Stupid Q, what is a Card Reader & CI

[Euler]

Ok daft question. I am new to this game and just purchased my first dish. I intend to purchase the Technomate TM-5200 which i believe is simply a free to air receiver.

If i wish to watch subscription channels at a later date i will need to purchase a new receiver, after a little research I have discovered the Technomate TM5400 CI+ USB, which has a Card Reader and Common interface, what are these.

I keep reading about CAMS?. what are these.

If i buy the TM5400, do i simply need to buy viewing cards and put in the Card Reader and it works?, if so what do I do with the Common Interface?.

Do I connect the CAM to the common interface, if so, what is a cam.

Sorry about the stupid questions (I suppose the questions are stupid if you know the answers).

Any help would be great

Thanks

[radtv]

Hi and welcome

A card reader allows you to buy a viewing card for xxx, sport, film channels that are encrypted in a certain method, for instance the digitalb card uses the Conax encryption to secure the channel from people not paying an encryption. The CAM slot is used to put a CAM module in like a Diablo Light or official CAM like a Viaccess or Irdeto CAM and allows you also to put a corrisponding viewing card in allowing two cards to be used. Make sure when you buy you buy a "Super" version of a Technomate.

[Euler]

cheers for that,

So does that mean, with one Card Reader and one Common Interface, I can use 2 viewing cards in the machine, the second card connected to a CAM via the Common Interface?

The CAMS appear to be £50+, why would you buy a CAM, why not simply remove Card 1 from the Card Reader and put in Card 2. Sorry if this sounds stupid?

Thanks again

[radtv]

Yes thats right, the second card slots in the cam and the cam slots in the receiver under the flap. Yes you could just swap the cards, but it depends on how lazy you are etc.