Sky+HD

2012 · 46 replies · General

This discussion is 14 years old. It predates today's Roomie Remote X, and the app names, menus, features, pricing, and device details below have changed substantially since 2012. Treat it as historical reference — see Support and current compatibility for how things work today.

In short

When do you expect to add Sky+HD IP configuration, the box accepts commands for the sky+ app, so hopefully this should b — Staff replied: “We'd be interesting in doing that. However, we suspect they have not published the new protocol yet and possibly have no plans to do so.”

Question 2012-05 · older version

When do you expect to add Sky+HD IP configuration, the box accepts commands for the sky+ app, so hopefully this should be possible.

Member 2012-08 · older version

Sky have now enabled ip control thought the Sky+ iPad app. The app allows full control of your recordings, change channel, pause, play ect..

How can we get this functionality in Roomie?

Roomie Staff 2012-08 · older version

We'd be interesting in doing that. However, we suspect they have not published the new protocol yet and possibly have no plans to do so. That means fairly extensive reverse engineering will need to be performed, and most likely that is something that needs to be done on-site with a working system. (Which would be impossible from California for instance.)

Quite possibly waiting a few weeks, the hacker community will simply do exactly that and publish the details. In the absence of that, we'd need to figure out another way to get the protocol information either by talking to Sky (unlikely path as even if they wanted to give out the information, they very likely simply have not written it down which is a big impediment for a complex protocol) or finding a resource locally there capable of doing some fairly advanced protocol reverse engineering. If someone falls into the latter category (the first qualification there would be an intimate knowledge of WireShark) and has access to a Sky+HD system, contact support and we'll see if we can work something out.

Roomie Staff 2012-08 · older version

We have just received a lot of data on this, and of course it was all reverse engineered as it is not published. However, it looks highly compatible with Roomie as usual. If you're interested in helping us develop this into a complete command set, please contact [[email removed]](mailto:[email removed]). Looks like this will be able to take advantage of a lot of infrastructure we already just built for Sonos. We will probably need 2-3 beta testers with these boxes to make this a reality.

Member 2012-09 · older version

Hi, loving the look of roomie and it's features! Network control of my Sky +HD boxes would be great and would def sway me to purchase roomie. I would gladly beta test it for you and provide feedback.

Member 2012-09 · older version

Hi, Just a quick update, I yesterday purchased the software + HD pack + IR pack and have just ordered 10 iTach units so just waiting on delivery. I'm now in a position to test the Sky integration with Roomie if you are still looking for beta testers?

Member 2012-10 · older version

A further update, Kit has now arrived and would love to give the IP controls a go as I am having issues with the IR command, in particular the STOP button.

See here - <a href="http://www.roomieremote.com/forums/topic/sky-sat-hd-stop-button/">roomieremote.com/forums/topi ... op-button/</a>

Regards

Member 2012-10 · older version

My Sky HD+ box is on my network via ethernet cable, and the new iPad Sky+ app controls it perfectly.

Can I expect my Roomie to 'find' it and control it?

Thanks.....

Member 2012-10 · older version

Would love to know the answer to this. Sky IP control would be great!

Member 2012-11 · older version

Any further movement on this?

Roomie Staff 2012-11 · older version

We have partial data on this unit. To complete the effort we would need someone capable of WireShark captures on their local network using their box and app. Please contact support if you are familiar with WireShark and would be capable of that.

Member 2012-12 · older version

Anybody? Unfortunatly the help required is beyond me.

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Member 2012-12 · older version

Hi, I'm just planning a new system and wondered if any could recommend the best protocol to control my Sky+HD box? I'm guessing IR would be the simplest, but RS232 may offer some feedback? Also, Sky have recently launched IP control, which I have read about in another forum post and use the iPad app myself, but I don't believe it has been successfully integrated into Roomie yet (although I do have WireShark...).

Anyway, has anyone used RS232 successfully or does everyone just use IR?

Regards,

Mike

Roomie Staff 2012-12 · older version

Here is an experimental early command set for Sky+HD IP Control:

roomieremote.com/wp-content/ ... plist_.zip

To try this, import this RoomieCodes file via Dropbox, add your Sky + HD box via Manual IP on port 49153 and then select this command set at Media Player->Sky. Once we confirm these basic commands are working, we'll move on to the guide and other commands.

Member 2012-12 · older version

Thanks Roomie, that command set works a treat! Looking forward to the development of the guide, planner and on demand services integration!

