French Terrestrial - TNT on Astra

[BaseOverApex]

Hi.

I'm trying to build a system which will get me all the French terrestrial FTA channels. I have a 1M dish, a universal LNB and enough knowledge to be dangerous.

I was going to buy a branded TNT receiver and card, until I discovered Dreambox. Apparently, I can connect to my network, stream to and from my PC, etc. Brilliant.

So, I plan to get a 500S. I have a good PC which is on all the time. There hardly seems any point in buying a PVR version. I've been looking at the Gemini software build. It looks very well supported.

Does anyone have any comments so far?

No? OKay. Questions:

• Is it really "TNT" I'm after?
  
• Does that include TF1, France 2, M6, etc?
  
• Can the thing receive the TNT channels?
  
• Is it the case that these channels are broadcast from the Astra 19.2E satellite? Some people say go to 5 West.
  
• I believe that although they're FTA, they are encrypted with VIACCESS. Can anyone confirm this?
  
• Assuming we're right, which softCAM deals with VIACCESS?
  
• I've looked into these softCAMS and most folk seem to use them with illicit key files. If I install a softCAM, will it work with a real TNT card plugged in the front of the receiver instead?
  
• Where can I get the TNT card?
  
• How long will the solution last before I have to start fooling about to get it to work again?
  
• It would be a great bonus if I could get the British free terrestrial channels, too. Are they also on the same satellite? What softCAM decodes them? What card would I need?

Anything you can offer would be great.

Thanks.

 

[HB13DISH]

Hi.

I'm trying to build a system which will get me all the French terrestrial FTA channels. I have a 1M dish, a universal LNB and enough knowledge to be dangerous.

I was going to buy a branded TNT receiver and card, until I discovered Dreambox. Apparently, I can connect to my network, stream to and from my PC, etc. Brilliant.

So, I plan to get a 500S. I have a good PC which is on all the time. There hardly seems any point in buying a PVR version. I've been looking at the Gemini software build. It looks very well supported.

Does anyone have any comments so far?

No? OKay. Questions:

• Is it really "TNT" I'm after?
• Does that include TF1, France 2, M6, etc?
• Can the thing receive the TNT channels?
• Is it the case that these channels are broadcast from the Astra 19.2E satellite? Some people say go to 5 West.
• I believe that although they're FTA, they are encrypted with VIACCESS. Can anyone confirm this?
• Assuming we're right, which softCAM deals with VIACCESS?
• I've looked into these softCAMS and most folk seem to use them with illicit key files. If I install a softCAM, will it work with a real TNT card plugged in the front of the receiver instead?
• Where can I get the TNT card?
• How long will the solution last before I have to start fooling about to get it to work again?
• It would be a great bonus if I could get the British free terrestrial channels, too. Are they also on the same satellite? What softCAM decodes them? What card would I need?

Anything you can offer would be great.

Thanks.

I think that you got a real mix up here.
Are you trying to receive satellite channels or terrestrial channels?
TNT is the French terminology for Digital Terrestrial Transmission and I doubt very much if you can receive the French channels in your location because of the distance.
Do you have any neighbours who receive them?
For TNT reception you will need a digital antenna, not a satellite dish.
The 500S has a satellite tuner, not a TNT (or DTT) tuner.
A dreambox for TNT is 500T (T for Terrestrial)
So please get this point sorted out before spending any money on something that will not work.

 

[mhku]

Welcome to the forum.

If you buy a 500 it will be a clone (unless it is old/ second hand) and if you run a recenet version of Gemini you will brick it. The 500 was never a very good box - you're better off with a DM600 or DM7020 and check it's gneuine before buying (if that's important to you). If you add a motor to your system you'll be able to get FTA from a several satellites including British ones on 28.2E.

I have no idea about TNT so can't help you there.

 

[Topper]

I agree confusion all over the place

So, I plan to get a 500S.

As mentioned previously by experts, do not, only clones are available which are liable to be rendered unusable by certain images

Is it really "TNT" I'm after?

No idea, perhaps HB13DISH is correct regarding DTT terrestrial unless you are referring to Turner Network Television which is a c a b l e network in the USA and not available in Europe

I believe that although they're FTA, they are encrypted with VIACCESS. Can anyone confirm this?

They cannot be FTA free to air if they are encrypted those two terms are exact opposites unless you are from America, who use different terminology

Assuming we're right, which softCAM deals with VIACCESS?

That is irrelevent as Viaccess2.5 and 2.6 are secure and not compromised however most support multicam functions

I've looked into these softCAMS and most folk seem to use them with illicit key files.

Things have changed this week and very little is open now with softcams

If I install a softCAM, will it work with a real TNT card plugged in the front of the receiver instead?

Not possible to answer until we know what you are referring to by TNT

Where can I get the TNT card?

