I am new to “free to air” satellite testing and I have a few questions. On my vast googling adventures I have run across a few things that I am unsure of and thought I might get some information to fill my head!
First I keep seeing CAMS but from Dave testing I keep thinking a cam is a smartcard but
They look like PCMCIA memory or modems and are given names like
(Like Magic CAM, Axas CAM, Conax CAM, and MATRIX RELOADED CAM etc...)
The questions I have are what are they and do they need a smart card
Also the Magic CAM can supposedly decrypt
Viaccess I
Viaccess II
Mediaguard I (made by SECA)
Mediaguard II (made by SECA)
Irdeto I
Irdeto II
Betacrypt
Nagravision (with selectable BoxKey)
"And even Videoguard emulation is already being tested"
So if this is possible what kind of IRD do I need to use these with?
Any info or insight or even web sites w/ info would be great
and if i am way off let me know! :wow:

sounds to me like you are talking about magic cards.....thaey have names like the ones you wrote. I know very little about them however this site should at least give you a better idea what they are.
http://www.magiccard.tv

the site you posted has smart cards
this is more what i was looking at http://www.mask4gas.co.uk they look like pcmcia cards
http://www.digital-sat.it/images/magic/magicfr.jpg

my understanding is those are universal cam, yes it can decrypt irdeto, nagravision but with the access card to make it work. I tried to surf for more info regarding this sound like there are software that you load into your cam and put in the public to decrypt can't get more info as a lot of the site I went to either don't have that much info or they are in german.

just my .02 cents

In Europe they dont buy receivers that work for just one company. They buy thier receiver. The reciever has a CI. The CI is a Slot for a CAM. The CAM is or can be an ISO programmer and an eeprom card and a receptacle for a card. To change Providers they buy cards direct from the their HBO;s or Movie/Porn Houses. Here the only legal card is 3 channel porm at $100 year. Better than Dave. Any way they do cheat the cards and/or the CAMs.

The other route is to buy a sat card. Do it all in software. Receivers are cheap. Computers are not, but If you got 2000MH and 500Meg you can do sat and use your computer.

If you need more info on FTA PM me.