Member 2012-12 · older version

Works great for me as well, well done!

Member 2012-12 · older version

Hi,

The basic commands (forward, pause, play, reverse, stop) all work great for me - how can we get more advanced commands (like entering a channel number, TV guide navigation etc) working?

Thanks again!

Member 2012-12 · older version

Just tried the basics and they're working for me. Happy to help anyway I can.

Member 2013-01 · older version

Basically all working. Couple of slight oddities:

1) The "pause" doesn't act as a toggle in the same way that it does with the Sky+ app. To resume, one has to press "play". Perhaps the Sky app retains state information or queries the box for current state and sends a "play" command if already paused.

2) FF and REW jump to 12x speed rather than going 2x, 6x, 12x, 30x with the app or the IR remote.

3) The playback counter doesn't work, although the Sky app doesn't have this feature either so it may be that the box doesn't support it.

Channel change looks rather more involved than sending individual digits, so that may not be quite as simple as it first appears.

Roomie Staff 2013-01 · older version

Does anyone have a quick postal code for SkyHD UK? Anything that lists it is fine. We're matching up some funky channel numbers these boxes expect that have no real world mapping to the actual channel numbers. We are trying to make sure we can inject the proper mapping into the real guide data as needed.

Member 2013-01 · older version

Sorry for the delay guys, a post code that should work is BH12 1DN

Phil

Member 2013-01 · older version

You can also try

Grant Way

Isleworth

Middlesex

TW7 5QD

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Member 2013-01 · older version

You should be careful how you proceed with the Sky integration. It has a very closed system, think Apple.

Member 2013-01 · older version

Hi. I a noobie and I'm stick!

I've downloaded the Sky codes and downloaded an XML editor, backed up my Roomie config to Dropbox and loaded the Sky codes into a separate XML window. However, I have absolutely no idea how/where to past the new Sky codes into the main config. Can anyone provide instructions? Or is there another easier way of doing this?

Member 2013-03 · older version

Hi, tried the experimental SKY HD codes and they work great.

If it was possible to get the GUIDE button and the four colour keys that would really be all that is required. Is this possible?

Member 2013-03 · older version

Hi, I'm also keen for the SKY HD ip integration. It's the only thing that's stopping me from using Roomie as an one stop app for all my devices.

As most people in the UK have some sort of Sky package as part of their home entertainment system, I feel the first App to integrate Sky HD into their repertoire will quickly corner the market.

Look forward to the updates.

Member 2013-04 · older version

I've just bought the app and registered purely to try the Sky+HD control. I can also confirm those basic keys. They work fine (with the caveats mentioned by snotsicle).

I'm very excited to see where this leads. I'm looking for a new, iPad based remote and this could be the one for me.....

Member 2013-06 · older version

Any further progress on this, would be great to have the guide, etc. working from roomie?

Member 2013-06 · older version

I'd suggest badgering Sky to provide a URL for their Sky+ app so it can be launched by Roomie.

The SkyGo app has a URL but the Sky+ app doesn't - go figure.

I don't know the best way to complain to Sky about this, but their user forum is at helpforum.sky.com

Member 2013-08 · older version

Just bought the remote app and very impressed. Is there any update for controlling sky hd over ip?

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thanks

Roomie Staff 2013-08 · older version

The command set we posted earlier in this thread should work fine.

Guide integration is another topic. One could easily add buttons to a Virtual Remote now that send you to fixed channels, but doing that in a way that is fully integrated with Roomie's guide is a different story. Sky's guide system is quite... unique shall we say. Nobody else has a guide system like it where made up channel IDs are used in the background to represent non-existent channel numbers. In any case, it requires a lot of guide customization to handle that. In general, that's on the docket. We're not sure which release it will be.

Thank you.

Member 2013-08 · older version

Found this on the sky forums so thought I'd post it here. The URL for the current Sky+ app is

fb389824664411304://

Thanks go to whoever managed to work that one out!

Member 2013-08 · older version

Great stop gap, thanks for that. I have a question though, I'm trying to use that URL on an activity button to open the sky+ app, but it won't allow me to open it silently, it says 'unable to open specified URL'. I can get round this by using the open in Roomie option, but then when I return to roomie, I've got a blank web browser and have to click back to return to the previous activity. Not a huge issue, just not quite as slick as I would like. Any suggestions?

Member 2013-08 · older version

Scrub that last comment, opening in safari works a treat.

