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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1384 Registered: Oct-05 | C/P from Jay I saw a FTA receiver in a trade magazine probably 6 mabee 7 years ago for a huge price of like $700. A friend of mine had one shortly after that. We all had BUD's and 4DTV's then. The only thing the FTA's could receive then was a few like 60 or so ethnic channels and the great wild feeds. Skip forward to 3 years ago and I still had a 4DTV and 2 bud's in the yard. My friend bought me a pansat(they had started to drop in price to around $200) for a birthday present. Even then the only channels we could receive was ethnic and a few locals from around the country. I am not sure when this "testing" with FTA receivers started but, it had to be after I got rid of my system 3 years ago. I do know that Viewsat VS2000 Platinum came out in October 2005.I was always around the BBS boards and usernet on the satellite subjects so i would have I am sure seen something about it. It wasn't until 1991 that the first DBS company was formed (Primestar) and it took only a few more years for Primestar (now defunct) and followed by Direct TV (1994) and DISH Network (1996) I am currently working on writing a complete history of ALL for TV Satellite Communication. So tune in here for more.. LoL Now that being said I do know that DISH Network dbs receivers were "hacked" about as soon as they hit the market. That was-is a huge deal on the bbs-usernet boards. We as BUD-4DTV users were never interested in the lower quality digital picture you receive from Dish Network compared to 4DTV that is still the only true 100% un-compressed signal. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1385 Registered: Oct-05 | C/P From LK: MPEG-2 Reception...from http://www.lyngsat.com/. These lists will show current in-the-clear (free-to-air) channels, if you are looking for particular information on the status of a channel or service. Any channel that is now part of an otherwise subscription service but temporarily in free mode should be considered as NOT available on a permanent basis...unless you pay a subscription fee and have hardware for that service. Other broadcasters could be approached individually with an Email, requesting info on what their future plans may be with regard to subscription or free status. The Lyngemark Satellite Chart listed above has Email links and contact information for many channels around the world. Otherwise, do as most hobbyists do...enjoy the free show while it lasts. The number of channels continue to grow, so if your favorite Free-To-Air service goes away or switches to subscription, chances are better than not that something else will soon come along that tickles your fancy. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1386 Registered: Oct-05 | C/P (My Two Cents) SOMEWHAT HISTORY! This is not the case today... As with DVB PCI cards, FTA receivers are not manufactured for the purpose of testing. In fact, most FTA receivers on the market will not work for testing! The purpose of such receivers is the reception of unscrambled, in-the-clear television programming. In Europe, that's a multitude of news, sports, music, and even movie channels--all completely free with no subscription required. In North America, that's PBS and a few religious and public affairs channels. That's why there has not been much interest in FTA receivers in the North American satellite TV market. The exception, however, has been foreign nationals living in the United States. There are many unencrypted foreign-language channels on Intelsat Americas 5 at 97 degrees West. In late 2003, three FTA receivers were discovered to have a weakness that allows the receiver's software to be modified to decrypt encrypted programming. These three receivers are the BlackBird, the Pansat, and the FortecStar Lifetime--also known as the "Silver Bullet". FTA receivers have proven to not be immune to ECM activity. Although the types of ECMs that effect Echostar Dish/BEV receivers have no effect on FTA receivers, the weakness is the fact that these receivers rely on software that is authored by a single individual in a faraway land. This weakness has been exploited by both Dish Network and Bell ExpressVu. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1387 Registered: Oct-05 | BlackBird The first stand-alone FTA receiver ever to be successfully used for reception of Dish Network and Bell ExpressVu were of unknown origin until Summer 2004, when the author of the original Blackbird ST-2000 hack decided to write a firmware upgrade that forced users using an ST-1000 receiver to replace their chip with an ST-2000 or their receiver would cease to function after Sept.1, 2004. We now have a workaround with this problem, but for many it turned them against the BlackBird series of FTA receivers. Still, due to the fact that the BlackBird is the original receiver used to decrypt Dish Network and Bell ExpressVu, it does have a sizable following. