directv hacking open for business again?

[lumis]

i used to somewhat follow directv hacking, i never had a hacked unit myself, but i knew people who did.. it was pretty interesting, but back then i could not afford the equipment, less the expense of the hacked card, or hacking equipment.

in the last couple of years/months i've heard that directv's new P4/P5 cards were standing up very well and had not been hacked.. and i figured if they were hacked i would have heard of it on some of the tech websites i visit frequently..

recently a guy i sort of know asked me if i was interested in purchasing a hacked directv receiver for $400, he said i could get all the channels.. of course, not having heard anything of a new directv hack i was very leery of this.. and also the fact that its illegal and directv is really dropping the hammer on people with hacked equipment.. i wouldnt get one to begin with, but i just found it odd that somehow this guy would have a hacked system.. so i went over to his house to check it out, and it worked as advertised.. he said for $400, he guaranteed it for a year, i would get the directv premium package (like $95/month)..

i had no intention of purchasing system (and will not purchase) and dont endorse doing it.. but i'm wondering why this isnt out in the public more?

i'm not supporting piracy or anything illegal here, i'm just looking for some answers to my non-asking-for-help-pirating-stuff questions.

i'm doing my best to avoid a yellow card here, if this thread violates the TOS/AUP please delete it.. but i figure asking the questions i've asked should be okay since i'm not asking where/how to hack or do anything illegal.

[Forum Troll]

http://www.nbc4.tv/technology/2502786/detail.html

30 years in prison. Russian roulette, if you feel like gambling your freedom.

[lumis]

like i said, i dont plan on purchasing the box or any other hardware or software related to hacking it.. i'm just wondering what the deal is.. why this hasnt come out in the public or anything.. this guy isnt even close to "1337"..

also, even if i were to purchase the box (which i wont), i'm not even in the same class as the guy mentioned in the article.. the guy was selling access cards and paying people to update software that enabled them to hack the cards.. he's a big fish.. if i had a box, i would be a small fish they threaten with a $5,000 fine or something.

[lordsmurf]

Did you actually see the card in use? And you're sure it was not a DISH Network signal?

Another good scam is this: buy a pre-loaded system for $95 a month, sell it to some scab for $400, cancel after 1 month, and pocket the other $300. This is really easy now that hacking D*TV is impossible (from what I know), as you can buy the cards and hardware for pretty much nothing. If you're thinking "but his name is on the account" it doesn't take much to use fake address, give a pre-paid credit card from a gas station, and retain anonymity.

D*TV sued a lot of people, but they were not always correct. Most guilty folks settled for a few thousand, others went to court, where most cases were tossed out. See, the thing is, D*TV was hunting down ISO card reader buyers, which many of the buyers were actually using for legit reason (like door locks). The snafu was card readers are usually about $200, but the "hacking" sellers often offered them for like $75-100, so hell yeah, people jumped on that deal. D*TV is not much different from RIAA and MPAA when it comes to ******* suits based on zero facts, just assumptions they pulled from their butt.

This is also info I read while vainly searching on ways to buy an FTA and get it up and running (one of the first posts in the DIGITAL TV forum on this site). If you want free satellite, legally, FTA has some good options, assuming you live in an area where the birds hit you, and are able to afford the gear, and smart enough to set it up. That was not me on 3 counts.

[Jester700]

http://www.nbc4.tv/technology/2502786/detail.html

30 years in prison. Russian roulette, if you feel like gambling your freedom.

See, that makes me laugh right there, given that child rapists and murderers don't even get that these days. Some big fat corporate lawyer needs a good old American torturing just on principle IMO...

(stashing portable fold-out soapbox now...)

[iLuvLandingStrips]

Did you actually see the card in use? And you're sure it was not a DISH Network signal?

Another good scam is this: buy a pre-loaded system for $95 a month, sell it to some scab for $400, cancel after 1 month, and pocket the other $300. This is really easy now that hacking D*TV is impossible (from what I know), as you can buy the cards and hardware for pretty much nothing. If you're thinking "but his name is on the account" it doesn't take much to use fake address, give a pre-paid credit card from a gas station, and retain anonymity.

