Alternative PVRs for Use instead of MySky

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171 posts

Master Geek

#143292 9-Apr-2014 17:16

I purchased my MySky HDi box in August 2008 when it was first available and would now like to consider a better alternative. The almost 6 year old box is temperamental and is short on HDD storage with half the available space is taken up with a Sky service I never use.

I understand a UltraPlus X-9200HD PVR might do the job and all I have to do is transfer the Sky smart card from the MySky HDi box to the UltraPlus.

Can someone advise the practicality of this alternative, pros and cons, and whether Sky will jump down my throat at the mere suggestion.

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1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1022502 9-Apr-2014 22:11

If it's playing up then ask Sky for a replacement or an upgrade to MySky+. Even if you purchased it with their lump sum offer you never actually own it. It still remains their property.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1022586 10-Apr-2014 07:29

To be quite frank, you could always build a custom HTPC from second hard parts from trademe, stick 2 or 4 tuners in the back with an Omnikey and some clever software and you can watch sky on that system using a number of free TV engines/software. I have my entire house linked up in that way (i.e. any PC with the right software can watch live or recorded tv). Might be around the same price as some of those custom Linux systems.

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171 posts

Master Geek

#1029877 23-Apr-2014 16:05

My question related to the use of an alternative 3rd party commercially available PVR for watching and recording Sky programming by transferring the Sky provided smart card to the 3rd party device. I cannot believe that someone out there is not doing this! The silence so far speaks volumes.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1029878 23-Apr-2014 16:07

Most people I know of who do not use the skybox use a custom built HTPC with DVB-S2 tuner cards; similar to the Linux based PVR units but you can control the software a bit easier, but then again they take a little bit more work to setup.

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171 posts

Master Geek

#1029882 23-Apr-2014 16:11

Benoire: Most people I know of who do not use the skybox use a custom built HTPC with DVB-S2 tuner cards; similar to the Linux based PVR units but you can control the software a bit easier, but then again they take a little bit more work to setup.

So I can achieve the same result using a commercially available PVR and my MySkyHDi smart card? [Forgive me but I don't consider myself technically proficient enough to build my own solution.]

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1029884 23-Apr-2014 16:12

Yes. You have to be careful over the unit to ensure it matches your needs. Sky NZ does some funny stuff with the EPG unfortunately compared to the UK/IT/AUS setup so you need to find the right software addons to deal with it correctly. Have a search through the Geekzone forums as there are a few threads on it somewhere in the depths of the forums...

MikeB4

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#1029885 23-Apr-2014 16:13

I confess I don't know a lot about the Sky set up but do they allow non Sky owned equipment to register on the Network?

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Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1029887 23-Apr-2014 16:15

Nothing registers on the network per se, the streams are picked up by any normal DVB-s system they're just encoded and you need the sky card to decode them. It is against the ToC to do what a lot of people do, but no damage occurs to their network from this as the streams are one way; satellite > Earth.

MikeB4

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#1029891 23-Apr-2014 16:19

So if you have a Sky decoder and send it back your Smart card is cancelled yes/no?
If you have to retain their decoder to keep the card active it seems kinda self defeating as one can just use the Sky decoder.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1029900 23-Apr-2014 16:22

Yes, although you can drop the HD and PVR package and still get benefits as HD is not encoded on the card, just hidden by the sky box.

The main reason you do it though is that a) the EPG supplied by Sky is very poor, b) increased storage as the recorded programs are now unencrypted and in TS format, c) multiroom is effectively free as long as you have another client capable of playing back HD streams (1080i mainly as that is harder than 1080p). For me, I get a better interface more usability, movies, on demand content through one interface and multiroom for free. I still pay Sky for the sub, I just happen to use a different method to playback.

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171 posts

Master Geek

#1029904 23-Apr-2014 16:24

KiwiNZ: So if you have a Sky decoder and send it back your Smart card is cancelled yes/no?
If you have to retain their decoder to keep the card active it seems kinda self defeating as one can just use the Sky decoder.

In my case I "purchased" the MySkyHDi box so I am not paying an ongoing monthly rental for it. So I gain nothing by returning it. So I can "keep" the card and just transfer it to another 3rd party box. As long as I keep paying my normal Sky monthly subscription my card will keep working. I would imagine though if I rented the Sky box and returned it they would disable the card, as they can easily do of course.

MikeB4

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#1029906 23-Apr-2014 16:27

Benoire: Yes, although you can drop the HD and PVR package and still get benefits as HD is not encoded on the card, just hidden by the sky box.

The main reason you do it though is that a) the EPG supplied by Sky is very poor, b) increased storage as the recorded programs are now unencrypted and in TS format, c) multiroom is effectively free as long as you have another client capable of playing back HD streams (1080i mainly as that is harder than 1080p). For me, I get a better interface more usability, movies, on demand content through one interface and multiroom for free. I still pay Sky for the sub, I just happen to use a different method to playback.

Seems a lot of trouble for repeats

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1029912 23-Apr-2014 16:29

hah, yes but then I love to tinker (I've got virtualised servers in my house doing stuff) so this is fun for me. Once setup it is just run and forget. The main thing really is the bringing together of different media streams (DVB-s, Bluray, on demand content, ripped movies, music) in to one interface without having to switch front ends. being able to watch multiple channels in differnet rooms is just a bonus when I'm watching footy and the missus wants to watch the Batchelor.

MikeB4

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#1029927 23-Apr-2014 16:35

Benoire: hah, yes but then I love to tinker (I've got virtualised servers in my house doing stuff) so this is fun for me. Once setup it is just run and forget. The main thing really is the bringing together of different media streams (DVB-s, Bluray, on demand content, ripped movies, music) in to one interface without having to switch front ends. being able to watch multiple channels in differnet rooms is just a bonus when I'm watching footy and the missus wants to watch the Batchelor.

Can relate to that, I am considering building a NTPC, my TiVo is still going strong (touch wood) and is still the best PVR but when it goes I will do my own, sad we are not getting the new generation TiVo's here.

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#1029940 23-Apr-2014 16:53

login: In my case I "purchased" the MySkyHDi box so I am not paying an ongoing monthly rental for it. So I gain nothing by returning it. So I can "keep" the card and just transfer it to another 3rd party box. As long as I keep paying my normal Sky monthly subscription my card will keep working. I would imagine though if I rented the Sky box and returned it they would disable the card, as they can easily do of course.

I also purchased the (old) MySky box.
When it died after 5 years I upgraded to HD and got a new box free of charge.
A huge improvement over the old one, better image quality, and longer recording times.
Go for it.

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