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1388 Registered: Oct-05 | Dreambox, Ariza, Coship, Metabox, Digiwave, eMTech, Humax, and BEC receivers. These boxes are used mainly by true FTA enthusiasts and hobbyists. The most popular one, the Dreambox, operates with a smart card and has a full on-screen program guide. Several of the others also have an embedded Nagravision Conditional Access Module, which allow the use of a smart card. These often hold up during a stream update better than the cardless receivers due to the fact that they don't rely on hackers in other countries to come up with a whole new bin that needs to be flashed to the receiver. The Coship, though it has not been successfully hacked for Dish and BEV, is a good, reasonably priced receiver for true FTA. In summary, unless you are a devoted and truly inquisitive hobbyist and you are on a never-ending quest for new things to play with, try to leave these toys for the bigger boys and stick to Fortec, Pansat, and PanTec. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1389 Registered: Oct-05 | PanTec receivers This is the newest and perhaps most controversial receiver on the FTA market. PanTec is not a company name or trademark product. Instead, it's a virtually unknown brand that has the same chip as the FortecStar and Pansat receivers. This allows software for either Pansat or Fortec receivers to be used with it--hence the dealer name "PanTec". PanTec receivers are just as easy to use as Pansat or Fortec receivers. The instructions are also the same, depending on what firmware you load to it. What makes them controversial is the fact that they are clones and not a true, authorized Fortec or Pansat product. This makes them a lot cheaper but some argue that it also makes them more susceptible to "clone-kill" measures like the Blackbird ST-2000. Since there are two competing coders (BlackList and Alibar), it is unlikely that those kinds egotistical power plays will happen with Fortec, Pansat, or PanTec receivers. I say go ahead and buy a PanTec if you can save yourself a couple bucks! FortecStar 5100/5200 and 5900 FortecStar is the maker of the popular Lifetime and Lifetime Ultra receivers, which are used extensively for both testing and FTA. However, a few of their other receivers have gained some attention recently. Most notably, the three that are capable of working with a smart card: The 5900, which features a built-in Nagravision CAM and the 5100 and 5200, which have an empty slot where a Nagra CAM can be easily placed. The advantages of these receivers are the fact that since they work with "official" plastic, blackout fixes can be easily applied. Remember that for traditional IRD/Plastic/Atmega testing--as well as DVB-S cards--datastream changes are fixed by plugging in new values into the EEPROM. With cardless receivers (such as the FS Lifetime/Ultra and Pansat), you have to wait until a new bin is released containing that information--which can take weeks. The other major advantage is that while it is still unknown as to whether cardless receivers can be modified to accept a Nagravision 2 image, it is widely known that CAM boxes such as FS 5100/5200/5900 and Dreambox almost certainly will be able to accept Nagravision 2. The disadvantage, of course, is you have to know how to program a card. If you're a Dish old-timer, this should be no problem. But if you fit the typical FTA user demographic (ex-DTV, first experience with Dish was the Pansat, wants quick solution without doing a whole lot of reading), you will have to learn how to program a card in order to use either of these receivers. FortecStar Lifetime, FS Lifetime Ultra, and Pansat 2300/2500 Due to my very harsh feelings about the BlackBird hackers, I have chosen not to go into detail about that receiver. Instead, I want to focus this section on the FortecStar Lifetime and Pansat receivers, which are fully upgradeable, user-friendly, and not as subject to the workings of egotistical and power hungry hackers. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1390 Registered: Oct-05 | This is History and how it evolved into what we have today. So feel free to add as you wish. This is educational information for all. |
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Silver Member Username: Ke5aqnShawnee, OK USA Post Number: 324 Registered: Sep-06 | interesting and good work PRFRMNJ thanks |
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Gold Member Username: LklivesPost Number: 7136 Registered: Jan-06 | Hyundai was the first receiver brought into the U.S. The Koreans are still doing it and making all our receivers now!...and the Clones are coming from China.. |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1401 Registered: Oct-05 | Wasn't it a coder from Korea that released (better yet sold) the MAP ROM to Mr. V.???? and that's how we got to where we are today after last summer's black out? I think that's what I read, but I've read so much that I'm not sure. |
