Choice user equipment, necessary for viewing the package of all-Russian programs “Tricolor TV” (Eutelsat W4 satellite, 36° East), has until now been limited to two models of satellite receivers: DRE-4000 and DRE-5000, which are manufactured by Digi Raum Electronics. The reason for this is the use of a specific conditional system DRE access Crypt, the decoder of which is an integral hardware and software part of these subscriber terminals.

The development of the Digi Raum Electronics company presented for testing - the DRE Crypt conditional access module, equipped with a Tricolor TV smart card - allows you to replenish the currently available equipment fleet intended for viewing channels of the digital satellite package Tricolor TV, through the use of various models of digital terminals with Common Interface (CI). The appearance of this product opens up new opportunities for subscribers of the Tricolor TV package:

• use for viewing a receiver that the user already has that has a Common Interface slot.
• inclusion of equipment related to Hi-End class(PVR terminals).

Design features

The DRE Crypt conditional access module has a standard DVB CI design. Information exchange between the conditional access module and the receiver is carried out through a 68-pin connector. The module housing covers are metal, held on the plastic frame of the module using latches. Although CAM module manufacturers typically connect these structural elements using spot welding, the use of a “semi-rigid fastener” will likely not affect the mechanical strength of the product submitted for testing. But the collapsible design simplifies access to the module circuit, increasing its maintainability. Plastic structural elements are also secured with latches.
Judging by the markings of the DRE Crypt module (P/N: 1250/2002, Rev: 2.01), its hardware is similar to that used in the well-known universal CAM modules Joker CAM/Zeta CAM/Ice Crypt CAM, built using a specialized Neotion ATSKY controller. For this type of CAM, simple techniques have been developed for restoring damaged software using common and affordable hardware and technology.
The “Tricolor TV” subscriber smart card, which is included with the DRE Crypt module, is made in ISO 7816 design. The smart card has a barcode with a unique serial number, as well as warning notices regarding the rules for using the card ( detailed instructions are given on the website of the Tricolor TV company – www.tricolor.tv). Judging by the information posted there, the smart card cannot be used in devices other than CAM DRE Crypt.
For testing, two sets of the DRE Crypt module + Tricolor TV smart card were provided, which made it possible, in particular, to establish the absence of a rigid “link” between the module and a specific smart card. To view the channels of the “Tricolor TV” package using the DRE Crypt module and the “Tricolor TV” smart card, no activation of the card subscription was required.
The CAM DRE Crypt OSD menu provides information about conditional access parameters. The CAM menu language is English. There are only two sections in the menu:

• Information about the module (CI Module Info): type of supported conditional access system (CAS DREcrypt), software version (SW: 1.2.2) and hardware (HW: 1.1.) of the module.
• Smart card information (Card Info): card version (ver. 1.2), broadcast provider (Provider: Tricolor TV), individual card number (DRE ID: card number).

The CAM DRE Crypt menu does not support the ability to make any changes related to the user interface and operation of the conditional access system. Information about the possibility of updating the software submitted for testing the product was not available at the time of testing.

Testing methodology

The purpose of testing was to determine the user capabilities of the DRE Crypt module + smart card kit: compatibility of the DRE Crypt module with various models digital receivers;
correct operation of the decoder (DRE Crypt module + smart card) when viewing programs from the Tricolor TV package using various receivers;
the ability to operate the DRE Crypt decoder in receivers used to view other encrypted programs.
The operation of CAM DRE Crypt was tested in digital satellite terminals with a CI interface. The choice of models/manufacturers of receivers was determined by the samples at our disposal:
- without a built-in decoder of the conditional access system;
- with a built-in conditional access system decoder;
- With additional devices(PVR models and terminal with built-in DVD).
Receiver software versions were generally either the most recent or had a reputation for being more reliable. In a number of cases, we had to select the receiver software for it to work correctly with the DRE Crypt module.
As criteria for assessing the level of performance of the CAM DRE Crypt presented for testing, indicators of its operation in various modes were used:

• “cold” initialization of CAM DRE Crypt in the CI slot of the receiver. The module with the card is installed in the receiver, disconnected from the power supply. CAM initialization begins after turning on the receiver in the viewing mode of one of the channels of the “Tricolor TV” package;
• “hot” initialization. The module with the DRE Crypt card is installed in the receiver, which is turned on in operating mode (viewing one of the channels of the “Tricolor TV” package);
• reading information about the module using the receiver software. Assessing the correctness of the OSD menu display CAM DRE Crypt;
• interaction of the DRE Crypt module and the Tricolor TV smart card at the level of reading card information and correctness of its display in the OSD menu of the module installed in the receiver under test;
• viewing channels of the “Tricolor TV” package. Assessing the stability of the decoding process of individual channels, as well as when switching channels;
• viewing channels of the “Tricolor TV” and “NTV-Plus” packages in devices that have several CI slots or a combination of a CI slot and a built-in Viaccess decoder. Access to viewing channels of the NTV-Plus package was carried out using the official NTV-Plus smart card and Viaccess conditional access modules. If the terminal had a built-in Viaccess CAS decoder (or multi-decoder), then it was used to watch the channels of the NTV-Plus package. An external decoder (CAM) was used in those receivers that did not have a built-in one. SCM Viaccess CAM (V484, Appl 1.08.003) was used as the main external Viaccess decoder. Neotion Viaccess Pocket CAM (Viaccess Ver: 2.1) was used as an alternative external Viaccess decoder.

Test results

The test results are shown in table. 1. It makes sense to dwell in detail on the description of the results characterizing the operating features of the DRE Crypt module in receivers from various manufacturers:

Humax
The module works reliably in devices of the old F1 and 5000 series. In all receivers of this line, the initialization of the module is, at first glance, non-standard: in any power-on mode, the initialization cycle (from the user’s point of view) is repeated twice. Otherwise, no problems were observed with these devices.
In PVR terminals (models 8000 and 9100), the module is not always initialized in the upper CI slot. Thanks to the availability of several copies of the Humax PVR-8000 and Humax PVR-9100 receivers, provided to us for testing by the General Satellite service center, we were able to check whether the results of the DRE Crypt module working with these devices depend on their hardware and software. Tests have shown that in some instances of receivers of the specified types there were no problems with initializing the DRE Crypt module at all. In other instances, it was possible to achieve stable initialization of the module in the upper CI slot by selecting the software version. There were also devices in which the DRE Crypt module was not initialized in the upper CI slot. And neither in terms of hardware, nor in terms of software version these terminals did not differ from others of the same type and did not show any other signs incorrect operation with other CAMs.
A similar problem was discovered when testing the operation of the DRE Crypt module in the Humax HDCI-2000S HDTV receiver. The problem was partially eliminated by installing the latest version of the receiver software. However, even in this case, the DRE Crypt module is not always initialized in the top CI slot. Stable operation of the DRE Crypt module in this mode was achieved by installing another CAM (in our case, SCM Viaccess CAM) in the lower CI slot. In this configuration, the device worked reliably when viewing the Tricolor TV and NTV-Plus channels.
A receiver from another manufacturer, Arion AF-9300PVR, demonstrates a similar reaction to installing the DRE Crypt module. In the upper CI slot the module is not initialized. If you additionally install SCM Viaccess CAM in the lower CI slot, then the DRE Crypt module is initialized without problems, but Viaccess CAM itself is not initialized. The receiver recognizes the presence of a second CAM, but the initialization process does not complete. If you use another Viaccess CAM as a second module, for example, Neotion Viaccess Pocket CAM, then you can view both the Tricolor TV channels and the NTV-Plus package.
In general, Humax receivers work satisfactorily with the product presented for testing. Existing problems can be solved by reinstalling the receiver software or selecting the system configuration.

