Nat Geo Wild-is there some kind of extra encryption to prevent recording?

[benidormgary]

I have a basic Sky digibox and a VHS recorder(twin speed).I cant seem to record this channel.Best way to describe the effects is to say that its if the scart plug is loose-ie,picture and sound alternating on and off,and the motor speed alternating betreen SP and LP-I can actually hear it changing.Thanks for any info.

 

[timo_w2s]

I have a basic Sky digibox and a VHS recorder(twin speed).I cant seem to record this channel.Best way to describe the effects is to say that its if the scart plug is loose-ie,picture and sound alternating on and off,and the motor speed alternating betreen SP and LP-I can actually hear it changing.Thanks for any info.

I can't check it myself at the moment but it sounds like Macrovision is enabled on the channel. Usually it's just used on some Sky Box Office films.

 

[benidormgary]

I can't check it myself at the moment but it sounds like Macrovision is enabled on the channel. Usually it's just used on some Sky Box Office films.

Thanks for that. How disappointing.I wasnt exactly thinking of going down to the local market flogging copies of "The Dog Whisperer"!.Why do you think Sky would want to do this?.Is there a work-round?. I cant believe that I cant record in my own home for my own use

 

[timo_w2s]

I've read about things like this in the past where people have claimed macrovision has been enabled or left on by accident on some Sky channels so it may well be a mistake. You could try contacting the channel directly and ask if they are aware of any issues.

Google "macrovision filter" and you'll find details of a few "black boxes" that will filter out the copy protection. Not used any myself so can't comment on their effectiveness.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Macrovision has moved on somewhat since the days of 'black box' cures. Buy one at your risk, if it doesn't work, you don't get a refund.

Do your homework first, try some other ways of recording before making an order.

 

[benidormgary]

Thanks for your replies.I will post if (and when)I get any more info.

 

[benidormgary]

The mystery deepens!!!. Just checked 5 other programmes on the same transponder(Fox News and the 2 other Geo channels,sky poker.com,and At the Races.),and the result is exactly the same.Surely,that would discount "Macro" as the culprit?. s/s is 60%,and s/q is 80%...

Just to add,this problem only occurs once I switch the recorder on.

 

[timo_w2s]

Macrovision has moved on somewhat since the days of 'black box' cures.

Thanks, didn't know that.

 

[ralphmagno]

hello,
i never knew sky uk was sending out programs in macrovision?
i record everything on the planet and have no problems.
unless this has just happened in the last few weeks or a momth ago.
i have my sky box on the movie i want to record and it is sending the signal on rf 45 for example.
my vcr is tuned for ch rf 45 and i wecord what i want.
there may be a problem with the scart input ot the scart out of the box.
try rf in on the vcr and try that.
my vcr is a jvc multysystem and i record AFN ntsc and sky rf in pal.
ralph

 

[PaulR]

i have my sky box on the movie i want to record and it is sending the signal on rf 45 for example.
my vcr is tuned for ch rf 45 and i wecord what i want.

AFAIK Macrovision only works over a scart (or other direct video) connection as it puts a low level modulation onto the signal. This isn't transmitted over RF.

 

[ralphmagno]

hello
my sky uk box has a rf modulator built in.
in the menu i can change the rf out from channel 21 to channel 69.
if he is using a dm 500 or something else it has no rf out at all.
if he has a sky box he can use the rf out to the vcr tuner in and tune the vcr receiver to the channel it is transmitted out.
and this way he does not use the scart at all.
ralph

 

[benidormgary]

RESULT!!

Thanks all for your input.
Seems that the problem is down to the Sky digibox I have been using for the last month. (Thompson DS 14212C). I bought it second-hand from one of our local voluntary shops for 3 quid(well,it didnt have a remote,she explained!),with a weeks guarantee.And it seemed to work perfectly!.Only bought it for a back-up box,and it IS a lot faster than my old box.Anyway,to cut a long story short,I put the trusty old Grundig GDS 310/2 back on,and it records perfectly.A good result for me,but it doesnt explain the original problem.

PS-3quid,and it came with regionalised old blue card AND-PIN no.!

 

[Lazarus]

Fit some new Smoothing Capacitors to that Thomson and it might behave better, Gary.

 

[timo_w2s]

Fit some new Smoothing Capacitors to that Thomson and it might behave better, Gary.

Ah, yes that is probably the more likely culprit... Thomson boxes are known for their dodgy power supplies that do weird things to boxes when they start going.

But I am right that some channels (like Box Office) are sometimes copy protected, aren't I? I didn't just dream this?

AFAIK Macrovision only works over a scart (or other direct video) connection as it puts a low level modulation onto the signal. This isn't transmitted over RF.

I'm pretty sure it does work over RF otherwise it would be pretty pointless protection. At least certainly in the old days copy protected videos wouldn't copy over RF.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks, didn't know that.

Moot point now, but if you are interested, google 'CGMS', or 'CGMS-A' and 'satellite'.

 

[PaulR]

I'm pretty sure it does work over RF otherwise it would be pretty pointless protection. At least certainly in the old days copy protected videos wouldn't copy over RF.

Mmmmm, you're probably correct. Reading around it seems that the modulation does carry over the RF signal. I'm sure that I read the opposite in the past - maybe the Macrovision process was improved.

 

[timo_w2s]

Moot point now, but if you are interested, google 'CGMS', or 'CGMS-A' and 'satellite'.

Clever stuff, I guess the VEIL system now makes it harder to remove copy protection.

 

[benidormgary]

hello
my sky uk box has a rf modulator built in.
in the menu i can change the rf out from channel 21 to channel 69.
if he is using a dm 500 or something else it has no rf out at all.
if he has a sky box he can use the rf out to the vcr tuner in and tune the vcr receiver to the channel it is transmitted out.
and this way he does not use the scart at all.
ralph

Yes-I knew that,and as soon as I can find the rf cables,I will try it just for the excercise!.

 

[PaulR]

So - we'll see whether, just possibly, I might have been right originally!!

 

[benidormgary]

Final result!!-I promise you

I cant believe how stupid Ive been!. Since coming back to Blighty,I had forgotten one of the basic rules of sorting Sky box problems. Ive just done an Update to the box,moving it from version 3.5.3 to 3.5.8.-and its cured the problem! 2.Id completely forgotten to take into account how long it had been since it was last used.2.But I am surprised that it didnt do an automatic update in the 2 weeks I was using it. Anyway,its recording perfectly now,and I can use this Thompson box permanently,as it runs much cooler compared to the Grundig.Anyway,thank you for all your suggestions and comments.

Gary.