ITEM NUMBER 1 : NEWSERV.TXT
*** News Flash ***
#AXA, #CODES, #ECM, #EMULATOR, #NEWS, and #TORNADO are moving !!!
Q: Why are we moving ?
A: We're moving for several reasons. Let us try to explain:
1. Traffic:
There is a lot of traffic on the current IRC servers covering a wide variety of concerns about digital satellite television broadcast systems. Because of the high volume of channels, it is getting more obvious every day that the current IRC servers are up and above their limitations with all of the recent failures and disconnects.
2. Dedicated IRC services:
Our IRC service does not want to take away all of the "business" of the current IRC. On the contrary, we are thankful for the effort put in by the group who has made SZ/NET possible to all. We want help by relieving it from the stress of the channels dedicated to informing and supporting current and future products by AXA, Tornado and PGM. All other specialized and general interest channels will remain where they are now.
No channels of other interest than DSS satellite systems will ever be permitted to setup shop on this IRC.
Security :
We want to be able to answer the concerns about the security and confidentiality of us and our users. The only way to offer that is through direct server control and management. We have setup a secure server environment with bots running directly on the servers to ensure maximum control efficiency of our channels. We will not permit any invasion of the privacy of messages or user identity on these new servers.
Oh yes, another bit of information you might find of interest: Why and when this came about:
AXA, PGM and Tornado decided to setup shop on the IRC to try to offer better support to all our loyal supporters! YOU DESERVE IT!!! We are getting ready for the future, and the future looks bright for everyone!
In the future, you might find such things as channels dedicated to dealers and their territories.
When: NOW !!! WE'RE OPEN !!!!!
Server #1: IRC.TRANSFORMERS.ORG Ports 6666-6668
Server #2: 207.139.146.189 Ports 6667
Why AXA, PGM and Tornado?
Well that's easy enough. We're all partners, working together now for unbeatable support!!!
We have been friends and business partners for quite some time now, and as you surely know by now we do good things together!
ITEM NUMBER 2 : MOVE.TXT
AXA, Torn and PGM are moving! They created their own server. Ron and BG are on another server also. #satellite is losing quality because the big guys want control, they couldn't ban ice so they started another place. AXA can't ban bigdoc here also, so BASICALLY all you ppl that thought this was the AXA channel, just see that it was NEVER like that. Hehe, we are too big! Controlling who gets in, etc. Well, I will stay. I chose all of the OPs here (or most), I tried to stay unbiased, lower the war intensity, but it looks like they can't get along. What I wish is that ppl stay here and these guys will always come back, I hear there is a lot of bullshit in here. All we do is try to sort it out from the big guys, with news for me/us to report
Basically you'd now have to be on 3 channels (satellite4 on Dalnet, tv-re on dalnet and dss talk on AXA's new server). I always thought it be better to have 1 channel with all the news and no bans and all the groups, but it didn't work obviously here is the situation.
We still are a force, AXA will stay, but he will have more control on the other server and he will move all his channels (#ECM, CODES, AXA, etc). I could also follow one clan, or both, or even 3 (sat4), but this is getting hard to follow. The more who stay here maybe they will have no choice but to come back. I'd rather have 1 channel with all the news from all the groups, and yes, I'm in the middle to counter the bad effects (war). DR will stay here also. Guys, I started this in August of last year, we came a long way. We did good, now that the big guys understand IRC, they want their own. It was tough to try to keep them together, What I wanted is everybody here.
Torn left this channel at torn3.0 with the help of cappy. I personally see this as a failure on my part and makes me real SAD. I had BG, AXA, Torn, John Mccormac, PMK, PGM ALL in here!!!!!! But now they are all leaving me now that I gave them the taste.
I wish we can still be the core of all those places, you know I was always against BANS. I am no power freak. I tried to get members from everywhere as OPs, but they started attacking each other and it lead to this. I never got an OFFICIAL wwwpage page for this channel, like many just missed what I just posted (it would be on the official page). You guys can let them move and not follow and they will come back, that's all I can say. If you all follow, I will have to close. I was unbiased all along, and as I said I tried REAL HARD to put them to work together, and ALSO tried to keep them together in here even if they didn't want to work together.
Basically here is how it happened:
1- the peak bashing... because who knew he could/might have done something.
2- AXA put news in #News, which made the bat group make a release. I posted that release in NEWS and pissed AXA a bit. I was pissed also because I was never told about the news release. But at least we had 2 reports, one from the I-sys group and one from the bat group. Yes, they were a bit contradictive, but what do you expect! So I put the other report in there to MUDDLE IT ALL UP, s*** happens, but you can see where this is going, so now we'll see. GOOD LUCK TO ALL, I WILL STAY and TRY TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF ALL GROUPS DEVELOPMENT.