Samsung
The DRE Crypt module works identically with all tested Samsung receivers. The module initialization takes place in a fairly short time (faster than in receivers from other manufacturers) from any operating mode of the terminal. When you turn on a channel from the “Tricolor TV” package to watch, the decoding is stable. After switching from a coded channel to another (open or coded), normal decoding stops. The problem manifests itself in a unique way and is 100% repeatable: after the first switch, audio decoding stops, the video is saved, after the second switch, decoding of both audio and image stops. The same result is obtained if you call up the CAM menu in playback mode and then exit it. To restore decoding in both cases, the module must be reinitialized. The same problem was observed in some receivers from other manufacturers - PBI DVR-1000 CI and Lemon 040 CI Via. No software versions for Samsung receivers were found that would solve the described problem.

Topfield
In the receivers from this manufacturer that we had at our disposal, the DRE Crypt module is not initialized. There weren't many receivers with which the DRE Crypt module is compatible. In addition to Topfield PVR terminals, another device is the Globo 6000 CI receiver.

General Satellite
The DRE Crypt module works reliably in these receivers, and in the CI-7100 model with two installed CAMs - Viaccess and DRE Crypt.

Kaon and EmTech Receivers from these manufacturers easily provide the ability to view channels from the Tricolor TV package together with the DRE Crypt module and the Tricolor TV card.
Since the number of models of receivers from other manufacturers was limited (one model at a time), it is hardly possible to make generalizations regarding their other developments. However, it is worth noting that positive results were obtained when testing the DRE Crypt module with well-known common models of household receivers (Dreambox DM 7000S, Openbox X-820CI, Echostar DSB-2110 2CI) and the professional receiver Harmonic ProView PVR 6000. The DRE Crypt module with the installed card showed Stable performance under varying temperature operating conditions and in tests carried out over long periods of time.
Despite the presence of problems that appeared when the DRE Crypt module worked with some receiver models, we can say that the decoder presented for testing can be used to view the channels of the Tricolor TV package. The DRE Crypt module with the Tricolor TV card can be installed in Various types terminals with CI slots, combinations of CI slots and a built-in Viaccess decoder, as well as devices that expand functionality receivers such as a hard disk recorder or DVD drive. The author expresses gratitude to the General Satellite company for providing the DRE Crypt access module with the Tricolor TV card for testing. The author is grateful to the staff of the General Satellite service center for technical support provided during testing of the DRE Crypt access module.

Cable TV coding systems
29.08.2004 13:47

Why do Russian cable workers have headaches?

During the years of Soviet power, our citizens have become firmly accustomed to free television. They think that if before it was free, and now some guy is demanding money for it, that means the guy is simply robbing them. Cable piracy is not only not considered immoral, but, on the contrary, is encouraged as a manifestation of technical savvy and class consciousness. Therefore, Russian cable operators have two headaches - unauthorized connections and collection subscription fee.

Due to the poor financial situation of the majority of cable operators, and partly due to poor awareness, the solution to these problems is provided only by organizational measures. Special personnel periodically go around houses and “bite off” those who have connected without permission. With the collection of subscription fees, the situation is more complicated. Most often it is collected by the elders at the entrances. Sometimes a staff position is allocated for this within the cable company itself. There is hardly any need to comment on the inconveniences of both methods.

The best option is when the cable operator enters into a contract for antenna maintenance with the owner of the housing stock. This is usually the city or district utility department. In this case, the old on-air wiring is completely eradicated, and all 100% of residents are connected to the cable network - the problem of unauthorized connections disappears by itself. The subscription fee is included in the apartment rent. Cable workers no longer need to collect money from subscribers - they bring it themselves to the Sberbank branch. However, this method also has a drawback. With a 100% connection, the size of the subscription fee must correspond to the solvency of the average subscriber, but, alas, it is low. Since this method of collecting fees increases the collection rate, and at the same time reduces the costs associated with frequent connections/disconnections of subscribers, the operator can reasonably reduce the cost of its services, but very little.

With any method of collecting subscription fees, the operator does not have the opportunity to split the fee for different channels; the subscriber receives either everything or nothing. Obviously, it would be advisable for TV viewers with modest incomes to be offered a basic package of state channels. Wealthier subscribers could be offered a wider range of commercial and satellite channels. If such an opportunity existed, both basic and additional channels would sell better.

In the West, solutions to these problems are provided technical means- conditional access systems, or, simply, coding (scrambling) systems.

The head equipment of the encoding system performs two main functions. First, the signal is encoded. To do this, one or more elements of the image signal (sometimes sound) are changed in such a way that the image becomes “unreadable”. The encoder changes the signal parameters according to a certain pseudo-random law (algorithm). To restore the signal, the subscriber's decoder must perform inverse conversion synchronously with the encoder. Secondly, information is introduced into the distribution network in one way or another that determines the access rights (statuses) of all decoders in the system. Both of these processes must provide the following requirements:

The image signal must be distorted to such an extent that it is impossible to view it without a decoder

The quality of the image restored by the decoder should be subjectively perceived as no worse than the image quality of open channels

The system should be maximally protected from hacking, i.e. creating a pirate decoder should be technically difficult and economically impractical

The system must be fully compatible with existing distribution networks. This means that the signal of encoded channels in its radio frequency parameters should not differ from the signal of open channels.

The cost of equipment should be as low as possible. Cable subscribers tend to be middle-income citizens. Therefore, the cost of subscriber decoders is of primary importance.

Choosing a system is a compromise

It is easy to see that these requirements largely contradict each other. Indeed, on the one hand, in order to prevent unauthorized viewing, the image must be “damaged” as much as possible. On the other hand, it is necessary to preserve the image quality after it is restored by the decoder. In this case, the decoder should be an inexpensive, and therefore relatively uncomplicated device. For this reason, most popular cable address coding systems use simplified scrambling technologies. Only individual elements of the video signal (sync signals) are changed and/or simple linear transformations signal (inversion). Such coding systems are usually called analog. The equipment of analog systems is relatively cheap, but such systems are easily hacked. Restoration of distorted elements of a video signal is carried out using other elements of the same signal that remain unencrypted. A pirate decoder built on this principle uses only the information contained in the signal itself for decoding, ignoring control data.

In more complex systems, the signal undergoes nonlinear transformations, as a result of which its temporal structure is disrupted. As a rule, lines within a field or parts of lines within the lines themselves are shifted in time or swapped. To restore such a signal, the decoder must contain a memory device per line or per field. In the decoding process, an analog signal is first converted into a digital sequence, then processed digitally and converted back into analog form. Such systems are called digital. Equipment digital systems coding is much more expensive, and resistance to hacking is much higher. It is technically very difficult to reconstruct a signal encoded by “digital” methods using only the information contained in the signal itself.

The maximum number of decoders in one system should be as large as possible, and each of them should be controlled individually from the headend. This means that, in addition to the television signal itself, a fairly large amount of data must be transmitted. In this case, the encoded television signal must occupy the same frequency band as a regular one. The encoded signal should be restored only by the decoders of those subscribers who paid for viewing, and not by others. If you encode the signal for each decoder using a separate algorithm, you will have to transmit as many signals in parallel as there are subscribers in the network. Of course, this is an unacceptable solution. Therefore, in any coding system, all subscriber decoders are given the same signal, processed by the same algorithm, and the same algorithm (key) is used to restore the signal. In the simplest case, the key is permanent - this means that sooner or later the system will be irreversibly hacked. More advanced systems use a set of permanent keys; the key is changed upon command from the head equipment. Most complex systems use downloadable keys, however, and they cannot change too often. The maximum number of decoders in one system can theoretically reach hundreds of thousands. The longer the key length, the higher the system resistance. The bandwidth of the data transmission channel is very low. Of course, the key cannot be transmitted in clear text; it is encoded using a special algorithm, in which, in turn, the key is the permanent “secret number” of the decoder. This means that the next key for each decoder must be transmitted separately. For these reasons, the process of distributing the next key may take quite a long time. To restore the “picture” you cannot use a key received directly “from the air” - by the time of the transition to new key all authorized decoders must have it. Therefore, the key changes quite rarely (usually once a month). Consequently, any key, both permanent and loadable, is stored in non-volatile memory decoder Activation (deactivation) of decoders is carried out not by transmitting the key itself, but by transmitting a command to turn it on (off).

