[mythtv-users] DVB-S cards

[Stroller]

On 10 Apr 2007, at 10:41, Nick F wrote:
>>> For subscription Sky services? I've never encountered anyone who  
>>> is using it under Linux - I'm sure compatibility has never been  
>>> confirmed on this list.
>>
>> Cheers, I've looked around on various fora and have seen no success
>> stories under Linux, although plenty under windows :o(
>
> Here's one - I use a DVB-S card with my (valid) Sky card on my  
> MythTV set up.
>
> I have the Technotrend TT-budget S-1500 DVB-S card with add-on CI  
> daughter card and a T-Rex 4.1 CAM.  I bought the card and CI  
> daughter from Germany - http://www.dvbshop.net/  and the T-Rex from  
> ebay.  I use the SVN builds of Myth (for some reason the 0.20  
> release didn't work with my CAM) and can happily decrypt all the  
> channels I pay for on Sky (but I don't have any of the premium  
> channels - but C4, E4, Discovery, MTV,etc all work).  It is  
> possible to enter your Sky digibox serial number to the CAM (I can  
> do it with the CAS3+ programmer I bought) which then should enable  
> it to work with the premium channels (Sports and Movies) - but I  
> haven't done that yet.
>
> It was plug and play for me.  I use a current kernel (2.6.20 I  
> think but it worked on.19 as well) on FC6 and everything worked out  
> of the box.  I have to return my Sky card to the digibox once a  
> month/6-weeks or so to 'refresh' the keys on the Sky card.
>
> As far as I'm aware it's completely legal as long as you have a  
> valid Sky card, and the quality I get is very good (better I  
> imagine than captured digibox output since it stays in the digital  
> domain until I play it on my TV).

w00t!

I'm glad to hear that.

I really can't see myself being interested enough in premium channels  
to pay a subscription, so I'll only bother with this myself if I find  
myself missing out on stuff that I'd have liked to watch on the five  
(??) FTV channels, but it's very nice to know that the option is  
available if you want it.

I think that the FTV channels can be received with an expired Sky  
card, or you can buy (for £20) a card which is intended for use only  
for FTV channels. Presumably these cards do not need updating via a  
digibox?

Stroller.