Switching channels on non-subscription Sky box.

Irishgoatman

Help wanted please.

A lot of the channels that I watch are stored in "Other Channels". Is there a quick way to switch from one to another without going through "services" then down one then along four or five then onto the list each time!. I've tried various ways without success.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Meant to say that I have a Sky HD box that I use.

muffler

Irishgoatman wrote: »

Help wanted please.

A lot of the channels that I watch are stored in "Other Channels". Is there a quick way to switch from one to another without going through "services" then down one then along four or five then onto the list each time!. I've tried various ways without success.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Meant to say that I have a Sky HD box that I use.

Yes, have a read at the first couple of posts in this thread and then the last couple of pages of it as there has been a small change

Irishgoatman

Thanks muffler, I did have a quick look at that thread but as it was referring to cards I didn't think that it would apply to my question. I can't look now as I'm recording a prog, onto a dvd recorder obviously, and I don't want to cause any problems, but I think the card that is in is just an out of date sub card that was in it when my Grandaughter gave me the machine.

I have no problem receiving the channels it's just that it's such a pain in the proverbial switching from one to another.

I'll let you know tomorrow how I've got on.

Thanks again.

paultf

Irishgoatman wrote: »

A lot of the channels that I watch are stored in "Other Channels". Is there a quick way to switch from one to another without going through "services" then down one then along four or five then onto the list each time!. I've tried various ways without success.

What you need is either a (freesat) FTV card or a Setanta card.

This card should give you an English EPG with all the channels easily accesible (you don't have to use 'Other Channels').

FTV = ebay, adverts, tvtrade

Setanta = search threads here - think you ring up Setanta to get

Irishgoatman

Thanks for the replies guys.
Do you mean that I need a current/active card?
The card I have is a white out of date/subscription one.

This might sound a stupid question but, when people talk about "EPG", as in the thread that muffler mentioned, are they meaning "Electronic programme guide"?.

The only cards that I've seen for sale appear to me to be in date subscription cards, but what happens when they run out of date? when buying how will I know much time is left on them? I will then need to buy another one?.

Sorry if this sounds as though I'm very confused but compared to the satellite box that I use in the bedroom, which I bought at Aldi a couple of years ago, the Sky box is a real pain!

The only channel that I don't appear to get on the Aldi box is CBS Reality, but as that's mostly showing Judge Judy and Jerry Springer I don't think I'm missing much.

muffler

First of all apologies as I missed the "non-subscription" part of your post. I'm no expert on these matters but I believe that whatever channels you have stored in "other channels" can be got on the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) by using a freesat card...excluding of course any channels that you would normally need a Sky sub for.

Older boxes could be rebooted without a card or with the card in upside down and they brought up the UK EPG but using this method with the newer Sky + HD boxes will result in the Irish EPG being displayed. But rebooting the newer boxes with a UK freesat card will bring up the free channels on the UK EPG. I dont think it''s necessary to have the UK channels tuned in to "other channels" but might do no harm to do so. Frequencies are here.

I'm open to correction but I dont believe the date on the card is relevant.

paultf

Irishgoatman wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys.
Do you mean that I need a current/active card?
The card I have is a white out of date/subscription one.

This might sound a stupid question but, when people talk about "EPG", as in the thread that muffler mentioned, are they meaning "Electronic programme guide"?.

The only cards that I've seen for sale appear to me to be in date subscription cards, but what happens when they run out of date? when buying how will I know much time is left on them? I will then need to buy another one?.

Sorry if this sounds as though I'm very confused but compared to the satellite box that I use in the bedroom, which I bought at Aldi a couple of years ago, the Sky box is a real pain!

The only channel that I don't appear to get on the Aldi box is CBS Reality, but as that's mostly showing Judge Judy and Jerry Springer I don't think I'm missing much.

With a Sky HD box when you cancel your Sky subscription, you are left with an Irish EPG (i.e. menu of all the channels). What this means is that alot of the channels you want are only viewed via the 'Other Channels' e.g. the ITV channels. Lots of hassle viewing them.

(I think the following is correct...) In the UK, when a Sky customer cancels their subscription, they can buy a freesat card from Sky and their setup now becomes feesat like. (www.freesat.co.uk)

You can get a freesat/FTV card here:
http://www.adverts.ie/satellite/white-sky-viewing-card-freesat/1137127

(I don't know anything about this seller or their cards)

A FTV card in a Sky HD box will give the UK EPG i.e. all the channels are accessible through the main EPG.

I got a card like this from adverts (not the same seller). I use the card in a Sky HD box and it works fine. I was told it would last around 3 years. When this expires you go looking for another one.

(I mentioned the free Setanta card earlier. This thread explains:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056640484
But you won't get as many channels but it's free. You don't have to be a Setanta customer.)

Irishgoatman

O.K. I get the idea now, I hadn't thought of there being an Irsih listing and a U.K. listing.
So with a FTV card all I have to do is re-boot.

