Card programmers?? etc

[satsaint]

Whats it all about? blank cards? programming with what for what?

[Mickha]

Hi satsaint,
In this hobby there are several ways to open channels.
1. A patch, a piece of software, for certain receivers, that emualates the encoding method and opens a package where the keys are known.
2. A Cam that does exactly like the patch above with updated firmware containing the relevant encryption and keys, like Dragon or Diablo.
3. A card, that fits into a Cam and has the latest keys to unlock a package that has been hacked, but kept secret, or where the keys have been purchased somehow.
At present there are several cards on the market, Cerebro and Daytona which both open Premiere package on Astra 19.2E, but these have been around for some time and no one can tell you how much longer they will last.
And the K3 card. a relative newcomer, which has files for Canal + France, 19.2E, TPS, excluding Multivision, 13E, Cyfra +, 13E, D+ & TV Cabo, but the last 2 only work in a goldbox. And you can either use the file for Canal + or Cyfra + not both together.
To program these cards you require a programmer, these are of various age and type, but the main ones are:
1. A CAS 3, which will program cards, CAMS, and is capable of repairing/altering certain CAMS, if you have the expertise.
2. A USB programmer like the Infinity Unlimited or the Adteknik, I forget the model, both these cam program in normal mode and Phoenix mode, essential for later cards, but only require a USB connection on your computer.
3. Older programmers, like mine an Infinity/Phoenix USB programmer, this to can program in Phoenix mode but requires 2 connection cables, a USB cable, for power and to program in normal mode and a Serial cable which connects to the COM port on my computer, to program in Phoenix mode.
These cards are not blank, they come loaded with a boot loader, which is required to load the files, so that they are only compatible with that card, which is why blank cards cost a few pence but are sold for many pounds. If you buy a card you must realise you never know when support is going to stop and if it is worth it.
There have been a few very good cards, on the market, in the past, the MII and the Titanium being the 2 best, but like everything in this hobby it is a gamble.
This is a very limited answer to a very short but complex question.
Best wishes
Mickha