New starter needs a little guidance

[TogaForComfort]

Hi All

I have been looking through all of the posts on here and so far have worked out that I need to get a FloppyDTV C/C to receive VM channels and I need a CAM to receive encrypted channels. However I have a few questions.

1. I am confused as hell about the smartcards, can i use the one that is in the STB or do I have to make my own.

2. Does creating your own smart card negate the need to subscribe to "Premium" channels (Don't want to **** VM off) or does it work based on what you are subscribed to?

3. what happens when new channels are added, it it just a case of rescanning for channels?

4. Where are the best places to go to buy the cards and the CAM?

thanks

[Confused Stu]

Hi Toga, and welcome to the forum.

1. You can program your own cards - most people use Funcard 4 or 5's and the files from the chatterbox.cc toolbar. I know you can use a modified original box's card (MOSC) but someone with more knowledge would be needed to comment on those.

2. A programmed card doesn't have the capability to limit your channel choice by what you've paid for, so you'll get ALL channels.

3. Yup - when a new channel comes up it'll get slotted in somewhere on the existing frequencies, so long as you've got that frequency in your list a rescan will show it up.

4. I got one CAM off hisat (pre-flashed) and my cards and infinity programmer off ebay. Recently bought a second CAM off ebay but then had to get a CAS3 programmer as well to flash it!

Hope that helps, and good luck.

[TogaForComfort]

Hi Stu thanks for the reply.

So Can I use the VM supplied card, or is a programmed card the only option?

Based in what I have read so far I'd need the Blue Zeta CAM flashed with Joker 0.79 right. Is states that it is shipped with Viaccess or you can ask for SECA Media guard, does it matter which one comes with it?

Cheers

[Confused Stu]

You can't use the card straight from your cable box, they're locked to only work with that particular box. I think it's possible to unlock the card and then modify it to use it in your PC but I don't know details -

Box's smartcard + magic stuff and expertise = Modified Original Smart Card (MOSC) to go into your PC

If you look at the Blue Zeta CAMs on hisat
_http://hisat.com/products.php?cat=39&nav=37
the options are Viccess, SECA, Joker, Kamillz, other - just select Joker and it should arrive ready for use.

[TogaForComfort]

Thanks again Stu.
That was the CAM I was looking at.
I'll be ordering the FloppyDTV, CAM and a smart card on friday. I'm sure I'll be back with further questions once I have all of the kit.

[TogaForComfort]

One last question for now, I have had a look on the chatterbox.cc toolbar. but i am complexly lost what files I should be looking for.

Any pointers?

[Confused Stu]

Download the "Funcard AU and Normal" folder and the April 08 Fun Card fix for your area. Personally I use toxic7 to create my external eep file, and then use the Fun Card Fix for the flash file. Depending on the card programmer software you use you might need the SwapbinHex program to convert your external eep file to hex.

Then again, I can't get my setup stable under VMC so you may not want to listen to me!

I realise the above doesn't make much sense, but download the files and it'll make sense when you start programming your first card.

[TogaForComfort]

No it makes sense, these were the files I downloaded and was poking around.

Thanks

T

[TwinTown]

ok may be able to add a few things that have been mentioned.....

if you wanted, you can program a mosc to only unscramble the channels that u subscribe to...the card need to be programmed with the relevant tiers that u pay for.
However soon as you touch the cable that connects to your subbed box you are breaking the law let alone split it and connect to a dvb card or any kind of receiver.

another option if using windows mce /vista u can exclude channels u don't pay for....but again it doesn't stop u breaking the law.

If u program the cam with the boxkey of ur subbed card it should work but your card will be tagged as soon as you try to read the necessary info from it and the cable company will be able to remotely detect that you have been looking....

not trying to put u off.....i pay for a vip package with vermin but believe because i pay for all the channels, i should be able to watch any channel on any tv in any room i choose, not pay for multi-room at £10 a telly or whatever it is that's why i've dabbled with all sorts of receivers...mostly though just as a hobby..

hope this helps

[TogaForComfort]

Hi TwinTown.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll just go with the Funcard.
My opinion is fairly similar. I hate the VM boxes and want to configure the stations in a way that makes sense, not the jumbled mess that they have.

Is there any problems with me putting the current STB in another room?
the room I have in mind is already wired up.