What does programming a Dreambox mean?

Sandbox

Sandbox

Member
My Satellite Setup
Triax 60cm offset dish / single Invacom 0.3 LNBF / DM600 PVR
My Location
Bahrain (Middle East)
Answer needed for a DM virgin! I'm new to all this and would like a simple answer to the following question.

I have just purchased a DM600 from a shop and they said they would programme it for me for a small fee - this would enable me to watch encrypted channels on Nilesat & BADR3 satellites. They said I would have to come back to renew my "subscription" in the future.

1) What exactly do they do to the thing?

2)Can it be done by myself for free? if so, can someone PM me a link or point me to a thread?

Thanks everyone! :-thumbup
 
The Dreambox section has a wealth of information for newbies or experienced members. I suggest you take a look through some of the threads to help you.

Did you purchase the DM600 before you knew anything about it. That's quite unusual so what prompted you to get that particular receiver.
 
Well - I wanted a decoder that had a SCART + S-video out which is why I went for the DM600. We have no HD programming out here in the middle east so it was pointless investing in HD capable decoders.

I really didnt know you could programme the thing to receive encrypted channels? I want to learn how it's done - dont know much satellite terminology yet - does a centralized server feed all dreamboxs with encryption keys or something?
 
Sandbox said:
Answer needed for a DM virgin! I'm new to all this and would like a simple answer to the following question.

I have just purchased a DM600 from a shop and they said they would programme it for me for a small fee - this would enable me to watch encrypted channels on Nilesat & BADR3 satellites. They said I would have to come back to renew my "subscription" in the future.

1) What exactly do they do to the thing?

2)Can it be done by myself for free? if so, can someone PM me a link or point me to a thread?

Thanks everyone! :-thumbup
Click to expand...

Hello Sandbox,

This sounds like a cardshare offer.
I think that you would be better off with buying a legal subscription to Showtime or ADD in your location since you are eligible to buy it and it is quite cheap compared to prices in Europe.
Also, you will not be dependent on a so called provider.
In the UK a Showtime smart card can cost 300% and one need a large dish like 2.4m.
Here are some info.
http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/showtime-middle-east/106176-showtime-package.html
You will need an Irdeto CAM (or a multicrypt CAM) for the Showtime SC.
How much are they asking and what is the channels list?
 
Proper legal subscriptions arent that cheap - especially for the shyte programming you pay for here. 315 pounds/year for Showtime and around 235 pounds/year for Orbit. Both networks buy age old content from the west, then edit it where they see fit - put on arabic subtitles on which cant be removed and it spoils your viewing pleasure!

Scrolling down my list I've got channels from Showtime, Orbit, ART, Sky Italia and a loads of crappy FTA ones too. The sky Italia ones are quality - no subtitles, plus there are multiple audio streams - English streams usually are delivered in AC3 Dolby Logic which is great as my audio uplink is via a fiber optic cable to my home theatre system.

When you say card sharing does that mean the contents of someone's legitimate Showtime card etc is being shared on the net for all dreambox's to use?

Sandbox
 
Sandbox said:
When you say card sharing does that mean the contents of someone's legitimate Showtime card etc is being shared on the net for all dreambox's to use?
Click to expand...


Yes, although its not a free for all on the card! - You have to have the correct passwords and authorisations to get access to it.
 
Sandbox said:
Proper legal subscriptions arent that cheap - especially for the shyte programming you pay for here. 315 pounds/year for Showtime and around 235 pounds/year for Orbit. Both networks buy age old content from the west, then edit it where they see fit - put on arabic subtitles on which cant be removed and it spoils your viewing pleasure!

Scrolling down my list I've got channels from Showtime, Orbit, ART, Sky Italia and a loads of crappy FTA ones too. The sky Italia ones are quality - no subtitles, plus there are multiple audio streams - English streams usually are delivered in AC3 Dolby Logic which is great as my audio uplink is via a fiber optic cable to my home theatre system.

When you say card sharing does that mean the contents of someone's legitimate Showtime card etc is being shared on the net for all dreambox's to use?

Sandbox
Click to expand...

With the 600 and dish pointing to Hot Bird 13E (Sky italia is there), you can try to watch TPS, if it is not on your povider's channels list.
The films have dual sound with original and French.
How much does this sub cost?

Update:
On second thought, if you already have this subscription, then you might loose it when you start doing things on your own like changing the image, putting emus, etc.
Which image version do you have?
Look it up in the About submenu.
In this case, you are not the master of your own box.
 
