Keys, SoftCams and Emulators (EMU)

[Devilfish]

There are two types of channel that are sent out by the cable company; FTA (free-to-air) and encrypted.

Free-to-air channels are basically freeview channels. You don't need to subscribe to a package to get these channels. If you use an image without an emu or keys you would still get these channels.

Encrypted channels are channels that the cable company want you to pay for. These channels are encrypted before being sent out and normally you would pay the cable company for a smartcard which you would slot into your recevicer and this will allow you to receive the encrypted channels. It's kinda like when you buy software and you get a key with it. You won't be able to use the software without knowing the key.

Keys are also included in the cable stream. Normally your digital smartcard will extract the keys from the stream and store them in memory. It would then use these keys to decrypt the channels when you flick through them. Since we don't use a smartcard with a dbox we need something else to decrypt the channels. This is where the softcam (also known as a cam or emulator (emu)) comes in. The box or image itself doesn't know what to do with the keys, it's the softcam that grabs the keys from the stream and stores them in a file (keylist.txt, Autoroll.key, Autoupdate.key). If the keys are changed by the cable company the softcam will update the keys stored in the file.

The enctytion that the cable company usesis called Nagra1. So we also need to include nagra rom files in our images. These go in /var/scce and /var/keys.

There are several different softcams that we can use; evocamd, mgcamd, newcamd & gbox. It doesn't really matter what one you use, they all do the same thing. Some emu won't work in certain areas or on certain providers so it's good there are alternatives. The emu can also cause problems with direct recording over ethernet so if you have a blocky recording, try changing the emu or the tuner driver.

[burr1545]

thanks for the concise and informative post Devilfish , im new to the dbox , though not to linux , just starting to build up a picture of how all the pieces fit together

[pabble]

always wondered how it all happened

[balikuyu]

Rom 7 is the only rom needed this was new to me, of all the other forums this forum is impartial and teh most informative, thanks mainly to good administrators and members

Keep up the good work

Cheers

[angus1972]

Good stuff, im learning all the time on here.

[DrKahn]

Thanks m8. My Commando 6 is not auto updating, what should I do? The dbox was switched off for one year.

[father ted]

Thanks m8. My Commando 6 is not auto updating, what should I do? The dbox was switched off for one year.

its because the roms in that image are now out of date you either flash a new image to your box with up to date files or you can try and install the new ones into your image you have

[shy9010]

i have the latest blade trinity image, is that capable of auto updating

[aftermath]

i have the latest blade trinity image, is that capable of auto updating

its like any image m8, if where you got it deleted the keys and roms, then no it will not auto update.

If you can ftp to your box, and look in the keys and scce folders, you will find out.

[twittowoo]

hi is your latest blade trinity image comanda 9.25 and do it have the new 7rom in it as i am looking out 4 it

[SIRIPALA]

Hi
Im still struggling to get my dbox2 up.i tried different images to put into my box(IFA).it was okay.but all the image that I found with no softcams and keys only FTA.
problem is I cant connect my box to pc to put new auto upde rom7 files.
so I do need Latest image with all softcams and keys (auto fix )include.Plz Plz email me to (siripaladon@hotmail.co.uk).


Many Thanks

[SIRIPALA]

Hi
Im still struggling to get my dbox2 up.i tried different images to put into my box(IFA).it was okay.but all the image that I found with no softcams and keys only FTA.
problem is I cant connect my box to pc to put new auto upde rom7 files.
so I do need Latest image with all softcams and keys (auto fix )include.Plz Plz email me to (siripaladon@hotmail.co.uk).


Many Thanks

[Herbie]

Hi
Im still struggling to get my dbox2 up.i tried different images to put into my box(IFA).it was okay.but all the image that I found with no softcams and keys only FTA.
problem is I cant connect my box to pc to put new auto upde rom7 files.
so I do need Latest image with all softcams and keys (auto fix )include.Plz Plz email me to (siripaladon@hotmail.co.uk).


Many Thanks

I have sent you a link with a full working image check your inbox

[Consolez]

Thanks for sharing !

[superchipper]

Can i decrypt nagra2 channels using this DIGITAL KAOS v1.1 image ? I have a dump from a local smartcard, which keys i need and how do i store them on dreambox ? Thank's