Thanks, both of you, for all the help.

I'll now look for a card.

Irishgoatman

Spoke too soon!

paultf, the guy selling a card on the link you sent me has a picture of the card and the words "White Sky Viewing Card Freesat".

What puzzles me is that the pictute is identical to the card that's in my box.

??

muffler

I have 2 white cards here (I have a Sky sub). The card I have in the box is an Irish card and I got a white card for the UK free channels - ITV Granada region.

Even though the cards look the same they are for different regions and countries.

GoodisonPark

You can just email Setanta asking for a FTV card and they will send one out.

Irishgoatman

muffler wrote: »

I have 2 white cards here (I have a Sky sub). The card I have in the box is an Irish card and I got a white card for the UK free channels - ITV Granada region.

Even though the cards look the same they are for different regions and countries.

Thanks muffler, so is there any way for me to tell if I am buying the U.K. version from someone on adverts.ie ?.
Or do I have to take them on trust (your pm sounded real enough).!.

muffler

Irishgoatman wrote: »

Thanks muffler, so is there any way for me to tell if I am buying the U.K. version from someone on adverts.ie ?.
Or do I have to take them on trust (your pm sounded real enough).!.

Buying on Adverts is trust based to an extent but I would be 99% sure that you would be sold the correct card. You need to look at the sellers profile.....feedback, number of sales, established/new member etc. If paying through Paypal you probably have some comeback though if the item is mot as described and you cant get a refund. Same applies for Ebay obviously.

I did give you a bit of info by PM and that is genuine.

There was mention of getting a card from Setanta. That is possible also but I understand it wont get you all the free to view channels.

Irishgoatman

Thanks GoodisonPark ( when I lived just outside Liverpool I wasn't allowed to even THINK of that name), but I don't think I'll try Setanta as I don't like giving my address out to too many firms. I hate junk mail.

Thanks again muffler and paultf, I'll go via adverts and I will report back at a later stage, so watch this space.

Bye for now.

muffler

Irishgoatman wrote: »

when I lived just outside Liverpool

Have you any friends/relations there who would have an old card lying around?

Irishgoatman

muffler wrote: »

Have you any friends/relations there who would have an old card lying around?

Now that's a point! so it be any "out of sub" sky card?.
My Brother used to be in the computer and TV business before he retired, he's on holiday at the moment but when he comes back......:D

He's due back later next week or perhaps my Grandson who lives over in Kent.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of getting one that way.

Irishgoatman

Update.

Thanks to my Grandson in UK I now have a blue Sky card, and it has only taken him about 6 weeks to post it to me from the day he said he had one. Not bad going was it?.

It has done the job for me with the exeption of UTV which I still have to put in "Other Channels". Is this usual?.

Many thanks for all the help.

muffler

Irishgoatman wrote: »

Update.

Thanks to my Grandson in UK I now have a blue Sky card, and it has only taken him about 6 weeks to post it to me from the day he said he had one. Not bad going was it?.

It has done the job for me with the exeption of UTV which I still have to put in "Other Channels". Is this usual?.

Many thanks for all the help.

Good to hear you got sorted. The cards go by region so the one you have would be for whatever ITV region your grandson lives.

Unfortunately you wont get UTV up on the EPG unless you have a UTV region card.

Irishgoatman

That makes complete sense. What a shame my brain is not working as well as my Sky box:D.

Thanks.

Irishgoatman

muffler wrote: »

Good to hear you got sorted. The cards go by region so the one you have would be for whatever ITV region your grandson lives.

Unfortunately you wont get UTV up on the EPG unless you have a UTV region card.

um, then why is it that I just noticed that I can get BBC1 & 2 for Northern Ireland on the card that came from Kent?.

muffler

Irishgoatman wrote: »

um, then why is it that I just noticed that I can get BBC1 & 2 for Northern Ireland on the card that came from Kent?.

Someone will explain it better than me but I understand you will get all BBC regions whereas with ITV you only get whatever region the card is for.

MarkK

Irishgoatman wrote: »

um, then why is it that I just noticed that I can get BBC1 & 2 for Northern Ireland on the card that came from Kent?.

All BBC TV regions channels are on all UK Cards.

ITV only have the 'local' region and ITV1 London on each card.

ITV1 London is on all cards as it carries an extra soundtrack for 'Audio Description' for the blind.

The reason for the difference is for advertisers. ITV want people to watch their own region to please the advertisers.

Irishgoatman

Ah yes of course. That now makes sense.

Many thanks.

pbarr

paultf wrote: »

You can get a freesat/FTV card here:
http://www.adverts.ie/satellite/white-sky-viewing-card-freesat/1137127

(I don't know anything about this seller or their cards)

Thanks for the plug paultf

paultf

pbarr wrote: »

Thanks for the plug paultf

You were a bit late responding - you must be very busy. Do I still get the commission we talked about?