Hi Linda. I also have two Sky boxes, this is quite common as Sky offer a discounted rate if you keep the second box when upgrading to Sky + Yes your friend is right, the boxe(s) need to be connected to the phone line(s) and they do dial the Sky Mainframe. I recieved a breech of contract letter as my second box was not connected. This letter is auto generated. Sky do give you a month to reconnect the line. How this affects bringing your reciever abroad.. No idear. Perhaps this is exactly the reason they do it?