Recording Freesat on Sky + Box

auchterarder

I am looking to get a very cheap freesat recorder box and I noticed that on eBay people are selling Pace Sky + boxes that can record without subscription is this common place now? I have an old Sky+ box I don't use. Who could change it to record and what would the costs be ? Any advice appreciated
Thanks

[Deleted User]

auchterarder wrote: »

I have an old Sky+ box I don't use. Who could change it to record and what would the costs be ? Any advice appreciated

The only way to enable your old Sky+ to record is to pay Sky.
Either an entirely new TV subscription or a Sky+ recording subscription which costs £10.25 a month, I believe.


Cheaper to buy a new Freesat PVR with all the latest viewing additions available as standard.

You can still use the old Sky+ to view the non-subscription channels at no cost whatsoever.

macman

Can you post a link to one of these boxes?The only way that would work woud be if someone had modified it to continue to decrypt the Sky signal.

auchterarder

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

The only way to enable your old Sky+ to record is to pay Sky.
Either an entirely new TV subscription or a Sky+ recording subscription which costs £10.25 a month, I believe.


Cheaper to buy a new Freesat PVR with all the latest viewing additions available as standard.

You can still use the old Sky+ to view the non-subscription channels at no cost whatsoever.

Many thanks for the reply here is one of the listings on ebay i spotted im guesssing that someone has adjusted the hard drive in the boxes to overide the previous sky settings.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PACE-3100-SKY-PLUS-FREESAT-PVR-250GB-RECORD-WITHOUT-A-SUBSCRIPTION-/261201237050?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Satellite_TV_Receivers&hash=item3cd0ce943a

auchterarder

macman wrote: »

Can you post a link to one of these boxes?The only way that would work woud be if someone had modified it to continue to decrypt the Sky signal.

Here is another link to another ebay seller
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/freesat-recorder-Rare-/200912321143?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Satellite_TV_Receivers&hash=item2ec74eba77

[Deleted User]

auchterarder wrote: »

Many thanks for the reply here is one of the listings on ebay i spotted im guesssing that someone has adjusted the hard drive in the boxes to overide the previous sky settings.

macman wrote: »

The only way that would work would be if someone had modified it to continue to decrypt the Sky signal.

It can't be legally modified.
Read the small print at the bottom:
"(you will still need a freesat card or an old subscription card in the box for the record feature to work but I cannot include a card in the sale as ebay rules prohibit this)."

Apparently some old subscription viewing cards have missed the "kill" signal which Sky send over the satellite and so allow the recording features without payment to Sky.
If you want one of those, I doubt you'll find them (legally) listed anywhere and they aren't exactly in limitless supply.

almillar

All sounds pretty dodgy, and could stop working tomorrow. I'd avoid and stick to official channels!

davemurgatroyd

almillar wrote: »

All sounds pretty dodgy, and could stop working tomorrow. I'd avoid and stick to official channels!

It is illegal however it is not likely to stop working (unless the digibox goes tits up) as they are running on a "hacked" modified firmware that has enabled sub free recording and disabled over the air software downloads (so is next to impossible for it to be overwritten). Note that the Sky+ boxes are Pace 3100 and well over 8 years old.

davemurgatroyd

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

It can't be legally modified.
Read the small print at the bottom:
"(you will still need a freesat card or an old subscription card in the box for the record feature to work but I cannot include a card in the sale as ebay rules prohibit this)."

Apparently some old subscription viewing cards have missed the "kill" signal which Sky send over the satellite and so allow the recording features without payment to Sky.
If you want one of those, I doubt you'll find them (legally) listed anywhere and they aren't exactly in limitless supply.

These boxes only require the viewing card for the FTV channels. This is NOT the old "blue" viewing card with Sky+ not turned off - it is a hacked firmware. I have two of the old "blue" cards working as recording FTA channels and mine work in any Sky HD+ box.