Project Step-by-step guides to making the most of your digital TV
Sky+ Tips’n’tricks october 2011
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TEch project Sky+ tips’n’tricks
Sky+ 2001-2011
Sky+ is easy to use, but here are our top 10 suggestions to turn you into a PVR power user At first glance, Sky+ is designed to be as foolproof as any piece of consumer electronics can be – although we’ve all heard of owners who take six months to set up their first Series Link. If you’re a Wotsat reader, however, there’s plenty that can be done to extract the maximum enjoyment out of your little box of tricks, or to keep it running smoothly at least. As it’s the 10th anniversary of the launch of Sky+ we’ve compiled our top 10 things that you can do for your Sky+ (actually it’s 12, but don’t tell). They range from the very simple, like Remote Record and Sky’s secret menus, to hard disc hacks and methods or supplying dual-feeds to several Sky+ boxes. Some of them need no extra instructions, some have links you can follow for full instructions, some you can look up on Wotsat.com in the ABCs (http://bit.ly/mVqRZq) and Projects (http://bit.ly/pHTEo8), and others will require a little 2 What Satellite & Digital TV October 2011
research. If you keep your eye on Wotsat, we have a more detailed Project on Multiswitches in the production pipeline – or you could find a CAI installer to fit it for you. One thing we haven’t mentioned is actually hacking Sky’s encryption, sharing cards and the like. That’s partly because it isn’t actually anything done with a Sky+, and a little because we’d be shut down faster than you could say ‘super injunction’. Also, because Sky’s Videoguard encryption has remained ahead of the hackers for a very long time, which is what you’d expect from partnering with an encryption firm with its roots in Israeli intelligence. We hope you enjoy your Sky+ a little bit more after reading this, and don’t forget to read our Sky+ vs TiVo head-to-head test on page 39. Maybe in another 10 years we’ll have a list of power user tips for Virgin’s PVR n Alex Lane
Disclaimer Opening your Sky+ box to access your hard disc to make a back-up or upgrade to a larger capacity will invalidate any remaining warranty. You should only attempt any project when you have read the full instructions and feel confident to proceed. What Satellite & Digital TV cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage resulting from this article. Remember: Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
Sky+ tips’n’tricks TEch project
Project 1: Access the ‘secret’ Sky+ menus
The Installer menu lets you change the default transponder, LNB and phone settings, RF output channel, manually tune a transponder, rebuild the Sky+ Planner, run the new install wizard and even do a full system reset. To access it in the Sky HD Guide, highlight ‘Sky+ Setup’ in the Options menu, then press 0, 1, Select. On the SD Sky+, press Services, 4, 0, 1, Select.
Project 3: Single cable mode
Found in the Installer/Setup menu, you can use this if you only have one feed (a common problem in flats with a shared dish). Plug your feed into the LNB 1 input and activate this mode. However, you’ll have to turn Anytime off, the listings will only update when you’re in standby, and you have to put the box in standby to make a recording.
Project 2:Sky+ Planner Rebuild
If your recordings are playing up (usually because of a full hard disc), you may be able to recover some performance by rebuilding the index of the Sky+ Planner. Select this option and your Sky+ will shut down for several minutes to perform disc maintenance, before it reboots the Sky Information Channel (999).
Project 4: Force a software update
Sky+ is more stable these days, but if it’s misbehaving, try a forced software download. Unplug your Sky+’s power cable (or switch off at mains), hold down Back Up on the front panel, and plug it back in. Hold Back Up until the Software Download message appears, and let it do its thing. This is essential if you have a secondhand Sky+ (along with a Full System Reset).
Project 5: Remote record on the web or phone
One of Sky’s best features is Remote Record. Set up a Sky ID at mysky. sky.com, and pair it with your Sky+ at www.sky.com/remoterecord. Then log in at tv.sky.com, browse the listings and highlight a programme to see the Remote Record button. Your Sky+ will receive a record instruction within 30 minutes (but beware, it may clash with existing recordings).