No idea until we know what you mean

How long will the solution last before I have to start fooling about to get it to work again?

As with any subscription it will last as long as your subscription

It would be a great bonus if I could get the British free terrestrial channels, too. Are they also on the same satellite?

No they are on 28.2 East

What softCAM decodes them? What card would I need?Anything you can offer would be great.

Does not compute again... why would you need a softcam to view free channels? you are a bit mixed up with all the terminology I think

 

[HB13DISH]

TNT=Télévision Numérique Terrestre
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_Num%C3%A9rique_Terrestre
Obviously the O/P is confused.
To get all of the channels listed in the TNTfrom Astra 19.2E, subscribe to Canal Sat or BiS on Hot Bird 13E.

 

[Analoguesat]

The OP is after TNTSat, which as far as Im aware requires a dedicated receiver.

 

[Topper]

The OP is after TNTSat, which as far as Im aware requires a dedicated receiver.

Well done Inspecteur Clousausat

Yes TNTsat o/p has little or no chance with a Dreambox as a dedicated stb is required, of the Strong variety

 

[HB13DISH]

Well done Inspecteur Clousausat

Yes TNTsat o/p has little or no chance with a Dreambox as a dedicated stb is required, of the Strong variety

OK. So the O/P is after TNT SAT and not the usual terrestrial TNT
In his first post he mentions
I was going to buy a branded TNT receiver and card
If only he gave the make and model, things would have been clearer from the start.
Anyway, it looks like it is not possible to buy only the smartcard and it comes as a package with either Strong or Sagem receivers. The smartcard will last till November 2011.
As there are few HD channels (TF1 for example), then it might be worth it to consider the HD version instead of the SD.
Once you have the smartcard after buying the whole package, I see no reason why you can't use it in a Dreambox and open the channels using the cardreader and latest CCcam.
It is encrypted in Viaccess and I know that Canal Sat cards can be opened with Dreambox and softcam like CCcam.
It should also work in any receiver with Viaccess support, as I doubt if they match the box and card like they do with NDS.
To summarise, try to buy only the smartcard, but I doubt if you can find it without the receiver.

 

[BaseOverApex]

I think that you got a real mix up here.

That's where you guys come in...!

Are you trying to receive satellite channels or terrestrial channels?
TNT is the French terminology for Digital Terrestrial Transmission and I doubt very much if you can receive the French channels in your location because of the distance.

TNT is, indeed terrestrial TV. Not all French TV owners live in areas covered by terrestrial transmitters, so TNT broadcast the French terrestrial channels by satellite from Astra 19.2 in much the same way that BBC 1 (also terrestrial TV) is broadcast by satellite.

So please get this point sorted out before spending any money on something that will not work.

Hoping for clarity on everything before spending any money on anything!

 

[BaseOverApex]

TNT=Télévision Numérique Terrestre
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_Num%C3%A9rique_Terrestre
Obviously the O/P is confused.
To get all of the channels listed in the TNTfrom Astra 19.2E, subscribe to Canal Sat or BiS on Hot Bird 13E.

Ah. You figured it.

Canal Sat costs money. TNT is free to view. I can buy any one of 10 satallite receivers to get it, but I want one with an ethernet port!

 

[BaseOverApex]

As mentioned previously by experts, do not, only clones are available which are liable to be rendered unusable by certain images

That's good information. Will look out for it.

They cannot be FTA free to air if they are encrypted those two terms are exact opposites unless you are from America, who use different terminology

I'm hoping to learn that. My understanding was that the reason one needed a card was that it contains a decryption key. I was under the impression that the fact that the card is free, makes these channels free to view. I am not clear on the difference between “free to air” and “free to view”. It might have been more accurate to describe them as “freeview-like.” Is it not the case that Freeview British TV is/was encrypted, but the encryption keys (cards) were available for a one-off payment (non-subscription)?

That is irrelevent as Viaccess2.5 and 2.6 are secure and not compromised however most support multicam functions

I do believe that the TNT SAT channels on Astra are encrypted with VIACCESS,and that the card is what makes them "free".

Not possible to answer until we know what you are referring to by TNT

I didn't realise anyone would assume I was talking about anything other than satellite reception on a satellite forum. My bad.

No idea until we know what you mean

The TNT SAT card. Will it work with a softCAM?

As with any subscription it will last as long as your subscription

My intention was to get a free to air card. Not a subscription.

No they are on 28.2 East

No, they are on 19.2E.

Does not compute again... why would you need a softcam to view free channels? you are a bit mixed up with all the terminology I think

Because they are encrypted. The CAM decrypts them using a key; usually supplied in the form of a card.

 

[BaseOverApex]

The OP is after TNTSat, which as far as Im aware requires a dedicated receiver.

What's an O/P? Is that me? Am I one of THOSE?!!?

