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Sky allowing recording on subscription free HD box


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Old 14-08-2015, 00:18
ShaunIOW
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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.
Thats only because they're the only ones that can receive Sky and Sky give them away, I doub't they'd be as popular if a 3rd party box could be used for Sky (like in the old analogue days) where you could choose a box based on its performance and features and that wasn't locked down so much.
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Old 14-08-2015, 07:16
ds_reader
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Thats only because they're the only ones that can receive Sky and Sky give them away, I doub't they'd be as popular if a 3rd party box could be used for Sky (like in the old analogue days) where you could choose a box based on its performance and features and that wasn't locked down so much.
Because they respect and protect others IP.

Unlike easily hacked freesat+ boxes!
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Old 14-08-2015, 07:19
ds_reader
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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.
And they do not!

It is funny how that poster continues posting that rubbish!
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Old 14-08-2015, 07:22
ds_reader
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Only up to 50 channels.
The OP wanted a short EPG list 50 is more than adequate.
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Old 14-08-2015, 07:25
ds_reader
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Only up to 50 channels.
The OP wanted a short EPG list 50 is more than adequate.

Simple to set up and simple to use!
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Old 14-08-2015, 13:48
REPASSAC
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Because they respect and protect others IP.

Unlike easily hacked freesat+ boxes!
All the freetime units are well locked down.
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Old 14-08-2015, 16:18
grahamlthompson
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Because they respect and protect others IP.

Unlike easily hacked freesat+ boxes!
Complete rubbish.

The Foxsat-hdr has custom firmware, that does not mean the box is hacked. The box runs an open source Linux operating system with a application written by Humax (settop app) that is not open source. Under the licence arrangement for Linux certain parts of the workings have to be released. This allows the box to run Linux apps on top of the normal OS, in the same way you can run add on software on a PC or MAC.

The way the box looks on a TV is not altered in any way. It's clear you are posting from never having used this box.

In comparison the latest freetime boxes are way more secure than a Sky box, as the recording partition is Luks encrypted so cannot be read by removing the hard dish. A Sky box disk however can be read by free software that can read the disk operating system files. Incidentally in common with many other freely available satellite boxes exporting of SD recordings is available without any mods at all. A Generic fta box can export HD and SD recordings perfectly legally, some even have IP based epg capabilities.

If I had taken your advice back in November 2008 when I bought my first Freesat+ pvr (A Foxsat-hdr) I would be seriously out of pocket. This box is still in daily use.


84 months of £10.00 monthly Freesat From Sky recording fees = £840.00.

7.6 years of excess electricity say £20.00 on average = £152.00

Giving a total of £992.00.

Rather more important is every Freesat from sky user had done the same there would be some millions of tons of CO2 less in our atmosphere.
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Old 14-08-2015, 16:21
Winston_1
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And they do not!

It is funny how that poster continues posting that rubbish!
???????
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Old 14-08-2015, 16:53
grahamlthompson
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And they do not!

It is funny how that poster continues posting that rubbish!
It's not rubbish. Sky pvrs do have a ultra low power sby mode, trouble is they can't record from sby if you use it.

If you don't believe me measure the power consumption of a Sky box in a mode it can wake from to make scheduled recordings. It's in excess of 20W because the hard disk and lnb are both powered. Try putting a voltmeter across the lnb connections of a sky box in sby. It will have a DC voltage of between 12 and 18V depending on whether the tuner is using a horizontal or vertical polarisation. TBH I don't know whether the current Sky home transponder is horizontal or vertically polarised.
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Old 14-08-2015, 16:56
grahamlthompson
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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.
Without a wake on lan capability, how would they download on demand content overnight ?
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Old 14-08-2015, 16:59
grahamlthompson
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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://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5432_en.htm
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Old 16-08-2015, 07:41
Joe_White
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Getting back on topic - my out of contract box is still, allowing record & play of free to view SKY progs - the "Experts" on DS said this would "Soon" end, sorry boys, but it still is happening......
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Old 16-08-2015, 08:54
Nigel Goodwin
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Getting back on topic - my out of contract box is still, allowing record & play of free to view SKY progs - the "Experts" on DS said this would "Soon" end, sorry boys, but it still is happening......
What colour card do you have?.

If it's an old blue one, which missed it's 'turn off' signal, then it will continue to work.

