(terms used on this pages are explained in the satellite dictionary on this website)

In order to see an encrypted digital service you generally require the correct CAM and Card combination

CAMs fall into three groups:-

Embedded CAMs
CI CAMs
And the original “FAT CAM” used in the original D-Box Nokia 92XX and 95XX

Some encryptions are available in one or more of the above types

A service provider can use one or more encryption methods to broadcast their services in.

A Smart card supplied by the service provider is used to access the service – often the service provider won’t sell their card to a potential customer because of the rules that the industry has placed on itself – service providers sell the rights to broadcast in a particular geographical area. – If this was any other industry we would call this type of action a cartel and certainly our supermarkets couldn’t get away with it but service providers claim it’s all about copyrights, The bottom line is that because of their greed and unwillingness to sell their services across borders. Some clever people have learnt about their encryption – which basically is all about number crushing and found ways to circumvent the encryption using codes which they put on blank cards sold on this site, and distribute their software via websites in countries which consider the EEC laws outrageous

The following are all Digital encryption systems used in Europe and elsewhere:-

Seca Mediaguard  1&2 (Astoncrypt emulates this)
Videoguard (used by SKY in the UK and currently only available inside the SKY Digibox)
Viaccess 1&2
Irdeto 1&2
Cryptoworks
Beta digital
Conax
Power Vu