D*TV sued a lot of people, but they were not always correct. Most guilty folks settled for a few thousand, others went to court, where most cases were tossed out. See, the thing is, D*TV was hunting down ISO card reader buyers, which many of the buyers were actually using for legit reason (like door locks). The snafu was card readers are usually about $200, but the "hacking" sellers often offered them for like $75-100, so hell yeah, people jumped on that deal. D*TV is not much different from RIAA and MPAA when it comes to ******* suits based on zero facts, just assumptions they pulled from their butt.

This is also info I read while vainly searching on ways to buy an FTA and get it up and running (one of the first posts in the DIGITAL TV forum on this site). If you want free satellite, legally, FTA has some good options, assuming you live in an area where the birds hit you, and are able to afford the gear, and smart enough to set it up. That was not me on 3 counts.

ISO card readers were not used for D*TV.
Loaders with flashable Atmel chips, were used.

[lumis]

Did you actually see the card in use? And you're sure it was not a DISH Network signal?

yes, i'm sure of what i saw. it was a directv signal, and every channel they offer. i had the remote in my hand and was flipping through stations (including the premium ones) and everything looked to be legit (from what he told me, not the whole thing overall).. i was able to pull up the channel guide, go to stations that only directv offers (as of recent, lifetime), go to the directv ppv information channels (system setup, direcway, etc)..

i even removed the card while it was in use and the picture went away, put it back in and it worked.. the guy isnt slick enough to pull that many hijinks to convince me, and i made sure to check to quite a few degrees.

as i said, i dont plan on purchasing this system.. i was just curious why this hasnt become more public.

[lordsmurf]

"Loaders" were just ISO smart card readers/writers. DirecTV uses a standard ISO 7816 Smart Card chip. Atmel is just a chip company. Atmel is to Smart Chps, as Intel is to CPUs. Some more info: http://www.legal-rights.org/DTV/unlooper.html

[vhelp]

Well, don't get me started with DirecTV.

Heck, I tried to get back on board with them recently this past week,
and (long story short) very disapointed in them.

first, they raised their rates, now comparitable to Cable prices,
(at least here in new york) and,

second, since when did they start puting an experation date on their
Access Cards ??

Because of this date thing, and because I stopped using them for the
last two years (or so) my card would not let me view any video content
when I signed back on with them. Later, it was realized that I need
a new Access Card -- oh, did I forget to tell you.. there's
a $20 dollar ser-charge, plugs tax, plus shipping/handling fees ??

Well, right now, I can view their Movie Previews on Ch 200, and watch
their DirecTV happenings on Ch 201, ..but, change to any other channel,
and that blastid message at bottom comes on, "..Access Card Expired.."
and screen goes blank.

In short, I sent them off (for the 3rd and final time - really)
(even though I'm still connected with them right now)

fwiw noting here.. The worse thing about all this nonsense..

Our windows were replaced recently, (from signle glass to double-glass)
and I tell you.., when I last I was DirecTV setup (inside my apt) I could
not get a sigle bleep from my sat signal strength meter, I can NOW get
a 75% to 80% signal strength, and that's with the window closed, two glass
window, and my vineshian blinds fully down and closed. Go figure. But,
now that I have it working like this, and the dish is finally out of sight,
I could kick myself, because during the time I had sat, I spent an awlful
amount of time hiding and camoflaging the dish, all inside my apt, but
through the window. Anyways. I'm hurting pretty hard right now.

No more DirecTV for me. Now, I'm strugling (long story - really, and I
will spare you this time, really) with trying to get Cable back on in
my apt. They have Analog and Digital.

Guess which one I opt for ?? Ok. I'll answer. Analog
(because I hate blastid macro-blocks and pixelsations. And Analog gives
me clean, non-MPEG video

Well, that about wraps it up for me and Satellite (directv)

Thanks guys, for giving me your eyes
-vhelp 3761

[Doramius]

All of their cards, TECHNICALLY, had an expiration date whether they put it on the card or not. the magnetic device just naturally breaks down over time. The date just helps them keep more control over it. Some cards can last 4-5+ years, but the average is 2-3 years. Same thing with your credit cards. It's not really because of fraud or information reasons they put the date on it. Those are just incidental benefits of it. None of this is new, but about 1-2 years ago people routinely were calling their dish company that their system wasn't working. The company figured they could charge $20-$40 for the service to change the card. People would then drop the service and the dish companies were losing business like crazy. They then added the expiration date and now may send the new card or you call in and they send a free card. I think there may be a small few that you have to pay a small fee or still have a tech. come out, but not many anymore.

