Humax HDCI 2000

[finfrey]

Hi folks,
Thinking of purchasing above for its HD capabilities. As previously said, live in France so would need a Powercam pro for mediaguard/Viaccess.
Questions : I have read reviews that this receiver can be difficult to set up and is not really for idiots like me!
On their site they say updating is automatic. Does this mean its done by them via Satellite or do I
have to download updates from Web and load them myself?
Can you confirm that with a motorised dish with this receiver I will be able to receive, without adding
a Sky Box, BBC & ITV?


Sorry if I am a pain in the proverbial!!

[BGonaSTICK]

You're not a pain.

We're here to help

The Humax is a pretty decent box. It's no harder to set up than any other box really. The menus are not the best laid out in the world, but it's not rocket science.

You're not limited to a Powercam pro either. Any multiCAM that handles both SECA(Mediaguard) and Viaccess will work. Something like an original Dragon CAM, or even older - one of the Matrix series, can be picked up quite cheaply now.

The Humax can be updated in one of two ways. Firstly by downloading the factory firmware from the Humax download website and flashing from your PC via a cable, or by performing an automatic 'Over-The-Air' update. This is (as you say) where the firmware update comes down from the satellite itself.

Only certain satellites provide this functionality though, and I'm not sure that Astra2 does yet. I'm pretty sure Astra1 at 19.2E does and I think there were plans to provide a download service from other sats.

Yes, with a motorised setup this receiver will receive BBC and ITV OK as they are both transmitted Free To Air, and the receiver is backwardly compatible with DVB-S1 and mpeg-2.

HTH

STICK

[finfrey]

Thanks a lot Stick,

Further info required please:-
Can you explain in idiots terms what I would need to get me started if I wanted to try
"doing my own cards"?
What equipment you reccommend, what sites there are to download the codes etc.
like apparently smartwi.net for example.
Generally what is available in this field and ease of use.

thanks people

[BGonaSTICK]

Firstly I would say that currently, if you want a receiver capable of High Definition then the Humax is probably the best bet. If you also want to try unofficially opening pay-TV then that would force you down the cards/CAMs route.

If you can wait 6 months, then there will be a lot more choice in HD receivers, some of which won't require cards/CAMs - like the Dreambox 8000.

If you can do without HD, there are a number of receivers which can be used to do the same thing, but where the decoding is done in software. The cheap ones rely on 'patched' or modified firmware, whilst the top of the range receivers are actually simple Linux computers which can be programmed and re-programmed as things change.

If you decide that cards and CAM's are the way to go, you need to accept that it will cost you to replace your hardware every few months.

The latest generation CAMs don't really need cards. They emulate subscription cards in the CAM firmware itself. This can also be supplemented by cards as well, as and when different packages are opened by different pirate groups. Current CAMs are the Diablo and the T-REX Supermodul 4.6. Current cards are the K3, Anaconda and Minerva.

To program a card, you will need a suitable card programmer. To program a CAM you will either need a CAM programmer like the CAS3, or you can program certain cards, and use them in turn to program the CAM. I think the former is generally accepted as being the easiest and best method these days.

Check out our links section on the portal for links to some of the sites that discuss this further and carry the (illegal) files required, or Google them using some of the keywords I've mentioned. There are quite a few about, and you will settle on your own favourites after a while.

STICK

[finfrey]

Thanks Stick, really appreciate your help.
Problem is the more you find out the more you need to find out.

I am sure I will have somemore questions for you soon

Finfrey

[BGonaSTICK]

Originally Posted by finfrey

Problem is the more you find out the more you need to find out.

LOL, you are so right. It never ends either...