Free BT sport from Eir

kingtiger

Going to move to Eir to avail of their free offer of BT sports and was wondering does anyone know the story with their offer of BT sport HD on satellite

Can I use an old Sky HD box that I have? Also confused about the viewing card, do Eir provide one?

icdg

While I'm reluctant to allow another Eir/BT thread, I'll address some of the OPs questions.

Can posters on this thread confine themselves to the specific questions posed by the OP. If anyone tries to turn it to a general BT/Eir/Virgin saga thread, it gets closed

The story is that if you sign up to Eir Broadband, and have an existing Sky or Eir Sport subscription - or indeed a valid Sky viewing card of any sort -you can have your Eir Sport viewing card activated for the free offer.

Yes you can use an old Sky HD box.

Eir Sport have, in the past, been able to arrange for SSSL to issue a viewing card to non Sky subscribers. I presume they are still able to do so in connection with this offer, but it's perhaps worth checking that directly with them.

lertsnim

If they are difficult about providing you with a viewing then tell them you want one to be able to view their programming that was funded with the BAI sound and vision fund

Johnboy1951

Yes you can use an old Sky HD box.

How old/new would the box have to be?

I had a short look at the IPTV version today and it was quite bad ....... possibly because of slow internet and low spec PC

icdg

Anything back to the first Sky Digiboxes of 1998 should still work, I think. In any case Sky boxes are ten a plenty on eBay, I believe, so you shouldn't need to go back quite that far.

givecredit

Just avoid Thompson HD boxes.

boomslang

All the Eir sports channels are available online with a 2 device limit via a compatible browser too if that's a help once you join eir of course

GreatDefector

boomslang wrote: »

All the Eir sports channels are available online with a 2 device limit via a compatible browser too if that's a help once you join eir of course

except it uses silvers***e which is useless on chrome for starters

Johnboy1951

GreatDefector wrote: »

except it uses silvers***e which is useless on chrome for starters

and not available for any browser on Linux OS.

All the Eir sports channels are available online with a 2 device limit via a compatible browser too if that's a help once you join eir of course

Fine if you have a suitably fast connection and are prepared to put up with a low quality stream.

mikeym

icdg wrote: »

While I'm reluctant to allow another Eir/BT thread, I'll address some of the OPs questions.

Can posters on this thread confine themselves to the specific questions posed by the OP. If anyone tries to turn it to a general BT/Eir/Virgin saga thread, it gets closed

The story is that if you sign up to Eir Broadband, and have an existing Sky or Eir Sport subscription - or indeed a valid Sky viewing card of any sort -you can have your Eir Sport viewing card activated for the free offer.

Yes you can use an old Sky HD box.

Eir Sport have, in the past, been able to arrange for SSSL to issue a viewing card to non Sky subscribers. I presume they are still able to do so in connection with this offer, but it's perhaps worth checking that directly with them.

Maybe you could sticky a thread related to getting Eir Sport on Sky if you are an Eir customer.

I know a lot of people at work who have Sky and want Eir Sport and are customers of Eir.

Johnboy1951

kingtiger wrote: »

Going to move to Eir to avail of their free offer of BT sports and was wondering does anyone know the story with their offer of BT sport HD on satellite

Can I use an old Sky HD box that I have? Also confused about the viewing card, do Eir provide one?

I got no indication that eir would issue a card of any type, but I have asked again about it.

http://www.boards.ie/ttfthread/2057618741

At present I cannot get the eir channels, even though I am a subscriber ........ I did view the channels on a borrowed Windows laptop so I am registered etc.
The thread above explains why I am in this predicament.

icdg

I'm afraid we're only allowed a limited number of stickies these days.

muffler

mikeym wrote: »

Maybe you could sticky a thread related to getting Eir Sport on Sky if you are an Eir customer.

I know a lot of people at work who have Sky and want Eir Sport and are customers of Eir.

You would probably find all you need to know in the 2 stickied threads on the Eir talk to forum

Johnboy1951

kingtiger wrote: »

Going to move to Eir to avail of their free offer of BT sports and was wondering does anyone know the story with their offer of BT sport HD on satellite

Can I use an old Sky HD box that I have? Also confused about the viewing card, do Eir provide one?

No ... you need a Sky card and to use it within the terms of reference you must use a Sky STB and no other.

I got my answer to the question here
http://www.boards.ie/ttfthread/2057618741

icdg

They have arranged for the issue of viewing cards before. But it's a term of use - always has been despite some inconsistency on Setanta's part in the past - that it be used in a Sky Digibox. That's a condition imposed by SSSL (the Sky subsidiary who run the conditional access system) and, as far as I know, is a condition imposed on every TV operator to whom VideoGuard is licenced.

I wonder if they'd activate a cancelled Sky card? Provided it's a white one, of course.

lertsnim

I have had Setanta on a cancelled Sky card with no issues.