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Silver Member Username: NikkPost Number: 876 Registered: Sep-06 | Hey PFRMNJ, itis a really good work about that FTA history, I guess this is part 3 & 4 of the movie, then you will have go go part 1 & 2 talking about the very first sat receivers and talk about those first codification systems, this could be a good material for a book on Sat TV history.......Darn!! I still remember B&W TV and when I had to get up from the sofa tu turn channel or simply adjust the sound level....LOL...I also remember our first color TV that had a remote control!!!, wow!! we didn't had to get up to turn channel.......I think I'm getting old....LOL..... |
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Gold Member Username: LeewXXXX!!WWWW, Yokosuka, ... Holla Back Y... Post Number: 1307 Registered: Jan-06 | Free-to-air (FTA) is a term used to describe television (TV) and radio broadcasts which are broadcast unencrypted and may therefore be picked up via any suitable receiver. The term should not be confused with free-to-view (FTV) which describes TV which is available without subscription but which is encoded and may therefore be restricted geographically. Neither of these options can be described as pay-TV which describes a subscription (or pay-per-view) service which is encrypted. The term usually refers to delivery by satellite television, but in various parts of the world where encrypted digital terrestrial television channels exist, broadcast on UHF or VHF bands, it can also be applied to those systems. Although these channels are described as free the viewer does in fact pay for them. Some are paid directly by payment of a licence fee (as in the case of the BBC) or voluntary donation (in the case of educational broadcasters like PBS), others indirectly by paying for consumer products and services where part of the cost goes toward television advertising and sponsorship. Free-to-air is often used for international broadcasting. It can be described as television's equivalent of shortwave radio -------------------------------------- North America -------------------------------------- There are a number of competing systems in use, with early adopters having used C-band satellite dishes of several feet in diameter to receive signals which were originally analogue FM, later digital using the Motorola-proprietary Digicipher II system or later still going to Ku-band and under one-metre dishes with most often the international DVB standard. The most common North American sources for free-to-air DVB satellite television are: Ethnic-language broadcasters such as Globecast World TV on Intelsat America 5 (97°W) Christian broadcasters promoted by Glorystar Satellite Systems TV on Intelsat America 5 (97°W) Individual local stations of major US terrestrial TV networks, such as the Equity Broadcasting stations on Galaxy 10R (123°W) Public educational broadcasters including PBS on AMC3 (87°W) Most of these signals are carried by US satellites. There is little or no free Canadian DVB content on medium-size dishes as much of the available Ku-band satellite bandwidth has been siphoned away by pay-TV operators Star Choice and Bell Expressvu. FTA signals may be scattered across multiple satellites, requiring a motor or multiple LNBs to receive everything. The largest groups of end-users for Ku-band free-to-air signals were initially the ethnic-language communities, as often free ethnic-language programming would be sponsored by foreign governments or broadcasters. Depending on language and origin of the individual signals, North American ethnic-language TV is a mix of pay-TV, free-to-air and DBS operations. Nonetheless, free-to-air satellite TV is a viable alternative for use in locations where terrestrial over-the-air reception is poor. Digital terrestrial signals, where available, most often tend to be low-power and therefore coverage outside major cities depends largely on analogue terrestrial reception, subscription TV or satellite TV. ----------------------------------------- Free TV from United States ----------------------------------------- Logo Channel Name Satellite Video 3ABN Optus B3 DVB Telstar 18 DVB Thaicom 5 DVB PAS 10 DVB Hot Bird 8 DVB PAS 9 DVB AMC 4 DVB 3ABN Latino PAS 9 DVB AMC 4 DVB ABC News Now Intelsat 902 DVB Intelsat Americas 8 DVB ABC News One Intelsat Americas 8 DVB ABN Intelsat Americas 5 DVB ACN Galaxy 10R Digicipher 2 AFN Guide Intelsat 10-02 DVB AFN TV Telstar 12 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Aghapy TV PAS 8 DVB Optus B3 DVB Telstar 12 DVB Intelsat Americas 6 DVB Al Hayat Hot Bird 2 DVB Atlantic Bird 1 DVB Al Masriyah USA Express AM22 DVB Intelsat 10-02 DVB Alaska One AMC 8 DVB Alhurra NSS 703 DVB Badr C PAL Badr C DVB Eurobird 2 DVB Nilesat 101 DVB Intelsat 907 DVB Alhurra Europe Hot Bird 8 DVB Intelsat 907 DVB Alhurra Iraq NSS 703 DVB Badr C DVB Eurobird 2 DVB Nilesat 101 DVB Intelsat 907 DVB Alkarma TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Almavision SatMex 5 DVB America's Store AMC 11 DVB AmericanLife TV Network Galaxy 16 Digicipher 2 Andisheh TV Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Angel One AMC 4 DVB EchoStar 7 DVB Angel Two AMC 4 DVB Animal Planet Europe Türksat 2A DVB Apostolic Oneness Network Galaxy 3C DVB ARCS AMC 8 DVB Ariana Afghanistan TV Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB ARTN Intelsat Americas 5 DVB AssyriaSat Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB B-Mania TV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 Black Family Channel Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Bloomberg TV Asia-Pacific Optus B1 DVB AsiaSat 3S DVB ABS 1 DVB Bloomberg TV Brasil PAS 3R DVB Bloomberg TV Deutschland Astra 1F PAL Astra 1G DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Bloomberg TV Europe Hot Bird 6 DVB Bloomberg TV Latin America PAS 3R DVB Bloomberg TV UK Hot Bird 6 DVB Bloomberg TV US AMC 11 DVB Bluegrass Music Galaxy 10R DVB Boston Catholic TV AMC 11 Digicipher 2 BYU TV NSS 5 DVB AsiaSat 2 DVB Telstar 12 DVB Intelsat 805 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EchoStar 8 DVB SatMex 5 DVB C-SPAN AMC 11 NTSC C-SPAN 2 AMC 10 NTSC Canal Sur EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 CCCSAT Galaxy 10R Digicipher 2 Celebrity Shopping Network Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Channel One Eutelsat W2 DVB Hot Bird 2 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Cl@se SatMex 6 DVB Solidaridad 2 DVB SatMex 5 Digicipher 2 Classic Arts Showcase Galaxy 15 NTSC Classic Black Gospel Galaxy 10R DVB CN8 AMC 1 Digicipher 2 CNBC Arabiya Badr 4 DVB Eurobird 2 DVB Nilesat 101 DVB CNBC Europe Hellas Sat 2 DVB Astra 1KR DVB CNBC Germany Astra 1KR PAL CNBC US PAS 3R DVB CNBC-E Türksat 2A DVB CNN International Badr C PAL CNN International Europe Astra 2A DVB Astra 1KR PAL Astra 1H DVB NSS 7 DVB CNN Türk Türksat 2A DVB Comcast Sports Southeast Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Cornerstone TV (WPCB) AMC 4 DVB Court TV East Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Cox Sports TV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB Create AMC 3 Digicipher 2 AMC 3 DVB CTN - Christian TV Network (WCLF) AMC 1 DVB CTN International PAS 9 DVB Daystar TV Optus B3 DVB Telstar 18 DVB Thaicom 5 DVB PAS 10 DVB Eurobird 1 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB NSS 806 DVB Galaxy 3C DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB AMC 4 DVB Galaxy 10R DVB Didar Global TV Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Discovery Channel East AMC 10 NTSC Discovery Channel Turkey Türksat 2A DVB Discovery HD Europe Türksat 2A DVB - HD Discovery Kids América Latina SatMex 6 DVB Solidaridad 2 DVB SatMex 5 Digicipher 2 Discovery Science Channel Eurobird 2 DVB DISH 500 EchoStar 8 DVB DISH Network FYI Rainbow 1 DVB EchoStar 7 DVB Disney Channel East Galaxy 13/Horizons 1 Digicipher 2 Disney Channel Korea Koreasat 3 DVB E! Telstar 12 DVB NSS 806 DVB EBC 1 Hot Bird 6 DVB Ebru TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EBS America AMC 4 DVB Enlace TBN PAS 9 DVB Enlace TBN Europa Hot Bird 6 DVB Hispasat 1C DVB ESNE TV PAS 3R DVB SatMex 5 DVB Esperanza TV AMC 4 DVB Events Order EchoStar 7 DVB EWTN Africa & India PAS 10 DVB PAS 3R DVB Galaxy 11 DVB EWTN Asia Intelsat 701 DVB PAS 8 DVB Optus B3 DVB EWTN Canada Galaxy 11 DVB EWTN Europe Eurobird 1 DVB Astra 1KR DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB PAS 3R DVB Galaxy 11 DVB EWTN Latin America PAS 9 DVB Galaxy 11 DVB EWTN Pacific Rim Galaxy 11 DVB EWTN US Galaxy 11 DVB Galaxy 15 NTSC Faith TV Galaxy 3C DVB AMC 1 DVB Familyland TV Network Agila 2 DVB AMC 4 DVB FamilyNet TV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 Florida Education Channel AMC 3 Digicipher 2 Florida Knowledge Network AMC 3 Digicipher 2 Florida Lottery AMC 3 Digicipher 2 FordStar Dealer Network AMC 4 Digicipher 2 Fox Crime Bulgaria Eutelsat W2 DVB Fox News Channel Galaxy 15 NTSC Fuse EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB Future TV USA Badr C DVB Gavel to Gavel Alaska AMC 8 DVB Global Christian Network Intelsat Americas 5 DVB GNF Movie Channel Intelsat Americas 5 DVB GNF Music Intelsat Americas 5 DVB God's Learning Channel Insat 2E DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB AMC 4 DVB Gol TV EchoStar 8 DVB Golden Eagle Broadcasting AMC 4 DVB Gospel Broadcasting Network AMC 6 DVB Gospel Music Channel Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Gospel Music TV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 GPTV PBS AMC 3 Digicipher 2 GünAz TV Telstar 12 DVB Hallmark Channel Latin America Amazonas DVB HDTV Demo EchoStar 3 DVB - HD HITN-TV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB Hope Channel AMC 4 DVB Hope Channel Europe Hot Bird 6 DVB Hope Channel International PAS 2 DVB Optus B3 DVB PAS 7 DVB PAS 10 DVB Horizon Armenian TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB HorseRacing TV Galaxy 11 DVB HSN - Home Shopping Network AMC 10 NTSC HTV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 I East AMC 1 DVB I Health AMC 1 DVB I Mountain AMC 1 DVB I Pacific AMC 1 DVB ImaginAsian TV EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB INSP - The Inspiration Network Galaxy 15 NTSC Inspiration Network International Eurobird 1 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB NSS 806 DVB International Music Feed EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB IPN Hot Bird 2 DVB IPTV Music & Shopping Intelsat Americas 5 DVB IPTV News Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Iran TV Network Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Iranian