"Viewing card not authorised"

B

bitemarx

Member
My Satellite Setup
Freeview & Windows Vista
My Location
Cumbria, UK
I recently bought a 2nd hand sky plus box and connected it to my dish antenna. I also bought a viewing card off ebay to use with this, but the card does not give me access to various channels that are on the SKY FTV list. I get the "Viewing card not authorised" message.
I tried a friend's card (he has a basic subscription), and that one gave me access to all FTV channels.

I've tried cleaning the card and restarting the + box, but nothing's changed.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks
M
 
First of all you have to leave a card in for, sometimes, up to two or three days to get authorised allthough it's normally overnight.

If you then get a message saying that it's the wrong card for the box then you may never get it to work. I have six white cards and only one of them clears Channel 5 etc. The others set the regionality but that's all.
 
Hm..the card has been there for more than a week now. Is this something that can be rectified? Or is it just a luck of the draw with these viewing cards?
 
What colour is the card? Anything other than white is an old version and won't do anything other than set the regionality.

My experience is that there are very few white cards that will work as FTV cards in anything other than the original receiver once the original subscription has lapsed.
 
The card is white in colour. I should've gone the Freesat way as recommended by many when I set out to do this! :-/
 
Why did you purchase "stolen property" from Ebay (read the back of the card) when the location in your profile if correct shows you could have purchased one direct from Sky legally. The message you are getting on the card indicates that the card was either never initially activated by the seller or that is was cancelled by Sky for being used "illegally" either outside the UK or in card-sharing/web streaming.
 
I suppose it depends on how much the card was bought for. Personally, I would try to get a refund as the card is just not working for the OP.

Then I would get a proper FSFS (Freesat from $ly) card which is (was?) £20.

Incidentally, If you're hoping to use the recording capability of the box then forget it. Unless you're prepared to pay £10 a MONTH to $ly that is.
 
I wasn't aware this is stolen property. I have contacted the seller on ebay for further information on this, and if they are unable to verify, I'm returning it for a full refund. As a matter of fact, I spoke with SKY on two occasions regarding buying a viewing card for FTV access but instead of answering my questions, they were pushing a subscription on me!
 
PaulR said:
I suppose it depends on how much the card was bought for. Personally, I would try to get a refund as the card is just not working for the OP.

Then I would get a proper FSFS (Freesat from $ly) card which is (was?) £20.

Incidentally, If you're hoping to use the recording capability of the box then forget it. Unless you're prepared to pay £10 a MONTH to $ly that is.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that. Im not intending to use the PLus services on the box. Just want to get the FTV channels on Sky.
 
If you were phoning the ordinary number then that would be the reason. You need to phone 08448 244 400.

_http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/faq/#3
 
PaulR said:
If you were phoning the ordinary number then that would be the reason. You need to phone 08448 244 400.

_http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/faq/#3
Click to expand...


Thanks again for the correct number! :-righton
 
bitemarx said:
I wasn't aware this is stolen property.
Click to expand...

All cards remain the property of Sky at all times. Ebay normally pulls any sales including cards they see.
 
In my experience ,the message "this card is not authorised" usually means the card was never activated. If a card is out of the box for more than 4 weeks or box has been unplugged for more than 4 weeks,the card de-activates and the message says "this is the wrong card for this box" and the card will re-activate if left on from 4-24 hours.
Sometimes an ex subscription card will not work in another box if ,probably ,there is money owed on the account i.e if the customer stopped payments without informing Sky. Sky usually switch a card off when 2 months is owed and will not switch back on until the arrears are paid instantly,usually by credit card .
 
A cheaper way of getting a FSFS card is by subscribing to a channel that gives out Sky cards when you subscribe. Prem Sports and the Asian/XXX channels do this so you can cancel it afterwards and get it cheaper than £20.
 
Then sell it on ebay ? Maybe thats what bitemarx was sold :-)
 
fergyc said:
A cheaper way of getting a FSFS card is by subscribing to a channel that gives out Sky cards when you subscribe. Prem Sports and the Asian/XXX channels do this so you can cancel it afterwards and get it cheaper than £20.
Click to expand...

With activation costs, it pretty much comes to £20.

E.g. Premier Sports, £11.99 for the card, £7.99 for the month. It's the same for the Asian and XXX channels, they usually have a higher month cost as well. :)
 
You get more for your money though
 
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