BBC/ITV FTA setup question..

chucky_cheese · 06-10-2003 9:06pm #1

Now i know theres a bag full of info about on this but i'm still not 100% on a couple of things. Maybe someone
can clarify the following:

I want to pick up FTA BBC & ITV/ITV2/C4. Now, i understand that the latter are on the sky system - but i dont want a sky subscription.
Is it possible to pick up a used digibox with card for the free channels on the sky sat - that will also be able to pickup the beeb??

Also, given that the sky sat is on 28.2 and i also want to pickup a sat broadband service on 28.5 (plugging the coax into a skystar 2 for this), can i get
both of these with the same dish without it having to be moved ie. is that difference of 0.3 degrees significant?

Thanks in advance.

sceptre · 07-10-2003 1:39am

Originally posted by chucky_cheese
Is it possible to pick up a used digibox with card for the free channels on the sky sat - that will also be able to pickup the beeb??

ITV2 is only available with a current UK subscription card.

Other than that, an activated V2 FTV card will give you the BBCs/ITV/C4 on a sky box

The BBC channels are free with any digital satellite receiver with a dish pointing to 28E

is that difference of 0.3 degrees significant?

Pretty much totally insignificant

chucky_cheese · 07-10-2003 2:20am

Other than that, an activated V2 FTV card will give you the BBCs/ITV/C4 on a sky box

I take it then that it must be a sky box...i cant buy a digital receiver of my choosing??
Any ideas who could hook me up with this?

The BBC channels are free with any digital satellite receiver with a dish pointing to 28E

So a digibox is flexible enough to allow other stations to be tuned in...may not be the brightest of questions but i havnt been near one and want to be 100% that sky dont have any proprietery (sp) shít going on.

Thanks for the help sceptre:)

Icehouse · 07-10-2003 2:06pm

I find that the easiest way to get a Digibox and card at a reasonable price is via www.ebay.co.uk - Buy from someone who has plenty of positive feedback.

chucky_cheese · 07-10-2003 4:37pm

Thanks icehouse. ive been checkin out ebay.

What should i be expect to pay for a v2 activated card?

I have to say that i'm a bit bambuzled by the number of different types of receivers - basically, i dont know what im bidding for..and how much i should bid for. Any have maybe a couple of suggestions as to what i should look for..given that generally im not a high spec buyer ..more of a value merchant. Would be nice to have one with a hard drive for recording but im not sure if i want to pay the extra...

07-10-2003 6:19pm

Also good are www.qxl.co.uk

which is where I got mine -no problems

mm

sceptre · 07-10-2003 8:54pm

Originally posted by chucky_cheese
What should i be expect to pay for a v2 activated card?

A few people have mentioned that around 25 sterling seems to be the current going rate on ebay.

I cant buy a digital receiver of my choosing??

Not if you want ITV and C4. If all you want are the BBC channels then any digital receiver will do. If you want ITV/C$ a digibox is your only option. Chances are that ITV will be FTA (like the BBC) sometime next summer (insert usual warning about counting chickens before they hatch though) and any digital receiver will do for the BBCs and ITV then.

So a digibox is flexible enough to allow other stations to be tuned in...

Pretty relevant question if you ask me. Yeah it is but it isn't too smart about it. There are a number of free channels that a digibox will not tune in (none too important but there are some). The digibox also tends to fall over and forget all the added channels if you add too many (it's probably deliberate if you ask me but I'm paranoid). If you're more interested in getting BBC and free channels then buying an FTA box is a better option. If you're going the route of getting an FTV card to watch the other UK terrestrial channels then you don't have that option (at least not yet)

Fry · 10-10-2003 6:35am

Im looking to get itv and ch4.
((Better take it out before anyone else get ideas!!))

would this be a good deal, or would i be better off just buying a card and putting it into my digibox ? would it work through "the other channels" menu?

Icehouse · 10-10-2003 8:16am

Yes, that one looks like a good deal, as long as the price stays below around £120 - sometimes you can be really lucky and find that there's no-one around to bid. I picked up a brand new pace a couple of months ago (no card) for £45. Panasonic are widely regarded as the best Digiboxes, and mine is a DSB31 which I find fine for me.

Fry · 11-10-2003 2:55am

Thanks for the info ICEHOUSE..

