Sky and VU+ Duo PVR

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J1

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#108290 28-Aug-2012 12:05

I recently bought a VU+ Duo PVR to use in combination with Freeview and Sky. I have a legit Sky subscription (with a blue smartcard), and from reading several topics here and on other forums I got the impression that that smartcard would work with the VU+ Duo.

However, I'm having no luck, sofar. I can see all the Freeview channels without problems, but the Sky channels do not show (I mean, I do get them in the list of services of course, but tuning in to them just shows a black screen). I'm a complete n00b when it comes to decoders, CAMs, softcams and so on and found a lot of very vague and often conflicting information on these topics. So I'm hoping someone here can help me understand this a bit better.

Can someone patiently talk me through what's involved, and if at all possible give me some tips on how get my VU+ Duo to show Sky NZ channels? I'm happy to provide additional info if necessary, let me know what I need to look at.

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#678109 28-Aug-2012 12:14

Send gareth41 an email. He set my box up with the appropriate CAMs and it has been working fine for the past year or more. One thing you need to be aware of is regarding PPV movies or if you phone Sky and request a channel be enabled:

- Tune in to the channel first, even though it will show a blank screen

When Sky flip the switch at their end, the channel will appear. If you are not tuned in, then the Vu+ may miss the transmission updating your rights to view that channel. So long as you follow that procedure, you won't have any worries, and everything will work as it does on a regular Sky decoder, with the exception of ordering PPV movies via the remote. Vu+ has so many other cool features, it more than makes up for that drawback however.

Which software image are you using?

J1

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#678119 28-Aug-2012 12:22

grant_k: Send gareth41 an email. He set my box up with the appropriate CAMs and it has been working fine for the past year or more.

Cool, thanks for that, will drop him a line if I can't figure this out. Do I understand you correctly that I need a separate CAM? I was hoping the internal smart card reader could use the Sky card....

One thing you need to be aware of is regarding PPV movies or if you phone Sky and request a channel be enabled:

- Tune in to the channel first, even though it will show a blank screen

When Sky flip the switch at their end, the channel will appear. If you are not tuned in, then the Vu+ may miss the transmission updating your rights to view that channel. So long as you follow that procedure, you won't have any worries, and everything will work as it does on a regular Sky decoder, with the exception of ordering PPV movies via the remote. Vu+ has so many other cool features, it more than makes up for that drawback however.

Well, PPV movies are not really of interest to me, so no problem if that feature doesn't work. I'm a bit confused though: why would I need to phone Sky to enable channels? They should already be enabled, shouldn't they? Or do you mean when I want a new channel added to my subscription?

Which software image are you using?

No idea (I told you I was a n00b :) ). I'm using the standard setup that came with the box (I imported my it from Germany, the only thing I changed was I added a new satellite.xml file to get it to grok Optus D1). Is there an easy way to figure out which image it uses?

grant_k

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#678121 28-Aug-2012 12:27

J1:
grant_k: Send gareth41 an email. He set my box up with the appropriate CAMs and it has been working fine for the past year or more.

Cool, thanks for that, will drop him a line if I can't figure this out. Do I understand you correctly that I need a separate CAM? I was hoping the internal smart card reader could use the Sky card....

Yes, the internal smart card reader does support the Sky card, but you need the software to enable it.

J1:Well, PPV movies are not really of interest to me, so no problem if that feature doesn't work. I'm a bit confused though: why would I need to phone Sky to enable channels? They should already be enabled, shouldn't they? Or do you mean when I want a new channel added to my subscription?

Yes, that's what I mean. For example if you want Rialto or SoHo to try for a while.

J1:
Which software image are you using?

No idea (I told you I was a n00b :) ). I'm using the standard setup that came with the box (I imported my it from Germany, the only thing I changed was I added a new satellite.xml file to get it to grok Optus D1). Is there an easy way to figure out which image it uses?

Use your remote to select: MENU | Information | About

all will be revealed.

J1

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#678124 28-Aug-2012 12:33

grant_k: Use your remote to select: MENU | Information | About

all will be revealed.

Right, thanks, got it! Apparently, I'm using an image called "Experimental 2011-11-08". I did a quick look around on the Web, and found an image for Vu+ Duo called "Black Hole", but I got the impression it is mostly just 'theming', that is, different look and feel. Or is there more to an image than that?

Jaxson

8041 posts

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#678135 28-Aug-2012 13:01

Do you have to return the smart card to the 'real' sky box periodically to update the account activation info?

grant_k

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#678173 28-Aug-2012 13:49

Jaxson: Do you have to return the smart card to the 'real' sky box periodically to update the account activation info?

No, never. Apparently an earlier version of OSCAM had that problem, but not the one I'm using.

grant_k

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#678180 28-Aug-2012 14:00

J1:
grant_k: Use your remote to select: MENU | Information | About

all will be revealed.

Right, thanks, got it! Apparently, I'm using an image called "Experimental 2011-11-08". I did a quick look around on the Web, and found an image for Vu+ Duo called "Black Hole", but I got the impression it is mostly just 'theming', that is, different look and feel. Or is there more to an image than that?

