Digital
encrypted channels
Most
European households already have digital satellite TV. Many
people have made the choice of buying a digital satellite
receiver that promises many new programs and other content:
many movie channels with new and old movies, sport channels,
children’s channels with many series and movies for
kids, specialized channels: science fiction channels, documentary
channels, erotic channels, etc. Lead by such promises people
often decide: I’m going to buy me a digital satellite
receiver. But the initial shock wait for you: digital receivers
cos up to ten times as much as ordinary analogue satellite
receivers. You decide to buy a cheaper models since you
think that most of the additional options aren’t useful
to you. Now you happily walk home with your digital receiver,
you unpack the box and connect it to your existing installation.
Impressed by the fact that your receiver is now searching
and entering programs on its own you leave him alone to
work the next ten or fifteen minutes. Afterwards your receiver
has found some programs, you sit down and start to watch
and soon the beginning enthusiasm fades. Why? Your receiver
simply receives only FTA programs (Free to Air), which means
you don’t need any decoder for these programs. But
among these programs there aren’t any of the programs
you were told to receive. There are no sport channels, no
kid channels and especially no movie channels. Why? To watch
these programs you need a CAM and the responding card. This
means without these two element you’ll be able to
watch only FTA programs and you’ll recognize most
of them, since they all still emit in analoge technology
too (except maybe two-three additional programs). The programs
that your interested in can be counted on one hand and the
others serve no purpose for you since 98% of all programs
are on a foreign language that you don’t understand
and you don’t understand anything since most of them
are synchronized. The other 2% of programs are the same
you watched with an analogue receiver. What now? You have
three options: 1. leave the digital receiver alone and just
watch FTA programs, although your not interested into them
2. buy an additional CAM and card for the program packages
you want to watch, which in fact is not that cheap and 3.
forget about digital programs and return to good old analogue
programs and let them last as long as they will last!!!
What your decision will be is up to you and it will probably
depend on your financial abilities, on your interest in
watching encoded programs and the price will depend on the
need CAM and the package you want to view.
Conditional
Access Modules
It’s about devices as big as credit cards that are
inserted in a slot in the front of your receiver. To do
so your receiver hast to have a CI-slot (CI stand for Common
Interface). In fact it’s an ordinary PCMCIA slot that
is also used on computers and laptops.
The module itself has a opening in which you insert a customers
card, which has to compatible to the module itself.
In Europe today are program packages emitted in ten coding
systems that are not compatible each to another. This is
because of the great competition between satellite equipment
manufacturers and because of the impatience of TV station.
There were neither the time nor the will to develop one
coding system for the whole of Europe.
Irdeto
Irdeto is on the first digital technology coding systems.
It became famous since the vanished Kirsch package DF1 chose
it for their needs. Later on DF1 and Premiere were put together
and are now known as Premiere. Today’s most famous
package that emits in the Irdeto system is Canal Plus Holland,
which is emitting all programs in English with subtitles.
They thought it would be uncrackable, but soon software
pirates succeeded and the first pirate Irdeto cards appeared
on the market. Today several European TV station emit in
this system and pirate card are available to everyone. In
fact jus because of software piracy they developed BetaCrypt
(a new Irdeto version in fact) that is used by Premiere
World, Media Vision and the ORF package. Although they thought
that this system would be safe soon there were pirate cards
for this subsystem too. Not so long ago a known Greek package
started emitting in Irdeto 2, which, in fact, is a subversion
of the old Irdeto. The Nova package changed the codes every
few days since it was very popular for their movie programs,
which are emitted in the original language. Nowadays new
cards use new algorithms so cracking won’t be so fast.
In this system there also is a so-called Irdeto Free CAM.
Characteristic for this Free CAM is that has no customer
cards, but it has already a software installed which decodes
all irdeto packages, but you’ll have to enter the
needed code with your remote control on your receiver and
on the Free Cam itself. The Free Cam became very rare these
days, but it’s very popular since you can change it
into a 3in1 module so it would decode Irdeto, Seca and Viaccess
system, which allows you to watch 600 programs……but
this works only on a Nokia 9600! Besides that a very popular
receiver is the Humax 5400, which is enabled by its software
to decode: BetaCrypt, Irdeto, Seca, Viaccess, Nagravision.
