| Sky - Frequently Asked Questions |
| How do I activate my viewing card? |
Once the Sky Digital receiver has been installed insert the Sky card into the slot at the front of the receiver and telephone Sky's Customer services on 08702404020.
You will be asked for the serial number and version number of the receiver along with the viewing card number.
To obtain these details go to the "Services" menu, then "System Setup", and "System Details".
One important point to remember is, that a "Wakeup Signal" is sent out to all cards from time to time.
If your receiver is disconnected from the mains for a period of time and not in "Standby", your card may no longer function and require re-activation.
If for some reason you need to change your Sky receiver, you will have to call Sky's Customer Services to have your viewing card "Married" to your new receiver.
Freesat from Sky cards will work in all receivers, though you will have to give your receiver's detail to Sky when activating the card. |
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| What is the Sky PIN Code? |
| Sky receivers and PVRs, make use of a PIN code to control viewing of inappropriate content and to protect recorded material on Sky+ and Sky+ HD receivers. Your PIN Code is initially set to the last 4 digits on your Sky viewing Card. |
| Here are some of the options that your Sky PIN Code can be used for: |
Restrict/Unrestrict U, PG, 12, 15 or 18 programmes
Remove Adult Channels
Channel restrictions: Option to Lock/Unlock each channel, or lock after 8pm
Prompt for PIN on Pre-Watershed Playback
Prompt for PIN entry before going online
PIN Protect Kept Programmes
Spending Restriction
PIN required for purchases over £x |
| To change or disable parental control options, go to 'Services', 'Parental Control', enter your four digit PIN code and select 'Other restrictions'. Here you will find the option to enable/disable PIN prompts when trying to play back a programme before watershed (Sky+/Sky+HD), to demand PIN entry before going online, PIN-protecting recorded programmes on Sky+, and to set spending restrictions. |
| If you have forgotten your Sky PIN, you will need to contact Sky Customer Services and have them to reset the code over-the-air. You can also reset your PIN online at www.sky.com. Go to Sky Help Centre, look under How to... and choose 'Manage your Sky viewing PIN'. |
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| How do I add other ITV1 regions? |
| Only your default ITV1 region will be listed on Sky's EPG on channel 103. The region you receive is dictated by your postal code. To watch the other regions, you must add them all manualy by doing the following: |
1) Press Services on your Sky remote.
2) Press 4 - System Setup.
3) Press 4 - Add Channels.
4) Type in the correct frequency, polarisation, symbol rate and FEC and press Find channels.
5) To save, highlight the desired region(s), and press the yellow button.
6) Press Select on your remote, when complete. |
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To view the other ITV1 regions, do the following:
1) Press Services.
2) Press 6 - Other Channels.
3) Choose the desired region and press Select. |
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| Do I need a viewing card to watch the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5? |
All BBC and ITV channels are Free-To-Air (FTA), as are most of Channel 4's, with the exception of 4Music.
You can use any digital receiver to view these channel, you do not require a viewing card, subscription or a Sky receiver.
Channel 4 HD can be viewed with a FTV (Freesat from Sky) card and a Sky+ HD receiver. 4Music is currently a subscription channel. |
There is a FTA version of Channel 5 available, though this is intended for the Freesat platform from the BBC and ITV, this can be added by using the Add channels option and then viewed through Other Channels.
The versions on Sky are all currently encrypted, as are 5* and 5USA, all can be viewed with a FTV card.
NOTE: FTV cards (Freesat from Sky), will have your postcode details, this allows your Sky receiver to choose the correct regional variations for your location. |
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| What is Free-To-Air (FTA)? |
| Free To Air services, are not encrypted and require no card or subscription for viewing. All of the BBC's domestic TV and radio services, along with all of ITV's TV channels are FTA. |
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| What is Free To View (FTV)? |
Free To View channels do not require a subscription, the channels are however encrypted and require a card. Channel 5, 5*, 5*+1, 5USA, 5USA+1, Pick TV, Pick TV+1, Viva, LFC TV and Channel 4 HD are all FTV channels. Cards to view these channels are available under Sky's Freesat option, cards cost £25.
