Directv satallite access card

mr-pirk · 02-16-2004, 08:08 PM

Recently Directv sent me a new access card. The letter sent with the card simply said that "As part of our normal security procedures, your Access Card will expire soon. The Acess Card in your Reciever allows you to recieve our satellite signal and enjoy DIRECTV programming. Please take a few moments today to replace your old Access Card(s) with the new one(s) provided."
I waited 3 weeks before I installed the new card. My wife kept asking me why I was waiting to install the new card. I explained to the that I wanted to try to find out what changes the card might make to our satellite reciever. The reciever belongs to me. The access card belongs to Directv. It bothered me that a outside person or company could simply say to me "do this to a thing you have bought and paid for" with very little explaination as to what the total changes to a piece of equipment I paid for might be.
I had as normal for me spent some time reading message boards about things I might be intrested in buying before I signed up with Directv satellite service. At the time I signed up they were simply offering satellite tv reception service. Some time later they started signing up people to accept a box that the subscriber clicked on everytime they watched a commerical. Directv used this information to collect data for thier advertisers inorder to make more money.
The first program Driectv set up was something you had to agree to participate in. I am not sure if the new card allows them to collect information about tv viewing habits without anyones notification or consent. They haven't explained any of the new features of the new card.
When I got the new access card I revisited some of the old message boards to see what I could find out. Mostly what I was able to figure out is #1 no one has a very good idea of just what all changes the new card makes or what those changes may or maynot allow directv to do. #2 you have no choice but to install the new card if you wish to recieve directv satellite service.
If it were simply me...I would just drop the satellite service.....I think they charge way to much for what they offer. My wife is a stay at home wife and she deserves her entertainment (satelite tv) as much as I deserve my Colorado elk hunting trips.
My question is...would the above letter with the new card bother you?...would you want a better explaintion for the "why and just what it does".........Mr-Pirk just wondering

vc1111 · 02-16-2004, 08:17 PM

Hello again, Mr. Pirk.

Good to see your name again. I always read your posts.

I wouldn't sweat it too much about the new card. What is the worst that can happen? They find out what brand of tooth paste you favor?

I had the satellite dish and switched back to cable because I wanted the broadband capability. Haven't been sorry.

Dave590 · 02-16-2004, 08:40 PM

I just recently changed over from cable to direct tv.

With cable, there was no fox news and the one semi-local fox channel (not fox news, just regular fox tv) was ALWAYS pre-empting saturday night "Cops" with some bogus football, basketball, or ice skating event.

Now, I get fox news, and the wife gets her weekly dose of "Cops".

The business with the "card" is something I'm not familiar with. I'm not sure there is a hole to stick it in, on my unit..(no matter how I write that or phrase that, it sounds like I am opening myself up for something)

I'm not sure what info can be garnered by it...A receiver, ie satelite dish, is worlds apart from a transmitter

It sounds to me like it is simply a way for the folks who own direct tv to help better assist them in stopping folks who don't pay for the service from stealing the service.

The folks who owned those big old monster dishes used to have to do a similar thing every month or so.

etothepii · 02-16-2004, 09:18 PM

I think people "hack" those cards to get free programming, so every so often, direct tv changes coding a bit, requiring new cards, rendering the hacked cards worthless.

I could be all wrong here, I'm just stating what I once heard.

vc1111 · 02-16-2004, 09:19 PM

Quote:

The business with the "card" is something I'm not familiar with. I'm not sure there is a hole to stick it in, on my unit..

A good friend of mine wrote this book to keep guys from losing their way...

Its got pictures with coordinates for anywhere you need to be.

kevin1 · 02-17-2004, 05:40 AM

Mr-pirk ,
the card is simply Direct-tvs way of protecting their programming from unauthorized access . Scrambled signals came about right before I bought my first satellite dish , a c-band system , because the industry finally took notice of how many folks were watching their programs for free . They were never intended for any audience but cable markets in those days . The FCC issued a ruling that signals received "in the clear" could not be protected , so Videocypher 1 was the result .

Once some hackers figured out how to crack the datastream the programmers launched Videocypher RS , renewable security in plain terms , which is the smartcard that you received . This enabled them to protect their property without constantly resorting to expensive changes in scrambling methods . It's nothing to be concerned about .

stork · 02-17-2004, 06:21 AM

If you have a phone line connected to the reciever then all bets are off.

