Using Sky+ box without satellite input

[alchad]

Hi,
Yesterday I upgraded to Sky+with HD but unfortunately I hadn't realised that all the programs we'd recorded but hadn't yet watched were on the hard drive of the old sky+ box. Mrs Alchad not pleased at missing some programs!

The installer left the old sky+ box and was hoping I could just connect up to a spare TV and watch the programs directly from the hard drive. I just tried this but when I select "planner" I get a message saying no satellite connection. Now I suppose I could mess around and connect it back to the satellite connections while we watch the stored programs, but it's a hassle having to disturb all the wiring.

JUst wondered if anyone knew a workaround?

Thanks

Alchad

[Undecided Adrian]

You also have the additional problem that encrypted channels will also need the viewing card paired to the Sky+ box to watch them.

As I found out to my cost when I moved my Sky+ box upstairs when I got multiroom.

You could use copy+ to copy the programs over from the Sky+ hard drive to the new box but that needs you to open up both boxes.

So no there really isn't a easy answer I'm afraid.

[simonmpoulton]

It's not strictly true that you need the card paired to watch the recordings. You only require the card to be paired to watch the premium recordings from the movie/sports channels. All other recordings can simply be watched with the original card they were recorded from inserted (but not paired) in the box.
There is no way of watching the recordings without a satellite signal and as Adrian has pointed out the only other alternative is to use Copy+ and copy the programs from the old box to the new one. This process doesnt require you to remove the drives from the boxes you can simply open them up and plug in the connections from a computer to the drives whilst they are still in the boxes.