Second Optus Cable box - caveats?

[digital_silence]

Hi all,

I am subscribed to Optus Cable TV (feat. Foxtel Digital).

I have recently acquired (legitimately) another Optus Digital set top box and (claimed to be valid) card in it.
Picture of the box is

I'd like to use it as a second unit, in order to be able to watch two different channels at the same time in two diferent rooms.

Before I go and connect it to the same cable via splitter, I thought I'd ask here if I need to know more, both on technical and legal sides?

My concerns are:

- Is my Optus account using the S/N of the box and the card signature, so there is a possibility that the second box will not work at all?

- I understand that these new digital boxes send some signals via cable back to the provider. Can the presence of the second box compromise or even completely stuff up the functionality of the main one?

- Even if two boxes can not work at the same time with different cards, will I be able to have them connected to the cable in the different rooms and use the valid card between them to watch only one at a time?

(Haven't explored the technical side of digital cable land, although knew a fair bit in the old good analogue cable days... :-)))

Thanks.

[Escape_from_Oz]

they dont kill the bix itself (like in the jerrold days) instead they shut down the smart card.

However if the card is legit then there will be no issues connecting it via a splitter and running it along your legit Optus DSTU.

[digital_silence]

Thanks, Escape.

Connected it yesterday via splitter.

It only shows TVSN :-(
All other channels (including even free-to-air) are disabled.

When I insert my card from the first box into the newly connected STU, the new box says "This card is not valid for use in this set-top box".

So, does the card have to be used in the particular box only?

Looks like I am losing in every department...

[satdancer]

When I insert my card from the first box into the newly connected STU, the new box says "This card is not valid for use in this set-top box".

STB's are married to specific cards during activation. You can't go swapping cards amongst provider boxes. 3rd party boxes are a different matter.
You're wasting your time with the 2nd unactivated box. It remains the property of the provider and is utterly useless to anyone except them and is only useful after they install it up until the time the service is deactivated.
Either return it to them or use it as a door stop.

[mtv]

If, as you say, you have aquired the box and card legitimately, contact Optus to report the problem.