Dish/ Bev Terminology

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c&p from another site, thanks to Satfinder1.


Dish/ Bev Terminology

Term: CHARLIE
Alias: Dish, DN, dish net, Chuck, Chucky
Details: Similar to "Dave" for DirecTV, only Charlie Ergen is a real person. He is the CEO of Echostar, the company that owns Dish Network and supplies equipment for Bell ExpressVu.

Term: BEV
Alias: ExpressVu, Bell, XVU, Boris, Boris & Natasha
Details: One of the two satellite providers in Canada. All of their equipment is made by Echostar and they use the Nagravision encryption system (the same used by Dish Network). For testers, this provides the advantage of cross-compatibility for all receivers, cards, etc.

Term: TEST CARD
Alias: cheat card, Rom 2, Rom 3, Rom 10, Rom 11, Atmega, AVR, emulator, Guardian 2, Casper, DSSRev, Rom X
Details: The collective term that refers to any device used to decrypt Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu programming.

Term: ATMEGA
Alias: none
Details: A black (although sometimes blue) card with an Atmel chip that is designed to simulate the functions of a smart card. The unit completely replaces the smartcard and requires no additional equipment other than a special inexpensive programmer. It is the most commonly used method of testing.

Term: AVR
Alias: AVR3, AVR6, AVR8, AVR9
Details: Stands for Audio Video Replicator. A card that fits into the card acceptor on the receiver that requires the original smartcard to be attached to it. It is a stand-alone unit that contains an Atmel chip and programmer. It uses the smartcard to acquire essential receiver information but allows the user to open all available channels.

Term: PLASTIC
Alias: Rom 2, Rom 3, Rom 10, Rom 11, E3M
Details: Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu smart cards that have been hacked and re-programmed to receive all available channels.

Term: EMULATION
Alias: WinVu, cemu
Details: Instead of using stand-alone cards, the receiver is hooked to a computer via a card-sized interface that is inserted into the receiver card slot. Software programs such as WinVu (Windows-based) or Cemu (DOS-based) allow the computer to mimic the functions of a smart card.

Term: IRD
Alias: receiver
Details: Stands for Integrated Receiver Decoder. It is your receiver.

Term: CAM
Alias: card, smartcard, access card
Details: Stands for Conditional Access Module. It is the smart card produced by Dish Network or Bell ExpressUu.

Term: TIERS
Alias: none
Details: Levels of programming that can be purchased by Dish or BEV subscribers that correspond to program packages.

Term: JTAG
Alias: none
Details: Stands for Joint Team Action Group. It is a simple device made of five resistors and a DB-25 connector that, when attached to specific points on the IRD mother board, allows the receiver to communicate with a computer.

Term: bJTAGi
Alias: buffered JTAG
Details: A JTAG device with a power supply (buffer) that some believe is more appropriate for programming a receiver with a computer than the simple JTAG device. There is considerable debate on this issue but in the end it is a matter of personal preference.

Term: TSOP
Alias: none
Details: Stands for Thin Small Outline Package. It is the chip inside the IRD that contains the software necessary to run it. A JTAG or bJTAGi device is used to read from or write to the receiver's TSOP.

Term: EEPROM
Alias: none
Details: Stands for Electronically Erasable-Programmable Read-Only Memory. There are actually two locations that this term refers to. The first is the flash memory on a smartcard, Atmega, or AVR. The second is a chip inside the IRD that contains user information such as parental lock passwords, channel guide type, channel order, and VCR timers.

Term: TSOP BIN
Alias: TSOP dump
Details: This refers to the binary file created when you read your TSOP with a JTAG or bJTAGi and save the file to the hard drive on your computer. Reading and editing such files requires a program called Flash Edit or a hex editor.

Term: IRD NUMBER
Alias: Receiver number, CAID
Description: The serial number on your receiver. It is important to have this number both in decimal (example: R 00 1234-5678-90) and hex (example: 01 AA BB CC). Use the scientific functions on the Windows Calculator to determine your receiver number's hex equivalent.

Term: BOX KEYS
Alias: none
Details: The secret keys contained in each receiver's firmware that identify the particular IRD when used with test cards.

Term: CAM NUMBER
Alias: cam ID
Details: A special ID number printed on the back of the smart card. Begins with S 00 for Dish and S 04 for BEV. This number is stored on the EEPROM of the test card but is not located anywhere on the TSOP or IRD EEPROM.