Hello Sandbox.

1) What exactly do they do to the thing?
Click to expand...

Well they could be doing a few things such as sorting out a subscription card for you, or installing an image and some cams and keys etc...

if they are installing etc, then dont pay much because the encryption on channels change all the time, and you would need to learn to do it yourself to save time and money.

2)Can it be done by myself for free? if so, can someone PM me a link or point me to a thread?
Click to expand...

Yes it can, and to be honest, if you ask 99% of all Dreambox owners thats were the fun is :) and thats why we buy them.
the dreambox can made to be what you want to a certain extent, but be warned as much fun as it is, until you learn all the basics it can be frustrating... especially when you cant open up channels you know others are seeing for free.

the only thing i can advice you to do is read alot on here and other sites, ask lots of questions, no matter how daft you think it may be, and be patient... you wont learn all this in a week :)

but at the end of the day, the dreambox is a good choice.

Programming it just means installing things on it using an FTP program, such as Cams, Keys and Images.
In the case of the dreambox, installing an image is quite a eye opener when done for the first time, because it changes the receiver into a better machine with more menu options and addons etc... as well as making it look better :)

As for reading material to get you started try here
http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/dreambox-guides-stickies-faqs/
 
Thanks for all the info guys!

I think i'll have to get myself a DM500+ and a dish to fool around with and experiment. The other DM600 is used for family viewing and dont think the parents will be too happy when i say I messed it up trying to upload an image!!

Anyhow - I made an observation - our DM600 does not work when you unplug the ethernet cable from the back which connects it to the web. When I change channels to say Sky Italia - it definately starts making use of our broadband connection - is it downloading keys or something?
 
Sandbox said:
Thanks for all the info guys!

I think i'll have to get myself a DM500+ and a dish to fool around with and experiment. The other DM600 is used for family viewing and dont think the parents will be too happy when i say I messed it up trying to upload an image!!

Anyhow - I made an observation - our DM600 does not work when you unplug the ethernet cable from the back which connects it to the web. When I change channels to say Sky Italia - it definately starts making use of our broadband connection - is it downloading keys or something?
Click to expand...

Looks like a very wise decision. May Need a motorized dish so you can move from Hot Bird 13E, Nilesat 7W, Amos 4W (at least two good FTA channels with some series and films, unfortunately with subtitles but that is better than audio dubbing isn't it ?) and any other satellites that can be easily picked up in your location.

About the observation:
Does this also happen with FTA channels or are all the channels encrypted?
If you are watching an encrypted channel, then your internet connection need to be connected to the CS server, otherwise it wouldn't open the channel.
I asked this before, but I didn't get an answer. How much does this subscription cost?
 
Our current DM600 is hooked upto a 90cm dish with 3 LNBs attached - We pickup Hotbird, Nilesat, and Arabsat (now called BADR3 I think).

The so called "subscription" we paid the shop was only 30 Bahraini Dinars (40 pounds) a year. That gives us access to all the encrypted channels on all 3 satellites - including all the x-rated stuff :-googly .

When you put on an FTA channels it doesnt make use of the internet and the channel comes on in well under a second - the encrypted channels take anywhere from 2-4 seconds to start working.

I've got CCcam-2.0.3
 
Sandbox said:
Our current DM600 is hooked upto a 90cm dish with 3 LNBs attached - We pickup Hotbird, Nilesat, and Arabsat (now called BADR3 I think).

The so called "subscription" we paid the shop was only 30 Bahraini Dinars (40 pounds) a year. That gives us access to all the encrypted channels on all 3 satellites - including all the x-rated stuff :-googly .

When you put on an FTA channels it doesnt make use of the internet and the channel comes on in well under a second - the encrypted channels take anywhere from 2-4 seconds to start working.

I've got CCcam-2.0.3
Click to expand...

If you are going to experiment with a 500S, then you might like to change the Hot Bird LNB to a dual one, run a cable to where you want to do the experimention (need another TV set).
The cost is very cheap, and if you can open all the channels (?), then you might as well be happy with what you have already.
 
Sandbox said:
The so called "subscription" we paid the shop was only 30 Bahraini Dinars (40 pounds) a year. That gives us access to all the encrypted channels on all 3 satellites - including all the x-rated stuff :-googly .
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to pay this for scky or similar... :-santa3
 
SAND im me i might me interested,in helping with your slingbox
 
im me sand,i might be interested in hosting your slingbox
 
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