Dragon CAM and Sky - newbie questions

MacBurp

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Hello everyone,

I'm a CAM newbie, and I'm finding it difficult to build up my knowledge in this area (not many beginners guides about!).

I am planning to connect a Sky dish to my Media Centre PC, using a Technotrend S-15000 Budget PCI card with T.Rex Cam and a legitimate paid-for Sky smartcard.

I'm led to believe that Sky actively discourages users from using their own receivers. What could Sky do to disable my account from working in this configuration? What should I be doing to ensure Sky do not have a problem with me :) ?

For example, I've read that the older dragon cams have a problem with receiving the sky 'keep-alive' signal, and need to be put back into a Sky digibox from time to time. Is this still an issue?

Are there any other issues I should be aware of while setting up?

thanks and best regards,
Paul
 

rolfw

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MacBurp said:
Hello everyone,

I'm a CAM newbie, and I'm finding it difficult to build up my knowledge in this area (not many beginners guides about!).

I am planning to connect a Sky dish to my Media Centre PC, using a Technotrend S-15000 Budget PCI card with T.Rex Cam and a legitimate paid-for Sky smartcard.

I'm led to believe that Sky actively discourages users from using their own receivers. What could Sky do to disable my account from working in this configuration? What should I be doing to ensure Sky do not have a problem with me :) ?

For example, I've read that the older dragon cams have a problem with receiving the sky 'keep-alive' signal, and need to be put back into a Sky digibox from time to time. Is this still an issue?

Are there any other issues I should be aware of while setting up?

thanks and best regards,
Paul


If you have subscribed for more than a year, then you won't have a problem with the lack of a phone connection, but unfortunately, the Dragon/T-Rex will not keep the card alive and you will need to pop it back into the digibox periodically.
 

MacBurp

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Rolf, thanks.

As I don't have Sky right now, the phone line thing would be a problem for me :(. How often do Sky check the receiver wia the phone line?

Typically, how often would I need to re-insert the card in order to keep it alive, and for how long?

Understood that there are no firm answers for these, any views welcome.

regards,
Paul
 

Analoguesat

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MacBurp said:
Rolf, thanks.

As I don't have Sky right now, the phone line thing would be a problem for me :(. How often do Sky check the receiver wia the phone line?

Typically, how often would I need to re-insert the card in order to keep it alive, and for how long?

Understood that there are no firm answers for these, any views welcome.

regards,
Paul


Buy your own digibox, then ask Sky for a "second hand box contract"

Or if you want them to install as well, you can pay an extra £25 which removes the obligation for the phone line connection.
 

Skip Channel

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I wouldn't worry about the phone connection, most Sky "engineers" don't (it saves them some work) and unless you have 'Multiroom' Sky don't really check.
 

wolfav

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i keep my 2 sky plus boxes unpluged at the phone line and have no problems
they made a right mess when setting it up so sod them!:D
 

nathanvtr

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the phoneline is only used to update software and the digibox is normally called a few days before you payment is due, just to confirm current costs of your bill.
I know this as i went for three constant months of sky not being able to call the box when i had free dialup as my pc was never switched off the net.
 

Leee

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nathanvtr said:
the phoneline is only used to update software and the digibox is normally called a few days before you payment is due, just to confirm current costs of your bill.
I know this as i went for three constant months of sky not being able to call the box when i had free dialup as my pc was never switched off the net.
The phone line is used for INTERACTIVE features plus checking multiroom. That's it.

Software comes via the dish :-bash :-bash :-bash :-bash :-rofl2
 

MacBurp

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Thanks a lot for the replies so far. Can any of you Dragon cam users tell me how often you need to put your card back into the receiver (for 'keep alive') and how long you leave the card in?

thanks,
Paul
 
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