Quote:
Originally Posted by WozfromOz
Have you installed a cam with your twinhan and been able to decode channels? My understanding is that Austar use both encryption systems ie: they transmit two different signals so if you were a subscriber of the irderto 2 system you (in theory) should be able to watch those channels. I am led to believe that this relates to a roll out of a new set top box that uses the videoguard encryption and until all the rural users have the new box (potentially years from now) the irderto 2 broadcast shall remain. Although quite simply I have had no luck being able to confirm this.
Woz
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Hey Woz. It's a slow process learning this all from scratch. I need to ensure I am buying the correct hardware for my satelite card before blundering into something that is still a learning curve. With much reading and seeking out CAMs and the coinciding hardware and firmware to flash these suckers. If The C1 Austar transmits with both encryption systems as the site in my original post suggests, then a CAM with the correct (mutipul) decryption algorythms would be needed. So far the only CAM that comes close to Austar C1 support
DRAGON CAM flashed with the latest firmware, but lacks Videoguard (NDS) or settle for half way with a plain Irdeto 1+2 CAM from
HOTCHIP. I have had a detail conversation with Austar about subscription and they use the excuse that not everyone is savvy enough to acquire their own custom setup and therefore, they only provide their box, dish and tech guy to set it all up for you, which along with the cost of the satelite, man and production hours to provide the shows. Ultimately the whole thing is passed down to the end-user. But if the end-user had the choice of DIY, then he should have the choice to reduce the cost of a subsciption as one would think was fair *pfff*. If your not bothered with picture quality and have enough data quota to spare on your broadband connection, there are of course websites that for $40 (approx), you can stream anything you want to you media PC. It will save you $$$ on not bothering to 'lease' one of their top boxes etc. However, many people that use forums like these are determined to make the full deal work on PC. Keep in mind though, while you are spending $$$ on trying to set all this up, you may find that upon the launch of a new digital Austar Satelite in 2009 - you read correct, a new satelite again, your new treasured hardware could be made redundant. I know my Sat card is ready for it, but the firmware for the CAM may take some time if they launch with newer encyption systems that (may) already be present in their new STBs or they will update them remotely as an assumption.
I am one of those determined people. I need a subscription yes, but need the CAM to place in my CI module. I can detect all their encrypted channels, but not decode them and of course means more expensive stuff to see a picture. So yeah... money... Lets burn some... I'd like to correct a statement I made about Videoguard (NDS) being unavailable when apparently it is as posted by another user
HERE. Personally, I've been to the Dragon Cam site and see no such firmware algorythm support listed on their multi algorythm CAM, because NDS can change it weekly, Dragon Cam will not chase NDS's tail and there are legalities, so it gets left out. Read his post, although it's a little old and we endure a region where it's difficult to get around Austar and Foxtel's NDS system for the pupose of using their subscription cards. It would be a pain in the *ss to keep having to swap a cam just to view an NDS encrypted program if Dragon Cam don't have it so in turn you are forced to use suscriber system hardware to a point. For those people prodding deep into the proverbials looking for technical DVB-S player, try downloading
ProgDVB, of which you can buy pluggins for as well if you need. To edit CAMs etc, you'll need this
HARDWARE. I certainly do not condone the use of dodgy smartcards. I am only interested in as stated above. There are numerous sites that display Dragon Cam, but thats up to you. I cannot at this point confirm they actually work, so spend cash at your own risk after thinking about the pros and cons. I still consider myself a learner and sharing with you what I know so far. I'll keep plugging at this and get back to you Woz but no promises for a while mate.
I hope this sheds some light on your question.
This thread is about dual tuners for Austar and as most threads do, tend to get off track. Dual Tuner with CI for Austar... It depends on you Motherboard expansion capabilities and if the software which is usually packaged with it supports PiP and recording in real time, then I don't see why it wouldn't work. The only card I was able to find in Australia with a CI for PCI slot (PCI v2.2 compatable) and without buying incomatable hardware for the majority of high-end motherboards as well as S2 support was the one I bought from
DIGITALNOW but only has single tuner with seperate CI module (DVB-S2 PCI Card - AD-SP400). It becomes a mind blowing expense to consider high end dual tuners and possible changing your motherboard to accommodate the higher data throughput they need on x4 PCIe slots. Use a PCI slot for the sat card and file about 4mm off the back notch of the the CI PCB to fit it in a spare PCIe x16 slot is a great place to mount it as it does not use electrical contacts through that slot (see Intel D975XBX2 motherboards for a picture as many motherboards are like this) this really depends on your own motherboard layout so you may not need file into anything and is only suggestive mounting of a CI without taking up another valuable PCI slot for a DVB-T card or sound card if you don't like onboard audio running into your home theatre, which could mean sacrificing your DVB-T slot as I see no SATA audio solutions on the market as yet. Do your homework before you buy and ensure the card you buy will work for you.
The best thing for everyone to do at this time is not subscribe to them until they offer some PC support if you really want it that way. Instead of PC support, they offer Mystar, which has apparent reported problems and crashes. Even Foxtel's FTA channel warns people that things can go a bit "Pear Shaped" with them and shows people how to reset the box if it happens. Woops, there goes your program setup and recording times!
I see no realistic confirmations from anyone in any forum that say they can absolutely view Austar on their PC.
Re: Dual Tuner with CI for Austar
