What is a virgin tv smart card and do I need one for my Telewest box

usignuolo

I was originally a Telewest customer and am still using my original PACE box for my tv. (I have a cable modem for my internet). Of course Telewest is now Virgin but I have never been offered a replacement set top box and this has not caused me any problems, to date.

However recently I have started getting a message on my screen telling me I need to replace my Virgin tv smart card with the new one supplied or I will lose access to Virgin tv. I assumed initially this was pay per view or some such which I do not use as I have never been sent any sort of card, at any time.

Just to be sure I have looked at my set top box - it is a Pace - and cannot find any card in it to replace. There is a slot on the left but there is no card in it.

Anyone tell me what is happening please? What is a virgin tv smart card and do I need one?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Do you pay Virgin Media each month [ it will be listed separately on your bill ] for your Pace TV box ?
Do you get all the channels or just the terrestrial one's ie BBC / ITV etc ?

You say "" I assumed initially this was pay per view or some such which I do not use, "" if your getting all the channels and are paying Virgin they will automatically send you an updated Nagra3 card to allow you to continue viewing in your geographic area.

If you are not getting all the channels / and / or / are not paying Virgin each month for your box, you should perhaps resist posting this type information to an open forum my friend.

Hope this helps

usignuolo

I am a fully paid up Virgin customer (broadband, tv,internet), totally legit. I can only suppose my OH has picked up the relevant envelope with the new card in and put it somewhere, or thrown it away. He is away this weekend, I shall have ask him when he comes back. I suppose there is a slot somewhere on the Pace box to put it, I'll look again.

james123

hi, we received our smart card about 6 weeks ago , and yes you do need one, i think its to do with added encryption from virgin to stop all the fake boxes, but i could be wrong. If you cant find the one sent to you, or havent received it, call the dreaded customer service and ask them to send a new one.

Richie-from-the-Boro

usignuolo wrote: »

I am a fully paid up Virgin customer (broadband, tv,internet), totally legit. I can only suppose my OH has picked up the relevant envelope with the new card in and put it somewhere, or thrown it away. He is away this weekend, I shall have ask him when he comes back. I suppose there is a slot somewhere on the Pace box to put it, I'll look again.

The ' innocence ' of your post made it apparent that you were not guilty of anything, if I worded it badly, forgive me. The first generation Pace box's had 2 card slots, the second one was never implemented. If you look again you may find you have a~n~other slot [ with a card in ] that you missed !

Dial 151 [ free-call ] on your Virgin phone, but make yourself comfortable with a large coffee before you do so.

spud17

james123 wrote: »

hi, we received our smart card about 6 weeks ago , and yes you do need one, i think its to do with added encryption from virgin to stop all the fake boxes, but i could be wrong.

I'm a BB only customer but I seem to remember reading this several months ago, it's to make all those 'chipped' boxes useless.

DCFC79

The smart card is what plugs into the box, we had the letter the other inc new card, easy to do,