Mine says:

Enigma: Mar 23 2011
Image: Duo Release v2.1.0 - 2011-03-23

As well as that, there is a Skin called "Magic-HD" by Vu+ NL.

Black Hole is another layer which runs on top of the Open-PLI base image. I am running one called VIX which provides some extra features such as Auto Timers (basically the equivalent of Sky's Series Link). I had heard that Black Hole is even better, but VIX gives me everything I need and a lot more besides, so I don't see the need to play around any further. Other functions of VIX are the ability to remap some of the buttons on the remote. This is definitely a handy feature as I found some of the default Open-PLI button functions to be illogical.

It sounds like you have a later version than mine, which hopefully will be stable. The initial image I got from Gareth did have the habit of crashing occasionally when you did something it didn't like. VIX seems a lot better in this regard, and in fact I can't remember the last time it crashed.

Any of the images works in the same way regarding CAMs because they are loaded by Linux which is at the heart of the box. Hopefully Gareth will be able to point you in the right direction regarding installation of the CAM files.

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gareth41

742 posts

Ultimate Geek

#678509 28-Aug-2012 23:34

I sent him a pm with pre-configured firmware, has the cams included and configured for skycard.

I also compiled for the dm500 if anyone wants it? oscam/mgcamd and new channel subs/skybox office working, but have to either order online on their website or call them

grant_k

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#678517 28-Aug-2012 23:49

gareth41: I sent him a pm with pre-configured firmware, has the cams included and configured for skycard.

Great work Gareth, thanks.

Niel

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#678542 29-Aug-2012 06:02

Just wondering if you considered the UltraPlus X-9000HD and if it is better/worse for family use and setup/manage? Or would you recommend the VU+ Duo for Sky?

You can never have enough Volvos!

J1

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#678571 29-Aug-2012 08:44

gareth41: I sent him a pm with pre-configured firmware, has the cams included and configured for skycard.

You, Sir, are a gem. After fiddling about with some other image and various softcams for most of yesterday (fruitlessly), installing the image you provided fixed it in 5 minutes flat. Awesome, many many thanks!

grant_k

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#678661 29-Aug-2012 11:05

Niel: Just wondering if you considered the UltraPlus X-9000HD and if it is better/worse for family use and setup/manage? Or would you recommend the VU+ Duo for Sky?

I've never used the UltraPlus series of receivers so I can't comment on the relative merits of those. My impression is that the Vu+ is best suited to enthusiasts who like to tinker with things. Although it is possible to simplify the setup menus, there is still a fair bit you can play with and mess things up if you're not careful.

If you're a Sky subscriber, MySky takes an awful lot of beating for the average person. It is so simple to use and with the PIN code protected access to some of the setup menus, there is practically no ability to mess things up. If you do, your friendly Sky man is only a phone call away. With a 3rd party receiver used for Sky, you must take responsibility for your own support, with a bit of help from people on forums like this.

I also got some help from:

http://www.austech.info/

http://www.world-of-satellite.com/forum.php

tkr001

416 posts

Ultimate Geek

#678698 29-Aug-2012 12:52

I use the vix image as I think it is the best and I have tried most of them. To get sky going with vix you need to install oscam and cccam and start oscam before cccam. If the op is in Auckland I am happy to help set it up.

grant_k

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#678710 29-Aug-2012 13:20

tkr001: I use the vix image as I think it is the best and I have tried most of them. To get sky going with vix you need to install oscam and cccam and start oscam before cccam. If the op is in Auckland I am happy to help set it up.

Any chance you could write a brief how-to document Tkr001?

I am still running VIX 2.1 after I heard that VIX 2.3 still has problems. They may have been sorted by now though. The Australian distributor for Vu+ helped set my box up with VIX but he didn't tell me exactly what he was doing via FTP and the remote Web Interface.

I noticed that there are certain CAM files you need in certain directories, and then I had to start OSCAM before CCCAM, but apart from that, I'm none the wiser. If the procedure was documented, it would help any future Vu+ owners be more confident about what is needed in order to get the CAMs working.

It's good to hear your opinion that VIX is the image of choice. I'm certainly very pleased with it. Which version are you currently running?

tkr001

416 posts

Ultimate Geek

#678920 29-Aug-2012 19:39

grant_k:
tkr001: I use the vix image as I think it is the best and I have tried most of them. To get sky going with vix you need to install oscam and cccam and start oscam before cccam. If the op is in Auckland I am happy to help set it up.

Any chance you could write a brief how-to document Tkr001?

I am still running VIX 2.1 after I heard that VIX 2.3 still has problems. They may have been sorted by now though. The Australian distributor for Vu+ helped set my box up with VIX but he didn't tell me exactly what he was doing via FTP and the remote Web Interface.

I noticed that there are certain CAM files you need in certain directories, and then I had to start OSCAM before CCCAM, but apart from that, I'm none the wiser. If the procedure was documented, it would help any future Vu+ owners be more confident about what is needed in order to get the CAMs working.

It's good to hear your opinion that VIX is the image of choice. I'm certainly very pleased with it. Which version are you currently running?

I am running VIX 3.0 now. 2.3 wasn't the best, 2.4 was pretty rock solid and 3.0 is pretty good too.

I will do a quick how to when I get some time. It is real easy though.

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