This means with this receiver you can watch 800 encoded
programs and also 200 FTA programs. The price for Humax
5400 is 350 Euros!
Irdeto 2
This is newest Irdeto version and they are not compatible.
It is used only by a few packages like for example Nova,
Showtime Network and Nilesat and some porno channels use
it too. The system hasn’t been cracked yet and till
now there are no codes and hexes, but it’s only a
question of time…
BetaCrypt
It’s also a subversion of Irdeto, you could say a
enhanced version. It is used only by german packages like
Premiere World, ORF and Media Vision.
Viaccess
Viaccess is the invention of the French telecom and so it
is logical that is mostly used by French programs. Besides
them this system is used by HRT, RTV Slovenia, ART, NTV,
SRG-Switzerland, Scandinavian programs and some porno channels
like i.e. Satrisfaction TV, Sex View and Ultra Blue and
thea all announced that they will be switching to the new
system called Viaccess 2. in fact this not a new system
since the old Viaccess modules stay in use. It’s just
a new version of Viacces cards that are believed to be immune
against piracy and so is the whole subsystem believed to
be. This subsystem is already used by the Greek package
Alpha, which is emitting 15 programs via HotBird 13E. if
you want to view our nation TV HRT (all three programs that
are emitted also in analogue technology) you have to purchase
a viaccess module or a satellite receiver with a built in
viaccess module. Beside that you’ll need the HRT customers
card, which costs 165kn and you’ll pay monthly a 50kn
subscription fee. If you are buying the card for the use
outside of Croatia and you are a Croatian citizen, then
you’ll have to pay 22Euro for the card+ monthly 7Euro
subscription+35Euro upkeep costs yearly. The programs known
most are the Scandinavian Viasat. Viasat is known since
the D2/MAC times at that times this program was broadly
available thanks to the cheap card and decoders. This package
is nowadays emitted via Sirius at 5E. this package contains
40 programs including the well-known TV1000 (three programs)
and Cinema (also three programs). There is also the known
TV3 programs, MTV Nordic and VH1 programs. Modules of this
system are the cheapest and that is probably why most of
European programs are emitted in this system. For a long
time there was no pirate card available, but now they are
available and the decode ca. 100 programs.
Viaccess
2
Is not the new system but new viaccess cards that
are more secure and they cannot be cloned. The packages
with this new cards are Canal + France, TPS, NTV Plus, RTV
int., ART Europe, porn channels like SCT, Ultra Blue, Sex
View etc. and soon Viasat, HRT and others.
CryptoWorks
This coding system is made by Phillips and it was thought
of as secure, but lately there are pirate cards for this
system on the market too. Modules for this system are made
only by Phillips. This system is used only by programs that
are emitted for cable distribution. These programs can be
seen on cable networks. They are all emitted using CryptoWorks
and they are afterwards distributed to the consumer. They
are all part of the UPC Direct system that contains 30 programs,
which are made for the viewers of cable networks in Central
Europe. Although there are no pirate cards for this system
on the Internet can be found some hex-codes for this system
especially for the known Turkish package that is emitted
via Eutelsat W3 on 7E. This package is indeed very attractive
since it emits programs bilingual (original language and
the Turkish synchronisation). Rumours say that the Turks
will present this package to all viewers throughout Europe
who are willing to pay. To watch programs encoded in the
CryptoWorks system you need a CryptoWorks CAM and a card
or you buy a receiver with a built-in module, i.e. Humax
5500. There is also the possibility of putting your Aston
module into a CryptoWorks CAM (by using software) and afterwards
again into the Aston module. The necessary files can be
downloaded on the Internet.
Conax
This is an invention of the Norvegian TeleNor. It is used
only for watching the encoded Scandinavian package Canal
Plus and for some Slovak programs. For watching you need
a Conax CAM and a card, but it’s nearly impossible
to get a conax card. There are supposed to exist some pirate
cards, but it is hard to get one, since anybody who has
the hex-codes doesn’t want to make it public. The
only way is to buy a card for Canal Digital, but this will
be accompanied with costs of up to 500 Euro per year and
even though you won’t be able to view Kiosk programs,
since they have to be paid separately and you can’t
order them outside of Scandinavia. It has been announced
that Canal Plus is going to start emitting simulcrypted
(Viaccess/Conax) since there are some European laws that
say that packages in one country have to be emitted in two
systems so that the viewer has the choice of which equipment
he is going to use. This is going to happen till the end
of 2002, but Canal Plus is saying it wont do so since it
would open doors to pirates.
