Vocabulary 1

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ACS number:
This is the version number of the cards software.
There are several different software versions: 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 en 3.82, 3.83.
Versions 1.4 and 1.6 are almost identical.

Alphacrypt:
The Irdeto successor, decodes both Irdeto and Betacrypt.

Asciiserial:
The number that identifies the card. It is also printed on the card in bar-code. It only serves identification purposes.

Aston Seca:
Although the real name for the coding system is Mediaguard, it is often referred to as Seca or Aston Seca. Mediaguard is developed by Seca, so the also used name Seca Mediaguard is more suitable. Aston is the company that builds the CAM's (among others) that are used to decode the Mediaguard system.
The Seca Mediaguard coding is used by the Canal + organization which is no wonder. Canal + is shareholder in the Seca organization and it also takes part in the development of the Mediaguard coding system. Because of the influence of Canal +, the Seca Mediaguard system is very popular in France.

ATR:
Answer To Reset, or ATR for short, is the string a smart card sends to the receiver upon every reset. The ATR of each smart card conforms to the ISO7816-3 specifications. The ATR contains information about the card, for instance information on how the receiver should communicate with the card:
Voltage, Amp, Baudrate, Synchronous or Asynchronous communication etc.

Auto Update:
The auto update (AU) technique makes sure the card is kept up to date in order to provide the correct keys to the CAM when requested. Providers will regularly change their operational keys and unless you have a valid set of management keys, you will soon be left with a black screen. For different coding systems, the actual keys that are used for decoding, have different names. For instance, in Irdeto they are called Plainkeys and for Seca they are called Operational Keys.

Betacrypt:
A coding system very similar to Irdeto and used by the German provider Premiere World.

Blocker:
Every now and then, some providers will send signals that will effect pirate cards only. The intention of these signals is to disable pirate cards. In order to make sure these unwanted signals don't reach and disable your card, you can use a blocker. There are 2 ways to block signals: software- and hardware blockers.

Bootloader:
A bootloader is the first program, executed whenever you turn your receiver on. The bootloader will ensure that the receivers operating system is started. The operating system of a satellite receiver is usually called the firmware.

Card doubler:
A device that enables you to use 2 cards in 1 CAM simultaneously.

CB20 selection:
A smart card can be addressed and modified in 3 ways:
1. By using the hex serial, individual cards can be addressed
2. Through the card group number, all 256 cards in that group can be
addressed simultaneously
3. Within a card group a selection of individual cards can be addressed by means of a CB20 selection (max. 256 cards)

Channel ID:
Is used to select a channel.
The correct combination of key and channel ID will activate the key.

Common Interface:
Common Interface (CI) is a PCMCIA slot in the satellite receiver in which CAM's can be put. All multicrypt receivers use Common Interfaces.

Common Scrambling Algorithm:
This is the coding algorithm as specified by DVB. The CSA was designed to make transmitted signals safe from hackers. For the provider the real advantage is that CSA is universal to several types of CAM's. This means that a provider who for instance broadcasts in both Seca and Viaccess, can send EMM's and ECM's with the transmission, but each CAM will only react to the commands which are meant for that CAM. All other commands are ignored.

Conditional Access:
Conditional Access (CA) is a technology, used for coding and authorizing in DVB systems.
A Conditional Access system contains a few basic elements: SMS and SAS.

Conditional Access Module:
A Conditional Access Module (CAM) is the module into which the CA system is built in. CAM's can be found as separate modules to put into the CI of your receiver, but they are also sometimes built fix into the receiver. In that case they are called embedded CAM.
The CAM contains all software, needed to decode a certain scrambling system and also the necessary software to enable it to communicate with your smart card.

Control Word:
A Control Word (CW) is a data package containing the coded key for the coding algorithm of your smart card.

Crd's:
You can regard Crd files as a kind of macro files. They contain command strings, used to update your smart card.

Cryptedkey (Key) & Plainkey:
These are respectively a coded and a uncoded form of the same key.
To make things even more complicated than they already are, the cryptedkey is often simply referred to as key.
The cryptedkey contains a combination of the date, that key was sent, the plainkey and the Plainmasterkey, all coded into 1 key. The cryptedkey is sent to the card on a regular basis. It validates the subscription of the user, therewith enabling the user to view certain channels. The cryptedkey ensures correct decoding of a validated channel. The plainkey is the uncoded version of the cryptedkey.

Crypto Works:
A relative newcomer among the coding systems is Crypto Works. This system is developed by the Dutch based Philips.

Customer Word Pointer:
The 4th byte in the PPUA string is called the CWP (or Customer Word
Pointer). It is used to address individual cards. The CWP is used only in MOSC cards.

Date:
The date on a card is used by the provider to activate or deactivate
channels.

Direct programming lines:
If the eeprom on a card is directly connected to the cards contacts, then the eeprom can be programmed independently from the processor. When this is the case, those direct connections are called the direct programming lines.
You will find DPL on SMD or HMD cards only. Goldwafers don't utilize DPL and will therefor always need a loader file in the processor chip in order to program the eeprom on the card.