Piracy Checks
and Card
Exchanges


Lately you have been seeing those E-30 messages on your screens - what exactly does it mean? Why has Multichoice been exchanging those SmartCards?

Here are some answers…

This message means that the validity of your smart card is being verified. It will only show if the digital satellite decoder was not on stand-by mode but disconnected or switched of from the main and signal messages from the service provider could not be received for card verification. The restoration of reception will be automatically after a short period of time.

As the payTV market grows, the economics become more favorable for pirates to compromise conditional access security. This is mainly done through the smart card that resides in the subscriber’s set top box.

An entire industry has developed around payTV piracy. There different methods of producing pirate cards. While it has proved relatively easy to prohibit the some types of piracy, some prove slightly more difficult. Most CA vendors have dedicated headcount to search for breeches in the system.
Large operators like Multichoice usually have no other choice but to swap out cards every
3 to 5 years to combat piracy.

Extracted from
In-depth Report / 7 August 2000
Global Interactive
TV Infrastructure
 

 


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Comden is an Authorized Multichoice DStv Distributor

Here are the answers to those
Frequently Asked Questions

What type equipment do I need to receive DStv?

To receive your DStv you will need a TV Set with the appropriate connections, a
digital satellite decoder (DSD), a smartcard and a satellite dish of a diameter of at
least 90 - 115 cm, depending on your location.
 

I already have a satellite dish - can I us it to receive DStv?

Yes, you can receive the signal if your dish is KU-band and C-band rated, but we recommend  that you try to sell that dish and use the new antenna which is included in your DStv package! The following should be added:
A satellite dish for C-Band that has a size of more than 2 meters in diameter will always give you problems and requires constant service. Additionally the feed system for analogue reception in most cases are different.
 

Are local broadcast networks like NTV available with my DStv package?

No, local broadcasting networks are not available with your C-Band DStv package.
If you which to receive local broadcasting stations on televisions connected to a DStv system, you may use an off-air antenna. This is a small indoor device that provides the signal for local broadcasting when you are not viewing DStv programming.
There has been some local broadcasting additions to the Ku-Band, like AIT Lagos, recently.
 

Can heavy rains affect my satellite reception?

In the dry season there is a low probability that your DStv system will be affected by weather. In the rainy season severe rain may interrupt reception for brief periods, and cause a temporary loss of picture quality.
You can reduce this affect by purchasing a 1,1 m or 1,15 m satellite dish
 

What is the difference between the C-Band and Ku-Band system?

C-band is transmitting at a lower frequency (4 MHz), while Ku band transmits at 11 to 12 GHz. C band is more commonly used in the United States and for international transmission, whereas Ku-band is the standard in Europe. C-band dishes usually come with a larger size than Ku-band satellite antennas.
Apart from having different sizes, the C-Band system is offering different programs. Please be informed that most of these extra programs might not be of interest to you since they are in foreign languages and are specialized programs aimed at a European crowd.
C-Band system has a built-in on-screen programming guide that shows what programming is available for one week in advance. 
 

Can I connect more than one TV set to my satellite dish?

Yes you may! In fact there are two ways to do so. One is what we call “viewing points” and means  to have an additional cable run from the DSD receiver to each additional TV. There are no additional charges incurred by doing so, but you are limited to watching the same program on all the televisions connected in this way!
The other way is to purchase a satellite dish with two receiver connections (a dual LNB system), and also purchase a second receiver and a second smart card. You can then watch different programs on televisions connected to different receivers.
 

My TV shows not picture and shows a message “Searching for signal”?
What does it mean and what shall I do?

This message will show if the satellite dish is not properly positioned to the direction of the satellite in orbit. If this is the case or if the signal cannot be received for other reasons (like trees), the decoder cannot tune-in to the corresponding signal. Please contact our office in Kaduna for sending you a technician. Please note, that if you do not have a Comden Service Agreement, you will be charged for this maintenance service.
 

E 5 -  now what?

It means “Unknown Card” and shows in case of inserting a wrong or damaged card.
 

My TV is showing E 16 - what does that mean?

Service is currently scrambled means the service is denied for payment or other reasons by the service provider. In plain English this means that you have not paid your subscription or something went wrong somewhere, somehow... Please check with our office personnel in Kaduna or pay your subscription until the 5th of the following month. Otherwise you will be left in the dark by Multichoice not by us!
 

The message that I receive on my TV screen reads E 30 -
what is the meaning of that?

This the so called “Piracy Check” we have been trying to explain to you on the right hand side of this page. When your set is not in use frequently and is not left in a standby mode (which is not advisable in Nigeria do to heavy power fluctuations anyway) this might take up to 20 minutes - so please be patient.
 

Need more technical information? Please help us to help you by reading all the information on our pages. If you have questions that aren't covered, feel free to email our engineering team.
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