I have no inside info but knowing electronics and radio electronics the reciever could be calling out to an 800 number in the middle of the night sending viewing information. Dave is right "A receiver, ie satelite dish, is worlds apart from a transmitter" but the phone line could act as the transmitter.

Here is a simple way of addressing this issue. Don't connect the phone line. The only thing that will not opperate by doing this is that you will not be able to order "Pay per View". And you could always connect the phone line when ordering the "Pay per View" real quick.

I have Dish Network at home and have only ordered 2 movies using this method and have not recieved a bill for them in over a year. I think that it couldn't get through and was going to try later or maby just wait untill night when phone time is cheaper but as soon as the movie started I disconected the phone line.

I don't do this because I'm cheep! I do this because the chance of damaging the reciever is greater if a phone line is connected. I have blown more that $4 on things that were not as good as American Pie many times over.

kevin1 · 02-17-2004, 10:56 AM

Stork raised a very good point that I forgot .
We never order PPV of any kind , so the phone line is not connected . Just pull yours out . While you're at it throw away your (insert grocery store) card , and your credit cards , driver's license , Social Security card ... You get the picture . If privacy is such a concern that you worry about the company that provides your tv channels then you live in the wrong century . I'm not belittling your concerns , but true privacy no longer exists .

Rickmur · 02-17-2004, 05:29 PM

Switch to Dish, no cards and better selection of programing.

mr-pirk · 02-17-2004, 08:01 PM

VC good to see you again, you are probably right in assuming that if Directv is collecting any viewing habit information it isn't intended to be sinister. It just bothers me that they maybe collecting that type of information at all and it would certainly bother me if they were doing it without my consent. Which brings me to my first problem with the letter they sent with the access card, they offered very little information about what the new card does.
Here awhile back I downloaded a free program off the internet to check our computer for "spyware". SpyBot search&destroy is the program. I was amazed at the number of spyware programs we had on the computer. By the way I have been very impressed with the program.
To me spyware always strikes me like having a peeping-tom. Most of the spyware programs aren't malicous although some are a nucence in that they may reset your home page and such. But I just don't like them.
Dave your reciever has a access card. it is more than likely behind a hinged panel on the front of your reciever. Dave if you hook-up the phone line to the reciever it becomes a transmiter. That is how they keep track of any pay-per-view (ppv)items you may have bought. Most of the recievers are set up to allow you to watch about 25 movies before the account becomes full. After that you must hook up your phone line and allow it to up-load the ppv information or your reciever will get triggered at some later time to show a message on your tv screen telling you that you need to call directv and connect to ext ###...they use different extentions for different error codes they may detect on your reciever.
Etothepii you are correct in saying that the old cards being replaced have been hacked. Different hacks are used for the different cards directv has issued over the years. By the way Etothepii that is a odd nick you have there, if you don't mind me asking how did you come up with it?
Kevin I understand and agree with your point about directv wanting to protect thier product I would want to do the same. What bothers me most is most of the time when you are asked to give information the companys asking for the information go to great lenghts to say that any information they collect won't be shared or sold without your consent(everywhere except for the internet anyway) and if they are going to share the information you give such as when you fill out a warrenity card it is usually stated somewhere they they will share the information.
Kevin it bothers me that directv doesn't say what the access card DOESN'T do. such as "the card DOESN'T collect viewer habit information."
Stork if you do order very many ppv items and you don't connect your phone line you will get a message telling you to call directv. After that they may set the dollar credit amount you are allowed to $.01 on your reciever and you will be required to hook up your phone line atleast once a week or they won't sell you service . I have never ordered any ppv item so I haven't had a problem also my satallite reciver system is legal(no pirating for me) The informaion I have shared here is what I understand from what I have picked up from message-boards for satallite hackers but I could be wrong about my understanding.
MdBoHuntr I have considered switching...I think dish-network may offer local channels as part of thier basic programing package. I don't know if the local access is a tempory service or just part of thier normal basic programing package.
VC as an aside....have you changed any of your driving habits with that sniper fellow you have over your way?? I would be scaired driving on an interstate with over-pass's. VC if you see anyone stopped on a overpass be sure to hug-up close to the back of a semi-trailer. Life is getting scary out your way. Stay safe.
Mr-Pirk