Click HERE to read more about Freesat, or HERE to read about Freesat from Sky. |
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| What is the Installers Setup? |
In the Installers Menu you will find the following options:
1) LNB Setup.
2) Default Transponder
3) Telephone Settings
4) RF Outlets
5) Manual Tuning
6) New Installation
To view the Installers Setup, do the following:
1) Press Services on your Sky remote.
2) Press 4 - System Setup
3) Press 0
4) Press 1
5) Press Select |
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| What is Sky+? |
Sky+ is a satellite receiver and personal television recorder (PTR) in one. Sky+ Gives you the freedom to easily plan and record programmes for days ahead, in a matter of minutes, freeze live programmes and rewind to watch the start of a programme that you might have missed. Record one satellite channel while watching another.
For more information on Sky+ click HERE. |
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| What is Sky+ HD? |
Sky+ HD is the brand name of the HDTV service launched by BSkyB on 22 May 2006 in the UK and the Republic of Ireland to enable high definition channels on Sky Digital to be viewed. For the first 2 years after launch, the service was branded Sky HD. The service requires the user to have a Sky+ HD Digibox, and a HD ready TV.
The first generation of Sky HD Digibox were produced by Thomson.
It is a version of the Sky+ PVR with a 300 GB hard drive, 160 GB of which is for consumer use, with the other 140 GB reserved for Sky Anytime services. |
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It ispossible to modify a Sky HD box with a larger hard drive, although this can void warranties and is not approved by Sky.
For connectivity with HD ready televisions, the box outputs via a HDMI connector (adapters to Digital Visual Interface are available) as well as an analogue component connection (YPbPr).
Traditional standard-definition connections are also available via SCART, S-Video and component. The box is High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) compliant. |
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| How do I force a Software download on Sky, Sky+ & Sky+ HD? |
To force a software download, do the following:
1) Switch the receiver off at the mains.
2) Press and hold the Backup button on the front of the receiver
(not on the remote control).
3) Keep the Backup button held and power up the receiver.
4) After about 5-10 seconds all the lights on the front display will light up.
5) Now release the backup button.If your receiver is connected via scart lead you will see the following on screen message:
Updating System Software Do not disconnect from mains supply or dish This may take up to 10 minutes
After about 10 mins your receiver will switch back into standby mode.
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| What connections are there on a Sky (Standard Definition) receiver? |
Sky standard definition receivers have the following connections:
1) Mains Input.
2) Dish Input (F-type).
3) TV SCART (composite video out, RGB out).
4) VCR SCART (composite video in/out, RGB loop-through in).
5) Telephone line (RJ11).
6) Aerial in, RF out 1, RF out 2, Audio out (2 phonos).
7) RS-232 (disabled).
8) Digital interface for which nothing is currently available.
Sony receivers and Sky+ also have a digital output, which carries sound data only, the Sky+ model supports DD 5.1.
Grundig model /2 and 3000 series boxes have an S-Video mini-DIN output plug, as does Sky+. |
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| What is the Default Transponder? |
| When a Sky digital receiver is first switched on it will look for the "Default Transponder". This is transponder 4, frequency 11.778 Vertical polarisation, Symbol Rate 27.5. FEC 2/3.This is where Sky's Electronic Programme Guide or EPG is situated. |
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| What is Videoguard? |
NDS Videoguard is the Conditional Access System (CAS), used by Sky for encrypting channels on the Sky Digital platform. The Videoguard encryption system is "embedded", built in to Sky receivers, there are at present, no Conditional Access Modules (CAMs) available for the Videoguard system used by Sky Digital.
More information is available at: The NDS Website.
Versions of NDS Videoguard are used by many satellite platforms worldwide. |
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