How do I remove the need to enter PIN for Sky?

Chewbumpkin

Hi all. There is only my husband and I in this house. We are out quite a bit, and like to record movies and watch them when we are at home. However, we have found that, during the daytime, quite a few films need the PIN number input to be able to watch/record. If the PIN is not entered, the film will either not be recorded, or all we get is 2 hours of "Enter PIN Number" screen :mad:. Not very nice when you have been looking forward to watching a long awaited movie!

I have tried going into Services and Parental Controls, but according to that, all the Movie Channels are unrestricted. Do Sky put their own restrictions on movies broadcast during the day, as I have no problems at all recording evenings/nights.

Does anyone know a way of bypassing/removing the necessity of entering the PIN?

albionrovers

It's a parental lock, it applies to films which are eg. PG or 18. If you want to watch them before 21:00 then the PIN popup appears so young kids cannot freely watch them, which kinda makes sense. After the watershed, the PIN isn't required.

Ring SKY if you have forgotten the PIN. They will either tell you the PIN or tell you how to override the whole concept of a PIN.

The latter may even be explained on the digitalspy website.

john_s_2

Try the parental controls settings again. I went into that years ago and unblocked everything. I've never been asked for a PIN since.

Chewbumpkin

Thank you albionrovers, no need to contact Sky as I know my PIN, having to use it very often to be able to watch movies during the day when I am in.

I went to digitalspy and apparently this is a requirement supposedly forced on Sky by Ofcom for movies PG and upwards shown before 8pm.:mad:

john_s_2

Chewbumpkin wrote: »

I went to digitalspy and apparently this is a requirement supposedly forced on Sky by Ofcom for movies PG and upwards shown before 8pm.:mad:

I can honestly say I've never had this problem since taking off parental controls. I suppose it's possible I haven't tried watching a sky-plussed film before the watershed. But plenty of other stuff :-\

EDIT: Just checked, I have* Resident Evil recorded (15) and it plays sans PIN at 20:13. I've set it to record Zombie Flesheaters (18 - for the sake of experiment!) tonight so I'll see it if it plays tomorrow.

Not sure what time the 15 watershed is?

* My wife and daughter. Not me!

michaelro

Even if you have the pin turned off it will still ask you for any films you have recorded onto the sky + box.

When I had sky movies it annoyed me and I phoned sky to complain.

As mentioned ofcom imposed the restriction.

Only found it applied to the movie channels though....

john_s_2

michaelro wrote: »

Only found it applied to the movie channels though....

Aha! That could be why this doesn't seem to affect me: I don't subscribe to the movie channels. That would annoy me royally if I did.

sandy2_2

We have a secondhand sky+ box and a sky subscription with our own card, but I keep getting the input PIN request. Have tried using the PIN for our sky card but it´s rejected, tried going into the bit re parental control, but it again asked for PIN no, input ours but again rejected, have tried to contact the previuos owner of the sky+ box just in case it wanted their number, but have had no response from them. Help please

DrScotsman

Chewbumpkin wrote: »

If the PIN is not entered, the film will either not be recorded, or all we get is 2 hours of "Enter PIN Number" screen :mad:. Not very nice when you have been looking forward to watching a long awaited movie!

Sorry, you've confused me a bit here (no one else mind you ). Are we talking recording on a Sky+/Sky HD box or some external device like a VCR?

If you mean the former then I don't know what you mean by '2 hours of "Enter PIN Number"', Sky+ doesn't simply record exactly what's being displayed on your screen...if you see a PIN prompt then you enter your PIN surely...

trets77

Chewbumpkin wrote: »

Hi all. There is only my husband and I in this house. We are out quite a bit, and like to record movies and watch them when we are at home. However, we have found that, during the daytime, quite a few films need the PIN number input to be able to watch/record. If the PIN is not entered, the film will either not be recorded, or all we get is 2 hours of "Enter PIN Number" screen :mad:. Not very nice when you have been looking forward to watching a long awaited movie!

I have tried going into Services and Parental Controls, but according to that, all the Movie Channels are unrestricted. Do Sky put their own restrictions on movies broadcast during the day, as I have no problems at all recording evenings/nights.

Does anyone know a way of bypassing/removing the necessity of entering the PIN?

if your recording in sky+ you simply enter the PIN when the recording prompts . if your recording Sky onto a VCR may i suggest a call to sky and getting a upgrade to Sky + . once you have it you will wonder how you ever lived without it . seriously your living in the last century if you don't have it or similar alternative

they may well give you a free upgrade if your a subscriber . threaten to leave if they don't .

sandy2_2

can anyone help please
We have a secondhand sky+ box and a sky subscription with our own card, but I keep getting the input PIN request. Have tried using the PIN for our sky card but it´s rejected, tried going into the bit re parental control, but it again asked for PIN no, input ours but again rejected, have tried to contact the previuos owner of the sky+ box just in case it wanted their number, but have had no response from them. Help please
Sandy