SKY NOW TV Box

[MARK]

Here you go guys...

 

[smoggy07]

Mmmm perhaps this is the catch, been busy so not even opened the box until now (excuse the pun )
the catch would seem to be you have to sign up to Sky movies when subscribing, not what I was looking for.

Mine has yet to arrive (hopefully it will turn up before the weekend) but I created a NowTV account without subscribing, I registered and when it got to the point of them asking for card details I clicked a link to take me back to the homepage (or just entered nowtv.com into the browser) and I was logged in

Apart from the free 30 day trial, I won't be subscribing to anything NowTV (unless the offer me some stupid deal @ £1 per month) and will be using it as a streamer with Plex

I've been reading up on hacking these boxes to run another OS (xbmc maybe?) but everywhere I read says this is a custom made/stripped down Roku with hardware missing and so won't take any other OS/firmware, so there's not really a lot that can be done hacking wise but I am thinking if I added some of the "missing" components to add USB/Ethernet and so on, it might just take a firmware update to become a "proper" Roku
People have tried and failed to get this to take the Roku firmware, some tried spoofing the download server and adding their own F/W and others have lifted chips to read them but no one has had any success as of yet

BTW the Roku code name for the Now box is Windsor, there are others too but I can't for the life of me find the web page or remember any apart from Windsor and Jackson

Also, it has been mentioned that there is 100% no chance of installing Netflix on the NowTV box (not that one would want it installing), apparently all Roku devices are "one time flashed" with a special Netflix "key" in the factory and as this is one time programmed it can't be changed or spoofed, this key grants or denies access to Netflix based on the stored key (I think this is something to do with the Netflix branded box/Roku)

 

[smoggy07]

It arrived this afternoon with the post and having followed the video posted by Mark above, I now have a Plex server running on my PC and Plex app on the Roku/NowTV box.

Looking at the box, it looks OK but it feels cheap and nasty, too light, like there's nothing inside it (I know there is nothing really inside it but that's not the point lol) and playing with Plex I think I can say it's £10 well spent, I might even order a couple more before sky up the price or block the dev mode to stop side loading apps.

A side note on Plex, I can scan my movies and tv shows in but when I try and scan my music it will get so far in and then the server will close randomly(it's a massive music folder), I'm reading through the posts on the Plex forum to try and find a work round or a fix short of going through the thousands of tracks to weed out the problem files

I must remember to block the update servers IP addresses so it can't update (I know it's a against the terms of use or some other condition but if they block the dev access through an update then the box is near on useless)

Would it go against forum rules if we discussed modding these boxes to take other firmware or other hacks? (Hacks and mods that don't involve trying to rob paid content for free, I've no interest in getting sky movies or sports free, it's more about trying new add ons, plugins or tricks, using the box to its full potential)

 

[rolfw]

No problem with box software hacks.

 

[Analoguesat]

Any discussions tho probably need to go into here

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/media-players-nas-drives-and-content-streaming.739/

 

[smoggy07]

Cool

As it's only just turned up today, I'll have to have a play when I can get the remote back off SWMBO (that could take a while though, the free movies trial lasts for 30 days lol) and I'll make a thread in the right place, looking at it, it does have potential if we can rid the sky shackles

 

[Topper]

Had infinity installed on Friday and so decided finally that it was worth setting up my NowTV unit or Plex unit. Thanks to Mark and others for all the info above regarding developer mode. I followed the instructions and also setup a media server on my PC by flashing the software as described. Seems to work well, also have an account from over the pond, but not had much time to explore yet, but was impressed with the picture quality. Registered for the UFO channel and stayed up until 3.30am Sunday morning watching the Aberystwyth UFO program. Although this is only 720p, it will not bother me and the wife will certainly not notice....... all in all £9.99 well spent I would say, if only I had time to watch some of it.

 

[A nonymous]

I've had mine about 3 weeks, i just haven't had the time to set it up. Other things are taking priority at the moment. I've only just set my Dreambox 800se up and i've had that nearly 2 months. It finally retires the TM800HD box.

Nano

 

[DishDick]

Can those that have had this box for sometime, confirm that after the free 30 day Movie offer that Iplayer, demand five etc still work - i.e. with no sub? Might recommend my old dear gets one.

 

[A nonymous]

I couldn't say if thats true or not, mines still in the box. The way things are going i'll probably sell it as at the moment its just collecting dust.

Nano

 

[smoggy07]

give me ten mins to make a coffee and fire mine up and I'll let you know

it should still work but I wouldn't put it past sky

 

[smoggy07]

I've checked it out and both the iPlayer and demand 5 are working after the 30 day trial has expired and it has let me install 4OD too

I also notice they've added the Sky store selling on demand content so that means there is 100% no chance of netflix or lovefilm now then

 

[Topper]

Yes agreed, sorry missed your posts today busy elsewhere, would point out that they have removed my USTV subscription claiming it is no longer available, yes and the rest, I am only glad I did not sign up to the paid content as I would have to use the web to access it now, I also installed 4OD, I still say for a tenner you cannot go wrong and I like the clunky interface

 

[CROSSBONES]

Would navi-x work on this?

 

[smoggy07]

Not unless you can side load it, the channel store is poor on now tv, that said I don't even think you can add it to proper roku devices

Sent from my GT-S6810P using Tapatalk

 

[goose68]

Would navi-x work on this?

I think I installed navi x ice films and a couple of others on my parents one. They get installed on the sever not the actual now box. All the info you need on google. I mean install on Plex server.

 

[smoggy07]

I think I installed navi x ice films and a couple of others on my parents one. They get installed on the sever not the actual now box. All the info you need on google. I mean install on Plex server.

Ah... Yes on a plex server you can add channels, never thought about looking for it on there

 

[A nonymous]

Not long set mine up for my daughter to use after coming out of hospital this morning. Couldn't find Plex anywhere on it. Where about is it?

I've looked in the Roku store on the now TV device and i can't find it anywhere.

Nano

 

[Jimmy H]

See post #21



Mod Note: Link enabled

 

[CROSSBONES]

Thanks goose :-)