PowerVu
This coding system is used by packages that are emitted
for cable distribution. This system has not been cracked
yet.
NagraVision
This system is widely used by spanish packages that are
emitted via HispSat 30°W and a Polish package on HotBird.
Now Premiere package is transmiting in this system. Pirate
cards are, for now, easily found.
MediaGuard/Seca
Besides Irdeto and Viaccess this is the most used system.
Today there exist special CAM’s for this system that
is also called Seca. Although Seca is not the name of the
system but the name of the institution (Societe Europeenne
de Controle d’Access) that developed MediaGuard. It
was developed only for the use of Canal Plus programs throughout
Europe except for Canal Plus Nordic. Canal Plus wanted to
use this system only in receivers that would be able to
use only this decoder (so-called Gold Boxes). But the unexpected
happened: the French manufacturer of satellite equipment
Aston developed a module that is compatible. This module
is called Aston Seca. The compatibility is not 100% ensured
since MediaGuard cards don’t work exactly the same
on Aston receivers. There are some problems with receivers
that have a built in Media Guard module since pirate cards
won’t work properly. These receivers are made exclusively
for the origina MediaGuard cards and some specified program
packages as for example: Canal plus France, Canal Digitaal,
Cyfra +, etc. Program packages, which use this system, are
very attractive for the European viewers and there do exist
pirate cards even now when they all transmit in new SECA
2 system! Bur cards can be found if You look hard enough.
VideoGuard
This system was first used by the Sky digital package. Today
it is also used by: YES, OTE, STREAM TV, TELE+ DIGITALE.
Till now there are no special CAM’s but they are to
be expected. This system hasn’t been cracked, but
there are rumours that you can buy clone cards for 500€!
Since there are so many coding system you would need the
same number of receivers with the according number of CAM
and cards. It is common that TV station in one country use
different systems, so that there is a need for more receivers
or a receiver with more than one CI. Like for example France
two packages are emitted in two systems. This is why there
has been passed a law which ensures that all packages in
a country have to be emitted simulcrypted in two or more
systems, so that viewers could have the freedom of choosing
their equipment!
We will list the coding system which are used in Europe
and we will list the program packages that can be received
in Europe (and their coding system).
Table of
digital program packages in Europe
| Country |
Package |
Satellite |
Scrambling |
Language |
| Austria |
ORF |
Astra
1 19.2°E |
BetaCrypt |
German |
| Germany |
Premiere |
Astra
1 19.2°E |
BetaCrypt
NagraVision |
German |
| Germany |
DigiKabel |
Astra
3A 19.2°E |
BetaCrypt |
German |
| France |
AB
Sat |
Astra
19.2°E
Hot Bird 13°E |
ViaccessTPS
MediaGuard 2 |
French |
| France |
TPS |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
ViaccessTPS
MediaGuard 2 |
French |
| France |
Canal
Satellite |
Astra
19.2°E |
ViaccessTPS
MediaGuard 2 |
French |
| Italy |
Sky
Italia |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
MediaGuard
2
VideoGuard
Irdeto 2 |
Italian |
| Italy
|
Mediaset |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
MediaGuard |
Italian |
| United
Kingdom |
Sky
Digital |
Astra
2 28.2°E |
VideoGuard |
English |
| Poland |
Cyfra
+ |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
MediaGuard
2 |
Polish |
| Poland |
Polsat
Cyfrowy |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
Nagravision |
Polish |
| Poland |
UPC/Cyfra+ |
Astra
1 19.2°E |
Cryptoworks |
Diverse |
| Spain |
Digital
+ |
Astra
1 19.2°E |
MediaGuard
2 |
Spanish |
| Spain |
Digital
+ |
Hispasat
30°W |
Nagravision |
Spanish |
| Greece |
Nova |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
Irdeto
2 |
Greece |
| Greece |
Ote |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
VideoGuard |
Greece |
| Russia |
NTV
Plus |
Eutelsat
W4 36°E |
Viaccess
2 |
Russian |
| Russia |
