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Sky allowing recording on subscription free HD box |
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#126 |
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 488
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Quote:
I have tried it with two cards from friends - both taken out of boxes before cancellation expiry date and left out, one for 4 months and the other for 5 AND neither worked. I have two old blue cards that were replaced with white cards and they both still work in my Pace box but not in Amstrad DRX890s. What box are you using yours in?
It sounds like your box was still connected, even though the card was removed - also you need to keep the original card with the same box. I'm not sure HOW it works, but it does work. I now have two working recording boxes with no Subs - both DRX 890-C, one came from a car boot fair (for £5), where I was told the box had been removed during a house clearance (& not used since) several months ago - it still had it's card, I assume the original one? Just to clarify, it will only record & play the free to air stuff, not encrypted material. Just the same as a freesat recorder in fact, but at much less cost
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#127 |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,425
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Quote:
Just the same as a freesat recorder in fact, but at much less cost
![]() You could probably buy a Freesat box at a car boot cheaply, and of course recording would be guaranteed to last its lifetime.
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#128 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 488
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You're comparing the price of a new Freesat box to a Sky box bought at a car boot sale, so your analogy is flawed.
You could probably buy a Freesat box at a car boot cheaply, and of course recording would be guaranteed to last its lifetime. ![]() |
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#129 |
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oxford
Posts: 12,689
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Well my first recording Skybox has been in use for about 2 years now (& still going strong) - more than many of the Flaky firmware Vestel boxes last - but it[s good to achieve something, when all the "Experts" tell people it cannot be done!
This would appear to be side effect of a previous software update whereby the box remembered the settings on the last card used in it - regional settings etc. |
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#130 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,779
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Well my first recording Skybox has been in use for about 2 years now (& still going strong) - more than many of the Flaky firmware Vestel boxes last - but it[s good to achieve something, when all the "Experts" tell people it cannot be done!
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#131 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
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Sky+ Pause and Record Hack (no longer working) ?
I have TWO Standard Definition Sky+ Boxes (each on a separate dish in separate rooms).
I have not had a Sky subscription since 2004. I realised in 2008/09 that you could purchase a "hacked" Sky+ box and record and pause the free to air channels without subscription. Yesterday (New Years Eve) whilst recording I noticed the box was not recording, I checked the other box and PAUSE and RECORD (and even the reminder option) now no longer work. I even went to the trouble of talking to Sky to find out what they did and the man doesn't know what I mean "you NEVER should have had the facility". Does anyone know what happened ? Even bettter....a fix ? Something like this happened five years ago or more and I just had to buy a £20 Viewing Card. I note that they have Red Cards now..but again Sky+ man says this is nothing to do with it. I did try getting a FREESAT box early last year but I hate it.... REALLY don't want to lose my facility (especially after all this time!). It annoys the hell out of me. |
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#132 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oxford
Posts: 12,689
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Are these illefal "hacked" Sky+ boxes purchased 8 years ago? Yes illegal - using the Sky+ software and not paying the "licence" fee (subscription) to use it. You ring Skyto ask them why your "illefal" boxes have stopped working and you annoyed. Go back to the seller of the boxes and ask them what happened and can they fix it.
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#133 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
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I do not accept that owning or operating these is illegal (as opposed to viewing subscription only channels which IS). But regardless, in common with many other people I object to having the pause and record function on MY digiboxes disabled or being forced to pause £240 to use one (or maybe £480 for BOTH!) whilst "paying" for channels I don't watch as an alternative.
