Card Splitter

[NeilF]

Hi,

is there such a thing as a card splitter/sharer?

The kind of thing I'm thinking of is to use a card in an original Sky HD box, keeping HD channels, etc. but also to be able to share it with a second (non Sky) receiver or PC to share the SD channels as I understand HD doesn't work on non Sky receivers?

Cheers,

Neil

[josht5]

Re: Card Splitter

Like i have replied in your other thread , the only way to make a server is to use a Linux receiver or PC , you use a card reader for the PC like a Omnireader or a Smargo and setup server , i recommend Oscam .

You need somebody experienced in that sort of thing really as it's not a beginner's job to be honest . If you don't know what you need to set up a server you not gonna know how to set it up and there are a lot of settings you can mess about with on Oscam .

[NeilF]

Re: Card Splitter

Hi Josh,

thanks for the reply. I now understand the requirement for using either a linux based receiver, Dreambox, etc. or a server with a card reader as I've been doing some reading, thanks.

I'd probably go with the server idea with a card reader. I've got a couple of HP Microservers, one as a media server and one running ESXi hosting various Linux and Windows based OS's. I'd like to think that I'm experienced in IT having worked in the industry for 26 years in networking, infrastructure as well as development so would feel happy to give it a go setting up a sharing server.

Tio clarify, my question was/is, is there such a device as a card splitter/sharer that will physically split the output of an original Sky card so that it can be plugged into both an original Sky HD box and a card reader for the server and not loose the HD channels on the Sky box? I've seen things advertised such as the Smart Wi but don't want all the wireless stuff, just a simple(?) Y-splitter where you put the card into a slot and you have two 'cards' out.

My simple logic says the card would be paired correctly with the Sky box so should work as normal, but I'm not sure on the technicalities of the Sky card or any electronics required to make a splitter work as I'd think it's not a simple passive device so would require some kind of power, card reading mechanism, etc. so not sure if any such device exists?

Sorry if I wasn't very clear with my original question or if it's a dumb question, but I've not found anything from my searches so far.

Thanks.

Neil

[NeilF]

Re: Card Splitter

Hi,

other option that I've thought of after further searching, is there an option to use a 'Season' type pcb plugged into the Sky box and server (usb or serial) with the Sky card in a card reader attached to the server and pass back card requests and responses to either the Sky box or Oscam depending on the source of the request?

I guess if it's not currently an option it's possible to add the necessary code to Oscam or create a virtual port driver which routes the requests as necessary?

Thought?

Cheers,

Neil

[josht5]

Re: Card Splitter

I have never heard of such device , and i don't think such thing exists .

It's a good business idea though , if you could make such a thing .

I am thinking even if it did it will be very difficult to make the original Sky box read it , as that will effectively be a clone of the original card , and that's just not possible .

At this moment in time i do not see a way to share and watch the HD channels .

[NeilF]

Re: Card Splitter

Hi,

certainly not thinking of doing anything commercially. Anything I may do would be given back to the community for free.

I'm just looking at my own circumstances, we've got two Sky HD boxes with a full multiroom package. I'm away from home a lot but have crap internet where I'm stopping so Sky Go isn't a viable option. I don't want to limit what my family at home can currently do, so if I can share the multiroom without impacting them whilst I'm away then I think that's fair. I'm not sure if this is uncommon or not?

I don't know enough yet, but my thinking is if I could effectively put the card into a card reader and pass through all requests (originated from that box) and responses back to the original paired Sky box, it should basically be transparent and should work as if the card was in the box? But if Oscam or similar requests communication with the card this could also be queued and the card could also serve the same purpose as if it where dedicated to it?

I don't as yet know the technicalities of doing it, but it's becoming a bit of a personal challenge as Sky say F-you if you want decent support for Sky Go on anything apart from a Windows PC, Apple product, etc.

I was trying to avoid this kind of thing as the CFS limits me, but maybe it can be my new hobby, lol.

Cheers,

Neil