How will Nagra 3 Affect the FTA Hobbyist

How will Nagra 3 Affect the FTA Hobbyist

C/P

How will the switch over to Nagra 3 affect the FTA Hobbyist? The same way the switch from Nagra 1 to Nagra 2 did. Oh, you were not around for that one? Okay, just kidding so here is just a little background.

D*N and B*V use the Nagra methodology to encrypt transmissions with unique codes. Since Nagra 2’s codes and methodology are well known to current decoders, Nagra 3 has been implemented. Therefore, Nagra 3 will bring in new encryption methods for encoding transmissions.

This will require D*N and B*V to switch out the Nagra 2 access cards used by subscriber boxes to Nagra 3 cards. The new Nagra3 cards, are referred to as the ROM241 (D*N) and ROM240 (B*V). The new D*N cards are also referred to as "G3" cards since G3 is on the front of them.

The exact dates as to when all the card swap outs to the subscribers is unknown, it is hard to pin any particular dates to exactly when the FTA hobbyist will be impacted.

Word is that B*V completed its card swap a couple of months ago and their testing is basically complete. Therefore, one can guess that B*V will be completely over to Nagra 3 by the middle of November 2008.

D*N began its card swap out this month and word has it they will switch out their HD channels first. Therefore, it is anticipated that D*N will take significantly longer to complete and one could guess early 2009 all channels will be over to Nagra 3.

So, when will the FTA Hobbyist be able to receive Nagra 3? There is no date certain but all past and current indicators are that receiver manufactures will be working fast and furious to develop their codes and have them ready for issue shortly after the D*N card swap is complete.

There is some concern about will the current receivers handle Nagra 3. Yes, there is a strong probably that most all receivers will be able to receive Nagra 3 if it is the same kind of swap out as Nagra 2. A misconception is that one will need an MPEG 4 receiver to receive Nagra 3. MPEG 4 is just a compression method…while most HD programming right now is MPEG 4 it doesn’t mean it has to be—HD is also broadcast in MPEG 2.

Therefore, some downtime for the FTA Hobbyist seems inevitable. So you might think about recording some movies for future use; obtaining basic cable service; use computer TV *******s; etc. The main thing is not to panic or get discouraged. This will be a short spurt and all will live through and survive the down time if and when it comes…who knows, the manufactures coders my already have a product ready to go.