The ability of this new V3 program was demonstrated on January 17, 1997. DirecTv transmitted an ECM that did disable cards that contained the older V1 and V2 Bootstrap program. However, battery card devices that had the new V3 program loaded into them continued to run flawlessly.
There are several factors that will determine just how long this new V3 program will last before it and the new Main.Enc file become plagued by ECM's. One of the prime factors involved in the longevity formula of a product such as the battery card software is how well the internal software is encrypted Hiding prime key information through a high level encryption method can prove beneficial to the longevity of the battery card.
The new V3 Bootstrap software file is a decryption program that is loaded into the Dallas secure microprocessor onboard the battery card. When the Bootstrap software is finished loading to the Dallas secure microprocessor, the processor itself is locked with a key only known to the programmer who wrote the Bootstrap and main.enc programs. When the Bootstrap file is mated inside the battery cards memory with the encrypted main.enc file, the combination of the Bootstrap file and the Main.enc file become working battery card software. You would think that with 2 levels of encryption and a locked microprocessor things should be pretty safe. To an electronic lock picker who has the right tools, getting the data out of the locked secure Dallas microprocessor is just another days work. Once the electronic lock picker has extracted the data, which is still encrypted, the work now begins for the computer code cracker, and so on.
I have been told that the V3 Bootstrap program, if ECM'd, has the ability to return to life in a very short time by just leaving the card in the receiver. I have not witnessed this feature yet, but if it does work, what else is there?
Well, the test of time has ways of revealing all things good as well as bad. For the Battery Card and new software, the test of time revealed that there is real hope after all. DirecTv supplied a neat ECM on January 24th. This ECM was much different than past ECM's. Here is what happened. The folks in charge of DirecTv's signal security changed the compression data rate of their satellite signal. Which basically means they changed the speed of the digital data that is transmitted to DSS receivers. The change in the data rate was very minimal, however, it was enough to cause the Battery Card problems on a compressed channel that contained both video and audio. The rate change did not affect the audio-only music channels. I have been informed by sources in the underground that this ECM really helped strengthen the integrity of the main02a.bin Battery Card software, which was released January 25, 1997. Things are starting to get very interesting.
From the reports that we received, turn-out at the West Coast Electronics and Satellite trade show was very low compared to past years. The DSS booth seemed to have very few lookers. On the other hand, the Prime Star booth seemed to do well when George Forman was present. A consumer electronics retailer seminar was held at the show and moderated by Stephen Blum of the Carmel Group. The discussion was supposed to be how to sell multiple types of satellite systems. There were two consumer electronics executives, one who sold DSS only, the other sold DSS and the DISH Network. A few minutes into the topic, the audience began to leave. By the end of the discussion more than 2/3 of the audience had left. Our reporter said that, when the seminar had come to the end, he did not recall learning anything about selling a variety of satellite systems. At the end of the seminar our reporter approached Stephen Blum of the Carmel Group and asked why he did not have retailers that offered a variety of satellite systems in their stores. Mr Blum's reply "because there are not any retailers who offer a variety of satellite systems in their stores,except for Radio Shack." Our reporter then explained that he did offer C-band, DSS, Primestar, the DISH Network and AlphaStar. Mr. Blum said "You are not in retail! You are in TVRO.
Our reporter raised his hand and asked the panel this question: "Could you discuss how HDTV will relate to direct broadcast satellite including C-band?" A rep from Thomson Consumer Electronics quickly answered, "Of course DSS will have HDTV." After the panel had ended, the reporter entered into a discussion with another media reporter who touted DSS as the place for HDTV to first arrive. Then our reporter said that the people from General Instrument had announced 4DTV to be the first place for HDTV to arrive via satellite. The other media reporter said "GI told you that, they are lying!" Our reporter became very frustrated and returned to the convention floor and proceeded to sit through a live demo of HDTV at the GI booth (fed by TVN on a test feed).
Charlie Ergen, CEO of the DISH network, then invited our reporter to his press conference at the Hilton. Only about three retailers were present. After Charlie's speech to the press, he addressed us. He came over to us and asked how we were doing. Charlie has been in touch with us and reading our faxes.
The EchoStar booth was slow as the rest of the show, their people appeared disappointed.
The only shining star at the show was AlphaStar. They had two booths. One at the convention center next Primestar, and the other at the Sand's. At the Sand's, The AlphaStar booth had a live feed of a XXX channel on a 35" TV. It was standing room only.
Thanks to R and T for the Show report.
Until Next Month
Dan
Ron A.