Puggy

Sorry if this is old news, had a search but didn't find anything...

If your an existing Eir Broadband customer, and a Sky HD TV customer, you can get the Eir Sports package on your Sky box by following this link on the Eir site.

You need an Eir account and Sky account and your viewing card number. If your on the same network as your Sky box, it adds the channels instantly

Treepole

Puggy wrote: »

Sorry if this is old news, had a search but didn't find anything...

If your an existing Eir Broadband customer, and a Sky HD TV customer, you can get the Eir Sports package on your Sky box by following this link on the Eir site.

You need an Eir account and Sky account and your viewing card number. If your on the same network as your Sky box, it adds the channels instantly

Yes "free" after they jack up the monthly charge on your account.

Johnboy1951

You can receive the eir sports channels without being a current Sky customer (paying a subscription) provided you have a Sky box and card.
If the Sky box is not an HD box then you still get the channels only not the HD versions.
Using a Sky HD box allows reception of the eir/BT HD channels.

swoofer

I joined eir sport 9 July using a setanta card that was part of a prize ie I had setanta free for a year in an SD box, in other words reactivated it using online facility. I did this as it would not accept my cuurent setanta card that had an annual sub unless I cancelled it first. I was going away and just wanting to try registering. It worked in an sd box. I on July 23 I asked for card to be paired to hd box but I only got sd and one hd channel. I rang quite a few times and got signal sent etc but no good. I then tried registering my setanta card that had an annual sub THAT expires Nov 16 and could not register unless I cancelled it. So rang again cancelled sub got signal no hd. I have now rang 3 more times and get signal sent but no hd. One helpful CS person asked for box details and did say there was a problem with box serial number. Apparently the card is now paired when signal is sent ie according to setanta/eir reps

I can get BBC1 HD and 2 and eir sport 2 hd, its an amtrad hd box drx890 version, bought from adverts about 3 years ago.

So if someone can confirm HD works with a setanta card that never had a sky sub I would be grateful.

PS how do I get a new card in case my one is fried ie too old.

PPS I am an eir BB customer since Nov 2015

swoofer

Johnboy, just saw this, see my post, I cant get HD with a setanta card and I used 2 of them in error. Can you confirm a setanta card that never had a sky sub should get hd as well. I moved it from an SD box a pace to an amstrad sky plus hd box. Its doing my head in.

lertsnim

swoofer wrote: »

Can you confirm a setanta card that never had a sky sub should get hd as well.

You should be able to get HD. Call Eir

icdg

Merged a couple of threads on this subject.

This thread is for queries relating to receiving Eir Sport on the Astra platform only.

Discussion about the Virgin Media situation or programmes should be in the thread in Broadcasting

swoofer

I doubt if I will get an answer to the specific question now but one lives in hope

givecredit

swoofer wrote: »

I doubt if I will get an answer to the specific question now but one lives in hope

It sounds to me that your card is not correctly paired to your box. Is the HD channel you get the EIR sport one. I am assuming the non working HD channels are the BT ones. The need to be correctly paired to the HD box to work.

If you switch to sky sports 1, do you get an upgrade screen or this is the wrong card message?

Johnboy1951

@ swoofer (unable to quote your post)
Sorry cannot help.
I do not have a Sky HD box to test with.
I only tested two Setanta issued, FTV cards, in two old Sky boxes.
I also tested one card in an Ariva 120.
The three boxes gave SD channels and no HD ....... apparently the HD channels have further protection in a similar manner to Sky HD channels.
So you need to
1. Be an eir customer
2. Register with myeir
3. Register your card through myeir account
4. Use a Sky HD box and have the particular card paired to that specific box only, to receive the HD eir sports channels.

I see no reason why #4 above should be applied. Other HD channels (such as FTA channels) do not have this requirement.
I would point out that using a Sky card in a non-Sky STB is contrary to their T&Cs. It is not illegal to do it, just contrary to their T&Cs.

lertsnim

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

4. Use a Sky HD box and have the particular card paired to that specific box only, to receive the HD eir sports channels.

I see no reason why #4 above should be applied. Other HD channels (such as FTA channels) do not have this requirement.
I would point out that using a Sky card in a non-Sky STB is contrary to their T&Cs. It is not illegal to do it, just contrary to their T&Cs.

FTA HD channels wouldn't have that requirement as they are FTA and will work on any box capable of tuning them in. Most encrypted HD channels need the card to be paired to the box. Eir Sport 2 HD doesn't but BT Sport are on the list of channels that do.

Johnboy1951

lertsnim wrote: »

FTA HD channels wouldn't have that requirement as they are FTA and will work on any box capable of tuning them in. Most encrypted HD channels need the card to be paired to the box. Eir Sport 2 HD doesn't but BT Sport are on the list of channels that do.