RTV |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
Viaccess
2 |
Russian |
| Turkey |
Cine
+ Digital |
Turksat
1C 42°E |
Viaccess
1 |
Turkish |
| Turkey |
DigiTurk |
Eutelsat
W1 7°E |
CryptoWorks |
Turkish |
| Arabia |
ADD |
Arabsat
2A 26°E |
Irdeto
2 |
Arab |
| Arabia |
Orbit
|
Arabsat
3A 26°E |
PowerVu
MediaGuard |
Arab |
| Netherland |
Canal
Digitaal |
Astra
1 19.2°E |
Irdeto
MediaGuard 2 |
Dutch |
| Scandinavia |
Canal
Digital |
Thor
2/3 1°W |
Conax |
Diverse |
| Scandinavia |
Viasat |
Sirius
2/3 5°E |
Viaccess
1 |
Diverse |
| Israel |
Yes |
Amos
1 4°W |
VideoGuard |
Hebrew |
| Swiss |
SRG
Swiss |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
Viaccess
1 |
Diverse |
| Croatia |
HRT |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
Viaccess
1 |
Croatian |
| Slovenia |
RTV
Slo |
Hot
Bird 13°E |
Viaccess
1 |
Slovenian |
| Arabia |
ADD |
Nilesat
7°W |
Irdeto
2 |
Arab |
| Arabia |
Showtime |
Nilesat
7°W |
Irdeto
2 |
Arab |
| Arabia |
ART Europe |
Hot bird 13°WE |
Viaccess 2 |
Arab |
| USA |
MTV
Networks |
Astra
1 19.2E
Hot Bird 13°E |
CryptoWorks
ViaccessTPS
Viaccess 2
MediaGuard 2 |
Diverse |
Some packages already use two or even three
coding systems. The tab displays program packages by countries,
coding system, satellite and emitted language.
ORF Austria - this
package is made for the Austrian speaking area. It contains
differing versions of ORF that are made for the regions
in Austria. All programs are emitted in German. You need
a BetaCrypt or Cryptoworks CAM and a card.
Premiere - this package is made for the
German area. All programs are former parts of the DF1 network
or the analogue Premiere program. There are all kinds of
programs from kid channels, entertainment channels, documentary
channels up to porno channel. There are also ca. 10 Pay
per View programs that emit movies and sport events like
the football games in the Bundesliga.
This package has altogether 40 programs, which should satisfy
anybody’s needs. Besides some of the PPV channels
that emit bilingual the programs are emitted all with a
German synchronisation. To view these programs you need
a receiver with a BetaCrypt CAM and a card. (An Irdeto Free
CAM or a All CAM version 4.6 or 4.7 will work too). Card
that decode all Irdeto programs cost about 50€!
Digikabel – this package is emitted
via Astra 3A 23.5°E and it contains programs to suit
everybody’s taste. Most programs are on German, but
there are also other languages. The package uses Beta Crypt
and you need the same things as for Premiere World. Cards
cost 10€.
Canal Satellite Numerique- this package
as also the packages AB Sat and TPS is made for the French
market. The package contains 60 movie, documentary, kids,
entertainment and erotic channels. It is emitted simulcrypted
with MediaGuard 2/Viaccess TPS. This package contains the
known Canal Plus wich is emitted in three versions that
are emitted bilingual. The package also contains Canal+
16:9 (widescreen). There are also 12 Kiosque programs, but
they are only emitted in the Media Guard system. Other programs
are mostly (80%) synchronized, but oftenly a program is
first shown synchronized and the next day it is displayed
in the original language. You’ll need a Viaccess/Aston
Seca2 CAM or a receiver with an according built-in module
and a card. For original cards you’ll have to pay
annually up to 450 Euros (depends on the chosen programs).
This package is very attractive, because of Canal+ that
is emitting in the original language with subtitles. Pirate
cards can be found for about 50Euro (for TPSCrypt)
Parabole Reunion - this French package
contains various channels (movie, documentary, kids,etc.)
all programs are synchronized on French. You’ll need
a Viaccess CAM and a card.
AB Sat - this is a French package. It is
simulcrypted emitted (Media Guard2/Viaccess) via Astra and
HotBird. You’ll need a Viaccess Aston CAM or a receiver
with a built in MediaGuard/viaccess CAM. The programs are
mostly for youths: series, movies, documentaries and even
a porno channel XXL that emits from 22:30 each day. You
can buy original cards, but they are much more expensive
than pirate cards that can be found for some 50Euro!
