If you are staying in an apartment with any likelyhood of moving, do not buy a Tata Sky connection. You will be left with a useless set top box if the dish cannot be installed in the new apartment. Tata Sky does not refund the amount paid for the set top box and it cannot be used with cable operators. This is despite all assurances given by the dealers that Tata Sky can be installed in all apartments. I know because I am suffering.
I took a Tata Sky connection in Bangalore and knew that I would be shifting to Mumbai soon. I was assured this wont be a problem. However, when I shifted to Mumbai, Tata Sky was unable to install the dish in my apartment as they did not get clear line of sight to the satellite. Installing a disk on the terrace is commercially not feasible as I am on the first floor of a 27 floor apartment and Tata Sky’s technology requires a separate cable for each apartment. So, I will have to pay for the cable for more than 300 feet! That’s after I take permission from the society.
Tata Sky has refused to do anything about this and also refused to take back the set top box and refund the money paid. In fact, they continued charging rentals for me and I had to struggle to get it reversed. I am still not able to get the refund beacuse its a prepaid system.
So, I now have a Tata Sky set top box for which I paid Rs 3, 000 and its of no use.
The alternative - get a set top box from the cable wallah. I just got it installed for Rs 750. You can get more than one box and the monthly rental remains the same. Also, all channels are included in the base package of Rs 275 for my building.
I think Tata Sky will fold up in a few years and there will be many people with Rs 3, 000 set top boxes to be used as decorative items. My sincere advice to people staying in apartments - please do not buy Tata Sky.