Which would point up that it is not necessary, which is what I said

BTW, I have not noticed that eir sports HD is available from eir in the 'free' package for their customers. Did I miss it?

EDIT: YEP I missed it it is there indeed DOG is 'Premier Live HD'

muffler

swoofer wrote: »

Johnboy, just saw this, see my post, I cant get HD with a setanta card and I used 2 of them in error. Can you confirm a setanta card that never had a sky sub should get hd as well. I moved it from an SD box a pace to an amstrad sky plus hd box. Its doing my head in.

Strictly speaking there is no such thing as a Setanta card but they have been known to supply "cards" to their customers in the past. But what they supply/did supply was a Sky viewing card. Im not sure what happens after that but I assume that they would have got Sky to pair that card with the box. Once you subscribed to Setanta (before the Eir takeover) all you had to do was give them the card number and money of course.

Moving the card to different boxes is a complete waste of time. To get those channels the card had to be paired with the box and it will stay that way thereafter unless you changed boxes.

lertsnim

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Which would point up that it is not necessary, which is what I said

It's only a matter of time before all encrypted channels will need to be paired. It is an effective way of combatting piracy via card sharing. As soon as all Sky customers are on HD boxes I have no doubt they will do this for all channels, HD and SD.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

BTW, I have not noticed that eir sports HD is available from eir in the 'free' package for their customers. Did I miss it?

Eir Sport 1 HD is not on satellite.

Johnboy1951

It was possible to get a FTV card from Setanta under the Sound & Vision scheme.
This card could be enabled without pairing with a Sky STB .... in fact did not need a SKY STB to be enabled. The card could then be used in any STB with a suitable card reader to view the S&V programming.
eir can enable those same cards to receive their sports channels, including eir Sports 2 HD. eir do not require any STB details from the user, only the card number and account details. The card is then usable in any suitable device.
The limitation is .... if you want to view BT Sports channels in HD then the card must be paired with a Sky HD box.
Of course using a 'Sky' card in anything other than a Sky box is contrary to their T&Cs. Doing so might open the user to having the card cancelled. I have never heard of anyone having their card cancelled for this reason.
I guess it is just like other providers of services ..... they have their T&Cs in case they need to act, but mostly do not. Somewhat similar to ISPs having limits on allowed downloads but not applying those limits.

Wanderer78

lertsnim wrote:

It's only a matter of time before all encrypted channels will need to be paired. It is an effective way of combatting piracy via card sharing. As soon as all Sky customers are on HD boxes I have no doubt they will do this for all channels, HD and SD.

Any idea how close sky are at achieving this? Shocked card sharing is still possible on their platform

Johnboy1951

lertsnim wrote: »

It's only a matter of time before all encrypted channels will need to be paired. It is an effective way of combatting piracy via card sharing. As soon as all Sky customers are on HD boxes I have no doubt they will do this for all channels, HD and SD.

As they should be ....... for SKY subscription channels!
It is a completely different matter when speaking of the eir sports channels.
These are not subject to a SKY subscription and so should not be subject to any of the Sky specific protections.
They are already quite well protected by eir's requirements regarding being a customer, and registering on line etc etc.

lertsnim

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

As they should be ....... for SKY subscription channels!
It is a completely different matter when speaking of the eir sports channels.
These are not subject to a SKY subscription and so should not be subject to any of the Sky specific protections.
They are already quite well protected by eir's requirements regarding being a customer, and registering on line etc etc.

BT Sport aren't Sky channels and their HD channels require a card to be paired so that pretty much nullifies that point.

How does Eir requiring you to be a customer, registering online etc etc protect them from anything?

lertsnim

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Any idea how close sky are at achieving this? Shocked card sharing is still possible on their platform

There is still a lot of SD boxes in use so it won't be something that will happen for a while yet

steveon

lertsnim wrote: »

There is still a lot of SD boxes in use so it won't be something that will happen for a while yet

Already happening and alot more customers are getting letters for a free upgrade, once enough customers are on Hd boxes sky will simply turn off the old service overnight.

http://www.a516digital.com/2016/07/sky-paints-positive-picture-wants-to.html

icdg

It would be all well and good if Eir were using their own completely independent platform. They are not. Though they are not part of the Sky package, they are absolutely and completely reliant on Sky for encryption services. This is a pragmatic decision - otherwise users would require two set top boxes (or a CAM) - but use of that system necessarily carries with it a requirement to adhere to Sky's terms and conditions. As pointed out earlier these "Setanta" or "Eir viewing cards" are in fact Sky digital viewing cards.

swoofer

thanks all but I notice no one has come with the defenitive answer. And to answer give credit when I switch to bt sport 2 hd I get wrong card message and not the upgrade one. Ill ring sky and try to get card paired correctly, howoever they may not be very compliant. FREE is not on their agenda.