Television par satellite (TPS) - this is also a
French package and it contains 40 programs: kids, documentary,
entertainment, erotic, etc. the programs are synchronized.
You’ll need a Aston/Viaccess TPS CAM and a card. For
original cards you’ll pay annually up to 400Euros
(depending on the chosen programs). Pirate cards cost 50€!
Sky Italia - A new Italian package. It
contains more than 100 programs (morew 30 are PPV-programs).
There are movie, kids, documentary, entertainment, erotic
channels (movie channels are emitted bilingual). You’ll
need a Video Guard/Media Guard or Irdeto CAM and a card.
You can purchase original card to decode the programs for
about 500€. You can buy a MediaGuard clone card for
500€. VideoGuard clone cards do not exist at the moment.
All programs are synchronized on Italian, which could be
very interesting for Croats from Istria and Dalmatia. Since
there is a vast variety of programs offered you won’t
get bored. Especially regarding the movie channels (Sky
Cinema 1, 2, 3) of which there are four (one is emitting
in the 16:9 system) and there are also PPV channels with
movies and the main sport events. I.e. Formula 1 races are
transmitted on 6 channels and you are enabled to choose
the camera view, the ankle, etc. all movies have the option
of language choosing (Italian and original).
Mediaset- this package is the property
of Berlusconi it contains the programs RETE 4, ITALIA 1
and CANALE 5. This package is meant for Italy. These formerly
FTA programs are now using the Media Guard system for emitting
some programs. Any ordinary Media Guard card decodes all
this programs!
Cyfra + Polska - this package is for the
Polish market; it contains ca. 30 programs and three versions
of the movie channel Canal plus. It is important to mention
that all programs are emitted synchronized on Polish. Canal
plus is emitted bilingual, as for a matter of fact are also
various versions of the Discovery channel that are real
heaven for science and nature lovers! You need a MediaGuard
2CAM plus a decoder card. Pirate card for Media Guard cost
up to 50€ but they dont work now as now this package
transmits in new SECA 2 system!
Polsat Cyfrowy - this package is for the
Polish market and it is similar to Cyfra+. It contains various
thematic programs and all of them are synchronized on Polish.
For watching you need a NagraVision CAM and a card. Or You
can watch it on patched receivers with irdeto CAM.
MTV Networks- this package contains various
European versions of MTV and VH-1. also there is emitted
the FTA version of MTV Central Europe. For watching you
need a Viaccess/MediaGuard2/CryptoWorks CAM and an according
card. Pirate cards for TPSCrypt cost up
to 50€!
Digital + is the new this package is for the Spanish
market. It emits about 160 programs: movie channels, kid
channels, entertainment channels and documentary channels.
It includes few versions of the Canal plus movie channel,
which are emitted bilingual. There are also PPV channels
Taquilla, which are emitting new movies and porno 24 hours
a day! Other programs are mostly synchronized. You need
a MediaGuard2 or Nagravision Cam and a card. A pirate
card for Nagravision costs up to 50€.
Nova - this Greek package contains 20 programs
that includes Filmnet and Supersport and all other programs
differ. The programs are synchronized, but Filmnet uses
subtitles. You need a Irdeto 2 CAM (the package accepted
this new coding system not long ago) and a card which cost
about 350€ annually.
Alpha Digital- this a new package for the
Greek market. It contains 15 programs of various contents:
movie, sport, documentary channels. It uses viaccess 2.
From october 2002. this package no longer transmits.
Ote - this package contains ten programs
for the Greek market. You need a VideoGuard receiver and
a card.
NTV + Russia - this is a Russian package,
which is emitted from the position 36E. It contains 50 programs:
movie, documentary, kid and sport channels. All are synchronized
on Russian. You need a receiver with Viaccess CAM and a
card. An original card that lasts for 6 months costs 200Euros.
There is a package on HotBird that emits a part of the NTV
package, same can be found in Viaccess 2. A pirate Viaccess
2 card cannot be found jet.
HRT - it contains HRT 1, HRT 2, HRT 3 and
three programs of Croatian radio. The programs are identical
to the ground emitted programs of Croatian national TV.
