Sky Glass or Sky Q: Which Connection Do You Need?
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Sky has introduced Sky Glass and Sky Stream, which deliver TV entirely over the internet, removing the need for a satellite dish. This has led to some confusion among Irish consumers. Is the satellite dish dead? Should I rip mine down? The answer depends entirely on your location and your broadband speed. For many households in Ireland, especially in rural areas or places with variable internet speeds, the traditional satellite dish remains the gold standard for reliability and quality.
If you have slow or fluctuating broadband, relying on it for your entire TV service can be frustrating. Buffering during a live match or a season finale is a disaster. Sky Q, which uses the satellite signal for the heavy lifting (video and audio) and the internet only for on-demand content and apps, offers a "hybrid" reliability that pure streaming cannot match. Before you switch, it is vital to understand the trade-offs. And if you are sticking with Sky Q, ensuring your dish is in top condition via professional Sky Tv Repairs is key to maintaining that superior reliability.
The Bandwidth Battle
Streaming 4K TV requires a constant, high-speed internet connection (at least 25Mbps consistently, often more for live sports). In a busy family home, if someone is gaming in one room, another is on a video call in the office, and you try to watch TV in the lounge, your bandwidth is split. If your speed drops, the picture degrades, buffers, or stops. Satellite TV doesn't use your bandwidth. The signal falls from the sky, independent of your internet usage. This leaves your broadband free for other devices. For families with average broadband, satellite is the smarter choice for harmony.
The "Live" Delay Factor
Streaming live TV over the internet introduces a delay (latency), often up to 30 or 45 seconds behind real-time. This is due to the time it takes to encode and send the data packets. If you are watching a match and your neighbour is watching via satellite, you will hear them cheer a goal nearly a minute before you see it on your screen. This spoils the excitement. Satellite signals travel at the speed of light with minimal processing delay. For sports fans who want to be in the moment, the dish is still the undisputed king.
Resilience in Bad Weather
It is true that satellite signals can be affected by extreme storms ("rain fade"). However, internet infrastructure is also vulnerable. Storms can bring down overhead phone lines or knock out roadside fibre cabinets, leaving you with no TV and no internet for days. Satellite dishes are independent. As soon as the rain clears, the signal is back instantly. You are not waiting for a technician to fix a line down the road. Maintaining your dish ensures you have this resilient, independent source of entertainment.
Picture Quality and Compression
While streaming quality is improving, satellite broadcasts often use less compression than internet streams, especially for fast-moving sports action. The picture on a well-tuned satellite system can look sharper, cleaner, and more fluid. To get the best out of your 4K TV, a perfectly aligned dish delivering a pristine signal to a Sky Q box often provides a superior visual experience compared to a compressed stream fighting for bandwidth on a busy network.
Conclusion
New isn't always better for everyone. If you value live sports, instant response, and freeing up your broadband for other things, the satellite dish is far from obsolete. Keeping it well-maintained ensures it continues to deliver the premium experience you pay for.
Call to Action
Sticking with the dish? Ensure it's working perfectly. Call us for Sky system maintenance and repairs.
Visit: ; https://www.smartsatconnect.ie/