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Sky allowing recording on subscription free HD box


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Old 22-07-2015, 20:10
TelevisionUser
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Mmmm still working here - no subscription......
It is a surprise to see that this free recording has not yet been blocked. Does this phenomenon only occur on certain types of equipment, e.g. older/newer or a certain make & model?
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Old 23-07-2015, 08:52
M60
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I'd have thought Sky would be on the case if this were widespread. I too am surprised they've not yet put a stop to it.
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Old 23-07-2015, 10:13
sodafountain
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I'd have thought Sky would be on the case if this were widespread. I too am surprised they've not yet put a stop to it.
Although had it been widespread, I would have expected more than 2 people to have mentioned it (unless everyone else is keeping quiet and bemoaning someone mentioning it.........)
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Old 23-07-2015, 19:55
CitySlicker
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Not a bean here. I have an ex-sub card which still works as FTV so for instance London Live appears on 117 but if I try to live pause I am told to phone up to upgrade my sub.

I did have the blue house card that allowed me to record up until the recent firmware change and inserting that makes no difference. I have forced a software update out of curiosity but nothing.
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Old 23-07-2015, 20:10
Nigel Goodwin
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Although had it been widespread, I would have expected more than 2 people to have mentioned it (unless everyone else is keeping quiet and bemoaning someone mentioning it.........)
I would imagine it's just an accidental upgrading of a small number of cards - and presumably it's not easy for them to identify exactly which cards were affected, hence the slow correction
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Old 26-07-2015, 21:10
jzee
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Still working here too .
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Old 27-07-2015, 06:52
REPASSAC
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Sounds like a good strategy for Sky, give recordings free for a few weeks, then yank it when you have got to like it.
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Old 27-07-2015, 07:54
soulboy77
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I would imagine it's just an accidental upgrading of a small number of cards - and presumably it's not easy for them to identify exactly which cards were affected, hence the slow correction
Do FSFS and ex-sub cards still require a monthly 'keep alive' signal (for want of a better description) to keep the recording feature turned on if you have paid for it?
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Old 27-07-2015, 08:34
Nigel Goodwin
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Do FSFS and ex-sub cards still require a monthly 'keep alive' signal (for want of a better description) to keep the recording feature turned on if you have paid for it?
They require a 'keep alive' signal regardless of the recording feature, if it missed the signal the card stops working until it gets the next one.
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Old 01-08-2015, 16:09
midlandsfirst
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So do people phone up and complain their box can now record?
I would imagine so if they are paying the £10 a month and their friends are getting it for free....
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Old 10-08-2015, 21:32
Kipper2
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I have several old cards none of which I subscribed with, blue ones and white ones and found one of the blue ones (but none of the white ones), allows me to record and playback on Sky+.
I will never pay to record on a Sky box when its free with Freesat+.
HTH

Last edited by Kipper2 : 10-08-2015 at 21:33. Reason: spelling erroe
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Old 11-08-2015, 09:55
moox
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Isn't there a way Sky could legitimise it? Perhaps not for free, but could they not offer recording for a one-off fee, perhaps to cover whatever taxes people keep alleging that they can dodge by keeping the status quo?

It'd possibly secure a bit more business for them - if you can pay say £20 for lifetime recording on your old Sky box, you're less likely to go out and buy a £150 Freesat PVR
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Old 12-08-2015, 23:36
Mass Corona
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Isn't there a way Sky could legitimise it? Perhaps not for free, but could they not offer recording for a one-off fee, perhaps to cover whatever taxes people keep alleging that they can dodge by keeping the status quo?

It'd possibly secure a bit more business for them - if you can pay say £20 for lifetime recording on your old Sky box, you're less likely to go out and buy a £150 Freesat PVR
Have you used a Sky box? They are about as friendly as a Rottweiler, Clunky and badly laid out. They is also no way of repositioning or hiding channels and so you have to put up with listings of 100s of channels that you can't get.
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Old 12-08-2015, 23:57
tvmad-alan
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Totally wrong that a UK company can get around from paying UK or EU taxes by use of a software to stop recording of TV shows broadcast for free to the UK.

Sky boxes must be able to record at all times on free channels as this must be breaking competition laws as they are blocking rights to view at any time as the box is paid in full with people who have had a contact which is highly priced ( just look at yearly profits ) and tax should have been paid by sky in the first place.