Cinema Channel Hot Bird 6 DVB IRS Satellite Network Intelsat Americas 6 DVB Jaam-e-Jam International Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB JCTV Intelsat 701 DVB Optus B3 DVB Agila 2 DVB Intelsat 906 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 Galaxy 15 Digicipher 2 Jesus IP TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Jesus Satellite TV EchoStar 3 DVB Jewelry TV Galaxy 11 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 NTSC EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB Jewish Life TV Galaxy 10R DVB KAMT-LP Galaxy 10R DVB KCBU-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KCHF-TV Galaxy 16 DVB KCSG-TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB KCWY-TV Galaxy 16 DVB KDEV-LP Galaxy 10R DVB KDEV-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KEEN-LP AMC 1 DVB KEGS-LP Galaxy 10R DVB KET Star Channel 703 AMC 1 Digicipher 2 KET Star Channel 704 AMC 1 Digicipher 2 KET Star Channel 705 AMC 1 Digicipher 2 KEYU-LP Galaxy 10R DVB KFDF-CA Galaxy 10R DVB KFDF-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KFTL-CA AMC 6 DVB KHIZ-TV Galaxy 11 DVB Kids & Teens TV AMC 4 DVB KKFQ-CA Galaxy 10R DVB KKYK-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KLRA-LP Galaxy 10R DVB KLUZ-TV Galaxy 11 DVB KMCC-TV Galaxy 3C DVB KQUP-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KTEL-TV AMC 5 DVB KTLN-TV AMC 1 DVB KTVC-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KTWO-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KUEN-TV AMC 5 DVB KUIL-TV AMC 4 DVB KUKC-TV Galaxy 3C DVB KUNS-LP Galaxy 3C DVB KUOK-TV Galaxy 3C DVB Galaxy 10R DVB KUTF-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KUTH-TV Galaxy 3C DVB Galaxy 10R DVB KUTU-CA Galaxy 3C DVB KUWF-LP Galaxy 10R DVB KWBF-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KWBM-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KWCE-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KWKO-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KWWF-TV Galaxy 10R DVB KXUN-LP Galaxy 10R DVB Lao BC Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Lao TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Latin TV AMC 1 Digicipher 2 LATV Galaxy 3C DVB Lawyers TV AMC 4 DVB LifeChurch TV AMC 3 DVB Lifesat TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Live Channel Hot Bird 6 DVB Living Faith TV Galaxy 16 DVB LLBN Thaicom 5 DVB AMC 4 DVB LPB AMC 3 Digicipher 2 LPB Metro 21 AMC 3 Digicipher 2 Macys TV Intelsat Americas 6 DVB Maharishi Open University US Telstar 11 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Markazi TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB MBN TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB MGM Korea Koreasat 5 DVB MHz WorldView Intelsat Americas 5 DVB MiracleNet JCSAT 3A DVB Montana PBS AMC 3 DVB MTV Adria Amos 1 DVB MTV China PAS 8 DVB MTV Germany Astra 1E PAL Astra 1G DVB MTV Jams Galaxy 15 Digicipher 2 MTV Latino Sud Intelsat 805 DVB MTV Pakistan AsiaSat 3S DVB MTV Russia Yamal 201 DVB MTV Tr3s East AMC 1 Digicipher 2 MTV Tr3s West AMC 1 Digicipher 2 MTV Trax Astra 2A DVB MTV Türkiye Türksat 2A DVB MTV Osterreich Astra 1H DVB Mas Musica Galaxy 10R DVB NASA Education Services AMC 6 DVB AMC 7 DVB NASA Media Services AMC 6 DVB AMC 7 DVB NASA Mission Operations AMC 6 DVB AMC 7 DVB NASA Public Service AMC 6 DVB AMC 7 DVB NASA TV Intelsat 701 DVB EchoStar 7 DVB NAT TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB NBA TV Intelsat 907 DVB NBC Central AMC 4 DVB NBC East AMC 4 DVB NBC Mountain AMC 4 DVB NBC News Channel AMC 1 DVB NBC Pacific AMC 4 DVB Neb*Sat 102 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 Neb*Sat 103 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 Neb*Sat 104 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 Neb*Sat 105 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 Neb*Sat 106 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 Neb*Sat 107 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 Nejat TV Hot Bird 6 DVB NET 1 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 NET 2 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 NET 3 Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 NET HD Intelsat Americas 5 Digicipher 2 New York State Legislature AMC 1 DVB Nick Deutschland Astra 1F PAL Astra 1G DVB Nick Osterreich Astra 1H DVB North West Cable News AMC 10 Digicipher 2 NTD TV NSS 6 DVB ST 1 DVB Eutelsat W5 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB NYN - New York Network AMC 5 DVB OETA AMC 5 Digicipher 2 Ohio News Now SBS 6 DVB Omid-e-Iran Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB OTB - Off Track Betting AMC 5 DVB Outdoor Channel 2HD Galaxy 10R DVB - HD Pars TV Atlantic Bird 3 DVB Telstar 12 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Payam TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB PBS AMC 3 Digicipher 2 PBS Adult Learning Service AMC 3 Digicipher 2 PBS HDTV AMC 3 DVB - HD PBS X AMC 3 Digicipher 2 PBS X East AMC 3 Digicipher 2 AMC 3 DVB AMC 4 NTSC PBS You AMC 3 Digicipher 2 PEN Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Pennsylvania Cable Network AMC 6 DVB Pentagon Channel NSS 5 DVB