Sky+ without phoneline / Sky boxes with Digiweb Metro

cgarvey

I've ordered Digiweb Metro and am hoping/praying for LoS.

2 questions:

1) If I can get Digiweb Metro is installable in my place (I should find out this week), does anyone have Sky+/Sky digibox/Sky multiroom working with Metro's phone line ports? Watty posted a while back about the theory, just is it happening in practice for anyone? I won't be using PPV/Phone-based Interactive services.

2) If I can't get Metro, I'll probably try another WISP (or 2) before resorting to a phone line (which in itself is not straight forward, thanks to eircom and CPS). So can I avoid having to get a phone line for Sky+? I understand the reasonsing behind the requirement for Multiroom, but for Sky+ it seems to be a marketing thing (like the regular Sky sub requirement used be, that you can opt out of now). If I buy an unsubsidised Sky+ box will I be able to get a sub without a phoneline? Or, even better, are there installers who can get around this requirement? I don't/won't have/use PPV/Premium channels/Interactive, if that makes a difference.

And, for the bonus question.. Is there any way to get UTV/ITV/BBCNews24 interactive services on an out-of-sub box ("Red" doesn't seem to work on "Other Channels"?)

Cheers

.cg

watty

1) I've successfully sent "email" to Sky using metro phone connection and the the interactive feature on the Digibox. I have also used dialup modem to internet. Make sure you use a phone cable with only two middle wires in the RJ11 plug or cut the two outer wires on phone cable. Even if you have only one number you can phone out on both Metro phone sockets at the same time, so if you ever do get a mirror sub be sure to put both boxes on the same line!

2) Buying and installing your own Sky+ they will give you a sub without conditions, after all you are saving them money. It is ultimately only the Mirror sub that is the issue. (For good reason).

3) Yes. You need to get the box to use UK EPG. Though you can get to same interactive as is on BBC24 via red on BBC1 NI or BBC2 NI. Other Channels is brain dead only there as a sop to EU.

There are two methods to get the UK EPG

1) Simply power up the box with no card. This only works for some Digiboxes. We don't know why on many boxes it doesn't work.

OR

1) Go Sky 501
2) Press Red button for Interactive
3) Wait for it to load
4) Remove Irish viewing card
5) Press Backup

The UK program guide will load. This can take 30sec to 2 min. I have no idea why this works.

With Either method
You can only watch Free channels. The other ITV/BBC regions are in 800s or 900s or so.

BBC3/BBC4 are after 7pm instead of CBeebies/ CBBC in Childrens section
ITV4 is after 6pm instead of CITV

With either system.
To get back your pay TV programs and Irish TV, simply insert your Irish viewing card. Sky3 has / may work on a cancelled Irish subscription card.

cgarvey

Cheers Watty...

I've read here and somewhere else (digital spy, i think) that when the Sky+, or Mirror, box is told to phone home, it doesn't show as a charged call... so I assume it simply rings out for a couple of rings? If so, then presumably it will work with a Metro setup (or any other phone provider that supports CLID and standard dial tone?).. or do they connect and send data? In which case, is there any reason to think that the data they do send is any different to the data that is sent when using Email/Interactive services?

For the 3) bonus question.. neither method worked (had read both them from previous posts of yours)... doing the second method (501) does refresh the EPG (and takes >30sec), but it still is stuck on the same Irish EPG. I don't have any viewing card (it was a 2nd hand Grundig digibox I bought).

Cheers for the answers

bazzer

My method for re-booting to a UK EPG works as if the box is treated as a new installation:

- Remove card
- Go into Services, System setup
- 0, 1, Select, New Installation
- Select to continue (twice)
- (Box scans channels)
- (Channel line-up complete)
- Select to continue (thrice)

In all, takes about half a minute. Hope this helps someone!

cgarvey

That didn't work either .. it went through the whole scan thing alright, but on the confirmation screen (with versions, etc.) it told me to insert my viewing card (i don't have one, expired or not, from IE or UK). Select to continue .. 143 still BBC 1 NI and 101 still the blocked RTE.

watty

OK. I tested with my Sky box and without removing a dark blue yellow house Irish card I can't get BBC1 = 101.


On my box the ONLY working method is
0) Have a dark blue / yellow house Irish Sky card (no sub works, it need not be active).
1) Go Sky 501
2) Press Red button for Interactive
3) Wait for it to load
4) Remove Dark Blue, Yellow house Irish viewing card
5) Press Backup


It's a pig!