And people who steal cable are called the criminals. Damn, it must be nice to be a multi-billion $$ company with high paid lawyers.

[vhelp]

The company figured they could charge $20-$40 for the service to change the card.
People would then drop the service and the dish companies were losing business like
crazy. They then added the expiration date and now may send the new card or you call
in and they send a free card. I think there may be a small few that you have to pay a
small fee or still have a tech. come out, but not many anymore.

As I have, so long..

( you think they will try and make some [indirect] contact with me to
make a deal [sale] with me ? )

Anyways..

You are kidding me, right ?

I know what I've been told, last time I spoke with a respresentative
for DirecTV. And the women (last person I ever spoke with) informed
me that they could (would) not turn on my setup unless I had a new
(paid $20 plus tax, plus shipping/handlig charges) Access Card.

She also went on to say that it costs money to produce these cards.
WhAt ?? These are *their* cards, designed for *their* system, and now
they are charging for it ??

I tell you.. I virtually just hung up on them -- Good Bye.

(Now, I'm just pateiantly waiting for my Analog Cable to be installed.
Later for DirecTV or whatever, "Digital" -- because it is all MPEG
artifacts -- riddled with them. And now, HDTV has it almost as bad.
Seen it with mine-own eyes)

-vhelp 3783

[lumis]

(Now, I'm just pateiantly waiting for my Analog Cable to be installed. Later for DirecTV or whatever, "Digital" -- because it is all MPEG artifacts -- riddled with them. And now, HDTV has it almost as bad.
Seen it with mine-own eyes)

-vhelp 3783

i can understand the mpeg artifacts from directv & dish network.. dish network is worse than directv.. but as far hdtv being bad, i'd have to disagree with you.. unless your area broadcasters are just poor about their broadcasting methods.. my local fox, nbc, abc & cbs affiliates all have outstanding quality hdtv broadcasts.. even when it's just digital and not hdtv, it still looks pretty good..

i had analog cable for a while, but there were too many artifacts on the channels.. and the quality was pretty poor.. i even had the analog + digital setup.. the digital channels were horrendous.. massive pixelation at even the slightest high motion or low light..

but as i said, hdtv looks astounding.. light years ahead of analog cable, directv & dish network.. hell, even dvd.

[vhelp]

Well, fwiw..

My first impressios (there were many) (last time, over this weekend)
were based on a visit to CC, where they had tons of widescreeen everywhere.

IMHO, they all looked pretty bad. That is.. not what you would expect
of HDTV to be. It's all hype. It's only when you stand far away,
that you do not notice much. But, be close, say 5-6 feet away, and
you can see heavy pixelation.

You can argue such facts (can be true to) about improper setup or
whatever, all you like. But, you can't discount the fact that they
got a highly reputable store, such CC, and have half the store full of
widescreen tvs, and half those in HDTV, and outputing, shall I say, poor
results. The numbers are too great, and the people-count is high.
(speaking on the staff, and assumed to be knowledge or properly guided
to setup these new technowlogically advanced equipment)
And for them to WAY over-look this/these facts, are unacceptable.

Here's an experience ...

In one of my visits, I was watching a DirecTV HD broadcast. And all that
it consisted of, was stills being blended into other stills. No motion
of the video, just someone who was shooting footage on a tripod of
various paintings; artifacts/trofees; buildings; warehouses; fabrics;
you name it. It was video, but more or less, stills.. but video,
non-the-less.

While I was viewing this, I took it upon myself to stand at avarious
distances.

In my expereince with that encounter, that video shoed sharp and nice
contrasted video. The image was very good. However. As the video
played on, it was riddled with mpeg artifacts. Weather in motion, or
not, backgrounds would shimmer, or fades to another video or still
would pixelate.

At first glance, or to a new-commer to the scene, they would have been
in aww.

But to someone like myself, full of himself I was very disapointed.
I personally would not buy this new technolegy just for it's hype.
But, if there is a true and proper way to set this up, there better be,
for the money to be spent on it.. there better be.

-vhelp 3787

[lumis]

last year was the first year i've been able to watch football games (among a few other events & television shows)..

watching football games in HD is sooo much better.. the colors are more vivid, the picture isnt "mushy", you get more screen area, which when you first think about it doesnt seem like much, but it's so much..

i sit about 8-10 feet away from the tv screen and i dont notice any pixelization.. now of course, if i were to stand in front of the tv i would notice it in places.. but even compared to a well done commercially released dvd, hdtv looks better.. even the digital animations where it's pure digital all the way..

as far as the major department store setups.. they're usually not very good.. a lot of the time i'll see them feeding a 4:3 picture to a 16:9 and stretching it so it will "take up the whole screen".. and it's usually fed through a coaxial cable split up over quite a few televisions..

