topic Re: Second ee tv mini box in TV

Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 10:32:54 GMT

Why can't I purchase my own second ee tv mini box for a third tv?

Other content suppliers allow views on alternative tv's and check if more than the subscribed number is being used at the same time... EE could do this too, but deem to chatge you up to £10 a month for another box.

I would happily pay £75 for another mini box, and accept that i cannot use more than two connection at the same time. It would save physically moving the box from one tv to another.

I am happy with other EE service, but this will probably make me .ook around at other broadband and t services suppliers.

Bad practice, EE...

Re: Second ee tv mini box

zulu17 — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:07:48 GMT

Hi @Peterb7121

EE are actually selling you extra box subscriptions on the EE broadband line that you have the EETV subscription on.

They are not selling EETV boxes these days rather loaning them whilst you hold the TV subscription.

So EE not geared up to sell you the boxes.

Some users do currently use their previously owned or privately acquired Youview boxes .

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:46:15 GMT

Ah... I thought that i had made myself clear that I do understand what EE are doing with their plan, but perhaps not.

My query is WHY they can't do something not what they are doing.

I fully understand their marketing purposes.

Oh well...

Re: Second ee tv mini box

widdowsonben — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:10:00 GMT

Hi Pete

i’d imagine it’s because BT have committed to reducing their e-waste and by forcing people to return the boxes they reduce this whilst saving a few quid in box production. Back in the day you could purchase the BT youview boxes direct from Curry’s and Argos. Why they can’t let the customer choose and purchase a box is as you say likely just a commercial decision. It’s exactly the same as Apple TV with EE. Why you can order an Apple TV but then have to have minis for the other boxes is infuriating. I love BT TV for what it is but some of the decisions made by the product development team is confusing at best. I get the 3 box limit when you’re on a 30mbs connection but sky will sell you 6 pucks on any service and virgin do similar. We have 3 kids each with a tv, lounge, dining room, kitchen and my office. Each needs a box and I don’t really want to be faffing with a million different apps.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:58:40 GMT

Thanks for your reply and support.

I wouldn't mind so much, but I am on the full package, paying £80 a month for just TV, and then £63 a month for the 900mbps broadband... and then EE want another £10 a month for me to use a second mini box on another tv, which I don't use regularly.

I would be happy to buy another mini box and still be limited to two active active ones to save physically moving the mini box each time.

Oh well, I can reevaluate my needs at end of contract. Otherwise I am happy with their service.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

DarrenDev — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:34:59 GMT

I totally understand your reasoning @Peterb7121 - I imagine it's a very common setup. Very few people know the commercial reasons behind the decisions made (there are a few technical limitations too), so you're not going to get a good answer here on why it's not available I'm afraid. Maybe by the end of your contract, things will have changed again? (extra boxes were free for a while).

Have you considered other cheaper options for those additional TVs? E.g. a Fire Stick. I know it's not as convenient as having all the channels in one place, but a Fire Stick or similar device with apps from Now TV, BBC, ITV, discovery+, etc can satisfy most of the requirements - your EE TV subscription includes logins to watch the subscription channels on other devices too.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:49:10 GMT

Yep, fully understand... I have three firesticks which I don't use. However, as you state, it is not as convenient as having all the channels in one place. One box, one solution...

Not to worry...

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:53:00 GMT

I spent 30 years in technical computing (programming, system design, etc.) and sales before I retired, so don't consider myself a 'newbie'. Just my thoughts.

Perhaps this thread should now close.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Deano1711 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:06:19 GMT

Buy one on e bay

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:24:27 GMT

Ha ha, I did... and EE recognised it as rougue, and didn't like it.

🙂

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:28:39 GMT

Sorry, spelling... meant rogue.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

DarrenDev — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:41:58 GMT

Whilst we reserve the right to do that in future @Peterb7121 (as we own the box at all times - the box you were sold wasn't owned by the person who sold it to you), we don't currently block them. You may have seen a message saying you're using too many boxes, however you can simply accept the message and it'll transfer the subscription from one of the other boxes in use. You can do this as many times as you like. The only risk is that if you've set something to record and it's not currently one of the active boxes, the recording will fail.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Deano1711 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:47:57 GMT

Wow you was unlucky there

Was it brand new ?

Re: Second ee tv mini box

widdowsonben — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:01:28 GMT

Try a factory reset mate.

Re: Second ee tv mini box

Peterb7121 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:29:25 GMT

Yep, I fully understand all that. I took the decision to not accept that option, and didn't want to compromise the kit which EE had sent me. So, the other box now lurks in a drawer, somewhere. Just thought that I would see what happened...

However, it doesn't detract from my original desire that I would like to purchase direct from EE and have EE monitor my usage at two maximum active screens at the same time, rather than pay a monthly fee to 'rent' another box which, over the contract period, would be a considerable amount.