What is Card Sharing?

[lincsat]

This explanation is not my work ... it was posted on Digitalworldz by member PinkHelmets I thought it best just to copy and paste it as the explanation is very straight forward and very easy to follow ... so all appreciation to pinkhelmets

Q. What is cardsharing?
Hopefully this thread will help complete beginners to understand more.

Cardsharing, card shares, 'sharing' and 'CS' are commonly used to describe the method of using a smartcard (or cards) over a network. In practical terms an original legitimate subscription card could be used in a receiver; then another box that is in another room, or even a thousand miles away, could access the smartcard via 'local network' or 'internet' to clear channels that the subscription card allows.

So no sharing needs to be involved, its purely access to a remote card that isnt actually plugged into your own card slot, that we refer to with the phrase 'cardshare'.

This method has existed for many years and not new, even though the majority of people have not heard of it. Talk of 'sharing' is banned on many forums and a taboo subject due to its obvious possible illegal uses.

Cardshare or card-over-network is not illegal per se, but it is the use of the method that can be against Uk and international law and generally everyone in the Uk wants to ask "so how do i get free sky?" which is just direct illegal discussion that could lead to the closure of any Uk forum. Teaching someone directly how to 'steal' is also a prosecutable offence, so posts are often removed for safety of the helpful members too.

##Lets make this clear, cardsharing has nothing to do with Sky branded equipment whatsoever, but yes the method does work with Uk smartcards so we cannot condone anyone wishing to use cardshare information to commit crime##

Q. So what do I need?
Firstly you need equipment that is networkable, such as Dreambox and similar linux based satellite products. These receivers have ethernet connection in the same way as computers do, and have ability to use developed software to send and receive information.

Over the years of development many versions of software have evolved and names such as Newcs, Cccam, Mgcamd, Gbox, Newcamd and others have gained popularity due to their ability to network-share. Legal practical use has allowed the subject to expand and even top brand names like PACE, Amstrad, etc, now use the idea to develop new hardware for the future. Legal benefit to networking is you are able to pay for an encrypted package and then watch with a receiver of your choice in your own home and no longer need to keep taking the card in and out and forgetting where it is etc, or use a favourite machine that doesnt have a supported cam/cardslot. 'Grey area' use also includes using over the internet too, because if you PAY for subscription and then watch a channel in your holiday home whilst your card remains at home, how can you be committing a crime? Its not piracy or theft because you are legally paying for the privilege to watch.

Q. How does it work?
For receivers to communicate over a network they need to be configured. Firstly a box needs to know where the card will be located. This hardware holding the card is known as the 'server' or 'cardserver' or 'host' and relates to whatever equipment physically hosts the smartcard. Other receivers without the smartcard directly inserted are known as the 'clients'.
Standard computer based IP address format is used for real-world location, which acts like telephone numbers for internet connectivity in the same way our pc's work all over the world. So 1 box knows where another is by direct IP number etc.

Each of the software cams mentioned (Gbox, Cccam, Newcamd etc) use 'protocol' or language that is specific to that product. Some cams are able to 'talk' to others, but this can be limited so usually each receiver will keep the same software cam. However, this part is where different development has taken place to give wider suitability and capability.

Eg. As example we will use 'Newcs' as the card server on a machine we'll call 'North'. So a machine running this software hosts an original subscription card. Now Newcs 'talks' in newcamd protocol, meaning it can communicate with other receivers with software speaking the same digital language.
1 satellite receiver we'll call 'East' uses Mgcamd as its soft-cam. This receiver will be set as a 'client' and does not have a card.
Another satellite receiver we'll call 'South' uses Cccam as its soft-cam This receiver will also be configured as a client to 'North'.
A 4th receiver we'll call 'West' and this also uses Cccam and is configured as a client to 'North'.
>>So this example is nice and simple, all 4 satellite receivers would be able to view channels that the subscription card in receiver 'North' allows. Mgcamd and Cccam are both popular and both able to communicate with Newcs so all is well.

This is the point 'shares' can become more complex and the 'sharing' description more relevant. What happens if South has a different subscription card in its slot that would be good to allow the other receivers to access? Well this means that South will be a Server as well as a client. Using the same soft-cam makes things very easy, it is a simple process to add a line of numbers into West to make it a client, and add a line of numbers into South so that allows West the access. At this point in the example, the result would be that North and East only clear Card1 channels, but both South and West equipment clears Card1 channels and Card2 channels too.

There are options for North & East, its not as complicated as it seems, its just a process of configuring each receiver again and all being on a protocol that each box understands, but sometimes trying to imagine 50 or 100 receivers is a harder task. The point to make is that the method is the same and its not really relevant how complicated it can get, cardsharing is all about the possibilities.

[Analoguesat]

Lets also point out that Sky are very worried about cs'ing and will be rolling out new anti piracy measures in the next few weeks. So hopefully the entire problem will go away if they do it properly!

[Rick]

Just a couple of points on the Legalitles of Card Sharing.

Sharing a subscription card, which has no Terms of Use attached (alot of the porn cards etc are like this) It is quite acceptable to use c/s to view the card in multiple recievers they you also own, as long as only one reciever accesses the card at any one time. Even if the recievers are in differant locations i.e a holiday home.

Something like Sky UK on the other hand is differant. Their terms of use stipulate that you must use a multiroom subscription with their equipment.

You must subscribe to Sky TV throughout and an extra box is required for each Multiroom subscription. Each box you have must be connected to the same fixed telephone line at all times.

While using c/s for Sky or indeed Virgin Multiroom within your house is not Criminal, as there is no Law to stop you, it is against the companies respective terms of use which you must have agreed to to get a card, so would leave you open to Civil proceedings.

Atleast this is the way I understand it, I am not a lawyer, but I have heard legal opinions on this before.

[lincsat]

Indeed, but CS is not just about Sky despite what some may think.

This is a FAQ section, I have started a legal discussion in a different section where it's more appropriate.

Satellite CS Legality discussion