[Doramius]

My experience at BestBuy was a bit different. The person was an idiot. The picture was crappy, though he told me that this is the best picture and signal around and that it was clearly different from the regular televisions sitting right next to it. After noticing that the signal in was connected to RCA (COMPOSITE, NOT COMPONENT) jacks in the side of the Television, I told him calmly, "I think I'll look around for myself." I also noticed the regular televisions were on a coaxial connection, even if they had composite or S/Video in. My question is, Why weren't the HDTVs on Component and why were the regular TV's on Coaxial. Isn't it their business to impress people to purchase a certain product?

[jaggerdss]

All of their cards, TECHNICALLY, had an expiration date whether they put it on the card or not. the magnetic device just naturally breaks down over time. The date just helps them keep more control over it. Some cards can last 4-5+ years, but the average is 2-3 years. Same thing with your credit cards. It's not really because of fraud or information reasons they put the date on it. Those are just incidental benefits of it. None of this is new, but about 1-2 years ago people routinely were calling their dish company that their system wasn't working. The company figured they could charge $20-$40 for the service to change the card. People would then drop the service and the dish companies were losing business like crazy. They then added the expiration date and now may send the new card or you call in and they send a free card. I think there may be a small few that you have to pay a small fee or still have a tech. come out, but not many anymore.

And people who steal cable are called the criminals. Damn, it must be nice to be a multi-billion $$ company with high paid lawyers.

No "magnetic device " in a DTV card. It is a microcontroller with a eeprom (Basically) As far as expiration date. The only expiration is programmed in (Or lack their of--tiers expire) Technically if you knew what the ASIC (Application Specific Intigrated Circuit) was in a DTV card you would not even need the card. In the case of Dish you don't the card. It has been fully emulated.(Copied or simulated with another device)

[jaggerdss]

Did you actually see the card in use? And you're sure it was not a DISH Network signal?

yes, i'm sure of what i saw. it was a directv signal, and every channel they offer. i had the remote in my hand and was flipping through stations (including the premium ones) and everything looked to be legit (from what he told me, not the whole thing overall).. i was able to pull up the channel guide, go to stations that only directv offers (as of recent, lifetime), go to the directv ppv information channels (system setup, direcway, etc)..

i even removed the card while it was in use and the picture went away, put it back in and it worked.. the guy isnt slick enough to pull that many hijinks to convince me, and i made sure to check to quite a few degrees.

as i said, i dont plan on purchasing this system.. i was just curious why this hasnt become more public.

If when you came to the PPV's (All PPV's) and you had to say purchase then the card was not hacked! If you rolled thru them like a regular channel then maybe but if the guy is not as you say "Slick enough to pull that many hijinks with you" then his isn't slick enough to crack the P4,5 card.

[Doramius]

All of their cards, TECHNICALLY, had an expiration date whether they put it on the card or not. the magnetic device just naturally breaks down over time. The date just helps them keep more control over it. Some cards can last 4-5+ years, but the average is 2-3 years. Same thing with your credit cards. It's not really because of fraud or information reasons they put the date on it. Those are just incidental benefits of it. None of this is new, but about 1-2 years ago people routinely were calling their dish company that their system wasn't working. The company figured they could charge $20-$40 for the service to change the card. People would then drop the service and the dish companies were losing business like crazy. They then added the expiration date and now may send the new card or you call in and they send a free card. I think there may be a small few that you have to pay a small fee or still have a tech. come out, but not many anymore.

And people who steal cable are called the criminals. Damn, it must be nice to be a multi-billion $$ company with high paid lawyers.

No "magnetic device " in a DTV card. It is a microcontroller with a eeprom (Basically) As far as expiration date. The only expiration is programmed in (Or lack their of--tiers expire) Technically if you knew what the ASIC (Application Specific Intigrated Circuit) was in a DTV card you would not even need the card. In the case of Dish you don't the card. It has been fully emulated.(Copied or simulated with another device)

Don't kid yourself. eeprom cards have a lifespan of their own too. However, they are considerably longer.