Member 2013-09 · older version

<blockquote>Sky’s guide system is quite… unique shall we say. Nobody else has a guide system like it where made up channel IDs are used in the background to represent non-existent channel numbers.</blockquote>

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I wonder if this is because of interactive (red button) channels? These are channels that are broadcast, but don't appear in the EPG, and are generally selected by pressing the red button on the remote and navigating through menus to select particular content.

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If it is any consolation, I'm not aware of any guide that displays all interactive content in the UK.

Member 1970-01 · older version

Hi all, bit of a noob at this, so please bear with me.

i am very interested to try the sky ip configuration, so downloaded the file to my drop box, recovered my configuration from dropbox, and set up my sky box as per the instructions (ip and port 49153), I'm able to select sky device from media player, but the commands don't seem to work !, I would really appreciate any help.

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thanks

jmc

Member 1970-01 · older version

I was able to get the basic commands working with my roomie, but as of today they have stopped. The Sky+ app still works so, I know the noetwork is fine. I tried to deleted and re add the sky box, but I still can't roomie remote to work.

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Any Help would be great

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Thanks

Member 2014-03 · older version

Any further progress on this? I believe sky boxes are currently being updated to include power commands over IP, although I still dont think an API has been released

Member 1970-01 · older version

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">I am looking for some advice from anyone that is managing to control their skyhd box via. These are the steps I have taken:</span></span></div>

<div> </div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">1. Downloaded the sky commands provided by roomie earlier in this thread.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">2. Moved the file to the roomie folder located in dropbox.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">3. Restored roomie from dropbox - I am told 4 new files are added (before I added the file, there was only 3 files in the folder). Also, in the settings (can't remember exactly where at the mo) it tells me that there are 7 commands for skyhd.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">4. Go to living room & add new device with manual ip.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">5. Add ip of my sky box (found in the sky box network settings) & port 49153. My sky box is connected to the router by ethernet cable.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">6. Choose media player skyhd & create activity for watching sky.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="421440110-24032014">7. Edit the watch sky activity & choose the remote for sky & sky guide.</span></span></div>

<div>8. Below is a picture of the sky remote that I am given when I choose 'Watch sky'. So I add a number pad to the remote but it has no numbers on (second picture) & nothing seems to work.</div>

<div> </div>

<div>I am not sure where I am going wrong so any advice would be appreciated.</div>

<div> </div>

<div>Also I have ordered the wifi version of the itach so I will be able to control the sky box via shortly, however I would like to know if there are any advantages to controlling it via ip. For example, I control my htpc via ip & that works very well, providing feedback to roomie.</div>

Member 2014-03 · older version

Can someone that is using roomie to control sky hd via IP please tell me if it has any advantages over IR. My htpc gives feedback to my remote so am wondering if sky will do the same? Thanks

Member 2014-07 · older version

Hello - any update on this?

I have tried to set up and control my Sky+ HD box with Roomie using the dropbox file and using the IP address of the box and port 49153, but no ability to control the box (even for basic pause, rewind functions) which is a little frustrating.

Can anyone help if I am doing anything wrong or if there is any easier way to make Roomie work over IP with a Sky+ HD box in the UK?

Many thanks

Member 1970-01 · older version

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">

</span>

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">With the amount of sky HD boxes in circulation I would have expected this to be of high <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>priority</span></p>

<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">but it would appear not!</span>

<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Is there a reason why this has not been addressed?</span>

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Member 1970-01 · older version

Hi

any update on this as this thread has been going a while but still no solution??

Member 2015-01 · older version

Hi,

The start of this thread seemed to indicate that ip control of the sky box was possible, but even with that zip file i have been unable to accomplish anything, has this project to support ip control of the sky box been abandoned?

I am new to roomie, but i believe to be the closest thing i have seen to solve my universal remote issues. I am a highly technical person so i can offer any beta/development assitance on this project please let me know

I have purchased the full version of roomie and have a roomie blaster on the way but the sky hd ip control still eludes me. the best i have at the moment is running the url to launch the sky app which is ok ish but obviously you then lose volume control as you are no longer in roomie.

The command i use to lauch the sky app is:

skyplus://

Anyway i trully hope you someone here can assist with this as here in the UK, SKY HD boxes are everywhere!

Other hardware controlled by roomie without issue, denon receiver, apple tv, sony bravia tv. all works a treat highly recommended!

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