Smart card for digital TV: quality of digital broadcasting in one device

Many cable and satellite TV channels are available only after payment. For the convenience of decrypting encoded content, providers use smart cards (smart cards), which are connected to TVs either directly through a connector or through a special adapter. They provide high quality content.

What is a smart card and how is it used for watching digital TV?

A smart card for digital television (DTV) is a small plastic card in which a microcircuit with integrated electronic circuits is embedded. Many models of this device have a microprocessor in their design, as well as a special operating system that controls the device and constantly controls access to stored objects. Smart cards for receiving digital broadcasting are devices that provide access to various paid channels, the package of which is selected by the user. Thanks to them, the picture is clear and bright: they catch TV broadcast signals without interruption, so the screen does not flicker and the colors are not washed out. Such a card can be obtained from the provider of both satellite and cable television. The company logo is applied to its front side, as well as an electronic chip is fixed, storing access codes in encrypted form. A personalized number, as well as different code systems of providers, contribute to a significant reduction in the risk of hacking access to watching paid channels.
Smart card for MTS TV [/ caption]

Benefits of using SMART cards

Smartcard has the following list of advantages:

1. The ability to independently choose the list of paid channels to which access is required.
2. Getting constant access to high-quality digital broadcasting, characterized by improved clarity, as well as the almost complete absence of interference and distortion – the picture is obtained with good sound and brightness.
3. If necessary, you can independently disable and connect certain paid TV channels.
4. All users receive a text version of the TV program of films and programs, which is broadcast on the TV screen (this function depends on the provider and model of equipment).

How a smart card is used in a TV

In order to use a smart card of one or another provider of digital and cable television, you do not need to have special skills: first you need to insert it into the slot designed directly for this card or into a special TV set-top box, and then configure the device according to the instructions.

For the smooth and proper functioning of the card, it is necessary to monitor not only the serviceability of the access device itself, but also ensure that the service package is paid on time. Otherwise, the system may crash.

All smart cards that providers give to their customers are unique, which makes it absolutely impossible to replace them with other cards. Therefore, it is necessary to use only registered and activated cards, on the surface of which there are no visible damages. In this way, difficulties preventing access to the content of selected pay TV channels can be avoided.

Smart card readers

A smart card reader is a device that is designed to read and decrypt the information contained on such a card. The latest models are excellent for reading various crypto- and microprocessor-based smart cards. According to the functionality and technical characteristics, two types of devices are distinguished:

1. Contact – these are devices that are used in cases where operations require reliable information protection.
2. Contactless smart cards are devices that enable users to transmit information via radio signals.

Cable and satellite TV providers offer predominantly contactless models, the power of which is quite sufficient for quick reading and subsequent decoding of information. In addition, they are more convenient to use than contact-type readers. After all, data is transmitted by radio signals over a considerable distance. Therefore, with only one smart card, you can watch several TVs located in different parts of the house. https://youtu.be/s5eb2kQeQEo

Smart card reader

The latest TV models have dedicated CI/PCMCIA connectors for the CAM module. However, for older models, you need to purchase a special receiver (set-top box), which is connected to the TV using a cable.

What is a smart card used for in digital TV

Digital television itself is considered to be of high quality, so many people prefer to use only ordinary satellite dishes to receive signals. However, many interesting channels are paid or protected codes. In this case, access to them is provided thanks to a special smart card, which is separately purchased from providers.

Smart card providers: Tricolor, NTV-Plus and others

Nowadays, lovers of satellite and cable television have the opportunity to choose a provider for themselves from dozens of companies. The largest of them include Tricolor, NTV-Plus, MTS.

The Tricolor provider company provides smart cards that provide access to several channel packages:

1. “Basic” – 25 channels of different directions. This package is the most affordable and the most popular;
2. “Unified” – includes 217 channels (regional and federal, highly specialized, musical, scientific and many others);
3. “Children’s” – provides access to 17 federal and regional channels with children’s programs and cartoons;
4. “Ultra HD” – makes available 4 exclusive channels;
5. “Our Football”, as well as “Match Football” – 2 and 6 channels, respectively;
6. “Night” – 9 channels with erotica.

The NTV-Plus provider services smart cards with information encoding using the VIAccess system. This chip makes many digital channels available. Customers have the opportunity to order general packages with current and thematic TV channels.

One of the providers is the mobile operator MTS – it offers its customers the connection of a huge number of channels through a smart card with the IDRETO code system.

The card together with the CAM-module can be bought in the MTS communication salon or ordered on the Internet. For ease of service, the company provides several different TV channel packages, including “Basic” with general and thematic channels. You can also order a package with more than 190 satellite channels from this provider.

Cable and satellite TV operators provide smart cards to all interested customers, creating a personalized number for each of them. Thus, viewers get access to a huge number of TV channels with high-quality broadcasts. Therefore, it is much more convenient to use this device instead of antennas or satellite TV dishes. You can learn more about the devices and the features of their settings from this video: