SKY Italia HD box and Digital key

[damaan]

I would like to buy a SKY Italia HD box for the digital free to air Italian channels. I've notice that it comes with a 'SKY digital key'. Is the SKY Italia HD box 'married' to the SKY digital key or can I use any SKY digital key in any SKY Italia HD box (lots for sale on *bay)?
Also, if I buy a new SKY Italia HD box and SKY digital key, do I have to activate the digital key or is it already activated? If it needs to be activated, do I need an Italian address?
Thanks.

 

[Analoguesat]

ISTR the digital key is just a usb adaptor to allow access to the Italian DTT channels. It will be useless in the UK (although it might be worth trying it to see if you get the UK dtt channels on it!)

 

[damaan]

ISTR the digital key is just a usb adaptor to allow access to the Italian DTT channels. It will be useless in the UK (although it might be worth trying it to see if you get the UK dtt channels on it!)

Why will it be useless in the UK? If I get the SKY Italia HD box with a digital key (married or not?) and point my dish 13oE, the Italian DTT channels will arrive in my Italian SKY box and the key should decrypt them? Hence I should be able to view all the HD channels like Rai, LA7 etc.? Or have I got this wrong?

 

[rolfw]

This article explains it: _http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/10/20/usb-key-brings-lost-channels-back-to-sky-italia/

The key is a DTT tuner and requires connecting to an aerial in Italy to receive the terrestrial channels.

If you want those channels in the UK, you need a Tivúsat box and card.

 

[Analoguesat]

You dont understand - the key is a DTT via aerial converter of some sort

Its got nothing to do with decryption of scrambled services.

 

[damaan]

Thank you both - I understand now! Hence to receive Sky Italia means having to subscribe to SKY in Italy or pay some of the vast sums of money some UK firms offer?

 

[Analoguesat]

Yup - If you just want the Italian "Freeview" channels then get a Tivusat card.

Member Tivu will probably be able to tell you more, he normally pops up on Italian related threads soon or later

(Hes like a bad penny )