Sky+HD Box Problems

Just wondering if anyone can help with an issue I'm facing. I've just gave my grandmother my old Sky+HD box, however the viewing card is bringing up an error message saying that it's the wrong card for the box, error code 07 and to go to the Sky website to pair the card to the box.

But it's the same card that came with the box back in 2012, so I'm kind of puzzled why it's bringing this error message up. The subscription was cancelled after the contract was finished, this wouldn't be a problem would it?

Also the box has been lying dormant for a few months now as well. So would it be in my grandmothers interest just to phone up Sky and get a card for £25 to rectify this problem?

If you don't have a subscription, and can cope with the default 101/103 mappings for BBC One and ITV then there shouldn't be a need for a card. (The Sky+ bit requires a subscription to enable recording)

Chances are that the card hasn't received any authorisations as it hasn't been connected to a receiver and dish (the cards are updated regularly over-the-air to keep their entitlements - even the FTV ones I believe)

However a £25 "Freesat from Sky" card will only give you the right postcode mapping for 101/103 (and the right adverts on Channel Four and Five) as well as the right ITVHD region. There are a couple of FTV channels (Pick TV?) - but Channel Five HD is no longer FTV I believe - so requires a subscription. BBC HD channels, ITV HD (but not ITV2-4HD which are pay) and C4HD will be fine without a card (you don't need an HD subscription for them) Can't remember whether More 4 HD, E4HD and Film Four HD are FTA or not.

The viewing card was registered to a Glasgow postcode and even trying to watch STV Glasgow on 117 it brings up the error message...

Everything else does work fine though including STV HD on 178

If needs be I'll buy the card and get it registered to my postcode and send it to her that way...

Could you connect it to a phone line and do a 'New installation'? Is that still a thing?

STV Glasgow is FTV not FTA - i.e. you need a valid viewing card and a Sky receiver to view it.

FTV = Free to View i.e. encrypted but not requiring a pay-TV sub, just an authorised card and a Sky box (*)
FTA = Free to Air i.e. unencrypted and viewable with a non-Sky box (like a FTA receiver, PC interface etc. !)

Nothing to stop you trying a New Installation.

SERVICES - 0 - 0 - 1 - SELECT will get you to the "Hidden" menu on a Sky HD box and you can then select NEW INSTALL. Make sure the box is connected to the Phone line (broadband MAY also work now)

(*) Yes - there are ways of using a Sky card with a non-Sky receiver system. Very niche though.

Yeah as the viewing card was registered to a Glasgow postcode, STV Central is on 103.

So I might just phone them up and get a new card linked to my postcode and send it up.