Old Skybox being used for Freesat - asking for Card?

eddiem74

Stuck a TV in my daughters bedroom recently, and connected an old sky box in there without a sub/card. I had the box in the attic, and plugged it in, it booted up, and came on with the UK EPG.

However I was not aware until last night that sometimes a message pops up asking for the sky viewing card to be inserted ? For example last night my daughter was snuggling down to watch pretty woman on ITV1, and then, bump, message............

She said this happens on and off, however other EPG channels seem to fine.

Any ideas ?

Thanks.

eddiem74

Seems this cropped up on C4 / E4 also.

Anyone any ideas ?

St Senan

Seen as your box was lying idle in the attic it probably needs a software update

Try a software download.

1........Pull out Plug
2........push back in plug while keeping back up button on box pressed
3........hold in for 30 to 40 seconds until all front lights on box come on.
4........leave everything for roughly 10 mins or until lights go off
5........stick on the kettle
6........try the box now
7........this should solve your problem

eddiem74

scaller wrote: »

Seen as your box was lying idle in the attic it probably needs a software update

Try a software download.

1........Pull out Plug
2........push back in plug while keeping back up button on box pressed
3........hold in for 30 to 40 seconds until all front lights on box come on.
4........leave everything for roughly 10 mins or until lights go off
5........stick on the kettle
6........try the box now
7........this should solve your problem

Thanks scaller, I had actually done that when I first took the box down. Done it again now just to see, however EPG version remained at 3.7.6, will have her monitor it later though, just in case there was an issue first time around?

eddiem74

Problem still seems to be happening.......from what I can tell mostly in the evenings according to my daugther. Seems to only happen on select channels/programmes and others are ok?

Weird.......... any ideas welcome.

St Senan

eddiem74 wrote: »

Problem still seems to be happening.......from what I can tell mostly in the evenings according to my daugther. Seems to only happen on select channels/programmes and others are ok?

Weird.......... any ideas welcome.

Was parental control ever put on the box,
I came across a similar situation yesterday with an ex subsidised sky box certain channels and programmes were looking for the card to be inserted luckly the customer kept the card once i reinserted the card i took off parental control everything worked fine. maybe the same in your case

paconnors

put on sky news 501 press red button wait at for interactive to load remove card then press sky on remote box will load to english channels default

St Senan

paconnors wrote: »

put on sky news 501 press red button wait at for interactive to load remove card then press sky on remote box will load to english channels default

He mentioned in his first post that he does not have a card in the box some channels that are free are looking for the card to be inserted

ScrubsfanChris

If I could but in for a second,
I have the same set up as the OP, Sky box/no card/UK EPG, but I can't see FIVE or Channel 4 +1 anywhere in the EPG. I have them in the Other Channels list but it would be nice to have the 7 day look-ahead and use the program reminder function.
At the moment there is nothing on channel 105, where FIVE should be.

byte

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

If I could but in for a second,
I have the same set up as the OP, Sky box/no card/UK EPG, but I can't see FIVE or Channel 4 +1 anywhere in the EPG. I have them in the Other Channels list but it would be nice to have the 7 day look-ahead and use the program reminder function.
At the moment there is nothing on channel 105, where FIVE should be.

That's normal, if you don't have a FTV/Ex-sub UK viewing card.

staker

Is there any way to reset back to factory settings, seeing as a factory made STB has the full english EPG??

watty

On many Digiboxes, no. It remembers a particular card.

Here are four different methods that have worked for different Models at different times.

1) Take out card and unplug at mains. Reconnect and don't insert any card.


2) try any arbitrary card (upside down if it has a chip), or Sky card upside down. Try again from Power disconnected at mains with card in slot while off.


3)
Put in a card (any card if no sky card)
try go 501 Sky News. press interactive, take out card after Interactive has loaded
press backup
Ignore errors and do not re-insert a card.

4) Make sure there is a good signal and no storm due. Switch off the receiver at the mains wall socket. Press and hold the front panel "backup" button and switch the mains power back on. Continue to hold the button for 20 seconds or until the LEDs all light (depends on the make/model). As soon as this happens, you'll see a message on the screen (only if you have connected via the TV Scart). Leave the receiver till it's finished.

eddiem74

scaller wrote: »

Was parental control ever put on the box,
I came across a similar situation yesterday with an ex subsidised sky box certain channels and programmes were looking for the card to be inserted luckly the customer kept the card once i reinserted the card i took off parental control everything worked fine. maybe the same in your case

Hmmm, that is a possibility. Its an old box, but it was replaced with Sky+ years ago therefore the old blue card I have might still be paired or at least give access to the boxes features. Let me check it out, and see where I get.

Thanks again !

watty

Also PIN is last 4 digits of card, by default. Unless it's an ungrade/replacement card, in which case the PIN is the last 4 digits of original card.

Though if you ring Sky AND have a current sub card, they can reset the pin by satellite if you changed it and forgot what it is.