Both of these reduce the stability of the system, opening up a second path for hacking. If the durable key is stored in the decoder's memory, it can be copied. Copy protection is carried out only by constructive methods. In the simplest case, when the case is opened, the memory “recharge” battery is turned off; in more complex devices (including plastic cards) special chips with read protection are used. If the decoder is controlled by commands, then the turn-on command can be simulated, and the turn-off command can be blocked. Typically, pirates use one of three methods. The first is change. electrical diagram decoder (installation of “test chips”, “test boards”, jumpers). The second is to create an external device that makes changes to the control data flow. And finally, the third method is to copy the contents of the EPROM of the decoder or electronic card.

To summarize, we can say that there are no and cannot be absolutely secure address coding systems. The buyer of the system has a choice - either low price and low durability, or high price and somewhat greater (but not guaranteed) durability.

Coding technologies

Addressless systems with “negative” and “positive” filters.

It is not necessary to encrypt all channels on a cable network. Sometimes it is enough for the operator to restrict access to part of the channels or to one separate channel. Addressless coding systems built on the basis of notch filters cope with this task quite well. Actually, such a system cannot be considered fully a coding system, since the signal is not encoded at all.

Two technologies are used to restrict access:

1. A notch filter is inserted into the subscriber tap, cutting out the band occupied by the paid channel(s) from the signal spectrum. Such filters are called "Negative Traps" - if the subscriber pays a fee for viewing, the filter is removed. The filter is a passive device in a cylindrical housing. The filter input and output are equipped with F-type connectors. In order for the operator to offer paid channels in different combinations, various combinations of bandpass, low-pass and high-pass filters are used.

The main advantages of such systems: the operator does not need to use any additional equipment at the head station; the filters themselves are very cheap. The disadvantages are obvious: firstly, the filter must be located in an inaccessible place outside the subscriber’s home. Secondly, special technical personnel are always required to disconnect and connect a subscriber.

The resistance of such a system to hacking is minimal - a pirate only needs to remove the filter or “parallel” with a neighbor who has honestly paid for his channels. For these reasons, such access restriction systems are mainly used in hotel systems.

2. Another technology is somewhat more complicated. An interference generator is installed at the headend, the frequency of which is 1.5 - 2.5 MHz higher than the carrier frequency of the paid channel. The TV tuner that receives such a signal “thinks” that it is receiving too strong a signal, and the AGC system reduces the gain to the limit. As a result, the channel is not received.

To allow access to the channel, a narrow-band notch filter is used, which cuts out interference from the signal spectrum. Such filters are called "Positive Traps" - if the subscriber has paid for viewing channels, the filter is installed. The positive filter must have a very high quality factor in order to reliably suppress interference without distorting the signal spectrum. Such filters are manufactured using high technology, and their manufacture “at home” is excluded.

The system consists of a channel encoder (scrambler), which is installed at the headend, and subscriber filters made using SAW technology. The system can be used both in a cable network and in a network built on the basis of MMDS or to protect programs of ordinary terrestrial television. Despite all these advantages, the capabilities of the system are very limited; it only solves the problem of unauthorized connections, but the issue of collecting subscription fees remains.

Sync Suppression - suppression of synchronization signals.

Figure 1. View of the TV screen tuned to an encrypted channel with Sync Suppression

The essence of the scrambling process is that a masking signal is added to the video signal in the form of a sequence of rectangular pulses that coincide in time with the synchronizing pulses of the lines. As a result, in the encoded signal the level of the horizontal sync pulses appears in the range of the brightness signal (at the “gray” level). The masked sync pulse is perceived by the TV as an image element, while dark image elements, on the contrary, are perceived as sync pulses. As a result, horizontal synchronization is completely disrupted, the lines are randomly shifted horizontally, the horizontal sync pulse and part of the horizontal damping pulse become visible (broken vertical line in the center of the screen).

To restore the signal, it is enough for the decoder to have information about the temporary position of the suppressed synchronization pulse. The PAL and NTSC color systems use a special color burst signal (flash), which is 8 to 11 periods of an unmodulated color subcarrier. The start of the flash is strictly timed to the line sync pulse. In the SECAM system, a flash as such is not used, however, an unmodulated “blue” or “red” subcarrier is transmitted on the back platform of the horizontal sync pulse, the beginning of the first period of which is time-locked to the sync pulse. To exclude the possibility of restoring sync pulses from the flash signal, in encoding systems with Sync Suppression, the entire area of ​​the horizontal blanking pulse is filled with a sinusoidal signal with a frequency close to the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier(s). Data about decoder statuses is transmitted in serial form in several lines of a vertical blanking pulse (teletext is transmitted in a similar way). No key is needed for encoding/decoding; the recovery algorithm is constant over time. The decoder accepts only commands based on the “decode” or “do not decode” principle.

Such systems have a number of undeniable advantages. First of all, the encoding and decoding process is technically easy to implement, therefore, the cost of the equipment is low. When such a signal is received by a TV without a decoder, the image becomes completely unreadable. On the contrary, the restored image does not differ in quality from the original one, since only the invisible part of the line undergoes transformations, the signal of the image itself does not change.

Figure 2. Oscillograms of video signals at the output of Sync Suppression encoders

SSAVI (Sync Suppression & Active Video Inversion)

This is the most commonly used video scrambling technology. With certain modifications, it is used in systems from such well-known manufacturers as Pioneer, Jerrold, Scientific Atlanta. Figure 3 shows a TV screen tuned to a scrambled channel with SSAVI. The system is easy to identify by the “picture”. The frame blanking pulse becomes visible (dark horizontal stripe at the top of the figure) and the data packets transmitted in the TCG lines (bright black and white horizontal bars of different lengths) are clearly visible on it.

Figure 3. TV screen tuned to an encrypted channel with SSAVI

The line sync pulses are not removed, but are shifted in level to the "black" level. In addition, in some lines the image signal is inverted - the "white" level becomes the "black" level and vice versa. The following combinations (modes) are possible: suppressed sync / normal video; normal sync/inverted video; sync suppressed/inverted video; normal sync / normal video. Combinations change from field to field in a pseudo-random order. The video inversion sign is transmitted in the form of a special impulse (flag) in lines 22 and 335 of the CGI (even and odd fields, respectively). Decoder control data is transmitted in the form of pulses with an amplitude from the “black” level to the “white” level in four packets in the active part of the TCG lines - in lines 6-9 of the first field and 319-322 of the second field. In addition to access control data, a special bit is transmitted - the “believe/disbelieve inversion flag” sign. The presence of such a sign further complicates the task of pirates. Line sync pulses located in the vertical blanking interval and equalizing pulses are transmitted without distortion. They are used by the decoder as a reference signal to restore the shifted clock pulses of the active part of the field

Figure 4. Waveforms of video signal from SSAVI

All systems using SSAVI technology are “reliably” hacked, hacking methods are described in detail in pirate literature. Pirate "universal" decoders, "cubes" and "test" chips are mass-produced and widely advertised. If you wish, you can build such a decoder yourself using circuit diagrams, described, for example, in http://members.tripod.com/~hugobardu/hu_s_g.pdf.

