Legit external smart card reader

[dmaurice]

Wondering if I made a mistake.

I purchased a SonicView SV-360 Elite and a 120cm dish a few months ago. Finally got everything connected and aligned. In the end, out of many good clear transmissions, I'm getting a grand total of 4 ("usable") English transmissions for me (hitting 68.5E). I'm doing volunteer work in Africa and wanted to take advantage of the wonderful world of FTA while here. It turns out that there is not much for me, because of my location.

As it stands, I'm willing to pay a subscription fee for the few months that I'm in this area to receive additional programs. However, that requires a "Smart Card".

Here are my questions:

Is there any kind of "external smart card reader" that I can purchase and connect to the RS232 port in order to properly subscribe to additional programming?

Will I have to scrap my SonicView SV-360 just to be able to pay for a subscription service using a smart card? All the available channels I want here require a smart card (Conax?).

Again, I'm willing to pay for the service, just wanted to know the best way of going about it with my present equipment. Thanks!

- Maurice

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I don't think there is anything in the US that lets you subscribe to their services using your own equipment. While technically it is possible, all the companies want you to use their equipment.

 

[dmaurice]

Scott, thanks for the fast reply.

After some thought, I guess I need to be talking to the provider over here (Africa). I just have the feeling that they are going to be pushing their equipment in addition to the smart card. I'm happy to buy their smart card and their programming. Just trying to avoid re-investing in another receiver, that's all.

I'll try digging some more on the LyngSat site to see if I missed some other birds out there with some decent programs.

All the best!

 

[SatelliteAV]

Here are my questions:

Is there any kind of "external smart card reader" that I can purchase and connect to the RS232 port in order to properly subscribe to additional programming?

External readers are available which could attach via the RS-232 and USB ports. Unless the receiver has been hardware designed and firmware enabled, the connected device would not be recognized. The receiver manufacturer should be contacted about the availability of a CAS or CI. The motherboard may even have a connection point for CAS, which isn't utilized on your model.

Conax cards are not receiver specific, so you do not need the provider's IRD to receive programming with a subscribed card. The card can be swapped between units.

 

[pedrogarcia]

Where abouts are you in Africa????

Have a look on Lyngsat at Nilesat 7west and BADR 26 east and see if there footprint covers your location. If so they have plenty of FTA channels available.

 

[dmaurice]

Where abouts are you in Africa????

Have a look on Lyngsat at Nilesat 7west and BADR 26 east and see if there footprint covers your location. If so they have plenty of FTA channels available.

Sorry, needed to be more specific. Actually, I'm off the east coast of Africa right now: Madagascar. Yep, that makes a big difference. That puts me out of the footprint of the above mentioned sats. I do get great reception from EutelSat W3A at 7.0E, but that's mostly in French. That is what led me to looking into a short term subscription while here. Still looking for some decent FTA sats.

 

[pedrogarcia]

Madagascar. Yep, that makes a big difference. That puts me out of the footprint of the above mentioned sats. I do get great reception from EutelSat W3A at 7.0E, but that's mostly in French. That is what led me to looking into a short term subscription while here. Still looking for some decent FTA sats.

Madagascar is a satellite dead zone for KU band even Mnet from S Africa will not get there on a 1.2m dish and you would need at least a 2.5m dish for c band there.
I think your only solution is to get US programs via a Slingbox over the internet to your PC

 

[dmaurice]

Where abouts are you in Africa????

Have a look on Lyngsat at Nilesat 7west and BADR 26 east and see if there footprint covers your location. If so they have plenty of FTA channels available.

Madagascar is a satellite dead zone for KU band even Mnet from S Africa will not get there on a 1.2m dish and you would need at least a 2.5m dish for c band there.
I think your only solution is to get US programs via a Slingbox over the internet to your PC

KU Dead Zone ... yeah, I was afraid of that. Internet is not that great/reliable either, thus the reason for investigating FTA. Thanks though, I appreciate the suggestions.

Here's a thought: The money I would spend on Slingbox, internet, etc. could be spent on obtaining a smart card reader [CAS / CI] and subscribing for the time that I'm here. I receive great KU band quality from 68.5E (IntelSat 10). There are "tons" of English programming [FOX, BBC, MGM, E! TV, etc] just need to subscribe. Bummer, I know.