NSS 6 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat 10-02 DVB Intelsat Americas 8 DVB AMC 1 DVB PIN Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Play^boy One Eurobird 1 DVB PPV Guide EchoStar 7 DVB PPV Pre Order EchoStar 8 DVB Qubo AMC 1 DVB QVC Deutschland Astra 2C PAL Astra 1G DVB QVC Japan JCSAT 3A DVB N-Sat 110 ISDB QVC UK Astra 2B DVB QVC US AMC 10 NTSC Rang-A-Rang TV Amos 1 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Raynham Park Galaxy 3C DVB ResearchChannel Galaxy 10R DVB Retro Jams Galaxy 3C DVB RFD-TV Galaxy 13/Horizons 1 DVB SAC TV Network SatMex 5 DVB Safe TV AMC 4 DVB Safeway Satellite Network AMC 1 DVB Salaam TV Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Schedule 501 AMC 3 Digicipher 2 AMC 3 DVB Schedule 502 AMC 3 Digicipher 2 AMC 3 DVB Schedule 503 AMC 3 DVB Schedule 504 AMC 3 Digicipher 2 AMC 3 DVB Schedule 505 AMC 3 Digicipher 2 AMC 3 DVB Shop At Home Galaxy 11 DVB ShopNBC Galaxy 15 NTSC Smile of a Child Intelsat 701 DVB Optus B3 DVB Intelsat 906 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 Sorpresa EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB Southern Gospel Galaxy 10R DVB Spirit AMC 3 DVB STV US Telstar 10 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Super Channel AMC 4 DVB Supreme Master TV Hot Bird 6 DVB T2 Hot Bird 7A DVB Tamasha International Network Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Tapesh TV Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB TBN Asia-South Pacific Optus B3 DVB Agila 2 DVB Palapa C2 DVB TBN Enlace USA Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 TBN Europe Eurobird 1 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB TBN Italia Hot Bird 6 DVB TBN Philippines Agila 2 DVB TBN Rossiya Express AM2 DVB Eutelsat W2 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB TBN US Intelsat 701 DVB Intelsat 906 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 Galaxy 14 NTSC TCT Network Intelsat Americas 5 DVB TCT World Agila 2 DVB Telstar 18 DVB Thaicom 5 DVB PAS 10 DVB Eutelsat W2 DVB Hot Bird 8 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB Tele Restauracion SatMex 6 DVB TeleGracia NSS 806 DVB Thane Xpress Shop Badr 3 DVB Nilesat 101 DVB The Annenberg/CPB Channel AMC 3 Digicipher 2 The Beauty and Fashion Channel EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB The California Channel Galaxy 15 DVB The Church Channel Intelsat 701 DVB Optus B3 DVB Agila 2 DVB Intelsat 906 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 Galaxy 15 Digicipher 2 The CW AMC 11 Digicipher 2 The CW Central/Mountain Galaxy 11 DVB The CW East Galaxy 11 DVB The CW West Galaxy 11 DVB The Documentary Channel EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB The Golf Channel UK Eurobird 1 DVB NSS 806 DVB The Golf Channel US Galaxy 14 DVB The Healing Channel Hot Bird 6 DVB The Liberty Channel AMC 1 DVB The Men's Channel Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB The Outdoor Channel East Galaxy 10R DVB The Outdoor Channel West Galaxy 10R DVB The Patient Channel AMC 3 DVB The Prophetic Word Hot Bird 6 DVB The Reformation Channel Galaxy 16 DVB The Shepherd's Chapel Network Galaxy 16 NTSC The Soundtrack Channel Pacific JCSAT 3A DVB The Soundtrack Channel USA Telstar 10 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB The Sportsman Channel EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB The Tube Music Network AMC 3 DVB The University Network AMC 3 NTSC Intelsat Americas 6 DVB The Word Network Thaicom 5 DVB Eurobird 1 DVB Hot Bird 6 DVB Galaxy 11 DVB Intelsat Americas 5 DVB TiP TV AMC 3 DVB TLN Cable AMC 1 DVB TLN Satellite AMC 1 DVB Travertine TV Intelsat Americas 8 DVB Trinity Workplace Learning Galaxy 11 DVB TV Guide PAS 9 Digicipher 1 TV Guide China AsiaSat 4 DVB TV Guide East Galaxy 15 Digicipher 2 TV Guide West Galaxy 15 Digicipher 2 TV Marti Hispasat 1C DVB NSS 806 DVB TV Superstore EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 TVU AMC 3 DVB TVW EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB UATV - Urban America TV Intelsat Americas 5 DVB UCTV - University of California TV AMC 4 DVB Ultimate Shopping Network EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB University of Alaska TV AMC 8 DVB USDTV Guide Channel Galaxy 3C DVB UWTV - University of Washington TV Galaxy 10R DVB Varsity TV Galaxy 11 Digicipher 2 Veterans Affairs Knowledge Network 3 Galaxy 10R DVB VoA TV AsiaSat 2 DVB Hot Bird 8 DVB Intelsat 907 DVB NSS 806 DVB VoA TV Africa NSS 703 DVB VoA TV Asia Eutelsat W5 DVB VoA TV Europe Eutelsat W5 DVB Hot Bird 8 DVB VoA TV Latin America NSS 806 DVB VoA TV Persian Hot Bird 8 DVB Telstar 12 DVB NSS 806 DVB VPTV AMC 4 DVB VSEN Henrico Anik F2 NTSC VSEN TV Galaxy 3C DVB VSEN Varina Anik F2 NTSC VSEN Wise Anik F2 NTSC Water Channel EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 DVB WBIF-TV Galaxy 3C DVB WCFC-CA AMC 1 DVB WealthTV Galaxy 13/Horizons 1 Digicipher 2 WGMU-TV Galaxy 10R DVB White Springs TV Intelsat Americas 7 DVB Wine Network Eurobird 1 DVB WIPR-TV PAS 1R DVB Wisebuyz TV AMC 1 Digicipher 2 WKAQ-TV PAS 1R DVB WLII-TV PAS 1R DVB WMQF-TV Galaxy 10R DVB WNGS-TV Galaxy 3C DVB Galaxy 10R DVB WNYI-TV Galaxy 10R DVB World Championship Sports Network EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 World Harvest TV Galaxy 16 DVB Worship Network AMC 1 DVB WPRU-TV Galaxy 16 DVB WPXS-TV Galaxy 10R DVB WRBJ-TV AMC 6 DVB WSJP-LP Galaxy 16 DVB WSJX-LP Galaxy 16 DVB WTLE-TV Galaxy 3C DVB WTXL-TV Galaxy 3C DVB WUDT-TV Galaxy 3C DVB WUMN-TV Galaxy 3C DVB Galaxy 10R DVB WUVF-TV Galaxy 3C DVB WVGN-LP Galaxy 16 DVB WVXF-TV Galaxy 16 DVB WYDN-TV AMC 3 DVB WZRB-TV AMC 6 DVB Zee Cinema USA Intelsat 805 DVB Zee TV USA Intelsat 904 DVB Intelsat 805 DVB EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 Digicipher 2 |