Term: BUILD CONFIG
Alias: none
Details: A four-letter code that identifies which factory batch your receiver belongs to. It is printed on a tag pasted on the surface of the IRD mother board.

Term: BOOTSTRAP
Alias: none
Details: a code that has to do with allowing the receiver to power up and access the programming on the TSOP.

Term: CLONING
Alias: none
Details: Refers to changing the IRD number, box keys, build config, and bootstrap in a receiver's TSOP to match that of another. The end result is that test cards may be used interchangeably between the cloned receivers, rather than making it necessary for each receiver to have a test card unique to that receiver. There really is no benefit to this other than convenience.

Term: ECM
Alias: zap, hit
Details: Stands for Electronic Counter Measure. It is an attempt by Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu to disable units receiving unauthorized programming. Typically, a code is sent to the receiver's TSOP and/or EEPROM that renders the unit unusable. A JTAG or bJTAGi is used to fix an ECM'd TSOP or EEPROM.

Term: NAG
Alias: none
Details: A "lesser" ECM. It shows some sort of error message on the screen but the software on the TSOP and EEPROM remains intact. Reprogramming the test card with the latest fix is usually required to eliminate nags.

Term: SOFTWARE FIX
Alias: none
Details: A software code that circumvents an ECM or nag.

Term: HARDWARE FIX
Alias: none
Details: receiver modifications that must be made to prevent ECMs or nags. Often involves cutting traces, removing resistors, or installing various circuits and gadgets.

Term: FIRMWARE
Alias: none
Details: The software on the TSOP that allows the receiver to run. Subject to upgrades which are sometimes favorable but often intended to disable hardware fixes.

Term: DIGITAL LOCK
Alias: nagless TSOP lock, DL
Details: A circuit that prevents Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu from writing ECMs or firmware upgrades to your TSOP.

Term: DATASTREAM
Alias: stream
Details: Stream of data that Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu uses to communicate with the smart card or IRD. All authorizations and updates to cards and receivers are sent via the stream. Unlike DirecTV, the actual decryption is done at the receiver end rather than at the transmission end of the datastream. The object of DTV testing is to "fool" the datastream into decrypting the channels. With Dish/Bev, you are instead manipulating the receiver and card to unlock the goods. That is the primary difference between the Nagravision system and the Videoguard system that DTV uses.

Term: BLOCKER
Alias: none
Details: A code that prevents Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu from writing to or locking a smart card.

Term: LOCKED
Alias: Locked Rom 3, Locked Rom 10, Locked Rom 11
Details: A card that has had its backdoor locked through the datastream by Dish or BEV to prevent tampering. Usually requires a dealer to unlock so that it may be used again.

Term: MARKED
Alias: Marked Rom 2, Marked Rom 3
Details: A code has been written to the one-time programmable section of the card that permanently flags the card for an ECM. Requires a special software fix to be written to the card. This primarily affects Rom 2 and Rom 3 cards since they were used during a time before blockers were introduced and thus allowed Charlie to write to that sector. Rom 10 and 11 cards became hackable after the advent of the blocker.

Term: LOOPED
Alias: none
Details: The card has lost its ATR (Answer to Reset) and has gone into a "loop". The card cannot be used until unlooped, usually by a dealer who provides unlocking service. Dish and BEV are not known to loop cards through the stream, so looping is usually done by the tester due to carelessness when programming the card.

Term: NAGRAEDIT
Alias: none
Details: The software used to program smart cards.

Term: JKEYS
Alias: none
Details: The software used to read a receiver's box keys, as well as read from or write to the TSOP and/or EEPROM. Used with JTAG or bJTAGi device.

Term: JEEPERS
Alias: none
Details: The software used to program an AVR or Atmega.

Term: WINVU
Alias: none
Details: A Windows-based software program used to perform Emulation.

Term: CEMU
Alias: none
Details: A DOS-based software program used to perform Emulation.

Term: xCEL
Alias: none
Details: A software program used to read/write smart cards. Less popular than NagraEdit, but in the author's opinion best for programming Rom 2 cards.

Term: ROM TIERMAKER
Alias: RTM
Details: A software program that creates tiers to be written to test cards. The documents created by this program are written to the appropriate devices using NagraEdit or Jeepers.

Term: FLASHEDIT
Alias: none
Details: A software program that is used to read the TSOP bin and make changes in specific locations such as the IRD number, Box Keys, Build Config, and Bootstrap. It is primarily used for cleansing the TSOP bin of an ECM but can also be used for cloning.