Dan,
Miami, FL
Dear Ron A.,
Happy New Year to you too! We are happy to see the postal system is finally getting on the right track at delivering our magazine on a timely basis. As for your AlphaStar info, glad you found out what you needed from them. A word of warning though, we have seen reports on installation of the AlphaStar unit which indicate that AlphaStar is a little bit trickier to install than most DBS units. Locking up the polarity, a 1/16 of an inch is critical. One hint we did see was to ignore the first signal strength screen and hunt for the three beeps. Reportedly, this unit takes time and patience to install. For more information you can contact O'Rourke Brothers at (888) 830-2430.
Dear Dan
I recently received your offer to renew my subscription to the Satellite Watch News which expired some months ago. I am enclosing a check for my renewal, although reluctantly for which I'll explain why.
I had been a continuous subscriber since I purchased a second-hand C-band (upgraded to C/Ku band) system about 2-1/2 years ago. When my SWN subscription came up for renewal, I deliberately let it expire. For over a year, on the technical side, the magazine seemed ton concentrate only on coming VCII+ breaks, we all remember the "in two weeks" reports. I'm not faulting you on this, but what about other things that can be done with receivers, the VCII and VCII+ board, and of course the impending 4DTV. As an example, you consistently advertise the VCII schematics sets. I see the old boards show up at hamfests, but what you have failed to do is say why anyone would want these schematics. Are the old boards good for anything or not? Whatever the case, please say so! What can be done with old boards with Wizard (or whatever else) chips in them? What can be done with the new boards without investing in Cyber chips that will constantly need codes loaded into them? Personally, I'll be danged if I'm going to pirate a board that I'm required to periodically call 900 numbers to download codes. The subscription package I have with PT24 cost me less than $200 a year for more television than I can watch in a lifetime. A Cyber chip that potentially can be turned off would be more expensive than just legally buying a programming package. Again, Dan, I'm, not blaming you for these short comings, but I still would like to see information on what else can be done with these boards/systems in the magazines.
So with that, I'll give another subscription a try.
Sincerely,
J.A.
Lowell, MI
Dear J.A.,
Dan
First, welcome back to the Satellite Watch News. The reason that I have not published much on the old VC II modules is that there has not been much to write about. There are some folks still using old 010-019 modules with a software program called Autoroll. The Autoroll program is loaded into a 27128 Eeprom, then installed in the U-30 location on the VCII Module. The Autoroll software contains seed keys for some of the basic channels, which allows it to auto update, provided that the keys are still valid and authorized. The neat thing about this Autoroll program is that it has the ability to display the video portion of every VC II, II Plus and VC II RS encrypted channel that one can be received on a satellite system. The downfall to using the Autoroll software is, if you want the audio running on the basic channels you need to go to that channel and let the unit take a hit on a daily basis.
J.A., when more information or products become available I will definitely write about them in the Satellite Watch News.
I would like to make a response to the stupidity of CSS's President Mike Schroeder's comment which was quoted in the Jan-97 DBS Pulse article.
Mr. Schroeder, your comment that dealers should give a little, or just break even on sales, is a great idea, since you're gonna give us equipment at your cost or even at 10% below your cost. Also I have talked to the service station and we no longer will have to pay for repairs or gasoline for our service trucks. I even talked to our insurance company and they thought you had a great idea, so they have waived our premium for life. Oh, and speaking of life, my family and I have decided that we will no longer have meals or any luxuries, since all these needs of doing business are no longer an expense to us (the dealers), we need not make a profit any longer. I really appreciate you waking me up to these facts, now I can run a non-profit organization just like you are. Thank You, IDIOT.
Indiana Steve
Dear Steve.
Dan
Thanks for your comments. I am sure that you are not the only one that feels this way.
I am a subscriber to Satellite Watch News and really enjoy your publication. I have been well pleased with the service from Discount Satellite. I have purchased some of their products and was able to get complete phone support from them. They seem to be devoted to the support of their product, unlike other folks, such as North Sat. (of whom I have heard no ill). North Sat. doesn't seem to want to answer their phone or they put you on a voice mail service that they won't answer, or seem too quick to answer you if you ever do get to talk to them, etc. It seems that they are not too interested in the customer. Keep up the good work.
D.K.
Columbia, KY
Dear D.K.
Dan
I am sure that the folks at Discount Satellite will be smiling when they read your letter. As for North Sat, I have been told that they have been swamped with business and seem to be extremely understaffed.
Due to recent circumstances beyond my control, my wife and I are heading south for awhile. DBS Pulse articles will be back in the spring.
Thank you,
Gene
Gene,
Wishing you and yours the best. See ya in the spring.
Thanks Much
Dan