HRT 1 is mostly decoded, but HRT 2 and HRT 3 are decoded
only if Croatian programs are shown, if there are shown
any other movies, series (non-croatian that is) both programs
are send encoded. You need a Viaccess CAM and a card that
costs 165 kn per year. This package is offered outside Croatia,
but there the cost of a original card is 1000kn. If in future
time HRT will offer some other programs this package could
be very attractive, since programs are shown in original
language and subtitles are used. This could be a plus throughout
Europe.
RTV Slovenia - it contains the two national
Slovenian programs. They often display new and good movies.
It is important to mention that all movies and series are
shown in the original language and subtitles. You need a
Viaccess CAM and a card that can only be purchased in Slovenia.
A pirate Viaccess card costs up to 50€!
SRG
- this is a Swiss program package that emits for Swiss citizens
throughout Europi. You need a Viaccess CAM and a card. A
pirate Viaccess card costs 50€!
Orbit
- this package is emitted on Arabic and contains
Arabic programs with thematic channels. Various movie channels,
kid channels, documentary channels and news and music channels
are shown. Sometimes subtitles are used.
ADD and Showtime Network - this packages
of Arabic programs are emitted via the Egiptian satellite
Nilesat. It contains 50 various thematic channels (movie,
documentary, kids, music and news). Most programs are synchronized
on Arabic. You need an Irdeto CAM and a card.
Sky Digital - this package started emitting
in 1998 in Great Britain. Till now it has a few million
subscribers. The program is emitted via Astra 2 at 28.2E.
It contains 300 programs and this number is growing. This
includes 50 PPV programs and they are called Sky Box Office.
Programs included in this package are really various: 20
movie channels: Sky Premier 1-4, Sky Movimax 1-5, Sky Cinema
1,2 and Sky Premier Widescreen and Filmfour. This movie
channels are well-known and they are showing only new movies.
Older films are shown on Sky Cinema. Sky Premier Widescreen
shows daily up to four movies in cinema format 16:9. all
movie channels emit in Dolby Surround technology and it
has been announced that movies will be emitted in Dolby
Digital soon.
The package contains 10 sport channels: Sky Sports 1-3,
Sky Sports Extra (some versions), British Euro Sport and
Manchaster united Television. There are also 10 different
versions of BBC, which is divided by regions and the receiver
automatic detects in which it is used. There are two versions
of Cartoon Network and there are also many music programs
included: MTV UK, VH-1 UK and MTV2 UK, which in fact is
interactive and therefore music videos are shown on the
viewers demands. The number of documentary programs is increased
in regards to the analogue versions: there are shown five
versions of the Discovery channel: Discovery Home &
Leisure, Discovery Channel +, Discovery Travel & Adventures,
Discovery Sci-Trek and Discovery Civilization. Also there
are the Animal Planet and national Geographic Channel. Every
month there are new channels included into the package!
In the package are 50 PPV programs included (Sky Box Office).
They work this way: if you want to watch a movie that is
offered by Sky Box Office you just have to call and order
the movie and you have to say at what time you want to watch
it. The ordering system was upgraded lately: now you just
have to push a button on the remote control of your Sky
DigiBox. After that sit own in your favourite armchair and
enjoy in the movie, which was in the nearest cinema just
six or nine months ago, because usually it take a few months
since the movie is available on Video or DVD till it’s
shown on Sky Office. The Sky announced that he’ll
show movies although they weren’t shown in the cinema
yet or they will show them on Sky Office at least at the
same time when they arrive in the cinema. The price of one
movie on Sky Box Office is around 36kn. But there is one
“catch”. The receiver has a protection built-in,
a so-called Macrovision so you won’t be able to record
movies shown on Sky Box by using your VCR. Sky intends to
use the same protection on his other movie channels and
on series on Sky One.
And now something about watching possibilities of the Sky
Digital package. To receive the program you’ll need
a special digital receiver with a built-in Video Guard system.
Sky receivers are capable of receiving only their programs
and FTA programs. For now you also can acquire only a Video
Guard CAM which you could use in the CI-slot of your receiver.
And it is assumed that Sky won’t allow the free selling
of this CAM. But most likely it will appear as a independent
unit at the market very soon. For the reception of Sky Digital
you can purchase receivers from four manufacturers dedicated
to Sky: AMSTRAD, PACE, GRUNDIG, PANASONIC and SONY. These
receivers have all built-in a Video Guard CAM and slots
for two cards: a subscriber card and a credit card for shopping
via satellite or for paying movies on the Box Office. You’ll
need the original Sky Digital card.