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iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android phone users can download the Sky+ app to browse TV listings and send remote record instructions. The iOS version is much glossier and includes recommended highlights for you to record.
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TEch project Sky+ tips’n’tricks
Project 6: Back up your hard disc with Copy+
Accidents can happen – if your Sky+ dies, all your recordings go with it. Sky doesn’t make a backup tool, but Stuart McConnachie created Copy+ (www.skycopyplus.co.uk). You‘ll need to open up your Sky+ to access the HDD (which may require some long, thin Torx screwdrivers – check first), and either a spare SATA port on your PC, or a USB-to-SATA interface.
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The Copy+ website includes full instructions and a compatibility list for the 14 different models of Sky+, but it’s actually pretty simple to install, mount your Sky+ HDD and copy the contents to the destination drive. You can select which recordings to copy, but make sure you have plenty of room on your destination drive for HD recordings.
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Project 7: Upgrade your hard disc with Copy+
The real benefit of Copy+ is to upgrade your Sky+ to a higher capacity HDD (if you’re not willing to pay for the 1TB box or even that’s not enough), without losing your existing recordings. You can do this from a backup on your PC, or direct from your old disc to a new, empty disc. NB: If upgrading from an SD to an HD box read the data on Sky’s ‘Darwin’ software.
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Once again, full instructions are available at www.skycopyplus.co.uk, with advice on the forums as to which discs work best. Once the new disc is installed, but before you replace the lid, perform a Planner Rebuild and check your recordings are intact. Don’t forget to replace all fittings like the thermal protection pad in Sky+HD.
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Project 8: Copy free-to-air recordings to your PC with +Extract
Free-to-air recordings are not encrypted on Sky+, so if you’ve copied them to your PC with Copy+, you can use Neil Balloch’s +Extract software to pull individual programmes out of the Sky+ HDD image. Once extracted, +Extract also enables you to convert them into MPEG files that can be played back on most software.
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Alternatively, ProjectX (http://project-x.sourceforge.net/) can be used to convert the extracted STR transport stream files into a variety of different formats for mobile devices or for burning to DVD or Blu-ray.
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Sky+ tips’n’tricks TEch project
Project 9: Multiswitch for multiroom Sky+
If you want several Sky+ boxes in your house a multiswitch will let you supply two feeds, plus TV and radio aerial inputs to as many rooms as you want. A capable DIY-er can cope in most cases. The system has three components, the first being a Quattro LNB which divides up the satellite signal into its four frequency and polarity bands.
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Project 9: Multiswitch for multiroom Sky+
A Diplexing or Triplexing wall-plate will neatly separate the signals as required, and ‘de-stack’ satellite signals if you’ve gone this route. Your Sky+ boxes will see the multiswitch as an ordinary LNB and is set up just as any other Sky+.
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The Quattro LNB and any TV or radio aerials feed into a Multiswitch, which combines them on a one or two cables to each room. For a double sat feed you’ll probably use two co-ax cables with the TV ‘diplexed’ onto one, but some multiswitches can ‘stack’ two satellite signals on one cable. The outputs should be earthed.
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Project 10: Multi-Sky+ solutions
Octo LNB: Sky supplies a Quad LNB as standard, which can feed two Sky+ boxes from its four outputs, but an Octo LNB can feed four Sky+ boxes. That’s obviously a lot of cable, and it is a heavy unit which may distort lightweight dishes.
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Project 10: Multi-Sky+ solutions
Stacker-Destacker: As mentioned in 9.2, it’s possible to ‘stack’ two satellite signals on a single cable at (or near) the LNB, then ‘destack’ them at the receiver. As with a multiswtch, the Stacker-Destacker is invisible to your Sky+. Manufacturers include Manhattan and Global Invacom.
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Global SCR: An alternative to the single feed mode is Single Cable Routing. This means attaching a special module to a multiswitch which can feed up to four tuners over a single cable, using a ‘smart splitter’ to communicate with compatible Sky+ units. See http://bit.ly/qLg28t for details.
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