What are your plans going forward?

[Confused Stu]

As I'm sure most of you have seen in the UK Cable forum, it's looking increasingly likely that Nagra3 is coming sooner rather than later to Virgin. As this hasn't been cracked, I'm thinking this will mean no more cable on our HTPCs when the changeover happens.

What are your plans for your HTPC if/when the changeover happens? Are you planning on just using Freeview on them (and how are you going to deal with the kids losing 90% of channels) or will you be converting to Freesat? Or do you know of a way to get Sky working through your PC? Or will you be going analogue input and IR-blaster to your cable box?

Please understand, I'm not trying to scare-monger and I hope we're many years from the end of being able to watch Virgin on PC, but I'm just trying to pre-plan what to do as and when it does happen. What are you planning to do?

[Lacutas]

I am just gonna pay them, I already have the v+ box (subbed) XL package, phone and 10 meg broadband for £36 a month. the films and sport where nice to have, but wont miss them, something will come along in the future, but hey, had a good free run. I dont consider it being a life changing effect, or do you ?????? lol.

[Confused Stu]

The nice thing about the cable-on-PC section is it's not about "free cable" as most HTPCs cost significantly more than standard cable anyway! I always keep a subscription active anyway, but it would definitely be a step back to go from the HTPC to the cable box. I'd miss all the other features Media Centre offers, the capability to play DVD, Blu-Ray, video files and cable on the one box/remote. It would also be major pain going from 1400hrs recording capacity back to 80hrs.

I'd like to keep the HTPC as the "main" feature of my setup, rather than relegating it to a glorified DVD player and Freeview box if possible, but I'm a little stumped for ideas on how to do this - hence asking what everyone else is planning?

[MorriSoft]

Originally Posted by Lacutas

I am just gonna pay them, I already have the v+ box (subbed) XL package, phone and 10 meg broadband for £36 a month. the films and sport where nice to have, but wont miss them, something will come along in the future, but hey, had a good free run. I dont consider it being a life changing effect, or do you ?????? lol.

I too will continue to pay a subscription as and when the changeover occurs, I am tempted to move to Sky though at that point.

I agree, it's no life-changing effect for myself or my family who use my 'naughty boxes' but it'll be great if a solution appears in the future.

On a differing note..

I'm curious as to what will be left channel-wise when the move occurs, will the freeview channels remain un-encrypted or not? I only ask because in all fairness, I don't mind using the Euro's as freeview boxes in 'other' rooms of the house, if they (any third party box) will be capable of such.

Anyone else happen to know anything regarding the above?

[TheCoder]

Originally Posted by MorriSoft

Anyone else happen to know anything regarding the above?

Any channel that presently has no encryption will likely remain that way. However, if the channel is encrypted then it will undoubtably migrate to the new encryption.

Basically, if you can get a channel on a subbed box without a card in the slot then that channel will continue to be available. Anything else will be gone !

[MorriSoft]

Originally Posted by TheCoder

Any channel that presently has no encryption will likely remain that way. However, if the channel is encrypted then it will undoubtably migrate to the new encryption.

Basically, if you can get a channel on a subbed box without a card in the slot then that channel will continue to be available. Anything else will be gone !

So channels 1-5 basically then, since the subbed boxes without a card don't give all the freeview channels, damn thats a real kick up an already boot-ridden ass!

[safe-cracker]

would you not be able to use your subscription card in your floppydtv by changing your cam boxkey to match the card?

[MorriSoft]

Originally Posted by safe-cracker

would you not be able to use your subscription card in your floppydtv by changing your cam boxkey to match the card?

Interesting idea, but I don't really know the answer, it's been done with Sky cards, at least the older blue ones in the past anyway.

Perhaps someone could confirm:
A) whether the new sky card (from the recent card-swap) works in a floppydtv
B) whether a N3 card is likely to function as desired in a floppydtv

And, longshot but..

C) If you were able to use an N3 card sucessfully in an floppydtv, could you setup cardsharing on your own home network and recieve the services on dreamboxes or the likes in other rooms around your home?

This would of course only supply each dreambox (if it is indeed possible to achieve) with that which you are subscribed to, but would it work?

[Confused Stu]

Originally Posted by MorriSoft

A) whether the new sky card (from the recent card-swap) works in a floppydtv

I'm fairly sure it doesn't, I've seen a thread on Digital Everywhere's forum a couple of months ago with people trying to get them working (it finished unsuccessful) and someone mentioned on here they wanted to convert their Sky-HTPC to Cable as it hadn't worked with the new cards.

[MorriSoft]

Originally Posted by Confused Stu

I'm fairly sure it doesn't, I've seen a thread on Digital Everywhere's forum a couple of months ago with people trying to get them working (it finished unsuccessful) and someone mentioned on here they wanted to convert their Sky-HTPC to Cable as it hadn't worked with the new cards.

If that is the case, it would seem points B) and C) will result in a similarly disappointing answer!

Thanks for the info though mate, I guess we won't know whether the N3 card will work or not until we have tried it.