Presumably if Sky decided I couldn't watch these channels AT ALL you would support that too. Not quite sure where this objection to consumer value comes from.... Assuming you are right and operating these boxes was illegal then sorry too bad. IT'S WRONG to force customers to take things they don't want and historically the way bad laws and rules get changed is for a significantly large number of people to defy them. Last edited by Jason_Stone : 04-01-2017 at 14:22. Reason: Typo |
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#134 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oxford
Posts: 12,689
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You may own the digibox hardware but you do not own the software on that box - the licence o use that software is in the form of a subscription - in exactly the same way as many PC programmes are now marketed. Viewing of FTA satellite channels subscription free is a legak feature all receivers must have so that will not be turned off (although dhanged transmission methods may render equipment obsolete)
The Sky + boxes have always been sold as receivers with a PVR capability enabled by subscription. Original packahing and manuals have always stated that a subscription is required for use of therecording/live pause features..So Sky never did anything wrong by restricting use of Sky+ facilities as they were never sold as having those features out of the box. These rights and wrongs have been debated very many times over the years that Sky+ has existed and no-one has come up with valid reasons on why Sky sould allow sub free recording. If they had then almost certainly Freesat would never have come into existance annd we would only have FreesatFromSky. Unles the hackers who modified your box completely rewrote the code within the box theydid so illegally by modifyine the existing code. Sky never bothered taking action against these hackers because the numbers sold (and only on one particular odel were so low. Incidentally hackers did try modifying later HD+ boxes by rewring the code completely but were never completely successful. You got something you didn't pay Sky for so many years and now you are upset because you can no longer use the box illegally probably because Sky have modified their software (something you dot own) and closed this loophole If you want subscription free recording then purchase a box marketed as doing so. You want something then pay for it and don't rely on others "stealing" it for you. Don't get me wrong I do not fully support the situation but have stated the legal position so either live with it or try and persuade your MP that something needs to change (fat chance). Incidentally I have in my possion two old "blue" Sky viewing cards taht allow Sky+ features on all FTA channels in some HD+ boxes as dp several others who hve posted in this and other threads). These work because Sky never turned off these features when they were replaced with the later "white" cards. The situation with these is rather fifferent legally and is a very grey area. The cards were legally supplied to me as a subscriber and although (as do all cards) they remain the property of Sky subscriber Services they have never asked for them back. They appear to be closing the loophole on these as well as after recent firmware upgrades they will no longer work in the latest DRX890/5 boxes and mine now only work in Pace and Thompson boxes. |
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#135 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
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Well to my mind I DID purchase a box marketed like that..... !
I was well aware of course that Sky wouldn't be happy and of course it's true FREESAT would not exist....and so it shouldn't!I'm just a little puzzled by your "mixed messages" on this. Me..simple. My box, my hard drive (which I purchased and upgraded myself) and MY electricity. Disabling those functions is very simply and clearly a way of forcing people to sign up for expensive contracts which are worth multiple times what a FREESAT box costs. As I mentioned before I do have a FREESAT box which I purchased earlier this year when I had brief problems with the hard drive on one Sky+ model. It didn't work out well. I will probably try it again if I don't find a way around this issue shortly. Interestingly a person on another site responded to my post saying he gets entertainment + functions for £5 a month. I would pay that quite happily but the only packages I have seen online (haven't phoned yet) are £20 per month including HD New Boxes, Free Tell etc. Very nice but still not worth it in my opinion not by a LONG WAY! Again if anyone has a simple, affordable solution I'm all ears but I am NOT paying £480 a year ! (or even a quarter of that) to record FREE TO AIR channels which are nothing to do with SKY! Last edited by Jason_Stone : 04-01-2017 at 16:28. Reason: Typo's |
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#136 |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,779
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Again if anyone has a simple, affordable solution I'm all ears but I am NOT paying £480 a year ! (or even a quarter of that) to record FREE TO AIR channels which are nothing to do with SKY!
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#137 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
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Have you read my posts ? I HAVE one..but I don't like it. The EPG etc is rubbish. Maybe I didn't set it up right! But push comes to shove I'll use it...(and maybe another one) but that is not an ideal situation. I don't know why you guys seem to have a problem with me objecting to Sky's mercenary practices!
Again £5 or £10 a month grudgingly (I'm not going to stand on principal on a sum that small) but £500 a year to watch/pause and Record FREE telly? I remain open to constructive answers so far reading between the lines what I hear is sour grapes because I took on a Corporate Giant on a issue everyone seems to think is at least a "GREY area" and WON (for a good few years anyhow)
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#138 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oxford
Posts: 12,689
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You are the one with sour grapes. You condemn Sky for finally preventing something you should never have had subscription free in the first place, Your problem lies with the suppliers of your box - they provided somethib that no ;onger works in the way advertised - good luck with that one.
Your sense of the modern world seems as flawed as your maths - since when is £10.25 a month equal £500 a year? |
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#139 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
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Jesus ...I thought this was an avenue for advice not TROLL central? I am still between £500 and £1000 up on the deal over the period in question....I'm happy with that, especially when I am standing up for the principle of using OUR hardware (yours AND mine) to record and watch what we have access to when we want ?
