Pace DC221KN - is it any use to me?

anxie

Just got my hands on a DC221KN (Pace NTL box) and I was looking for some advice.

I was hoping to use it as a free to air box, as I did with my old Sky box which I gave to a friend who's box had kicked the bucket.

Anyway, I am not a NTL subscriber and I don't want to chip it or whatever else people do. I am guessing that it is not a satellite receiver like I thought it was?
Is it any use to me without being a subscriber to UPC/NTL?

Thanks in advance

icdg

There is a fundamental distinction between Sky and UPC (formerly NTL) in this regard.

On Sky, you own your dish and box. Even if your susbcription expires, there are still hundreds of channels on satellite that you can continue to view using your Sky Digibox.

On UPC, you do NOT own your equipment. Everything remains the property of the cable company. Moreover, there are no free channels on cable. Even if certain channels are broadcast unencrypted, you still need to pay a basic cable subscription to view them.

Short answer: you can't use this box. Only the holder of a legitimate UPC Digital subscription, with a viewing card paired to the box, can use it. You should return it to UPC.

anxie

I had no idea it was a cable box when it was given to me, I thought it was a sat receiver. Thank you for taking the trouble to respond to my query.
anxie