Possible to use sky box as card reader?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Possible to use sky box as card reader?

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#74924 10-Jan-2011 21:51

I have in my posession an old sky box (Pace DSR620) and have been thinking about sorting out a card reader for the HTPC to get TV1,2 & 3 in HD via Sky (paying the $18/month FTA package)
I notice the serial port on te back of the unit, which is no doubt deactivated for us, but does anyone know if it is possible to update the firmware to allow the serial port to pass the encryption data? Basically I want to know if I can just use the STB as a hardware CAM unit (kinda like a Dreambox i suppose)

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sbiddle

30853 posts

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#425978 11-Jan-2011 06:22

Simple answer is no..

But anybody is possible if you have access to STB source code and the knowledge to completely rewrite the STB software but I'm sure you won't find anybody on here who can do that!

Buy a Dreambox if you want a Dreambox, they're under $100 incl shipping with the $ at present.

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#426002 11-Jan-2011 08:54

Thanks for the simple answer sbiddle. Don't want a dreambox, just want a card reader and don't have the skills to build a phoenix reader. Oh well, looks like an Infinity reader it will be!

Anyone want a sky box to play with? Sky don't seem at all interested in it back - i have told them 6 times over the past 2 years that I don't need it anymore and they keep telling me they'll get someone round to pick it up. Still waiting...
I'll be keeping the card tho... ;)

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#426063 11-Jan-2011 11:42

Well a dreambox with one of the DVB Link programs can act as a networked card reader apparently, if the dreambox has its own connection to the dish then it can also update its entitlements...

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#426086 11-Jan-2011 12:30

Rollux: ...don't have the skills to build a phoenix reader...

Why don't you give it a go? I have close to zero experience with a soldering iron but managed to build my Jaycar reader first time with no issues. You might surprise yourself...

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#426135 11-Jan-2011 14:26

For the same money I can buy an Infinity USB Unlimited, without the risk of me screwing it up! Plus I got an average of 55% in practical work in 6th form electronics, soldering being my biggest weakness.

Rsmith

35 posts

Geek

#429526 21-Jan-2011 13:37

I use a dreambox to serve My PC, I prefer it to the Infinity USB setup I had before because I don't have to have any programs running on the PC and I had issues with it waking from sleep and recording when I was using NewCS on the PC.

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#429984 22-Jan-2011 19:57

Still got the old Infinity? Want to sell it?

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Rsmith

35 posts

Geek

#430017 22-Jan-2011 21:12

I wanted to keep it as a backup, and it's only an Infinity USB Smart, which means you can't overclock it.

Those cheap dreambox clones don't inspire a lot of confidence in reliability :)

Glazza

279 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#435614 5-Feb-2011 10:41

Rollux: Still got the old Infinity? Want to sell it?

I purchased a couple of the Infinity card readers, and would be happy to sell... PM me if interested.