Johnboy1951

icdg wrote: »

It would be all well and good if Eir were using their own completely independent platform. They are not. Though they are not part of the Sky package, they are absolutely and completely reliant on Sky for encryption services. This is a pragmatic decision - otherwise users would require two set top boxes (or a CAM) - but use of that system necessarily carries with it a requirement to adhere to Sky's terms and conditions. As pointed out earlier these "Setanta" or "Eir viewing cards" are in fact Sky digital viewing cards.

To be honest I am unsure what benefits eir gets from the present situation of being on Astra, except that it is likely a contractual thing they bought with Setanta. When that contract expires is it likely that eir will withdraw from Satellite and concentrate on internet streaming only?

lertsnim

steveon wrote: »

Already happening and alot more customers are getting letters for a free upgrade, once enough customers are on Hd boxes sky will simply turn off the old service overnight.

http://www.a516digital.com/2016/07/sky-paints-positive-picture-wants-to.html

Yes it is happening but all SD customers wont be upgraded to HD boxes overnight.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

To be honest I am unsure what benefits eir gets from the present situation of being on Astra, except that it is likely a contractual thing they bought with Setanta. When that contract expires is it likely that eir will withdraw from Satellite and concentrate on internet streaming only?

That would be an incredibly foolish move. There are many parts of the country who still don't have the broadband speeds for that.

peckdunn

Does anyone know how Eir's multi room works? Man at door said it's a device you bring around the house?

swoofer

OK got it cracked. I rang sky and they would not pair the card but gave me a clue in saying they can overwrite a box ser no. I then swopped to another HD box and rang setanta and this time I got a person who knew about pairing. Gave box details and bingo all channels worked in HD for free. I think the error first time when I tried to get a person to pair other box that I quoted box ser no at end as a ZERO but was in fact the letter 0. The second box letter was E.

What a palaver but at least persistence paid off. I can't believe it something for FREE. Its 225 for a year or 25/month.

icdg

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

To be honest I am unsure what benefits eir gets from the present situation of being on Astra, except that it is likely a contractual thing they bought with Setanta. When that contract expires is it likely that eir will withdraw from Satellite and concentrate on internet streaming only?

I wouldn't think so, if only because the commercial customers (nearly all of whom are now committed to the Sky platform) would be up in arms over it.

Johnboy1951

icdg wrote: »

I wouldn't think so, if only because the commercial customers (nearly all of whom are now committed to the Sky platform) would be up in arms over it.

I suppose they will have to reckon the income from those customers against the total cost of being on the Satellite.

icdg

The cost would be less than you'd think, because Eir Sport 1 is the only channel Eir has to bear the full costs for.

Johnboy1951

icdg wrote: »

The cost would be less than you'd think, because Eir Sport 1 is the only channel Eir has to bear the full costs for.

Thanks I was not aware of that.

OT .... just been offered a Sky+HD box with card so I might get a chance to try this next week sometime.

lertsnim

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Thanks I was not aware of that.

OT .... just been offered a Sky+HD box with card so I might get a chance to try this next week sometime.

BT uplink their own channels and Eir Sport 2 is Premier Sport so it's easy for Eir.

STB.

icdg wrote: »

It would be all well and good if Eir were using their own completely independent platform. They are not. Though they are not part of the Sky package, they are absolutely and completely reliant on Sky for encryption services. This is a pragmatic decision - otherwise users would require two set top boxes (or a CAM) - but use of that system necessarily carries with it a requirement to adhere to Sky's terms and conditions. As pointed out earlier these "Setanta" or "Eir viewing cards" are in fact Sky digital viewing cards.

NDS Videoguard is the encryption system which is used by Sky on 28.2E. The EIR channels use this encryption out to protect their content, it being the only encryption system used on 28.2

This is not part of any Sky package. There is no proprietary requirement to use their equipment. The requirement to use their boxes only applies to Sky subscribers per the terms and conditions of that private agreement with Sky. This is not the case for non subscribers.

Everything else then becomes a matter of technical possibility.

CI+ and/OR NDS CAMs easily fulfill the security requirements.

It could be activated in any CI+ compliant box or TV.

Its nothing to do with pragmatism. You do not need to subscribe to Sky to get the EIR channels.

icdg

But Eir need to deal with Sky, even though the customer does not. That's the point I am making. They are not running a separate system to Sky that happens the use the same encryption system, they are using the Sky system.

You keep not believing on that point, I can only produce my exhibit: the Eir Sport terms and conditions, and in particular paragraph 15 which incorporates all of these requirements, including the specific mention of having to use a Sky Digibox.

https://www.eir.ie/opencms/export/sites/default/.content/pdf/pricing/pt13.1.pdf

muffler

STB. wrote: »

You do not need to subscribe to Sky to get the EIR channels.

Correct. But the use of either a Sky box/Sky HD box is necessary for now anyhow. How else can Eir BB customers get access to the sports channels?