Sky recordings - what happens when switching box?

[Deleted User]

prowla wrote: »

Sure - does pairing your card with the new box de-pair it with the old one?

That's correct but ,even with a valid card, the box still needs to be connected to the dish in order to view or make recordings.

davemurgatroyd

The old box needs connecting to a dish and viewing recordings depends on which channels are recorded on and whether the card is paired to the box (It can only be paired to one box at a time).

With a non-paired card with a valid Sky+ sub on it you will only be able to view recordings from unencrypted FTA channels (i.e. BBC etc that do not require a card to view). All other channel recordings (FTV and subscription) require the card to be paired to the box.

blisteringblue

Moto2 wrote: »

The OP had me thinking so I did some searching

this looks promising
http://www.skycopyplus.co.uk/index.php

While it does work it involves removing the hard disks and connecting to your computer. Not for the faint hearted.

Mainly used when people wanted to install their own larger hard disk.

davemurgatroyd

Moto2 wrote: »

The OP had me thinking so I did some searching

this looks promising
http://www.skycopyplus.co.uk/index.php

Copyplus will not work on anything but the Thomson HD+ box and all old SD Sky+ boxes. For all HD+ boxes on the "new" EPG you will need alternative software called "ExPVR".

giraffe69

You'd thin this was such a common problem that Sky would allow a period where the card could pair to two boxes so you could see your old recordings and use your new box. Not perfect but it is pretty annoying if you get a new box with 7 episodes of a loved series still to watch!

Moto2

giraffe69 wrote: »

You'd thin this was such a common problem that Sky would allow a period where the card could pair to two boxes so you could see your old recordings and use your new box. Not perfect but it is pretty annoying if you get a new box with 7 episodes of a loved series still to watch!

That can't happen
What they'd need to do is issue a new card with the new box and leave a grace period on the old one and put in some sort of 'hand shake' where they could verify the boxes are at the same address.

prowla

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

None of the recordings are "lost"; just not available if not connected to a satellite dish with a current viewing card.

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

That's correct but ,even with a valid card, the box still needs to be connected to the dish in order to view or make recordings.

So, even though they still exist on the disk, they are inaccessible after your sole card is paired with the new box, so the content on the old box is as good as lost in any practical sense.

(Unless you get out your hat with a propeller on it and do surgery on the old Sky box and read the disk contents using a PC.:))

darren72

davemurgatroyd wrote: »

Copyplus will not work on anything but the Thomson HD+ box and all old SD Sky+ boxes. For all HD+ boxes on the "new" EPG you will need alternative software called "ExPVR".

I believe this will only allow you to extract non-encrypted channels (ie, free channels), not any of the recordings from paid-for channels.

davemurgatroyd

darren72 wrote: »

I believe this will only allow you to extract non-encrypted channels (ie, free channels), not any of the recordings from paid-for channels.

No you can copy all your old recordings (encrypted and non-encrypted) to the HDD in the new box - however do this before making any recordings on the new box as it will wipe the HDD they are transferred to.