Line Shear

The essence of the scrambling process: using digital methods, the active part of the line is shifted in time relative to its normal position by a certain amount, while the synchronization signals remain unchanged. The offset can be either positive (delay) or negative (advance), and its value varies within certain limits from line to line in a pseudo-random manner. The image of each line turns out to be shifted relative to the adjacent line, and the vertical structure of the “picture” is destroyed. To make it impossible to “measure” the displacement time and restore the image using a delay line per line, the “native” beginning and end of the line are masked. If a line is transmitted with a delay, then the time interval from the place where the beginning of the “normal” line should be to the actual beginning of the delayed line is filled with a pseudo-random signal. The end of the delayed line, which “sticks out” further than the place where the end of the “normal” line should be, is cut off. If a line is transmitted ahead of time, then, on the contrary, the beginning of the line is “truncated” and the end is “appended” (see Figure 5). Thus, the structure of the encoded signal does not differ from the structure of the original one, and it is impossible to restore the image using only the information contained in the signal itself. Since the horizontal sync pulses are not modified, there is no need to remove or mask the chrominance signals used by TV color decoders. Therefore, the main advantage of Line Shear technology over analog Sync technologies Suppression and SSAVI - higher quality image colors (by at least, so say the manufacturers). A side effect of Line Shear technology is a slight reduction in the horizontal size of the image.

Figure 5. Principle of PhaseKrypt technology

Typical system - PhaseKrypt®

Developed by the American company Macrovision Corporation. Macrovision itself produces only a basic set of ICs and software; the equipment is produced under its licenses by Eastern Electronics CO Ltd. (Taiwan), Pacific Satellite International Ltd. Hong Kong) and Off Air Electronics Ireland) under the Eastern, Pacific and PhraseKrypt® brands respectively.

Line Cut & Rotate

The essence of the scrambling process: each line of the visible part of the field is divided into two unequal parts, then these parts are swapped - first the final part of the line is transmitted, then the beginning. The position of the "cut" point changes from line to line in a pseudo-random manner (see Figure 7).

Figure 6. TV screen tuned to a scrambled channel with Line Cut & Rotate

Most systems using Cut & Rotate assume 256 possible positions for this point, i.e. its position within each line is uniquely determined by an 8-bit binary word (key). The key is not transmitted separately for each line, but is synthesized by a pseudo-random sequence generator (PRSG) inside the decoder itself. In general, the GPS is shift register With feedback. At intervals from fractions of a second to several seconds, the register is initially set by loading a “start” key, which is extracted from the received signal. To restore, the encoded signal of each line is converted by the decoder into a digital sequence, then, using digital delay lines, the line is “cut” at the “glue point” and “glued” at the “cut point”. Figure 6 shows the images on the TV screen when receiving an open signal and a signal encoded using Line Cut & Rotate technology. It is easy to notice that, unlike analog technologies, it is impossible to even guess the content of the original “picture” from the “picture” of the encoded signal. It is almost impossible to restore an image by analyzing only the video signal itself, which is why Cut & Rotate technology is considered one of the most secure.

Figure 7. Line Cut & Rotate technology principle

Typical systems are VTech and Dalvi.

The encoding system produced by VTech Communications Ltd. uses Line Cut & Rotate technology only. The Dalvi system, developed by Technetix PLC, provides 4 levels of coding. Levels 1 - 3 use Line Shear technology with small, medium and large maximum line offsets respectively. Level 4 uses Line Cut & Rotate technology. In both systems, decoder control data is transmitted serially in vertical blanking interval lines

Line Shuffle

The signal of each line is transmitted unchanged, but the lines themselves within the field are swapped (“shuffled”) in a pseudo-random order. This technology provides more high quality images, since the “cut points” are located on the invisible part of the video signal - in the horizontal blanking intervals. Line Shuffle systems are much more durable than analog systems, but less durable than Line Cut & Rotate systems. One of the systems that implements Line Shuffle technology is Nagravision-Syster. Until recently, it was used to encode NTV-Plus satellite analogue channels. For enthusiasts satellite reception There is a known method for pirated decoding of these channels using an IBM PC with a TV tuner card and the corresponding software (MoreTV and the like).

Principles of system construction

Address coding systems

The most well-known manufacturers of such systems are General Instrument (systems with the trademarks TOCOM, Videocipher®, Digicipher®), Pioneer, Scientific Atlanta. The differences between coding systems of different companies mainly lie in the use different technologies scrambling and different ways transmitting digital data to activate subscriber decoders. Let's consider the possibilities and principles of constructing these systems. The picture shows structural scheme the head of a typical coding system. Purpose of system components:

Data signal generator (Data Translator) – one for all encoded channels. This device provides conversion of data from the computer output into a format perceived by channel encoders. The signal to activate subscriber decoders is transmitted in one of two main ways: in the signal of each encoded channel (in the vertical blanking pulse of the video signal or on the subcarrier of the audio channel) or on a separate carrier.

Channel encoders (Encoders) – one for each paid channel. The encoder scrambles the video (sometimes audio) signal and enters decoder control data into it.

"Accounting" computer (Billing Computer). This computer keeps records of subscribers and their payments.

The promo channel computer (Barker Computer) and the answering machine computer (ARU Computer) provide Pay-Per-View type access (payment for each view).

Addressable decoders. This is a complete device, structurally made in a separate case, the design of which is similar to the design of a VCR. The terminal is based on a cable demodulator and the decoder itself. The first selects the signal of the desired frequency channel and demodulates it to audio/video, the second selects and decodes the “unfreezing” data and restores the image and sound signal. The TV is connected to the terminal via low frequency or high frequency (output of the built-in modulator). The TV only serves as a monitor.

Some systems provide not only individual, but also collective decoding (Broadband System). Such systems allow the use of one decoder to work with several televisions - for hotels, educational institutions, etc. The system allows the network operator to selectively allow or deny any individual subscriber one of the types of access: to all channels at once, to individual groups of channels, or to each channel separately.

Pay-Per-View and Impulse Pay-Per-View

Pay-Per-View (PPV) - a separate payment for each transmission of some paid channels. Special computer– Barker Computer – generates a signal of another television channel– Barker Channel or Promo Channel. The subscriber, having selected this channel (it is always open), sees text on the screen - schedules and announcements of programs of paid channels, terms of payment for viewing. If a subscriber wants to watch a particular program, he dials the number indicated in the text. At the headend, the answering machine computer (ARU) “picks up the phone.” The subscriber confirms payment for viewing by dialing a certain combination of numbers on his telephone with tone dialing. Having received confirmation, the ARU computer transmits the data to the system controller, which, in turn, allows the subscriber access to the selected channel for the duration of the broadcast of the paid program. For the program watched, the subscriber is automatically billed, or the amount of his credit is automatically reduced.

Impulse Pay-Per-View (IPPV).

The purpose of this service is the same as PPV - the subscriber is asked to pay for viewing each individual program. The difference is that to confirm payment for viewing, the subscriber does not need to use the phone, just press a key on the remote control. The subscriber terminal itself generates a confirmation signal and transmits it to the system controller of the head-end station via the telephone channel (via the built-in modem) or via the reverse channel of the cable network (if available). This method is more convenient for the subscriber, but technically more difficult to implement.

Systems with addressable taps and splitters

Recently they have become popular systems access restrictions using addressable devices - taps and splitters. They differ from conventional taps and splitters in that an electronic key is installed in front of each subscriber output. Each key has its own unique identification number and can be controlled individually from the headend

At the head station there is a computer on which subscriber payments are kept track. The data required to connect (disconnect) subscribers is formed into a data stream to activate electronic keys. A separate carrier frequency is used for data transmission. Each tap or splitter housing contains a data receiver configured for the activation data channel. Data from the output of the receiver enters a special chip, which recognizes commands to activate “its” electronic keys and connects (or disconnects) certain subscribers. In order for the key to be constantly in an active state, it is necessary that its status is constantly confirmed, i.e. the command to activate the key must be received periodically, through certain time. In the simplest case, only one electronic key is installed on each subscriber outlet, and the subscriber’s access to cable channels organized on an all-or-nothing basis. Such taps are called addressable taps of the 1st level.