 

[BaseOverApex]

OK. So the O/P is after TNT SAT and not the usual terrestrial TNT
In his first post he mentions
I was going to buy a branded TNT receiver and card
If only he gave the make and model, things would have been clearer from the start.

I agree - he is a first order pillock and could have made that much more clear.

Anyway, it looks like it is not possible to buy only the smartcard and it comes as a package with either Strong or Sagem receivers.

Bother. That was my finding as well, but I was hoping you guys would say "No, sorry. Wrong again! They're dead easy to get."

The smartcard will last till November 2011.

Could I be so bold as you request your source for that information? I have heard 4 years from other sources, but no-one seems to know where the information comes from.

As there are few HD channels (TF1 for example), then it might be worth it to consider the HD version instead of the SD.

Hmmm... I'm thinking el-cheapo strong box just to get the card. BUT that's good advice. Thanks.

Once you have the smartcard after buying the whole package, I see no reason why you can't use it in a Dreambox and open the channels using the cardreader and latest CCcam.

So, the softCAMs work with the card slot and not just purely with the pirate key files?

Is there a list somewhere of which softCAMs work with which type of encryption?

It is encrypted in Viaccess

I know. Why did you change your mind?

It should also work in any receiver with Viaccess support, as I doubt if they match the box and card like they do with NDS.

You know, since I put quite a bit of effort into researhcing how to "do the right thing" I can completely understand why so many people rip them off!

To summarise, try to buy only the smartcard, but I doubt if you can find it without the receiver.

I should have read this last post first!
Many thanks!

 

[Analoguesat]

O/P = Original Poster

From what Ive seen across the forums info about TNT Sat is sketchy at the moment.

I think its a case of buying the TNT setup then seeing if the card will work in other receivers.

 

[Topper]

. I was under the impression that the fact that the card is free, makes these channels free to view. I am not clear on the difference between “free to air” and “free to view”. It might have been more accurate to describe them as “freeview-like.” Is it not the case that Freeview British TV is/was encrypted, but the encryption keys (cards) were available for a one-off payment (non-subscription)?
I do believe that the TNT SAT channels on Astra are encrypted with VIACCESS,and that the card is what makes them "free".

Well they would not go to the trouble of paying millions of Euros to encrypt the channels using Viaccess if everything was free, that does not make any sense whatsoever.

I didn't realise anyone would assume I was talking about anything other than satellite reception on a satellite forum. My bad.

This forum covers all aspects of TV reception except c a b l e tv which is banned
Posters often post in the wrong sections

The TNT SAT card. Will it work with a softCAM?

The answer to that is currently unknown until someone with one posts an answer.

My intention was to get a free to air card. Not a subscription.

I suspect you have to buy the package with the stb and card according to this as the free card is not shown on this page as being available to buy.

No, they are on 19.2E.

Indeed, they seem to be more unprepared for this that the freesat for the UK

 

[BaseOverApex]

Well they would not go to the trouble of paying millions of Euros to encrypt the channels using Viaccess if everything was free, that does not make any sense whatsoever.

It's definitely encrypted. That's how they stop people who have no TNT-SAT card from watching it. The Receiver contains a VIACCESS CAM.

Just because something's "free" in one region doesn't mean it's completely free to everyone with a satellite receiver. Sometimes they chose to shrink the beam, but that means they can't broadcast non-free stuff outside their footprint. Otherwise, they encrypt it but give the decryption key away free to those who are entitled.

TNT-SAT is free. But it's encrypted with VIACCESS and you can only buy an key card if you have a French address. (Unless you buy it through a third party.)

Makes perfect sense and is probably worth the millions if you want to future-proof several million dollars worth of satellite transmitter.

 

[BaseOverApex]

From what Ive seen across the forums info about TNT Sat is sketchy at the moment.

Yeah, the French play that pretty close. Also, there's probably not that much demand for French TV. I miss the days when the analog footprint from 5West covered the UK.

Analog is dead. Long live analog.

I think its a case of buying the TNT setup then seeing if the card will work in other receivers.

I'm starting to see that. Damn.

 

[mariust5]

I'm also interested in getting the tntsat card , any more developments on this yet ? What receivers does it work on , if any ? The channels are ftv and not fta , just to clear that up .

 

[Robbo]

I have seen one of these receivers in the flesh. It was a Strong badged model, with embedded Viaccess. I think that the owner got it direct from France ( he was French). I could ask him where he got it.


EDIT:

He got it from here:

_http://www.ddelec.com/french/french.htm

 

[Analoguesat]

Yeah, the French play that pretty close. Also, there's probably not that much demand for French TV. I miss the days when the analog footprint from 5West covered the UK.

Analog is dead. Long live analog.



I'm starting to see that. Damn.

The analogue footprints for 5W still cover the UK.

5W is just about the strongest signal in the skies above the UK.