Are Sky cards box specific?

[bones`]

My mate has a place in France and used to take his box over which was a pain. Hes just sourced a second hand box but when he tried his card cant seem to pick up all the channels. Just wondering if cards are specific to a particular box or not?

[gra123]

in short yes, card and box have to be paired

[gavan]

Originally Posted by bones`

My mate has a place in France and used to take his box over which was a pain. Hes just sourced a second hand box but when he tried his card cant seem to pick up all the channels. Just wondering if cards are specific to a particular box or not?

The 'Premium' channels (movies and sports) will not work if you take a card paired with one box to another one. However, the rest of them should work OK including stuff that you have to pay a subscription to get.


Gav

[bones`]

Should the card work instantly or does it take time update/pair? My mate says he cant get ITV1 and C4 for example, but the card hasn't been in the box for any length of time.

[Robbie34]

Where in France is he? It could be his dish is too small or it is slightly out of alignment.

[Delh68]

Originally Posted by bones`

Should the card work instantly or does it take time update/pair? My mate says he cant get ITV1 and C4 for example, but the card hasn't been in the box for any length of time.

ITV is Free To Air, & doesn't need a card anymore!! ~ As previous poster suggested probably your dish

Delh68

[bones`]

The new box is still here. He just plugged it into his existing dish to try it out.

[wonderloaf]

Originally Posted by bones`

Should the card work instantly or does it take time update/pair? My mate says he cant get ITV1 and C4 for example, but the card hasn't been in the box for any length of time.

I've just bought a new Sky (not +) receiver, a Panasonic DSB 40, and forgot all about the pairing issue. Anyway, put the card in and it's showing all the same channels as on the old box , including ITV1 and C4, and did not have to wait for any updating. However, we do not subscribe to the premium channels, so don't know if it's the same for them.

BTW, the DSB 40 is a blindin' box, the picture is much better than the old Pace. £60 well spent (brand new off fleabay) OK, gloat over, normal service now resumed.