In second-level taps, two electronic switches are provided for each tap, one of them connects the subscriber tap to the input directly, and the second through a negative filter. Thus, the subscriber’s access is organized according to the principle “disabled / only basic package / basic + additional package”

It should be noted that the signal, again, is not encoded and the cunning Russian cable guy has apparently already realized that such equipment is unlikely to be used in our country. A pirate only needs to insert a regular one into the submain (riser) line next to the addressable tap - and he will receive unlimited access to all channels of the network.

Typical systems

ACS-500

It makes sense to devote a separate paragraph to this system, firstly, because it is technically implemented in a very extraordinary way, and secondly, because it is produced, sold and quite widely used in the CIS. The popularity of the ACS-500 can most likely be explained by a combination of the advantages of a full-fledged addressable encoding system (selective access of each subscriber to each channel) and cheap addressless systems (low cost of equipment, lack of controls for the subscriber decoder, ease of connection). The system includes two main components (at a minimum):

The ACS-501 studio device is a channel encoder, one is installed for each encoded channel. The device is connected between the video signal source and the head-end modulator. ACS-501 scrambles the video signal, changing the structure of the horizontal sync pulses, and, in addition, introduces control signals for subscriber decoders into the last lines of each field. Data about subscriber statuses can be entered into the ACS-501 from an “accounting” computer or manually. The encoder's non-volatile memory can store status data when the mains power supply at least 5 days.

Subscriber decoder ACS-502. The decoder is based on a custom chip into which an individual address is “sewn”. The encoder introduces into the signal of each channel being encoded digital signal control at a frequency of about 3 MHz. This signal, together with the video signal, is sent to the TV's kinescope modulators with an amplitude of several tens of volts. This allows the ACS-502, located next to the TV, to receive the control signal to a special antenna probe. Thus, there is no need to connect to the internal circuits of the TV. ACS-502 is connected between the subscriber tap of the cable network and the antenna socket of the TV. When the TV is operating on any channel, the ACS-502 receives commands from the ACS-501 installed on that channel. This allows the decoder to restore the structure of the signal in the event of receiving a “allowed” command (the viewing is paid for by the subscriber) or to pass the signal unrestored in the event of receiving a “prohibited” command or in the absence of a “allowed” command.

The capabilities of the system can be expanded; for this, a computer and an ACS-503 switch must be installed at the head station. The switch allows you to control all ACS-501 channel encoders from one PC. This greatly simplifies the procedure for entering data into encoders and creates additional conveniences, for example, automatically disconnecting subscribers whose paid viewing time has expired.

The ACS-500 uses the described Sync Suppression principle without any modifications. The level of synchronization pulses has been changed, but the pulses themselves are present in the signal, their fronts remain stable in time (see Figure 2, B). In addition, to ensure correct reading of data and synchronous operation with the encoder, the decoder itself must be time synchronized, so the line sync pulses per frame blanking interval remain unchanged. These circumstances make it easy to restore suppressed sync pulses. The pirate decoder can use unmasked CGI sync pulses as a reference signal; the sync pulses of the remaining lines are restored along their edges by a master oscillator with a frequency and phase automatic control system. APF allows the generator to trigger on the edge of a pulse only if it is in the required time period.

Obviously, it is precisely this simplified encoding and decoding technology that, along with the advantages of the ACS-500 system, is responsible for its serious disadvantages. For example, it was noted:

Old domestic televisions with a PTC channel selector can be configured in such a way that the encoded signal is received without a decoder at all with quite “watchable” quality.

On the contrary, when working with the latest models of TVs, especially from Toshiba, the decoder does not open encoded channels at all - the antenna effect of the kinescope outputs is too small.

CryptOn

The CryptOn system is produced by NPF "Krypton", Ukraine. According to the manufacturers, the system provides three levels of coding. When operating at the first level, the system is completely similar to the ACS-500. The second level provides greater protection. The synchronizing pulse is not shifted in level, but is cut out, replacing it with a constant level signal (gray level, see Figure 2, B). The entire line blanking interval is filled with the quasi-color subcarrier, thus leaving no obvious “traces” of the sync pulse. Decoding such a signal is somewhat more difficult, since the clock pulses no longer need to be restored, but synthesized. The third level uses changing the duration of the masking pulse, along the edges of which the synchronization pulse can be restored.

Chameleon™

Chameleon™ technology was developed by NCA Microelectronics. The system combines simple and reliable way Sync Suppression image scrambling with a highly secure information transmission method for signal restoration. All sync pulses - both horizontal and vertical - are removed from the video signal (replaced with a constant level). The data necessary for their recovery is transmitted not in the lines of the frame blanking interval, but on an additional audio subcarrier. This leaves no pulses at all in the video signal that can be used as time stamps to restore synchronization. Data is transmitted in packets, one packet per field (60 times per second in NTSC, 50 times in PAL and SECAM). The temporal position of each packet relative to the beginning of the field is not constant and changes according to a pseudo-random law. This means that data packets cannot be used to time-lock a signal. The data itself is a pseudo-random sequence. The decoder microprocessor analyzes this sequence using one of 128 algorithms (keys) stored in its non-volatile memory, and receives a sequence of data that determines the temporal position of the clock pulses. Pseudorandom binary word, transmitted 60 (50) times per second, has a length of 32 bits, that is, it can take one of 2 billion values. The sequence repetition period is several years, so it is almost impossible to select time intervals between the data packet and the clock pulse, or to record them at the output of an authorized decoder and then reproduce them. If the operator has reason to believe that the key being used is nevertheless compromised, he simply switches the channel encoder to a different algorithm. Since all 128 algorithms are initially stored in the decoder EEPROM, the transition occurs instantly. The EPROM is physically located on the microprocessor chip and is protected from reading by custom logic circuitry. Unlike primitive systems in which the functions of decoding and data analysis are separated, in the Chameleon™ decoder microprocessor they are inseparable from each other, thus there is no way to force the decoding node to bypass the authorization node. The address field of the system is more than 16 million addresses. In addition to the individual address, a network identifier can be written into the decoder’s memory during manufacturing. Manufacturers guarantee that for each more or less large network a batch of decoders with its own unique identifier will be supplied. This completely eliminates the possibility of using decoders sold to another operator on the network.

The information contained in this article is provided for educational purposes only; the author is not responsible for its illegal use. We do not provide specific hacking instructions here, but theoretical basis encoding and decoding of television signals have long been described in the open literature (for example, World Satellite TV & Scrambling Methods, J. McCormac & others, Baylin Publications, 1993) and on the Internet.

Note from site administrator SOLDERING IRON: currently this topic not relevant, because NTV+ has been broadcasting in digital format for a long time. See other articles For your informational purposes only. The creators of the site are not responsible for your actions and possible damage.

Satellite television is available both free and commercial, to view which you must pay a subscription fee to the television company. In order to ensure the collection of subscription fees, television companies encode their signal, that is, they make it impossible to view it without a special decoder. The NTV+ television company uses the French Nagravision-Syster encoding system, which uses a special algorithm to shuffle strings in accordance with the string permutation table. The figure shows what the image looks like if you try to watch it without a decoder. In addition, an inversion of the audio spectrum at a frequency of 12.8 kHz is used, which greatly distorts the sound, making it impossible to listen to it. On top of that, to differentiate access between subscribers who have paid and those who have not paid, an address coding system is used - that is, the television company has the ability to selectively turn off the decoders of unpaid subscribers using a signal from the satellite. This is achieved by the fact that subscribers have individual keys, which are a memory chip that contains an individual code, as well as information about the status of the subscription updated via satellite. The same coding system is used by television companies in Germany, France, Poland, as well as a number of other countries. There are other encoding systems such as D2MAC, Videocript, etc. but we will not describe them in this article. Despite the fact that this system is already more than ten years old, the data exchange protocol between the key and the decoder has been little studied by television pirates (probably no one needed it), and we have not yet heard of working key emulators.

