky Signature and Multiscreen subscriptions and Sky Q Mini(s) connected to home broadband. One-off costs apply to view on 2 or more additional TVs.
- In the “pink port” of Sky mini box, connect the HDMI cable. Plug the pink end to the Box while the other end to the TV.
- Connect the power cable into the “blue port” and then the head to mains.
- Now “Switch on” power supply.
- Press the “Home” button on your Sky Q Remote and your Box should start now.
Re: Magic Eye
Quite simply No. The Sky Q system is designed as a self contained system designed to work through the main box feeding a series of slave "minis" or other devices e.g PC, tablets smart phones via wifi around the home. Of course you can use Sky Go as well outside the home.
Your utilisation of Sky Multiscreen relies on you being on the same network as your main Sky Q box in order for the Mini boxes to communicate with your main Sky box. Taking your Mini boxes out of the house and trying to use them elsewhere without the Sky Q box would not work because of this.
How much is Sky multiroom per month UK? ›Sky Multiscreen – Summary of terms and conditions
Multiscreen subscription: £15 per month. Requires Sky Q box, Sky Signature and Multiscreen subscriptions and Sky Q Mini(s) connected to home broadband. One-off costs apply to view on 2 or more additional TVs.
As mentioned above, you cannot physically split your Sky signal over two TVs but you can use your main Sky box as the source for other TVs by using an aerial cable or by upgrading to Sky Q and purchasing a Sky Q Mini box.
How many Sky multiroom boxes can I have? ›You can have 5 mini boxes but can only watch on 2 at a time. Sky Q 2TB (V3). 2 x Mini.
How do I connect my Sky box wirelessly to my TV? ›How to connect your Sky+ box to your internet - YouTube
How do I connect two TVs to one Sky box? ›
A tvLink lets you connect a second TV to your Sky+ box so you can watch Sky in more than one room. However, unlike Sky Multiscreen, you'll have to watch the same thing on both TVs as they're sharing a Sky box. If you have a terrestrial aerial, connect it to your Sky+ box or iO-Link.
Can existing Sky customers get Sky Q for free? ›You have to sign up to a new 18-month minimum term for the Sky Q Experience and pay the standard full price for the Sky Q Experience (unless you have any offers). We will loan you one Sky Q box, one Sky Q Mini and any other relevant kit, for no cost, for the time you have a Sky TV subscription.
How many Sky Q mini boxes can you watch at the same time? ›Watch Sky TV in up to three rooms at the same time with Sky Q Mini boxes. Stream live, on demand and recorded shows at home on up to two compatible devices.
Will using a splitter weaken the signal? ›A splitter is a device used to split a cable signal between two or more devices. A splitter weakens the signal level, which can cause intermittent loss of service or, in rare cases, service failure.
Does Sky Q remote work through walls? ›The Sky Q remote uses Bluetooth which does not require line of sight with the box so you should be fine.
How does a Sky magic eye work? ›Sometimes known as a “Sky Magic Eye”, these can be used to change channels on your Sky, Sky+ or Sky+HD box from another room. To use a TV Link, you need to have an aerial cable running from your Sky box to a second TV. The Sky TV Link is a dongle that plugs into a second TV set and has an infrared receiver.
How far away can a sky Q mini box be from the main box? ›Re: Sky Q mini box Connection range
It is 30m from main box and 20m from the mini box in back room of the house!
Sky Go and Sky Go Extra customers can stream on two devices at a time. Sky Q Multiscreen and Sky Glass/Sky Stream Whole Home customers can stream on four devices at a time.
Can you use a Sky Q box as a mini box? ›Yes, you can use your Sky Q Mini boxes as WiFi boosters around your home. If you get your broadband from Sky this will already be set up, but if not, you will have to turn the feature on yourself.