Problems with Sky+ HD Box as FTA receiver

ciaran_otoole

I've just bought a second hand Sky+ HD box to use as a FTA receiver (my previous Sky box was giving up). I don't have a Sky subscription.

Anyway, I can see some channels (BBC 1, BBC 2), but not UTV or Channel 4. When I go to manually add them in, it looks like the receiver looses signal - I get a "No satellite signal is being received - Code 25" message on all channels. The only option I seem to have is to reset the box.

Has anyone else had a problem like this? I can't talk to Sky, since I don't have a subscription

SPAWKER

ciaran_otoole wrote: »

I've just bought a second hand Sky+ HD box to use as a FTA receiver (my previous Sky box was giving up). I don't have a Sky subscription.

Anyway, I can see some channels (BBC 1, BBC 2), but not UTV or Channel 4. When I go to manually add them in, it looks like the receiver looses signal - I get a "No satellite signal is being received - Code 25" message on all channels. The only option I seem to have is to reset the box.

Has anyone else had a problem like this? I can't talk to Sky, since I don't have a subscription

Is the box in single feed mode? Can you try it somewhere else to see is it your dish that is out of alignment.

ciaran_otoole

SPAWKER wrote: »

Is the box in single feed mode? Can you try it somewhere else to see is it your dish that is out of alignment.

Yes, the receiver is in single feed mode. And I know it's not the dish because when I reset the box I get a signal.

I spent a few more hrs last night on this and think I found a software bug. If I do a search using the standard option, then I see the above behaviour. However, if I go to add channels using the hidden menu, then it seems to work ok. Strange, but that's the only difference I could see.

Now on to my next problem - I have found new channels but can't add them. I don't have a card for the receiver. Currently C4, E4, UTV all not working. I've searched for them manually, but can't add them. Is there a workaround for adding them without a card?

machiavellianme

Get an FTV card for free from Setanta via the BAI scheme but don't activate it. That should give you all the channels you are looking for on the EPG and working on the HD box. Then you'll know if its an alignment issue or not. I suspect not if they work via other channels.

ciaran_otoole

machiavellianme wrote: »

Get an FTV card for free from Setanta via the BAI scheme but don't activate it. That should give you all the channels you are looking for on the EPG and working on the HD box. Then you'll know if its an alignment issue or not. I suspect not if they work via other channels.

Thanks for the pointers. Can you give me a link to how I go about requesting the card?

muffler

ciaran_otoole wrote: »

Can you give me a link to how I go about requesting the card?

Contact here

cranefly

they probably will not give you a ftv card if you are not a sky customer, i rang them up wanting a ftv card and i told setanta i was a sky customer they asked me what colour my sky viewing card was i told them it was a white one, he said i do not need a ftv card and they dont give them to people with with white cards, they only give them to people with the older blue cards that start with the number six i think.

so i hung up waited 15 minutes and rang them again, got a different guy and told him about my old blue card that started with the number six and i got a sky ftv card sent in the post 3 days later.

I only really need the card for when i cancel my sky subscription next year and go freesat with a humax box, i can then put my sky hd box in the attic with the free to view card in it so the box will put the channel line up in a good order with bbc-1 at no 1 and so on, i can then have 4 bedrooms using that one box through sky eyes. you do not need a free to view card if you have a normal sky plus box.

ciaran_otoole

cranefly wrote: »

they probably will not give you a ftv card if you are not a sky customer, i rang them up wanting a ftv card and i told setanta i was a sky customer they asked me what colour my sky viewing card was i told them it was a white one, he said i do not need a ftv card and they dont give them to people with with white cards, they only give them to people with the older blue cards that start with the number six i think.

so i hung up waited 15 minutes and rang them again, got a different guy and told him about my old blue card that started with the number six and i got a sky ftv card sent in the post 3 days later.

I only really need the card for when i cancel my sky subscription next year and go freesat with a humax box, i can then put my sky hd box in the attic with the free to view card in it so the box will put the channel line up in a good order with bbc-1 at no 1 and so on, i can then have 4 bedrooms using that one box through sky eyes. you do not need a free to view card if you have a normal sky plus box.

So far, it seems to be ok. Here's the email I got from there earlier:

---

Thank you for contacting Setanta Sports.

We have received your request for a FTA viewing card under the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme.

The BAI is the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Setanta broadcast a number of documentaries in funded by them, examples include The Club, An Exile’s Home in the Bronx, Man on A Mission and Yes I Can.


Please be advised that Setanta Sports is a subscription service and if you wish to view our fantastic sporting content then please contact us to discuss the subscription package options available. You will NOT receive our sporting content under the Sound and Vision scheme.

We are happy to order a card for you however this card will only function in a compatible SKY set top box and if you have an existing Sky viewing card then you will already have access to the content we broadcast in conjunction with the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme. We must also advise that if we request a card for you and you do have an existing Sky card then this may cause loss of service on your current viewing card.

We have the best premium live sport on TV including top flight Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League football, the best golf action from the Masters and the Open exclusively live, deferred coverage of the Rabodirect Pro 12 and action from the GAA.

If you wish to proceed with ordering the FTA card we would need you to contact our customer service department on the number listed below.

---

I'll post an update if / when I get the card.

machiavellianme

ciaran_otoole wrote: »

So far, it seems to be ok. Here's the email I got from there earlier:

---

Thank you for contacting Setanta Sports.

We have received your request for a FTA viewing card under the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme.

The BAI is the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Setanta broadcast a number of documentaries in funded by them, examples include The Club, An Exile’s Home in the Bronx, Man on A Mission and Yes I Can.


Please be advised that Setanta Sports is a subscription service and if you wish to view our fantastic sporting content then please contact us to discuss the subscription package options available. You will NOT receive our sporting content under the Sound and Vision scheme.

We are happy to order a card for you however this card will only function in a compatible SKY set top box and if you have an existing Sky viewing card then you will already have access to the content we broadcast in conjunction with the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme. We must also advise that if we request a card for you and you do have an existing Sky card then this may cause loss of service on your current viewing card.

We have the best premium live sport on TV including top flight Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League football, the best golf action from the Masters and the Open exclusively live, deferred coverage of the Rabodirect Pro 12 and action from the GAA.

If you wish to proceed with ordering the FTA card we would need you to contact our customer service department on the number listed below.

---

I'll post an update if / when I get the card.

That's the standard response. Once you reply saying your willing to proceed and still require the card, you should have it by Monday.
Just remember...don't ring them back to activate the card.

ciaran_otoole

Card arrived and worked a treat. Thanks for the advise.

pongo69

what dose single feed mode do ?

Ismaithsin

Decided to reduce monthly tv subscription and read this thread with interest.

Currently paying upc €72 for tv, broadband and land line (I have multi room). I used to have sky. I dug out my old sky+ boxes last night and connected one up to see what I could get free, roughly 50 channels. So I thought sod it I'm ringing upc to cancel the tv element. From previous correspondence with them I knew this would bring my bill to €42pm.

The helpful customer service agent offered me a reduced price to stay with all 3 parts of the bundle, €64. I thought about it and said no thanks. Then he offered me €43! If I drop the extra tv it's €35pm for 12 months, and it's a 12 month contract. Oh, my broadband speed will be increased from 30mb to 120mb.

I'm going with the €35pm offer and separately I've ordered a FTA card from setanta for the other tv. I got the same standard response as others on the thread but i persisted with asking for one to be sent.

Just shows you, if you don't ask....