The Nagravision-Syster coding system was hacked in another way - pirate decoders appeared that work without any keys on the principle of selecting a code by comparing and searching for similar strings. Such decoders open all the channels for which they are designed and completely free of charge. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to buy such a decoder from us, and it is also very difficult to make, mainly due to the lack of necessary information.

But recently it became possible to watch NTV+ and other channels encoded in Nagravision-Syster using a personal computer, using the same principle as the pirate decoder, but implementing it using special program. This method is collectively called PC-TV. PC-TV allows you to watch all channels encoded in Nagravision (see table).

What do you need to watch encrypted channels this way?

First, you need a customized kit satellite television, consisting of at least an antenna (dish), a converter and a receiver. This system should provide reliable reception of the encrypted channels you want to watch. For the case of NTV+, it is enough to have a native “NTV” set with a “dish” of a diameter that is sufficient to receive a signal in your area, without an original decoder.

Secondly, you need a fairly powerful IBM compatible Personal Computer, minimum – P-166MMX, 32Mb RAM, PCI 4Mb video adapter, preferably P-II with as much as possible clock frequency And RAM 64Mb. Volume and speed hard drive, as well as other parameters, do not significantly affect.

Thirdly, to input an image into a computer, you need a video input card built on one of the following chips - BT848, BT849, BT878, BT879. Now there are quite a lot of such cards produced by different companies, under different names, for example: MiroPCTV, AverMedia of various modifications, Fly Video (probably the cheapest option), MR Vision TV Link, TELEMASTER. The list can be continued, but there is no point - any card will do, as long as it is made on a BT8XX series chip. The cards differ from each other in the presence and quality of a built-in TV tuner for watching regular terrestrial TV channels, the presence of remote control of the tuner, the number of video inputs -1 or 2, the quality and convenience of the software included with it and some other bells and whistles that are in no way related to our task , since in this case only video input is required. Recently, versions of programs for video adapters on an ATI chip with a video input (without BT8XX) have begun to appear, but since I don’t have such a card, I haven’t tested them and I can’t say anything about them.

To date, several decoder programs have been written, which were improved by their authors (and not only by the authors, because almost all of them were published along with the source texts) and each have several versions. Each program has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is worth trying them all to make a choice for yourself. Personally, I liked MoreTV 3.10 more than others - in my opinion, this is the most successful program that allows you to watch channels in both the PAL and SECAM (NTV+) standard. It has automatic on/off decoding when switching from encoded to unencoded channels, direct interaction with the video input card (it is enough to install the card driver, you don’t have to install the software, the program configures the card itself), there are convenient operational adjustments using hot keys, Quite easy to set up. The disadvantages of this program include not very good color purity in SECAM mode (although some other programs have no color at all when viewing SECAM), and the interface is German. It should be taken into account that for video adapters with a video input on an ATI chip, there must be a special version of the program - MoreATI-TV.

After you have installed the video input card into your computer, you need to connect the low-frequency input of the card to the low-frequency output of your receiver using a special low-frequency cable, the same one you use to connect your TV to a receiver or VCR. Install the driver and software of the card, following the instructions included with it. As a result, if you did everything correctly, then when the receiver is turned on and running program from the card, you should get a stable image on the computer screen of the channel you are tuned to this moment your receiver, in the form in which it is transmitted from the satellite (i.e. if the channel is encoded, then the image will resemble a photograph). Do not forget that the decoder in the receiver settings must be turned off.

Now you can begin installing and configuring the decoder program. The programs generally do not require installation and it is enough to simply unpack the archive into any directory, preferably in the root directory of your hard drive. In the future, we will talk about the settings of the MoreTV 3.10 program - if you can launch it, then you will be able to figure out the rest of the programs yourself. First of all, copy the Key.txt file intended for NTV+ into the directory with the program, if you have configured the receiver to receive it. Please note that Key.txt for NTV+ and for other channels are different! Don't forget to rename the file Key2.txt (extracted from the archive) to Key.txt (without the number) and run the program.

The program settings window will appear on the screen. In the “Video” frame, first set the resolution to 640x480YUY2 and check the SECAM checkbox. In the “Hardware” frame, select your card from the list (if it’s not in the list, don’t be too upset, choose any other one, as long as it has the same chip as yours). Antennas and PLL should not be turned on to begin with. In the “Dekodierung” frame, set the number of test lines to 30 and save the settings (middle button). Now you can launch the program itself (top button). The first launch of the program may take a little longer than usual (at this time the program will create an index file in its directory named MoreTV_XX.idx, where XX is the number of test lines), then the program will launch almost instantly. You should see the decoded image on the screen. If the screen remains blue, check all connections, and if your card has two inputs, try connecting a signal to another input. If the image is there, but not decoded, check whether the Key.txt you are using (if you open it with notepad, it should start like this: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 5 4 7 8 9 10 11 14 17 16 19 22 25) . If everything If it works, try experimenting with the program settings to achieve better image quality.

“Hot keys” of the program:

Esc – freeze frame, F1 – recovery after freeze frame, F2 – turn on the decoder (on / off / auto), F3 – F8 – change the format and size of the decoded image, F10 – exit the program, F11 – Turbo / standard decoder, F12 – phase synchronization, Insert – contrast + , Delet – contrast – , Home – saturation + , End – saturation – , PgUp – brightness + , PgDn – brightness -, the remaining keys are designed to configure and switch channels of the built-in TV tuner, and for us the values Dont Have.

The MoreTV program does not have a built-in audio decoder, and therefore audio decoding is a topic for a separate discussion. Today there are three ways to listen to audio. Method one, the simplest, and the worst. Download one of the audio decoder programs (personally, I like DCPlus more), connect the receiver's audio output to the line input sound card your computer, in the settings of the standard Windows volume control, turn on the line input for recording, and be sure to turn it off during playback (to prevent encoded audio from penetrating directly from the input to the output without processing by the program). Run the program with default settings and the sound should work. The sound quality is regulated by the program settings. Do not forget that for this, your sound card must support Full Duplex - that is, simultaneous recording and playback of sound, and this option must be activated in the sound card settings (check the “allow bidirectional operation” box). In addition, simultaneous operation of audio and video decoder programs is only possible on sufficiently fast machines, and if the configuration of your computer only corresponds minimum requirements, then this method is not suitable for you (depending on the program used and its settings, the sound will “stutter” or the picture will be disrupted). The second method is suitable for those who have an original decoder with an unpaid key and who are not afraid to hold a soldering iron in their hands. Carefully open the decoder, find the chip labeled EURO@DEC 5096 ELEXC7397A. Unsolder the resistance from the seventh leg of the microcircuit and apply a logical unit (+5V) to this leg of the microcircuit through a resistance of 1-10k (find the +5V voltage using a power circuit tester). Be careful as there is high voltage on the decoder board!!! An error in your actions can lead to serious damage to the decoder!!! After this modification, the decoder opens the sound without paying. The third method is suitable for experienced radio amateurs. Assemble a homemade decoder according to the diagram below. This method is the most complicated, but probably the best, since it does not require an original decoder, does not take up computer resources, and the sound does not lag behind the video as in software decoders.

Once you've got everything going, you might want to display the image on your TV. To do this, your video adapter must have TV-OUT. Almost everything modern models video adapters have modifications with output to a TV. These are video adapters on such chips as: RIVA TNT, RIVA 128, ATI, INTEL 740, S3 VIRGE GX2, as well as some others. The TV is connected to the output of the video adapter (most often this is a regular “tulip”) with a cable similar to the one with which you supplied a signal to the input of the video input card. The adapter is configured in accordance with the user manual supplied with it. It should be noted that almost all video adapters “truncate” or “compress” the image vertically by about 5-10%. This is due to the discrepancy between the number of lines in the television standard and the image generated by the video adapter. There are special additional TV OUT cards that convert a standard SVGA image generated by any video adapter into a full-fledged PAL format signal, but I have only seen information about them on the Internet, and have not yet seen them on sale.