Fry · 14-10-2003 6:53pm

I rang a guy on the buyand sell and he is selling a card for 150E. Is that a rip off or fair offer?

Eurorunner · 14-10-2003 8:54pm

a guy on the buyand sell and he is selling a card for 150E. Is that a rip off or fair offer?

A definite rip off. Get yourself over to ebay..

sceptre · 14-10-2003 9:55pm

Originally posted by Fry
I rang a guy on the buyand sell and he is selling a card for 150E. Is that a rip off or fair offer?

Total ripoff. If I thought someone would buy my FTV card for that kind of money I'd seriously consider flogging it. Buying one on ebay will cost you about a fifth (at most) of the above price.

Fry · 15-10-2003 8:16am

thanks guy, I thought so. But there is never cards on ebay. Just checked now and there is two boxes going with card. The present bid is 120 pounds which is around 200E.

watty · 15-10-2003 8:31am

You can sell the Digibox so it can be on Ebay.

The Card belongs to Sky so can't legally be on ebay. Many S/H digiboxs might have cards, but this can't be avertised.

It isn't hard to get a UK sub yourself. After a year it can be cancelled and you then have a FTV card. Family pack is best value.
Value pack is worst value.

Buying DVDs in Heitons, Tesco and HMV is better value than the Movie Channels.

The Sport Channels are only worth it if you want especially to spend so much on Sport that only Sky has rights to.

Fry · 15-10-2003 12:38pm

thanx 4 info watty

carrolls · 15-10-2003 1:22pm

You can get much better offers on eBay, ie in the range of £30-£40, but be sure it is specified that the new card is pre-enabled, or else it will be useless in your digibox.

Fry · 01-11-2003 3:22pm

Well, I've just bought a card on eBay. The New One - preactivated. The guy was ok and even gave me a number for a guy in my town that had bought card off him, so I rang him and everything seems fine.

I bought the card for £50 stg, which seems ok right ?

He did say something that has me abit worried. He said I might have to update software in my digibox. He said it wasn't hard, something about plunging it out and pressing some button... Im not sure what he meant now ! My digibox is one of those Grundig boxes from a couple of years back.

Greenman · 01-11-2003 3:52pm

Read this Fry!!!!!

How do I force a software download?

First, simply unplug your box from the mains and then plug it back in again. This triggers any new software that your box may have downloaded. If that fails: Remove your card. Switch the box off at the mains. Press and hold the backup button down on the front of the box (not the remote), then switch the mains back on without releasing the backup button. Wait for about 20 seconds, until you see a message appear on your television (which only appears on a SCART lead) and all the lights come on on the front of the digibox. Then release the button. Follow the instructions ie don't do anything for the next ten minutes after which time the box will restart. Forcing a software upgrade is not normally required since Sky upgrade all box software automatically. Furthermore both new and old software may be transmitted simultaneously so, if your box hasn't been told to upgrade, you may still receive the old software. Experience shows that many boxes download upgraded software but do not activate it until you switch the box off and on at the mains. When Sky wish to upgrade your box they simply send it a signal to switch off.

Fry · 01-11-2003 4:05pm

thanks greenman.

My box isnt on to a phone line, does that matter?

I switch off my digibox most night anyway, so maybe it updated already. I have the old card also becuse I havent subscribed for a few months

Greenman · 01-11-2003 5:18pm

My box isnt on to a phone line, does that matter?

No!!!!

I switch off my digibox most night anyway

Do you mean you disconnect from the mains? They say thats not great for the box!!! Maybe others could comment!!!!

bf1 · 01-11-2003 7:33pm

Hello everybody, Ta me bf1.Conas a ta tu?
Anyway........

I know theres loads of info bout this but i'm still not 100% on a couple of things. Maybe someone
can help with the following:

1:If i say to the free2view people that
##we are moving to ireland (from my contacts adress)##
will they send out any future cards eg in 5 years time?

2: does the 141 code blok your no. from the call centre?

3: if we get sky+ (from our local electrial shop) and move the existing box but dont ask for a mirror sub will they get curious

Cos what i wanna do is.. kicthen:Sky+box ,Irish sub card

sitting room: old box, Free2view card
wit ITV & CH4

Thanks,
bf1

Pink Bunny · 01-11-2003 11:01pm

Fry,
I was wondering if you ever sorted out your problem with the card you bought.

BBC/ITV FTA setup question..

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