SES 5 Channels and the OVHD decoder

[Sgt.Romeo9]

Hi everyone

I'm looking for some clarity on something I read in another thread. I was just wondering with regard to the OVHD decoder, is it possible to use it as a FTA decoder if you don't activate it?

It is so frustrating that OVHD is making us choose between their service and all the channels available free to watch at 4.9 degrees East (Astra 4A & SES 5). Especially if you're interested in three of the FTA channels and two on OVHD. Wish there was some way you could "jailbreak" the OVHD decoder because I mean the functionality to add transponders are there, you can even add multiple satellites and supports using a diseqc for goodness sake, it's all there but blocked off.

Appreciate any responses thanks

 

[Sgt.Romeo9]

Hi everyone

So I noticed this post of mine got a lot of views despite no replies. Which basically means a lot of people want to know the same thing I want to or something similar but also like me don’t want to take the plunge to buy the decoder. So I went and got one and I’ve played around with it for a while now and this is what I’ve found.
Firstly the simple question everyone wants answered. Can I watch FTA channels with the latest OVHD decoder the Altech DSD4139 2 UEC? No you can’t.

The reason: The latest decoder’s comes out with the latest version of their software simply known as B03. B03 changes your tuner status to locked. Apparently from what I can piece together the earlier software version B01 still had a tuner status of unlocked.
Sadly though when it comes to the software options on the decoders you are very limited so no chance of downgrading your box.
What is strange is the fact that adding transponders is not blocked heck you can even still make use of the diseqc functionality to add multiple satellites with all their transponders. It even scans the added transponders. It just simply ignores the added parameters adding no new channels.

However with the B01 software when channels where added successfully from what I understand you didn’t access a separate area as you did back in the day with DSTV decoders instead the channels where simply added from 1 to n, considering the official channels start at 100.

What I did find interesting is when you browse through the software license list the main license is GPL2 with the majority of additional licenses also being GPL and some even going as open as zlib. Licenses include ones from: FreeBSD, SQLite, openssl, boost software license, PCRE and a few from cryptsoft.

Anyways I hope this information helps some of you and answers some questions.