To THE BIG GUYS- Keep HoLo informed PLEASE. You owe me at least that, TKS!
Now for one more news release from the IRC about what is happening to the channel loss.
ITEM NUMBER 3 : NEWS01.TXT
** Welcome to DSS rumour control and AXA's NEWS on #SATELLITE **
** This is Canadian Satellite NEWS report 01 - Dated 06/18/97 **
*** SPEND NO MONEY ON ANYTHING FROM ANYONE UNTIL ANNOUNCED BY THE OPS IN #SATELLITE, AS NOTHING IS AVAILABLE YET! ***
Terminology Update:
ECM - Electronic Counter-Measure
P1 - Original Series of DSS Access cards issued when DSS was out on the market. Also called: 01 DSS/01 E-Series F-Series
P2 - DSS Access Cards that DTV/USSB begun issuing early last year to replace P1 and help combat piracy. This swapout is near completion. Also called: 04 DSS/02 H-Series
Swapout - The procedure DTV/USSB is using to change all it's subscribers' cards from the P1 to the P2.
ASIC - Acronym for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit" which refers to the custom chip that has been added to the P2 cards by NDC (News Datacom) to enhance security.
NEWS
Near the end of May, DTV/USSB began sending a message like this:
"Change to your new access card now",
"No new card? Call customer Service, Ext. 751"
They also started sending Email stating to do the same. These "nag" messages were intended to get the "stragglers" who are still using P1 cards to call DTV to get the P2 card sent out.
The I-System was corrected with a code patch to stop this nuisance (check #ECM for info) and BG's V3 was also fixed.
On 06/04 DTV began changing the encryption on some channels in a further attempt to get all the subscribers who still have P1 cards upgraded to P2. This has resulted in a large number of channels (the list grows daily) being "black" or "Expired" on all non-P2 cards, including Emulators, BAT cards, EuroBATS, and I-System cards.
This is *NOT* the "New" stream. They are forced to still run the old one in order to keep some channels on on P1's for the time being. This could probably be fixed, but it would only last until they completely finish turning off channels, then change the datastream to use the ASIC in the P2 cards. We studied this new encryption change for about a week, it is kinda like the ECM we had in July '96. We have decided to not attempt to fix this channel problem on the old cards in order to devote our time to the new ones. Please do not ask about it anymore. If a solution is found, everyone will be notified here by announcement.
Here is a summation of what will happen soon:
1. Channels will continue to die, until they are all gone. We estimate that this will be finished by beginning of July.
2. They will then switch the packets feeding the P2 cards to the "new stream", and begin utilizing the ASIC in a big way!
3. This will result in all cards except SUBSCRIBED P2 cards not being able to get any programming or test any channels.
What will happen to us then?
People are hard at work on a solution as we speak, and have been for some time now. When there is anything viable and that truly does work, we will post info in #SATELLITE.
What will happen to Emulators?
They will all be dead. It is doubtful you will see a "freeware" solution like the emulator in the immediate future.
What will happen to P1 plastic (blues)?
Two words: Ice Scraper. Totally useless. Cannot EVER work!!!
What will happen to (green) BATs, L/Ts, Euros, I-System etc.?
These cards will also totally quit functioning. The only way to restore them is to add some hardware to emulate or clone the P2 ASIC and a total rewrite of the operating software (firmware). The cards themselves will be dead. We intend to be re-using the Dallas processors on those cards which are equipped with a socketed Dallas, so that it may be economically removed. The BAT cards have a surface-mounted Dallas micro which cannot be removed, as the cost of labor to do this would exceed the cost of the chips themselves. The L/T cards have a socketed processor (most of them) so that it may be quickly removed. The old boards themselves will be scrapped.
The "recycled" processors will be mated on a totally new board containing a proprietary ASIC of our own design, and some additional extras, such as a wireless receiver for possible auto-update use in the future if the need arises. This will also allow remote programming without any connections to the card. Most new laptops are equipped with IR capability now, and the new card will receive programming from them as well. The future of the Euro-Bats is not certain, because even though those cards have an "expansion Socket" on board, no engineers have come forward willing to create any kind of add-on board (YET). Don't take this as bad news, as the actual manufacturing cost of most of these cards was below $50, so there will not be much going to waste. The BAT cards would make a perfect E* (Dishnet) test card, so don't chunk them yet! Also, many long time dealers will probably offer some good trade-in deals in order to help their customers out.