The question is often asked: do television companies often change the code, and is it different on different channels of the same program package? Here we can explain that software decoders do not require any codes; they select them “on the fly” by comparing adjacent lines. The decoding algorithm uses only a string permutation table (Key.txt file), one for all NTV+ channels. In original decoders, this table is contained in the firmware program central processor, i.e. programmed once during decoder manufacture. Accordingly, this table can only be changed by replacing all decoders from official subscribers (namely decoders, not keys), which is practically impossible in our conditions.

Sometimes people ask the question: is it still possible to make a hardware decoder, that is, to do without a computer? In principle, this is possible; a decoder that decodes all French channels is described on the website www.eurosat.com/salp. Since a PC TV with a Key.txt key suitable for NTV+ opens French channels, it is logical to assume that this hardware decoder will also open NTV+, but I don’t know of cases where anyone has verified this in practice. The production of this decoder is technologically complex and can cost more than one hundred dollars, and there is also no guarantee of the success of this enterprise and therefore, today the most in a simple way viewing channels encoded in Nagravision is PC TV.

• Built-in (software) decoder

  To be able to receive pay TV, the receiver must be able to understand encrypted channels if you have a paid access card. If the card is not paid for, it stops receiving permission for further work every few minutes, which is contained in the satellite signal. The paid card calculates the current key and transmits permission to open the channel to the decoder.

  Decoders of modern receivers are no longer a separate chip, but a part program code as part of their operating system. However, receivers with a decoder are more expensive because their price includes the cost of paying a license to the owner of this encoding system. Accordingly, such a decoder is official and fully functional, unlike emulators (see below). So, to receive the Russian paid NTV-Plus package, only a receiver with a Viaccess 2.5 system decoder is suitable.

  It is with the decoder that the presence is associated, which can be found on the NTV-Plus website. The fact is that in order to combat illegal “pirate” viewing of pay TV, developers of encoding systems update the encoding version approximately every 2-3 years. When a version is changed, new access cards are sent to all subscribers by mail, and the software of hundreds of thousands of receivers is updated via satellite. Software for each model is transmitted in a certain hourly interval of the day, and the provider has the ability to transmit new software via satellite for a limited number of receiver models (currently there are 7 models on the list). The warning “The television company does not guarantee correct access to services when using other models” means that the receiver must have a software update function via satellite, and also that software updates for other models will simply not be performed via satellite. Although in most cases such an update can be done manually. It should be noted that not all of the recommended models are able to support all the services of the TV Company, for example, sound in Dolby Digital format.

• Common Interface

  The Common Interface is also installed in the obviously budget DSR4000 receiver for receiving the encoded (but free - no subscription fee) Russian Tricolor TV package, which allows you to use this kit for viewing NTV-Plus when installing CAM Viaccess.

• Emulators

  Emulators are usually called multi-standard decoders that are installed in the receiver not on the basis of a license from the owner of the encoding system, and therefore are fake. They emulate the presence of both a decoder and an access card in the receiver at the same time. In cardless mode, the emulator can open all (or almost all) channels at once in “hacked” encoding systems, unless, of course, a file with fresh keys. Such outdated systems are not used by Russian pay TV operators, so emulators are only suitable for accessing some foreign channels. At the time of writing this review(January 2006) in the Urals region, a receiver with an emulator allows you to watch the paid French TPS package (99 channels), among the most popular channels of which is the 24-hour porn channel Spice Platinum, as well as sports and music channels.

  Some budget models of receivers with an emulator also have a card reader and can work to a limited extent with an official paid NTV-Plus card. The monthly payment for viewing remains the same, i.e. We are talking about legal viewing. Limited - since the emulator is not a full-fledged decoder and, as a rule, cannot support all operating modes available to a licensed decoder. Thus, emulators of inexpensive receivers do not support the subscription update function that occurs on the night of the first day of each month, and, moreover, the operation of the broadcaster changing working keys (auto-update). To update the subscription in the card, you have to activate it in the receiver with a real decoder, then it will work until next month. With each scheduled change of working keys made by the operator, it is necessary to restore the functionality of the emulator by reprogramming (“reflashing”) the receiver. This also applies to universal CAM modules.

  When planning to purchase a receiver with the ability to install an emulator, you should keep in mind that all operators are planning to switch to new, hack-resistant encoding systems. Thus, the French pay-tv operator TPS (Hot Bird, 13°) plans to complete the operation of exchanging subscriber access cards for new generation cards by March 10 of this year and completely switch to a version of the Viaccess 2.5 encoder that is inaccessible to emulators. Eurosport plans to close the broadcast of its channels in the old encoding also in the spring of 2006. In addition, you need to remember that the use of emulators violates the interests of the owners of encoding systems and is not legal.

Digital audio output

S/PDIF (short for Sony/Panasonic Digital Interface) – digital audio output. This is a "consumer" version of the more complex professional AES/EBU standard. Almost all new receiver models are equipped with an optical version of this interface. S/PDIF allows you to connect the receiver to your home theater using a standard optical cable and enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, which provides six channels of digital surround sound. This opportunity has become especially relevant since November 2005 for all viewers of the NTV-Plus package, where at the time of writing the review, the Dolby Digital soundtrack is present on two channels: Kinohit and Premiere.

Movies with a Dolby Digital soundtrack are marked in the TV Guide with an icon. This soundtrack will not work on all other films. For connection to the system home theater A standard optical cable is required because the signal is transmitted optically. You can read more about Dolby Digital and other Dolby Laboratories technologies in our article.

Component video output

There are two mutually invertible standards for component transmission of color video signals - RGB and YUV, each of which has two modifications. Connecting the receiver to a TV or video projector using one of these methods provides image quality that is clearly superior to the quality of S-Video and, even more so, composite connection types. The choice between RGB and YUV will not noticeably affect the quality of the video transmission, although some difference exists and will be discussed. The receiver you purchase must have the component video output format that your projector or TV (regular, LCD, plasma) has. RGB output is present on all receivers equipped with a SCART connector. It is worth reminding that you need to use only a fully wired SCART-SCART cable with 21 shielded cores, the so-called “full SCART”. If you use partial 6-wire scart cables, you will end up with a composite video connection of noticeably lower quality.

Another modification of the RGB output (on RCA connectors with a synchronization signal input into the green channel) is not used in satellite receivers.

YUV is the second component video signal format, which is more optimal for transmission and storage, and is also “understandable” to a black and white TV. Therefore, it is the YUV component video signal that is encoded into MPEG, delivered to the viewer as a satellite signal or on DVD, and again obtained at the output of the decoder of the satellite receiver or DVD player. The YUV signal output for mid-class successors is implemented on three RCA sockets. Some comfort class models have both types of component video output - YUV and RGB. These are the already discontinued Samsung DSB-A300V(A300W) and the DSB-B350V(B350W) models that replaced them.

TV Guide

This is a satellite receiver function that allows you to display text information about the program schedule and a brief announcement of the selected program. For example, for a film, these are the names of the director and actors, the year and country of filming, the genre and the presence of film festival awards. The TV Guide feature can display this hidden text information on the screen. The presence and volume of text displayed on the screen depends both on the completeness of the information provided by the broadcaster and on the completeness of the implementation of the function itself in the receiver. Completeness of the TV Guide function in the receiver. Most economy and comfort class receivers do not provide the ability to display all the broadcast announcement information on the screen. You can see the title of the program, its start time and a few words of the announcement, cut off mid-sentence. Full TV guide can open separate window, which displays the entire text of the announcement. If it doesn't fit on the same screen, a scroll bar appears, allowing the text to move around the screen. All premium receivers are equipped with a full TV guide, as well as all DreamBox and Topfield models, for example, the cheap Topfield 4000Fi FTA receiver. Completeness of information in the received signal. Many foreign satellite channels do not use this opportunity at all, others provide information only about the time and name of the program (without announcements). Thus, on the EuroSport and EuroSport-2 (Hot Bird) channels there is no TV guide; on the French sports channels TPS Foot, ESPN Classic Sport, Infosport, the EPG provides information only about the current and next program, and on EuroSport, as part of the NTV-Plus package, a program guide is given with their brief descriptions for 5 days in advance. Program announcements presented by the TV guide usually consist of 4-5 lines and look something like this: “Terminator 2. Judgment Day. Fantastic action film directed by James Cameron. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. USA-France, 1991 D17” . (Here D17 is the age limit for this program.) There are also more extensive film announcements, for example on the FilmNet channels of the Greek Nova paid package. In terms of completeness of information provision, the Russian one remains unrivaled paid package NTV+, which provides not only the program for 5 days in advance, but also announcements of most programs. The Polish Cyfra+ package provides a slightly smaller amount of information, the French TPS has a program for 2 days only on some channels, and the Greek Nova package announces only 2 upcoming programs.