No question, I'll still make good use of my FTA equipment when we finally return to the States.

I will be traveling back home to the States for a couple weeks in November [but coming back to "Madland" for several more months]. I'm still waiting to hear if my SonicView SV-360 Elite is equipped with a CI. In the meantime, I just need to find out where I can get the card reader. I'll keep searching.

I'll let you know what I find out. Thanks, everyone, for your input.

 

[Anole]

outside the box:

Why not buy a local system to use while you are there?
Maybe a used one? (garage sale?)
Find a buyer who'll take it off your hands when you leave.
When I was overseas in the military, small refrigerators were passed from one GI to another as they rotated out of country.
Ya buy it from someone who's leaving, and sell it to a newbie who takes your place when you go.

I've found then when you look -specifically- for even the most unlikely things, sometimes they show up.
Yesterday, I found a $60 router I wanted, for $20 delivered, new in the box... because I was looking for it.
I got a rare Birdview satellite dish, even though I'd never heard of any in my state, ... because I went looking for it and wouldn't settle for less.
I got an AJAK H-H motor for a BUD, along with what looks like a perforated Birdview (all free) because I was talking about wanting a BUD at lunch one day...
... a friend of a friend was there, heard me, and got me her brother-in-law's dish!
She did us both a favor!

I'm sure you don't have Craig's List there, but there are local papers, bulletin boards (cork boards), etc. at churches, clubs, bars, et al.
Donate it to the local orphanage when you leave, and take a tax write off.

 

[pedrogarcia]

I guess you are on the NW or W coastal area if you are receiving and are considering Mnet(Multichoice SA). The problem is it is illegal to subscribe to Mnet in Madagascar (not that anyone cares there) so I think you will find it impossible to subscribe other than for 12 months via an unofficial agent and expensive.

As I remember nothing is reliable inMadagascar and there is only 1 terrestial Tv Broadcast company there and despite English, French and Malagasy being the official languages it broadcasts in a form of French. There is no satellite coverage other than fringe Mnet on KU covering part of the island and fringe C Band with huge dishes.

Rather than look for a card reader, if you can get a Mnet card just get a new receiver with an Irdeto card slot or a receiver with a CI slot and an irdeto cam. Look on the UAE satellite websites (cheap) they will export to Madagascar

On a personal note keep your innocs up to date, take your anti malaria tabs wear long sleeves and keep a close watch on your health. Sorry you are probably fed up hearing that.


Good luck

 

[dmaurice]

I guess you are on the NW or W coastal area if you are receiving and are considering Mnet(Multichoice SA). The problem is it is illegal to subscribe to Mnet in Madagascar (not that anyone cares there) so I think you will find it impossible to subscribe other than for 12 months via an unofficial agent and expensive.

As I remember nothing is reliable inMadagascar and there is only 1 terrestial Tv Broadcast company there and despite English, French and Malagasy being the official languages it broadcasts in a form of French. There is no satellite coverage other than fringe Mnet on KU covering part of the island and fringe C Band with huge dishes.

Rather than look for a card reader, if you can get a Mnet card just get a new receiver with an Irdeto card slot or a receiver with a CI slot and an irdeto cam. Look on the UAE satellite websites (cheap) they will export to Madagascar

On a personal note keep your innocs up to date, take your anti malaria tabs wear long sleeves and keep a close watch on your health. Sorry you are probably fed up hearing that.


Good luck

... actually, it's MyTv not Mnet. I'll still have to check it for legalities as well. Either way, it's not looking good for me. I guess I should be happy with the few channels I currently get, it's better than nothing.

Thanks for the personal note and reminders - can't ever be too careful here on the Big Red Island!

 

[pedrogarcia]

I had forgotten about Mytv. That's legal there but I doubt you have a dealer on Big Red.
You might like to try a dealer I know for MytV and you can get short rentals - Perry at Strong Technnology in Livingstone, Zambia. his email is:
strong@iconnect.za

Regards

 

[dmaurice]

I had forgotten about Mytv. That's legal there but I doubt you have a dealer on Big Red.
You might like to try a dealer I know for MytV and you can get short rentals - Perry at Strong Technnology in Livingstone, Zambia. his email is:
strong@iconnect.za

Regards

Sounds good, I'll drop him a line and see what could happen. Thanks so much!