Everyone knows the Dallas is not secure, so why use it?
This is not true at all. The Dallas family of secure micros is still right at the top in terms of firmware security. If there is anything else out there that is vastly better, it is not in this dimension! Ask whoever tells you this to suggest a part that is better, They can't! Anyway, the security of the new card will lie in the new custom chip (ASIC) that is being made, as it will be even harder to reverse engineer than the ASIC found in the original P2 card in the first place! Also: There are TONS of the Dallas chips out there, that are just begging to be recycled (for a greener earth AND wallet!) :)
What will all this cost? I already spent a fortune!
There are many GREEDY people out there who took advantage of people during the last few years. The I-System parters pledge that you will only pay for development costs and a modest sum for a profit to repay the engineers for their hard work. We simply ask that you do not buy anything that seems unreasonably priced, from us or anyone else! This will save you lots of money! Remember: The #SATELLITE channel was formed to eliminate this unfair greediness and make stuff available to people that is verified by many respectable people, so come to the channel to see what is hot and what is NOT!
Why not do some plastic solutions?
First off, the P2 plastic is not widely available in canada. Secondly, if you have not already seen what they can do in their own "stomping ground", then heed this: The ECMs and wanton death of plastic requiring expensive hardware to correct is only a small taste of what can possibly be done! We cannot change the bulk of code in the P2 as it is mostly ROM coded! The I-System parters advise to stay away from plastic as it is easily killed, and hard to revive later!
ANYTHING ELSE? Ask the OPS in #SATELLITE or AXA (me). That's all for now! I will post this news once a week or sooner if new developments arise!
I think this last article states what is going on with DSS at this time. I see many advertisements that state their product will work with the new data stream while brand X, Y and Z will not. I personally don't like this type of advertisement since, until the new data stream is fully implemted, we will not know what will work and what won't. And remember, I report what I hear and then do product reviews. I never do a product review unless I can actually operate the item myself.
Now for the product review for the month. I have 3 items for review. The first is a new type of card named the straight card or L2. It is a L card that looks like a bat in that it is straight (see the picture). The card as I recieved it from a PeakTV representative know as DIEHARD (irc name) had the I-system loaded on it. The card worked as good as any of the B or L cards that I have tested. The current nag screen remover keyed in through the spending limit worked fine. The processor is socketed for easy removal or replacement. All in all, the card is well built. Contact DIEHARD in the IRC #SATELLITE4 for ordering information or PeakTV at http://www.peaktv.com/ . The unit is a good value forthe price.
The next 2 items come from HAKU.
The first is the HAKU-2 ISO 7816 Development Tool which is a combination emulator and card writer. The unit is very well built and is a very clean design. It is about the same size as the MK11 unit reviewed in a earlier article. The difference in the HAKU-2 unit and the MK units are the lack of switches on the HAKU-2 unit and the HAKU-2 uses a 9 volt battery for power when programing cards. The lack of switches makes the unit easier to use and the 9 volt battery makes using the unit more versatile.
The second unit recieved from HAKU is the HAKU UN99 upgrade module. This unit plugs in the card slot of the HAKU-2 and has a card slot of it own to receive the plastic card for un99ing. Again this is a very clean design and well built unit. I don't have a fullreview of the un99 unit or UNFF unit as some are recalling them due to the current ecm attack on the plastic cards. In the last month since our last article the plastic cards underwent many attacks that have made them a very unreliable way to go at this time. The good people like HAKU have tried to release fixes for these new attacks but as of yet I have been unable to get any of these to work. Eddie at North-Sat Technologies also released some information and a program to try and help with this new attack. I will continue to work with this UN99/FF software and hardware to give a better report on it next month if the current cards are still working. The ordering and pricing for the HAKU units are listed as follows:
Mail money order along with what they are ordering and their shipping address to:
Daryll Donais
Box 32, Site 122, R.R. #1
Dryden, Ontario P8N 2Y4 Canada
Or send it via fedex to:
Daryll Donais
#10 Zealand Road
Dryden, Ontario P8N 2Y4 Canada
807-937-5387
haku-2 $95.00 US or $125.00 Cdn
un99/ff/00 $125.00 US or $175.00 Cdn
just un99 $95.00 US or $125.00 Cdn
And if the haku-2 and other units are ordered together take $10.00 US off
And all prices do not include shipping
An amtel chip to update an older UN99 unit.
For current HAKU un99 customers the price is $25.00 US plus shipping
For non customers the price is $50.00 US plus shipping.
Remember, the best backup for the system going down is tape and tape some more, this will give you something to watch when the system is down.
Well, until next month.
ROCKY