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Gold Member Username: PrfrmnjPost Number: 1404 Registered: Oct-05 | Albino researched this: Evolution of FTA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- c/p from a fta site... long read but it will give you an idea of FTA manufactures... I am no expert, but I AM an observer to what has transpired over the last couple of years. Free To Air receivers have been around more than a decade, but weren't that popular until they started offering solutions to pay provider's encryptions. This didn't happen until DTV tightened up their security issues with the P4. In the beginning it was the "open source" devices that were first to incorporate algorithms to defeat certain encrypted signals. PCI DVB cards and Dreambox lead the way in opening up these services to the masses. With the ending of the HU stream, and the much tighter P4 platform, Companies already manufacturing a legal device (FTA makers), boldly made a move to increase their product sales. That move was to follow the lead of "open source" devices and incorporate the necessary algorithm in a "firmware" update. Private sources hired coders and adapted new "firmware" to existing units to create the first STB's that boldly offered an alternative to hacking cards. Blackbird was born. Their early units required "private ware" support, and the units were very pricey, but DID work as proclaimed. It didn't take Korea long to see the market for an FTA receiver with 3rd party software updates, that circumvented security features of providers Conditional Access Modules (cards). Fortec steps up; The first company to offer a public "free" solution to open secured signals was Fortec. One of their key engineers was assigned the task of "coding" a fix that would make their unit much more appealing to purchase. The name for that engineer was coined from the task at hand. He had to figure a way to incorporate a code to decrypt the signal of pay providers. He had to do this in his off time, & off company premises. Armed with only a notebook and knowlege of what needed to be done, he would sit in bars ALL of his spare time and write in C++ to perfect the code. Hence his nickname Al7bar..(short for ALL 7 days working in a bar till completed) Needless to say he was successful, and Fortec started selling like hotcakes! Enter Pansat; Now another smart business man saw the success, and the sales impact of this code creation. His STB unit was being made in the same factory as the Fortec and was so similar in construction, that the newly patched firmware, would work on his units also. Both Pansat & Fortec were being made in Korea by Globaltech. It was simple to have Pansat engineers look at what Fortec was doing and to start coming out with their own fixes as well. Sales exploded for both of these companies after DTV introduced the P4. It quickly became apparent there was a huge market that was hungry for more Free TV! A spokesman and promoter was brought in to make annoucements, add drama to the forums, and overall, push to increase sales. The guy they picked was loud, arrogant, and purposeful about his duties. He quickly found himself banned and BLACKLISTed from the original FTA site, Al7bar. Blacklist was born! Offering a well established product (Pansat) with the added decrypt capabilities, Pansat was an instant winner for the public. Now we had ourselves some competition between coders. Introducing "market frenzy"; Sales were beyond optimistic, and at one point Pansat was selling 50,000+ units per month! The owner of Pansat was smiling BIG time, and became a multi-millionaire in a years time. Blackbird became obsessed with protecting their product & investment, and tried in vain to prevent "clones' of their product, by adding an encrypted protection chip to their units and were the first to do a "clone kill" and inadvertantly killed their own boxes. Pansat's spokesman became a bit disillusioned over the money he was to receive, and went looking for another company that had a good product but needed exposure, that he could help find their way in this fast moving market. Enter Co0lsat; The owner of Co0lsat had seen Fortec & Pansat take off and sell millions of $$$ worth of product, and also wanted to compete. Originally, all this fast paced sales game had caused a shortage of parts to build units with in Korea. Hyundai saw this and stepped up to provided more parts for ALL competing companies. Hubtech was producing units that were basically the same unit and marketting it under 4 names