Experiencing Sky Viewing Card problems? Here’s the solution!
When clarifying the exact cause of this problem, we must both take hardware and software factors into consideration.
It is really dependent on how the Viewing Card adds up in your configuration to whether it will be detected or not.
Here’s how to simply fix these problems!
To quickly resolve Sky Viewing Card issues, Power Cycle your cable box and activate the Viewing Card Channels from the website. Next, reinsert the Sky Viewing Card appropriately and update the software. Finally, Reset the Sky Viewing card.
To understand this problem in more detail, keep reading our guide!
“Sky There is a Problem with Your Viewing Card” – Explained!
The message that constantly appears when you try to access content brought from your Viewing Card indicates a problem.
Whether that problem would be with the Viewing Card itself or the Sky Box, is still not yet identified.
Let’s have a look at the potential causes that prevent your Viewing Card from working:
- There’s a Temporal Software Problem with your Sky TV Box
- The Software of your Sky TV Box is Outdated
- There’s an issue with the Positioning of your Viewing Card
- There has been a problem with the Viewing Card’s Reading
Whether it’ll be software or hardware factors preventing your system from recognising the external card device, the same error message will be displayed.
The problem might be occurring due to one of the things above so let’s jump into the solutions!
Troubleshooting Sky Q Viewing Card Problems!
To resolve your problem in the most efficient and easy manner, follow the order of your solutions, exactly as they are.
Skipping important mentions, steps or notes may reduce your chances of resolving the problem by the end of our guide.
Let’s jump in with the fix!
Solution #1 Do an Advanced Reboot on the Box
To give a start to your troubleshooting, perform an Advanced Reboot that seems in place!
This is a beginner’s troubleshooting solution and in most cases, manages to handle temporal glitches with the system of the Sky Box.
It consists of temporarily disrupting the power supply to your box, with the ultimate goal of refreshing both the hardware and software.
Here’s how to perform an Advanced Reboot on your Sky Cable Box:
- Locate the Power Button on the device and press it.
- Wait for the box to completely power down.
- Disconnect the Power Adapter from the cable box.
- Stand by for another 4-5 Minutes while the adapter is unplugged.
- Grab a hold of the cable and connect it back to your box.
- Turn on the device.
- Test…
The key to performing the Power Cycle on your box correctly is to be patient.
Keeping the box unplugged for longer will also allow your device to cool down which also helps!
Note: In case the Sky Viewing problems are persistent, keep reading!
Solution #2 Activate Viewing Card Channels
In many cases where Sky users get the Sky Viewing Card error on-screen, the Channels Haven’t Been Activated.
This is an often thing you could see, especially if you’re a first-timer installing a Viewing Card and don’t know how to activate its functions.
Basically, you’ll have to acquire important system data from your cable box’s menu and paste that into Sky’s official website to activate those channels.
Let’s learn how:
- Press the “Services” Button on your remote.
- Navigate to “Settings”.
- Choose “System Details”.
- Take a photo of the Model, Version, Viewing Card Number and Receiver ID.
- Navigate to activatemychannels.sky.com on a browser.
- Login using your Account’s Credentials.
- On step Three of the instructions list, Paste all of the Values you’ve photographed.
- Await activation.
Sky admits that the activation could take up to 4 Hours from the moment you submit the required data.
Stay put and wait for your Sky Viewing Card’s channels to become active.
Note: Be careful not to get any of the values incorrectly, since the activation won’t work.
Solution #3 Reinsert the Viewing Card Correctly
Chances are that your Viewing Card is Seated Incorrectly within the card reader!
- There is only one right way to insert the card!
That’s why your next step is to eject the Viewing Card, take notice of the printed on the hardware instructions and insert it correctly.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to do it:
- Press the Eject Button on the card reader compartment.
- Once the device spits out your viewing card, take notice of the prints.
- Grab your Viewing Card and gently push it into the card reader.
- Wait for the reader to withdraw the card and store it inside.
- Test…
Make sure that your Sky TV Box is up and running during the time of reseating the device or otherwise, the system will still not recognise the card.
Note: Once the Viewing Card has been inserted correctly, the system should detect it.
Solution #4 Perform a “Viewing Card Refresh”
One of the most effective methods against Sky Viewing Card problems is to refresh your Viewing Card from your TV box’ settings!
This works as a reset, but not exactly since it will cause the system to re-scan for external devices, placed into the card reader.
Many users have suggested that this settled the Viewing Card’s identification issues to the system and resolved the on-screen error.
Follow these instructions to refresh your Sky Viewing Card:
- Get your TV Box’s remote.
- Press the HOME button.
- Choose Settings.
- Select System Info.
- Press Viewing Card Number.
- Tap Setup.
- Highlight and choose the “Use” Button in order to activate the Refresh.
- Wait…
The Viewing Card refresh wouldn’t take longer than 2-3 minutes in order to finalise. It’s necessary to leave your TV Box unbothered, to avoid cancelling the process.
Note: The Sky Box’s interface should notify you whenever the refresh has finished.
Solution #5 Update Sky Q Box Software Version
Updating your TV Box may get a problem with the Viewing Card resolved.
Although software versions are periodically uploaded to your Sky Box, without needing you to do anything, you could update the device manually.
In that regard, let’s get the software of your Sky Q Box updated to fix the Viewing Card problem:
- Access the Settings of your Sky TV Box.
- Navigate to Setup.
- Select Software Download.
- Press the “Search” Button to make your system look for new firmware.
- Once the results appear, tap the “Update” Button.
- Wait…
Once the firmware update process has been triggered, it will take your system 3-5 minutes in order to finalise it. Do not interact, shut down or reboot your box for the time being.
Note: If the update has been finished successfully, your cable box will undergo a reboot.
Solution #6 Reset the Viewing Card
If nothing worked so far, then Resetting your Viewing Card is the only way out of this.
It’s a practical solution Sky have developed, for any undergoing problem with the external devices of your cable box, thus, the Viewing Card.
It will flush the entire profile of the card that has been created in the system and reload all of the data.
Here’s how to reset your Viewing Card in easy steps:
- Turn OFF the Box.
- Eject the Viewing Card.
- Replug the box back into the power outlet.
- On the Sky remote, Press the Sky Button.
- Press the 1 0 8 buttons in the respective order.
- Reinsert the card back into the box.
- Attempt to use the card’s functionalities.
Pressing the buttons while your Sky Box is off, will not cause your Viewing Card’s interface to reset.
If the card is inside the device, the reset will also fail since the interface will not be deleted.
Note: Reboot your cable box once again, after reinserting the Sky Viewing Card back in!
Quick Recap:
Hence, to fix any problems with your Sky Viewing Card, reinsert the device the correct way and Hard Reset your TV Box. Next, Update the device and Refresh the card in the software. Finally, reset the Viewing Card and activate the Viewing Card Channels!
Wrapping Up:
Today we’ve learned the easiest methods to resolve Sky Viewing Card problems quickly and efficiently.
Although the chances are slim that any problems with your Viewing Card will still occur, it’s best to give Sky a call.
They’ll be able to detect any issues with your system and provide the best possible methods or even bring their technicians into play! More about Sky in our tech blog!
Read Next: My Sky+HD Box Is Not Recording? – Fixed!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.