Term: DSSREV
Alias: none
Details: A red Atmega-like card that has the ability to run virtually the same as a Rom 3.

Term: MAGIC CARD
Alias: none
Details: Another sibling of the Atmega family that comes with auto-detect capability and claims to be compatible with Rom 101/102/103 cards when the time comes that that will be necessary.

Term: CARD SWAP
Alias: none
Details: A security measure known to Dave testers for years, it is the process of sending customers a new unhacked card to replace an older, fully-hacked card. When all customers have received new cards, the data stream that supports the older cards is usually discontinued, making it necessary to find a hack to the new cards in order to resume testing.

Term: NAGRAVISION 1
Alias: Nag-1, Rom 2/3/10/11 stream, Blue card stream, 1800 stream
Details: The first-generation Nagravision encryption system that has been fully hacked and is the basis of all testing methods currently used as of 4/04.

Term: NAGRAVISION 2
Alias: Nag-2, Rom 101/102/103 stream, Yellow card stream, 1801 stream
Details: The second-generation Nagravision encryption system that was introduced in 2003 and currently as of 4/04 has not been hacked. At this time, this stream is being sent along with Nagravision 1, but as soon as the card swap is completed, most channels will switch to Nagravision 2 exclusively.

Term: SOFT LOCK
Alias: none
Details: A 5-byte code written to the section of the TSOP bin where the ECM code normally goes in order to prevent an ECM from being written to the TSOP.

Term: DVB
Alias: none
Details: Stands for Digital Video Broadcasting. This is the video format that has become the standard for digital compression, replacing the older DSS standard that DirecTV uses. Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu, and many Free-to-air services use the DVB standard.

Term: DVB-S
Alias: none
Details: A PCI card that is installed into a computer that is used to receive DVB-formatted satellite television, including Dish and BEV. These cards are manufactured in Europe for the purpose of receiving free-to-air channels and subscription services using an additional hardware device for smart cards. They are not manufactured for the purpose of testing.

Term: DVB-CI
Alias: none
Details: A conditional access module that is connected to a DVB-S card to enable the authorized reception of Pay-TV.

Term: YANKSE
Alias: none
Details: A software program designed to enable a DVB-S card to display encrypted programming without the use of a DVB-CI module.

Term: PROGDVB
Alias: none
Details: One of two DVB display software programs used extensively in North America.

Term: MYTHEATRE
Alias: none
Details: One of two DVB display software programs used extensively in North America.

Term: SOFTWARE MODE
Alias: soft mode
Details: A DVB-S card that does not contain a video processor and therefore uses the memory and CPU resources of the computer it is running on. Requires more memory and a faster processor. Examples are the WinTV Nova and the Vision Plus. When used with DVB display software, it is necessary to have the proper codecs and graphs installed on your computer.

Term: HARDWARE MODE
Alias: hard mode
Details: A DVB-S card that has its own processor and memory and operates similar to a conventional receiver. Hard mode cards can be used on slower computers. Examples are the WinTV Nexus and the TechnoTrend. When used with DVB display software (such as MyTheatre and ProgDVB), hardware mode cards can be used in either hardware or software mode.

Term: DISEQC
Alias: none
Details: Stands for Digital Satellite Equipment Control. It is a 2-way or 4-way switch necessary to hook up two or more LNBs to a DVB-S card. This is not the same as an SW-21, SW-44, or other switch manufactured by Echostar and used for Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu receivers.

Term: FTA
Alias: ITC
Details: Stands for Free-to-Air. It means the same thing as the term "in-the-clear" from the old C-Band days. It refers to channels that are unencrypted and do not require a subscription to receive them.

Term: FTA RECEIVER
Alias: DVB receiver, MPEG-2 decoder
Details: A digital satellite receiver designed for the reception of free-to-air broadcasts. As with DVB-S cards, they are not manufactured for the purpose of testing.

Term: BLACKBIRD
Alias: none
Details: An FTA receiver that has been modified to decrypt Dish and BEV signals.

Term: FORTECSTAR LIFETIME
Alias: SilverBird, Silver Bullet
Details: An FTA receiver that has a PC interface that has been used to manipulate the receiver's software to allow it to decrypt Dish.

Term: AL7BAR
Alias: none
Details: Software that, when loaded to the FortecStar Lifetime receiver, allows reception of Nagravison-encrypted channels.


More to come as necessary!