around the world. Co0lsat was among these names and wanted a piece of the North American pie. With Hyundai support & assistance with firmware, Co0lsat only needed a spokesman to get the product noticed. Blacklist switches camps; Blacklist was contacted by the owners of Co0lsat, and in turn contacted me and excitedly told me about Hubtech and the great product being introduced as Co0lsat. It was immediately apparent their engineers were superior to anything we had previuosly seen, as they were first to implement a working Electronic Program Guide (EPG) to the market. Sales Exploded overnight for Co0lsat as they offered the world a peak at advanced Hyundai coding that worked better than the rest. Unfortunately for the industry, the owner of Co0lsat would prove out to be less than reputable in his dealings with those around him. Blacklist packed up and went back to Pansat and has helped improve their firmware again. Co0lsat battles "clones" Not long after Bl left as spokesman for Co0lsat, the popularity of their product became apparent as clones from China hit the N.A. market. With Hyundai engineers & support, Co0lsat was the first company to successfully defend their intellectual rights (firmware they had developed) by introducing a timebomb that killed ONLY cloned units. This was no easy task, yet they pulled it off successfully. It was mismanagement of the company later on that resulted in loss of Hyundai support and financial problems for Co0lsat. Continued mismanagement of the company has caused Co0lsat's unfortunate position in the industry now. Viewsat debut's a new design; One of the original partners of Co0lsat had been squeezed out of that company and decided to introduce his own box and a departure of the usual StMicro mainboard. The purpose of the Viewsat quickly became apparent. They had disected a top of the line Dishnetwork box, and had chosen the Conexant mainboard with a much faster processor and more RAM. I was skeptical at first of the change to Conexant based units, but was assured this design had merit. It's over a year later, and the design has proven itself well. The difference that seperates this unit from the others has been their purposeful commitment to the N.A. market and the leaps & bounds of improvements they've introduced. With over 500,000 units now in service, the company strives to bring the end user what they want. Features have been added that were a direct result of forum members input on what they wanted to see in a unit. With some 70 engineers at their disposal, they are here to stay. Others follow; While this post may be a bit long winded, there were alot of milestones that needed to be mentioned. I haven't covered all of these, just the ones I've witnessed or been privy to. As Dishnetwork began the switch to N2, and it wasn't immediately apparent that these companies would have a solution, I staunchly held & reported N2 would fall. South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. Much of their knowlege comes from the "shared technology" pool of information available there. While nobody could say for sure that N2 would fall, I firmly believed this country would find a way to beat the system. On Aug 31st. when Dishnet switched 160+ channels to N2, within 6 hrs. Korea responded by adapting a known European N2 hack from Spain into the firmware releases. Co0lsat, Viewsat, Pansat, all released N2 fixes that stunned everyone but me. Fortec had already packed it in and given up on the N.A. market due to the competition and their fear that N2 would prove to be secure. Today, some 11 mo. later, they decide to return.. The Saga continues; Many new companies have cropped up. Many are still forming. Competition is fierce, and the FTA market has grown incredibly. I have NEVER doubted FTA would be the #1 sought after solution. I did however under estimate the total sales figures of all of the players combined. There are some 4 million FTA units currently in service (approx. 1/3 of a certain providers subs). This doesn't sit well with the 2 major providers in Canada & the U.S. We will surely continue to see them pull out all stops to defeat these companies that manufacture FTA units. I have always told you guys the truth to the best of my knowlege. I have predicted much of what has occured, and I still firmly believe that with GREED as a motivation, these companies will continue to provide solutions for whatever they throw at us. My biggest fear is that the S.E.C.,& the F.C.C. will succumb to pressure being applied by these providers and institute some type of sanctioning body that will enforce trade agreements, and limit the importing of these devices. As it stands now, there appears to be no end in sight. Mpeg 4 is awhile off and presents the next hurdle for these companies. New units are in development & future units DO include mpeg4 & HD capabilities. |
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Bronze Member Username: DoreenakadjPost Number: 81 Registered: Dec-06 | https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-video/307404.html I dont really know if this is of any use to you but here i posted this on one of Kings threads . |