At this time a one off cost of £20 to pay for card and to open software to allow recording for older boxes and new box must be fully taxed to allow open recording from now on.
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Old 13-08-2015, 10:46
ds_reader
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Have you used a Sky box? They are about as friendly as a Rottweiler, Clunky and badly laid out. They is also no way of repositioning or hiding channels and so you have to put up with listings of 100s of channels that you can't get.
WRONG!

They are very simple to use and it very simple to set up a favourites list!
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Old 13-08-2015, 10:49
ds_reader
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Sky boxes must be able to record at all times on free channels as this must be breaking competition laws as they are blocking rights to view at any time as the box is paid in full with people who have had a contact which is highly priced ( just look at yearly profits ) and tax should have been paid by sky in the first place.
WRONG!

Just because you think that DOES NOT make it true.
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Old 13-08-2015, 13:59
Mass Corona
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WRONG!

They are very simple to use and it very simple to set up a favourites list!
WRONG!

Just because you think that DOES NOT make it true.

Great user name! Maybe you should stick to reading DS rather than posting silly soundbites.
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Old 13-08-2015, 14:13
Nigel Goodwin
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Have you used a Sky box? They are about as friendly as a Rottweiler, Clunky and badly laid out.
Presumably you've never seen or used one?.

They are by far the easiest and simplest PVR to use, and are by FAR the most popular PVR in the UK.

The new Humax Freetime boxes aren't too bad either (presumably the layout was designed by Freesat/Time and not Humax?) - as Humax interfaces and remote's are abysmally poor.
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Old 13-08-2015, 14:25
moox
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Have you used a Sky box? They are about as friendly as a Rottweiler, Clunky and badly laid out. They is also no way of repositioning or hiding channels and so you have to put up with listings of 100s of channels that you can't get.
That's a matter of opinion, but it isn't terribly relevant to my argument.

The people I am thinking of are those who have a Sky box and are used to it, possibly use it for the free channels but would like to record. Being able to pay a one-off fee is cheaper and possibly more palatable than buying a new box, and an advantage to Sky is that it keeps their box connected up as a constant reminder of what you could get if you resubscribed.

I think Freesat (freetime) has a couple of the same issues. You can't delete or re-order channels and I think my Humax PVR is slower than my Sky box
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Old 13-08-2015, 15:20
REPASSAC
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............................. I think Freesat (freetime) has a couple of the same issues. You can't delete or re-order channels and I think my Humax PVR is slower than my Sky box
You can't reorder the channels but you can delete them.
Select settings > (now notice the very large arrow) Right - Editable channels.
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Old 13-08-2015, 17:36
grahamlthompson
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WRONG!

They are very simple to use and it very simple to set up a favourites list!
Only up to 50 channels.

To use a sky box as a pvr costs over £140.00 a year for recording free channels possibly more. Over £20.00 of it is in your electricity bill.
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Old 13-08-2015, 17:42
grahamlthompson
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Totally wrong that a UK company can get around from paying UK or EU taxes by use of a software to stop recording of TV shows broadcast for free to the UK.

Sky boxes must be able to record at all times on free channels as this must be breaking competition laws as they are blocking rights to view at any time as the box is paid in full with people who have had a contact which is highly priced ( just look at yearly profits ) and tax should have been paid by sky in the first place.

At this time a one off cost of £20 to pay for card and to open software to allow recording for older boxes and new box must be fully taxed to allow open recording from now on.
Incorrect, A sky box does not attract the extra EU duty that has to be paid for pvr that allows recording. Sky argue you rent the software by subscription so is exempt from this tax, and also significantly that it is exempt from the requirements to be able to record frpm a sub 0.5W low power sby mode. This is not possible for a Sky box because it has to power a lnb 24/7, which alone consumes way more power than 0.5W.

Heaven knows what the back tax bill would be if they allowed free recording, they are already under investigation by the EU in respect of their policies in respect of viewing in other EU countries.
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Old 13-08-2015, 19:43
Nigel Goodwin
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they are already under investigation by the EU in respect of their policies in respect of viewing in other EU countries.
Are they?, in what respect? - I thought they were pretty well the only EU broadcaster who actively police the legislation?.
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Old 13-08-2015, 22:59
Winston_1
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Incorrect,This is not possible for a Sky box because it has to power a lnb 24/7, which alone consumes way more power than 0.5W.
It does not have to power the LNB 24/7, sky choose it to do so so they can interrogate the card or do software updates. The box could be designed to look for updates when it is switched on, or could be designed to wake up once overnight to look for updates.
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Old 13-08-2015, 23:25
1andrew1
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Are they?, in what respect? - I thought they were pretty well the only EU broadcaster who actively police the legislation?.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...ccess-to-films
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