Leaving FTV Card Out Of The Box // Lost Channels on FTA Card

Element 4

Greetings from the cold but sunny North West.

I am just after getting my FTV card activated yesterday and it took almost 24 hours for the final channels to come through, the last ones being CH4 and CH 5 , why so long for thise is my first question.

But more importantly , How long could I leave me FTV card out of the box before having to get it switched back on ? further more so I have to rine those nice people in the UK to get it re-activated everytime or can i do something on my box to switch it back onb again ?

Sorry of this has already being coverd, I havent being around for a whille and now that I have DSL from Eircom , I will be around ALL THE TIME as I cannot afford to go out anymore !!!

E4 ;-):mad: :mad:

Tip:
Leave your FTV card in the box on standby over night before you go to bed-do the switch on Sky news and then change to BBC one and power down on standby for the night-works a treat.

The delay in your channels arriving is normal, it varies for everybody but usually the beebs are last.

If you leave the card out for too long ie more than 2 days, then you won't usually have to ring the UK, to get it back, just leave the card in the box , powered on to BBC one or so for 12-24 hours and the channels will return.

You may have problems soon, if the card you have is not one of the newer cards that Sky/FTV are sending out.

Also, there is a theory/probability that card swapping will not work with the new cards
mm

Element 4

While watching the telly this afternoon I noticed the green “On-line” light coming on, on my digi box. I have my FTV card in it at the time.

What was that all about?

Can anyone explain?

sergeant121

Originally posted by Element 4
While watching the telly this afternoon I noticed the green “On-line” light coming on, on my digi box. I have my FTV card in it at the time.

What was that all about?

Can anyone explain?

Yes. Your digibox was 'phoning home to Sky (or, if it's not connected to a landline, it was trying to 'phone home).

robert muldoon

I have lost UTV & Channel 4 on my FTA card. I hav'nt used it for a couple of weeks? The question is, how do I get them back? Do I need to contact Sky or if I leave the card in , will they return automatically.
All help gracefully recieved,
Thanks in anticipation

irishgeo

Just leave the card in for a while. They will reactivate on their own.

robert muldoon

Originally posted by irishgeo
Just leave the card in for a while. They will reactivate on their own.

I left the card in overnight at BBC 1 and UTV returned but still no sign of Ch 4 and a host of other channels, will they eventually return?. I left the Sky box on NOT on standby, does that make any difference? also does it make any difference what channel the box is left at?

Thanks again

Element 4

Ok,

But mine WAS pluged into the phone line, will it have reached sky and if so what would it have said / done and what if any damage could have being casued

E4

Richard

Originally posted by Element 4
Ok,

But mine WAS pluged into the phone line, will it have reached sky and if so what would it have said / done and what if any damage could have being casued

E4

I presume it won't have been able to get through because it would have tried a UK number without the 0044 prefix.

Element 4

Damn,

so sky have skrewed me again by making me pay for a UK phone call.

Just as a matter of interest is there any way of getting to see the numbers that the Digibox dials ?

E4

byte

They should all return eventually. It doesnt matter if box is on standby or on, and I dont think it makes much difference which channel is viewed either.

Let us know if theyre on by this evening

byte

The phone call will not have been made as it's a UK number as Richard said and doesnt' have the 0044 prefix so couldn't dial out (which is lucky).

AFAIK, the box dials out a freefone number, and dunno if these numbers appear on itemised phonebill

DMC

Threads have a common topic, merged.

robert muldoon

Originally posted by irishbyte
They should all return eventually. It doesnt matter if box is on standby or on, and I dont think it makes much difference which channel is viewed either.

Let us know if theyre on by this evening

Great stuff, my channels have returned but it did take nearly 24 hrs for them all to return. How long does it take to lose channels leaving the FTA card out of the box so I will know in future?

Thanks a lot for that info

DMC

Not the same, but with my FTV box, if I leave it plugged out for more than 3 weeks, it can take a wee while for all the channels to reappear.

colin300

I have a FTV card and I unplugged the box out for about 6 hours and when I plugged it back in the bbc's wouldn't come back on it and it is still the same after a week.

Can someone please help!

sergeant121

Phone 08702 438000 and complain.

irishgeo

C4 and C5 missing on my card but waiting for the new one so not really bothered and nothing worth watching lately on either channel.

jez

Lot to be said for the ex-Sky Sub card/box. Had mine now for two years. Not one problem. Even plugged it out for three weeks once and suffered no issues. There always seem to be reports of trouble with FTV Cards ???

Realise I'll need new card soon though. By the way if I am applying for the new FTV card should I say I still have an existing card in the box etc....???

Appreciate advice.

colin300

so then they are replacing the bbc cards?
I heard they weren't cause it would cost too much to replace the bbc cards and plus in the £ky ad for the new cards down the bottom it says for £ky subscribers only?

Anyone know for definite whats happening with cards?

ShaneOC

Originally posted by jez
There always seem to be reports of trouble with FTV Cards ???

Don't think you can assume everyone is having trouble swapping cards. I have never had a problem with mine. We don't usually get good news reports, eg.

Originally posted by Muppet
I swapped in my FTV card last night and it worked perfectly.

It wouldn't make sense.

Element 4

I have yet to get my card, could sky have forgotten about me ????? NOT WHEN IT COMES T TAKING MY MONEY ! ! ! !

What are the implications for my old FTV card when my new one arrives ???

E4:rolleyes:

mike2084

I've been card swapping with an ex-sub card for a few months now and yesterday I saw that ITV has put up the "For Your Information" banner. Would leaving the card in overnight bring it back? Would this card become married to the box then and would my sub card deactivate being out of the box? Thanks.

Doodah7

I too got the 'For Your Information' notice for Channel 4. I have left the box on over night on that channel. I am hoping that it will be back when I check it this evening.

No probs on ITV or five though...

mike2084

Yeah, I left my card in overnight (11:45p.m. - 2p.m.) and that fixed it

Doodah7

Yes mine came back as well.

A bit weird though the way channels can 'fall off' the card...

DMC

It's not weird really, think of it as a rechargeable battery.