New Freesat from Sky Cards - Important

[satandpcguy]

Freesat from Sky Cards - Important

It looks like these cards will be changing also soon......

Messages have been appearing on screens this weekend saying along the line of "Your card is about to expire - you may lose channels after September"

If you purchased a Sky FTV card after 1st May 2006 you are entitled to a free replacement card.

(Note this may be different if you bought your card from an agent in Spain who may charge for a replacement!)

Unlike the new cards for Sky subscribers, Freesat replacement cards will not be sent out automatically, but via an onscreen message saying the card is due to expire and to contact Sky.

If you do nothing then you will loose access to any FTV channels:

ITV1 (in these regions only: Anglia W, Central SW, Mer N, Mer SE, TT S, Yorks E)
Channel 4 HD
FIVE
FIVE USA, FIVE USA +1, FIVER, FIVER +1
Sky 3

Sky Freesat customers have to either call Sky or apply for a new card online before the end of September 2009.

You can apply online at: http://www.sky.com/replacecard/index.jsp

(I have no idea if this works with Spanish IP address, they may be able to use the IP address to see if you are outside the uk and you will have to provide a UK address - which could be an issue if you bought it from a supplier / installer...i dare say you will have to buy a new FSFS card from them...and may not be able to get a Free Replacement out of your supplier!)

Just enter your viewing card number and it will tell you if you are eligible for a replacement.

Looks like the FTV cards will be continuing for a while then

There is no mention if the new cards you will get are preactivated or not....so you may also have to contact sky to get the cards activated - as they may not be able to be activated in your box, but the box the cards were originally activated in.

And would also assume that all those that bought a new card in the last 12 months from a supplier may be able to get the new FSFS card for free and for no charge under their guarantee!

[satandpcguy]

In most cases there should be a message displayed on the TV screens - but many of the notes I have seen on this say that it may not be displayed

Thi is very sneeky by Sky as Sky can get a few £20 orders for new cards from people who do not know this will be happening and their card expires and they are eligable (via their registered uk address) for a free repalcement....

[satandpcguy]

Reports are that you are supplied with an SAE to return your old sky card to Sky.
I do not know what will happen if you do not.....

Once activated the cards are apparently working in ANY receiver - although this may change.

Remember that if you order online you may not be processed as it may be determined that you are connecting to their site from outside the UK.