The receivers can be purchased easily in Britain or Europe,
but as always there is a “ catch”. All receivers
have to be connected to the phone line (except to the benefited
subscribers) for the initial activation of the receiver
and for the control of the card and for paying the Box Office.
But if you activate the receiver once (or you buy it for
the full-price 750€) you don’t have to connect
it to the phone line anymore and you can use it anywhere,
but maybe you will have to play with hardware and software
a bit. Such receivers can be found in Europe and you just
have to connect them to an antenna and feed them with power
and insert the card. A receiver bought in Europe costs 750€,
the card has to be purchased separately and it costs 1000-1500€
and it is made for using it during one year. The cheapest
solution is working with a friend or relative in England
which has an original Sky analogue card. Then he or if you
are the owner of such a card can get the receiver for a
benefited price of 300€ and the card for a benefited
price of 500€. In this case you can solve problems
that may arise easier. Then there will be also a possibility
of getting cheaper subscriptions and you will be able to
choose the programs that you want and you will only pay
for them. In case you got a receiver for Sky Digital and
you got also the additional card you can expect a vast variety
of new movies and series and sport events.
Canal Digitaal - is a Dutch package. It
contains well-known programs like RTL 4, RTL 5, SBS 6 and
RTL Veronique, this package also includes two movie channels
CANAL+ Rood and Blawu that emit new and old movies. These
channels all use subtitles, except for emissions of Dutch
origin. You need a receiver with a Irdeto/MediaGuard 2 CAM
and a card. This package is attractive and wanted in whole
Europe since the contained programs are good and they use
subtitles.
You can watch this package with a Irdeto Free CAM that needs
no card. A pirate Irdeto card costs up to 50€!
Canal Digital Scandinavia - this package
is made for the Scandinavian market. It contains four packages
which is addressed to each Scandinavian country (Canal Digital
Sweden, Norge, Denmark, Finland). There are various programs
but they are mostly the same programs that are emitted in
the D2/MAC system. They emit four versions of Canal
Plus (each for one country) and two other versions of witch
there is always one dedicated to each country. The subscription
for each package has to be paid separately. Except for the
Canal Plus versions all other programs are equal. The other
programs are various: Eurosport, Discovery, Animal, National
Geographic, MTV, MTV 2, VH-1, Cartoon Network, Fox Kids,
Nickelodeon, four versions of Hallmark(which emits all day
long movies recorded for TV), CNN, Sky News, Adult Channel,
Playboy TV and other various local programs and 20 Kiosk
PPV programs. The package is attractive since they are emitted
in the original language with a possible use of subtitles
on all programs, but the kid’s channels, which are
synchronized except for Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.
You need a receiver with a Conax CAM and a card. Pirate
cards exist but it is hard to get since no one wants to
sell them or to give hex-codes out! Despite that the package
is sold for 750€ (it includes the CAM and the card
and the subscription).
ViaSat Digital - this package contains
well-known Scandinavian programs that were emitted in the
D2/MAC system via the satellites Thor and Sirius. This package
includes 50 programs. Programs like: TV1000, Cinema. TV3
program, MTV and VH-1, Cartoon Network, etc. The package
started emitting in June 2000. The package is attractive
since, like Canal Digital, the programs are emitted in original
language with subtitles. You need a Viaccess CAM and a card.
A pirate Viaccess card costs 10€!
Purchasing
the cards
And now some advise for potential customers of original
cards. It is for all program packages recommended to use
original annual cards, simply for the reason of ensuring
that you will actually watch these programs. Original cards
can’t be bought from the program station itself, but
you’ll have to have a friend or relative in the particular
country in which the package, which you want to watch, is
offered or you should use one of the various firms, which
offer mediation for the purchase of original cards of all
European packages! These cards will work perfectly as long
as you pay the subscription!
Of course there are also pirate cards for all packages.
They will attract a large number of customers, since they
are cheap and they are able to decode a vast number of programs.
This cards will work till the codes are changed for the
next time. If you have bad luck this can happen a few days
after you purchased it. Not so attractive programs will
change the code not so frequently.
If the code is changed you will have to reprogram your card,
which will be billed.
Whatever you decide: We wish you long watching of encoded
programs with as less as possible code changing!
