How do receivers know what you're subscrbied to?

[andrew110]

Ok noob question I know but I just wanted to know how Dish and Directv receivers know what channels you're subscribed to, especially when they're not hooked up to a phone line. Do the sats tell the receivers what you're subscribed to? Does the same apply to ppv?

 

[gdarwin]

They can send a signal to the receiver from the sats. Just like when you need a password reset, this comes from the sats also.

 

[boba]

Actually the receivers are DUMB the chip on your ACCESS or SMART CARDS knows what to pass as subscription channels.

 

[whatchel1]

Loaded command

Actually the receivers are DUMB the chip on your ACCESS or SMART CARDS knows what to pass as subscription channels.

It's a command loaded in to "access section of the cards". I don't know more than that except it comes during the download.