Once again....I still have heard no actual advice that I don't already know from you geniuses. Re: My maths ..The standard basic package on Sky's website is £20 per month... last I checked that was PER BOX. Two boxes at £20 per month is £480 per year ! Someone else mentioned £5 per month...I have not confirmed that...and I am still waiting for someone to do that...instead of stick their oar in about the rights and wrongs of "hacked" boxes Now if you have nothing to contrbute to my posts please keep your opinions to yourself Last edited by Jason_Stone : 04-01-2017 at 21:14. Reason: Typo's |
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#140 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: England, E.Midlands & London
Posts: 7,692
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@Jason_Stone, i don't disagree with you. You own the box and therefore, having to pay to use its entire features such as rewind and pause etc is (IMHO) rather ancient and sly, but, that's how Sky sold the boxes, as a Sky box, not as a PVR.
But you're making it out to be the end of the world and as if they're making you flog a kidney and your first 3 born to use it. Maybe your OTT reaction to it is why you're finding next to zero support. This forum (When it wants to be) is very helpful, supportive and useful, just not to melodramatic posts. Thats my 2 cents anyway... |
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#141 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 280
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So someone's circumvented a feature that's allowed Sky to avoid paying import duty and inconvenience users. Kudos I say!
Though he should accept he's has good run and move on.... |
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#142 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
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That's a BIT more like it fellas. However I am not being melodramatic..I am just not interested in long discussions about the details of SKY contracts, the legality of adjusting sky boxes to be PVR's, or challenged on my maths and morality by someone who's criticism seems based on an inability to read and understand my very plain, clear English and resentment that I got what I wanted for so long.
BTW I was specifically told when I bought my first one that it was LEGAL and bearing in mind that even our friend Dave here with his obvious considerable experience based on commenting an average of 2-3 posts a day every day for just shy of 15 years (how's my maths NOW Dave?) ...tells me there were no prosecutions...which in practice means the legality of them has NOT been tested and is a moot point as far as I can see.Apologies if I sound tetchy but I am here to get a fix for this problem (if possible) and if not an affordable way to get these boxes working PROPERLY again without having to get two new Sky HD Boxes, a £240 p.a (or more contract) and a bunch of channels I don't want and without resorting to FREESAT which as my earlier posts state I have tried and DON'T LIKE. I am here for a solution not criticism or rebuking.....THANKS Last edited by Jason_Stone : Yesterday at 07:19. Reason: Typos |
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#143 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,779
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Quote:
BTW I was specifically told when I bought my first one that it was LEGAL However, as for this thread, you've already been told all the possible solutions, either pay a subscription or use Freesat instead. Keeping asking for some 'magic' solution that doesn't exist isn't going to provide any other answers. |
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#144 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: England, E.Midlands & London
Posts: 7,692
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Quote:
That's a BIT more like it fellas. However I am not being melodramatic..I am just not interested in long discussions about the details of SKY contracts, the legality of adjusting sky boxes to be PVR's, or challenged on my maths and morality by someone who's criticism seems based on an inability to read and understand my very plain, clear English and resentment that I got what I wanted for so long.
BTW I was specifically told when I bought my first one that it was LEGAL and bearing in mind that even our friend Dave here with his obvious considerable experience based on commenting an average of 2-3 posts a day every day for just shy of 15 years (how's my maths NOW Dave?) ...tells me there were no prosecutions...which in practice means the legality of them has NOT been tested and is a moot point as far as I can see.Apologies if I sound tetchy but I am here to get a fix for this problem (if possible) and if not an affordable way to get these boxes working PROPERLY again without having to get two new Sky HD Boxes, a £240 p.a (or more contract) and a bunch of channels I don't want and without resorting to FREESAT which as my earlier posts state I have tried and DON'T LIKE. I am here for a solution not criticism or rebuking.....THANKS Your throwing your toys out the pram now because you're not hearing and getting what you want! You don't get to come on here and stamp your feet like a petulant child! Go buy another dodgy box or deal with the fact you're not going to get help here because (I guess you didn't read them) the rules of the forum forbid discussing illegal circumvention of subscriptions and paid-for services, for which Sky+ very much is! Your decision not to like Freesat, no one else's!! P.S, unless you was told by a copyright-specialising lawyer that the box wasn't / isn't /hasn't been illegally altered, then your continued protestations of how on-side of the law it is, is the moot point here! |
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