Loading C4 and Five on Sky EPG without card

snap

If you have a Sky receiver but don't have a viewing card, the Sky electronic programme guide (EPG) will not load Channel Four or Five, the default behaviour is to load BBC London, BBC2, ITV Central W, then Sky One, and so on, even though C4 is free to air.
The way to get round this is to insert any card, such as a supermarket loyalty card, credit or debit card, or driving licence into the viewing card slot.
Re- boot the Sky box by switching off at the mains, when it restarts, it will show default behaviour- 101, 102, 103, 106 etc.
When the guide has fully loaded, take out the card and re- insert it.
The Sky guide will re-load, but it will show the missing 104 and 105, as well as C4+1.
The BBC and ITV regions associated with card the box was last paired with will instead be loaded, from the receiver's memory, in place of the default behaviour.
(tested on Pace Sky+ V3, Thomson HD, Pace 2600 CI)

* edit- if the debit or loyalty card is re- inserted the box will revert to the BBC & ITV regions on the card the receiver was last paired with, not from the last viewing card inserted, as I wrote earlier. Tested on two more receivers. A Pace 2600 CI standard Sky box behaves differently, it's not necessary to take the bank card out and re- insert it. Either way up will do, EPG from the last card paired will load*

4dbennett

Thanks SNAP, this will stop Sly ripping people off for freeview cards


regards Dave

Cupart

Amazing... How on earth did you come up with this?

Thanks, by the way :-)

snap

There was a reference in the thread from Norway by Robbo. I put my Halifax debit card into the receiver to try it out. You might expect Sky to start charging my card based on their usual style, but instead this surprising behaviour occurred.
Also works if you take it out and turn the card upside down.

Robbo

Yes, and I got it from a post by Analoguesat on another forum

But I have had a paired card in my receiver, so I have never seen the default behaviour, so wasn't able to test it fully.

irart

Well you certainly fooled me snap, I thought it was genuine - until I tried it. Maybe I need a gold or platinum card for it work!

Robbo

It is genuine I believe, as when I put a Tesco Clubcard in mine, it says Invalid card or similar, but without it I get, Please insert viewing card.

Cupart

OMG... Someone has too much free time on their hands, but it make great reading...

snap

I can assure you it works, it's not April 1, you just have to follow the instructions exactly, re boot (this means pull mains plug out) with card inserted, press Sky guide on remote, take card out, re- insert and wait.
I tried on three Sky boxes this morning and it worked on all three.
I have a Sky+ with the full EPG loaded with a Boots Advantage card in the viewing card slot! (Not sure if I get any points, though)

ynotdu

Hi Snap,
I also have heard this does work,I get F T V uk channels with a dark blue card(the is,t one issued by Digital sky) does not work for Me if I try The lighter(Yellow house)card.When My batty U.K Aunt visits our house She thinks I am trying to steal her Tesco points Lol ;-)

PaulR

What an excellent trick Snap - well done for documenting it.

PaulR As I get older I find myself thinking about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

bittihuduga

sorry my box is paired to a ireland card
now i dont have the card anymore
i tried your trick
it does not bring back the ch4
any help?

ynotdu

Channel 4 is available free to air in Republic of Ireland Via freesat if You are not pointed at 28% East You will not receive or be able to tune to Any U K Channels.Astra 2d@ 28% carries All the U.K Channels that are F T A.
Your 80 CM dish should pull them all in at Your location.U.K F T V card brings in all the B B C/Itv/4/ channels.Self tuning is another option.
go to services,go to systym set-up,go to add channels, Then start at 10.715, H, S/R 5/6,go up by increments of 15&change polarity.
You will find plenty of goodies at 2D F T A,You can add to Your extra Channels menu.
A F T V card(If You have a friend in U K Will give You Much more,even a cancelled Sky card will give E4,more4 etc.Ch5 is still only available by manual tuning here.

Zorba

Are you sure E4 and more4 are free because I can't get it free although more4+1 on 139 is fta ?

ynotdu

Hi,ya Zorba,
not F T A(free to air)
F T V (free to view)needs a card issued in U.K
even a cancelled Sky U.K card will still bring in F T V Channels
A cancelled Sky card issued to Irish Republic will not unflag(unencrypt) F T V Channels such as E4 etc.
no card needed to add the BBC/ITV Channels here to other channels.
In Cyprus a much bigger dish& first class L N B would be needed.
People with much more expertise than Me Can tell you exactly what You need.P.S If You are getting E4 I think it is down to date of card issue as well,as Channels that are unflagged often remain scrambled on older cards from what other people have told Me

Robbo

Actually E4 and More 4 are both FTA on 10729V,22000

snap

Unfortunately the trick only works to bring back the channels on the card the box was paired with last. As yours was an Irish card 104 is the Irish version of C4 on 12480V, which is encrypted.
There's nothing to stop you viewing Channel four on 10714 H for free in the 'other channels' menu.

snap

E4 Uk and More 4 UK are free to air on 10729V

Zorba

Ah, that explains it. We can't get the verticals over here.

ViewMax

I put a debit card into my Amstrad box. Turned off the power at the wall. Turned back on and bingo Ch4 is there. No need to remove card again. Thanks.

moridark_back1

thats realy Amazing thanku very much

eshop600

I can't get this to work on a bog standard sky box in my bedroom