Number of favorite channel lists

The number of channel lists determines the degree of convenience of daily use of the device. When all channels are sorted by genre - children's, sports, movies, music, Discovery, etc. - switching to the desired channel becomes easy and fast. For many basic models for NTV-Plus (Humax VA-Ace, VA-Fox, XSat300) there was only one favorite list, which is very inconvenient even when working with 72 NTV+ channels. Every time you switch to another channel, you need to find it in a long multi-page list. This receiver is simply unsuitable for receiving the Hot Bird satellite, which has several hundred channels. All modern receivers have from 10 to 20 or more lists, which you can give names and place in them any channels from the general list according to your preferences. The lists have the ability to sort manually, as well as automatically alphabetically or by provider.

Fast switching

Nowadays you can no longer find such “thoughtful” receivers as, for example, the legendary Nokia-9600 and the next model Nokia-9800 were. Between the moment the command was given to switch the channel and its change on the screen, 2-3 seconds passed, and it was not clear whether the receiver understood the command or whether it was worth repeating. This interaction with the device caused slight irritation every time. The first receivers for digital reception NTV-Plus. The software and hardware platform of modern receivers has long left this problem of growth in the past, but it is still customary to write on each packaging box of the receiver, among other advantages, “Switching speed of encoded channels is less than 1 second.” Apparently - for owners of very old receivers.

Memory

Perhaps many remember one of the basic models of NTV-Plus - the receiver, which in the first versions was supplied with a software limitation of the list of TV channels to 300, although after another change in the encoding version (and receiver software) their number increased to 1000. At that time, receivers for NTV + were supplied in very large volumes and were cheaper than the most simple models FTA receivers for receiving Hot Bird, so the limitation of the list excluded their use for purposes other than their intended purpose. But the famous Humax F1-VA with a memory of 1000 channels began to shorten the channel names to save memory when there were more than 600 of them - first to five, then to three letters. Today, this problem is also a thing of the past and all receivers have the ability to record 4-5 thousand channels, which will be sufficient in the near foreseeable future.

USALS function

The program developed by STAB complements the DiSEqC 1.2 protocol and allows the receiver to calculate the position of all satellites in orbit with an accuracy of 0.1°. This simplifies the most difficult of steps - the orientation of the polar axis in the azimuthal plane. The receiver indicates the coordinates of the installation location and selects the satellite closest to the center of the polar arc. On the suspension, the elevation angle is set on a scale equal to the latitude of the installation site. The motor will rotate to the desired position. By rotating the pipe in azimuth we find the signal (with a level meter) and fix it - the suspension is oriented to the South.

Setting up NTV PLUS begins with installation and installation of equipment. If they are carried out independently, it is important to follow the following rules:

1. NTV satellites + Eutelsat 36B/36С, Eutelsat 36A are located above the equator, so the dish should be directed to the south. The exact direction can be determined using a compass. The satellite's direction angle is approximately 17 - 38 degrees. It depends on the manufacturer of the dish; satellite television operator NTV has several of them.
2. In order for the satellite dish to receive an excellent signal, during installation it is important to take into account the overview of the territory; interference in the form of vegetation and tall buildings is not allowed. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in problems with signal transmission.
3. The bracket is attached firmly and reliably, otherwise over time the dish will get knocked down, the direction of the direction will change, all this will affect the quality of the signal.
4. It is not recommended to skimp on cable; it must be resistant to different weather conditions.

The next stage is setting up the NTV satellite dish.

1. Connect the converter cable to the receiver, and connect the receiver itself to the TV. To avoid malfunctions or equipment breakdown, you must follow all recommendations specified in the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Slowly and carefully rotate the satellite dish mirror in the horizontal/vertical plane towards the location of the satellite. Goal: to get the image to appear on the TV.
3. After the picture appears, you need to activate the “RECEIVED SIGNAL LEVEL” command on the receiver. For a good television picture, the scale should be as high as possible.

Online registration of access card and CL module

To register this equipment, authorization is required on the operator’s official website.

If the data is filled in correctly, email You will receive a letter confirming your profile activation. After which the subscriber will have access to the “Registration of Agreement” operation on the website. After concluding the agreement, the card will be activated automatically within 24 hours.

How to configure the receiver to broadcast NTV channels

Without this device, watching satellite television is impossible. NTV PLUS television company offers various models TV set-top boxes, so the equipment settings may vary.

Models of NTV + receivers for watching television from the Eutelsat 36B/36C satellite offered by the provider in 2017:

• Digital interactive TV set-top box VA1020;
• NTV-PLUS 1 HD VA;
• HUMAX VAHD93100S;
• Humax VA-4SD;
• Humax VHDR 3000S;
• Sagemcom 87-1HD;
• Sagemcom DSI74 HD;
• Opentech OHS1740V.

The VA1020 set-top box is the most modern development, it went on sale in the fall of 2016. New subscribers of the company have the opportunity to purchase at a discount. The promotion is valid until the end of January 2017.

Setting up channels

There are two options for setting up channels: automatic method And manual setting. In the first method, you need to select the “SEARCH FOR CHANNELS” item in the setup menu; if the equipment is configured correctly, all channels will soon appear.

Manual search is a more complex process:

1. Resetting the specified settings - go to the menu, select the section “SETUP” → “DEFAULT INSTALLATION” → “CHANNELS” → “ANTENNA” → “SATELLITE SETUP”.
2. When prompted for a TV set-top box password, enter a number consisting of four zeros. If the password has been changed, you must enter the changed version.
3. In the tab that appears, uncheck the boxes next to the satellites allowed by default and leave EutelsatW4 36E. If this procedure is blocked, you need to remove the access card from the tuner.
4. Then it is important to configure the transponder.
5. Settings: 12130 R and Lnb levels (low = 0; high = 10750).
6. The final stage. After entering all the data in the “MANUAL SETUP” section, select the previously recommended transponder and set the “NETWORK SEARCH” command. The operation can last quite a long time, after all available channels will appear. The quantity depends on the package selected by the user.

Instructions for setting up Samsung and LG TV models with CAM – Module

1. Step-by-step setup of NTV PLUS for Samsung:
2. Go to the menu and select “BROADCAST”
3. From the proposed antenna types, choose EutelsatW4 36E. Save data.
4. Go to the “LNB SETTINGS” tab and select any transponder. Set DiSEqC mode to off. Lower LNB = 9750. Upper LNB = 10750. 22 KHz tone is off.
5. Make two clicks on the “Return” button on the control panel.
6. Go to manual channel search.
7. Select the EutelsatW4 36E satellite again, then find the number 11900(V/R) 27500 in the list of transponders, press the OK button.
8. Set the “NETWORK SEARCH” command.
9. Then, in the “BROADCASTING” section, select “CHANGE CHANNELS”. Select the channel to which you want to give a number using the “CHANGE NUMBER” tab.
10. Select the “SORT” item and organize channels into categories: radio, music, TV.
11. The setup and installation of channels is complete.

For LG, the setup is similar, but the transponder value changes according to the photo.