As far as the current 'aberration' with a small number of newer cards I doubt Sky have any way to know which ones were accidentally activated, and it's probably far too risky to try and disable them (as it's more likely to disable many more which should be activated).
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Old 16-08-2015, 09:38
heedlessmunkey
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Getting back on topic - my out of contract box is still, allowing record & play of free to view SKY progs - the "Experts" on DS said this would "Soon" end, sorry boys, but it still is happening......
I got a good couple of years out for my sky box before it stopped recording. I think it was because I disconnected it before my subs cancelled and left it 6 months to reconnect after I moved.

If I recall it stopped around the time the last round of viewing cards were issued
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Old 16-08-2015, 09:43
omnidirectional
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What colour card do you have?.

If it's an old blue one, which missed it's 'turn off' signal, then it will continue to work.

As far as the current 'aberration' with a small number of newer cards I doubt Sky have any way to know which ones were accidentally activated, and it's probably far too risky to try and disable them (as it's more likely to disable many more which should be activated).
it's hard to believe Sky would have no idea which cards had been activated, that would be a pretty poor security system.
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Old 16-08-2015, 11:31
Nigel Goodwin
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it's hard to believe Sky would have no idea which cards had been activated, that would be a pretty poor security system.
Why would you think that?, presumably it happened because of a software bug? - so it's unlikely the same bug would have nicely made a record of which incorrect cards it enabled.
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Old 16-08-2015, 16:29
Joe_White
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What colour card do you have?.

If it's an old blue one, which missed it's 'turn off' signal, then it will continue to work.

As far as the current 'aberration' with a small number of newer cards I doubt Sky have any way to know which ones were accidentally activated, and it's probably far too risky to try and disable them (as it's more likely to disable many more which should be activated).
It's a white card, it came with the DRX890C box that I obtained from a Car boot sale for £3.
I've a few other boxes & cards knocking around, but to the best of my knowledge - this is the only one that records. It was a retiring American serviceman selling it before he went back across the pond, I also purchased a DRX895C (with a 2TB HDD) from him for £5 - also with it's card, but the original HDD has since been put to a better use
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Old 16-08-2015, 16:32
Joe_White
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I got a good couple of years out for my sky box before it stopped recording. I think it was because I disconnected it before my subs cancelled and left it 6 months to reconnect after I moved.

If I recall it stopped around the time the last round of viewing cards were issued
That may have been a similar to the history of the box that records for me - I wonder if they would make a bit on Ebay?
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Old 16-08-2015, 21:50
coopermanyorks
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What ever happened to the "Red" replacement Sky cards mention on here about a year
ago ?
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Old 16-08-2015, 23:03
Winston_1
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It's a white card, it came with the DRX890C box that I obtained from a Car boot sale for £3.
I've a few other boxes & cards knocking around, but to the best of my knowledge - this is the only one that records. It was a retiring American serviceman selling it before he went back across the pond, I also purchased a DRX895C (with a 2TB HDD) from him for £5 - also with it's card, but the original HDD has since been put to a better use
The cards are the property of sky. He should not have sold them. You have bought stolen property and by rights you should surrender them to sky!

Chances are the seller disconnected them before cancellation took place (didn't give 30 days notice), so the cards never got disabled
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Old 17-08-2015, 08:37
Nigel Goodwin
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What ever happened to the "Red" replacement Sky cards mention on here about a year
ago ?
The new cards have been red for a long time, but the card replacement never happened, at least not yet
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Old 29-08-2015, 14:53
Joe_White
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The cards are the property of sky. He should not have sold them. You have bought stolen property and by rights you should surrender them to sky!

Chances are the seller disconnected them before cancellation took place (didn't give 30 days notice), so the cards never got disabled
I've just seen a low flying pig go past the window......
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Old 31-08-2015, 15:19
adman50
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I've just seen a low flying pig go past the window......
From what I have of seen of your previous posts on the forum you seem to be a firm believer in law and order. In which case its only right and proper you do the British thing of turning yourself in. I for one would be lost in admiration
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Old 31-08-2015, 23:35
leslie123
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The new cards have been red for a long time, but the card replacement never happened, at least not yet
Strange that. The card replacement should have happened last year 2014 and didn't. I would have thought that it would have therefore happened this year and still hasn't. It is looking unlikely that it will happen now as Sky does not like to undertake such projects once Christmas starts to come near. Maybe next year? Maybe not?
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Old 01-09-2015, 08:31
sodafountain
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Chances are the seller disconnected them before cancellation took place (didn't give 30 days notice), so the cards never got disabled
I didn't think you could do that with the current white cards. i thought the Sky+ feature now needs a keep awake signal to work, rather than be disabled.
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