How can I tell if CAM or CI at fault?

[Confused Stu]

I've had a TT C-1501 working nicely with DVB Dream and vplug for a couple of weeks now, but I really want to go down the Hardcam route. I ordered a Zeta blue from Hisat with Joker 0.79 on it, two funcard 4's, and an infinity phoenix programmer - all of which arrived a couple of days ago. I already had the CI interface from when Ibought the C-1501.

I've plugged the CI interface into the PC, but it doesn't seem to have made any noticeable difference. Putting the CAM into the CI doesn't produce anything noticable either. DVB Dream has all the CI buttons greyed out - with or without "Active" ticked. Technotrend's CAM Controller just gives me a TV and Radio drop downs (with nothing in them) and a "Slot 1" button that does nothing when clicked other than go grey. One of the threads suggested making a funcard anyway and trying it, but I don't know the CAMs boxkey so I don't see how I'm going to get it to match. There is also no mention of the CI slot in Device Manager, but I'm not sure if it would show or not!

I am looking for anyone with any ideas how I can tell if the CAM is at fault, or if the CI card isn't working at all. I haven't got another card/CAM I can try. I'm using Vista 64, if that makes any difference.

My options at the moment:
- Return CAM to hisat for testing/replacing
- Buying a CAM reader and doing the tests/reflashing myself
- Returning CI card and asking for a replacement
- Scrapping the whole TT thing and buying a FloppyDTV like I should have done in the first place!

I would be better off going with a cheaper option (wife's noticed a few PC related things on the bank statement), so if anyone can help me work out any way or software that can tell me what's working and what's not, that would be great.

Thanks.

[TwinTown]

Originally Posted by Confused Stu

One of the threads suggested making a funcard anyway and trying it, but I don't know the CAMs boxkey so I don't see how I'm going to get it to match.

h**p://www.satellietnl.nl/CIcam.htm

the 0.79 default bk is listed under icecrypt black

cheers

[Confused Stu]

Just a quick update (in case anyone's interested! ).

Thanks to TwinTown and Willin, I was able to get past the wall I was at and I've been programming cards happily for the past week. I've been reading so much, and trying so many different card files that I'm now pretty sure I've used the right combination at some point. I've also tried all the flash files and eeprom file creators with both the keys in and not to try AUing, but all with the same results:

DVB Dream - All channels found (thanks to transponder files from here) and all working with vplug. CI option ticked but all buttons under CI stay grey. Deactivating the vplug leaves encrypted channels not working. CAM/card/CI never shows any signs of life. Selecting TT's CAM Control software just gives me empty drop down boxes.

ProgDVB (64 bit version) - All channels found (thanks again for the transponder file!), vplug doesn't work with 64bit ProgDVB. Selecting CI menu option just brings up a box with "Awaiting Data" for ever. Selecting an encrypted channel and opening TT's CAM Control software now gives me some channels in the TV drop down. Selecting "Decrypt" always gives an "unsuccessful" response. Channels never decrypt.

TT's Media Centre - have run through every scan imaginable with every option/transponder I can find and cannot find any channels. Even searching on a single frequency that I got for a channel from DVB Dream and ProgDVB shows 0 channels found. Button that should show when it detects a CAM never shows up.

TT's DVB Player - again, run every scan imaginable and cannot get it to find any channels. Altered the tranponsder .ini files but made no difference. Even deleted all the transponder files once, but the next scan still went through all the same frequencies and symbol rates as before I deleted them!! Auto-detecting the hardware puts a tick in the "CI Present" box but shows no other sign of life.

I think, after all this, I've now hit upon an answer to my problems! Yesterday I ordered myself a FloppyDTV C/CI. Once I receive it, I'm going to ditch (ebay) the C-1501 and CI. It's a lovely card provided you want to use DVB Dream with vplug but Technotrend's software and support info is a complete joke

I'll let you know how I get on when I receive the FloppyDTV (and perform a clean Vista install - I've messed about with it so much trying to get the C-1501 and CI working I think it's probably the best way forward).

Thanks again to everyone for thier help and advice on this site, I wouldn't have got anywhere as far as I have without you.

P.S. Before anyone says, every time I was trying to AU the card, I left it in place on an unencrypted channel for 15 min, then an encrypted for 30min Still stayed as dead as my chances of pulling a supermodel.

[idbeholdl]

Hiya,

I've got exactly the same problems as you! Same set up and everything. I've sent the Zeta back for testing and waiting back on the results from that.

Lack of £ atm is stopping me from going for a FloppyDTV atm but I wish I had now lol

[Confused Stu]

Well, I think I've found the answer to my question now! I got a FloppyDTV C/CI yesterday and popped it into the PC. It came up with a few simple questions, I chose the Media Centre drivers and within 15 minutes I was watching Sly Movies in Vista's Media Centre. As I had just moved over the CAM and card I was last trying in the Technotrend and it worked perfectly in the FloppyDTV, I think I can safely say I the CI wasn't working properly.

Has anyone else managed to get the C-1501's CI daughter card to work properly in Vista 64? Unfortunately, both HTPC and gaming PC run Vista64, so I can't try it in another PC - I've got an XP laptop and a Windows 2000 Digital Photo Frame, but nothing with a PCI slot!

The C-1501 is a good card and it was very easy to get DVBDream up and running 100% with vplug, but I particularly wanted to use VMC (and hence a Hardcam) and it's rubbish for that. Guess the C-1501 is heading to ebay when I can be bothered.

Now I've got most of the channels in VMC (some missing) and decoding nicely, I've just got the horror of the EPG to work out. Just trying a fresh install and Fiji to see if it helps, and get rid of the sheer amount of DVB players I've installed trying to get the C-1501 working properly.

Thanks a lot for everyone's help with my meanderings in the DVB world so far. Without you I wouldn't have got anywhere. Cheers.