Have you received a new Smart Card from Bell?

[Nimiq USA]

can someone plz tell me on what channel is the above card swap vid located in da programming guide? I've searched the entire guide for 10 minutes and can't seem to find a single clue.

[scrooloose]

It will likely be this one, but it's not available yet.

263 - SWAP [MPEG2 SD] added to Nimiq1/4 91W TP 31 Canada/Non SE US beam (Not Available)

-Mike

[L2666]

The card swap is actually an operation code-named DaVinci. It's main purpose is to prevent piracy (FTA, etc,) of course. Most likely the new encryption will be Nagra3. Cardless receivers will simply receive a REV update (there is a chip inside the receiver instead of the card) and that will be it. Currently, it seems that only Ontario is being targeted and other provinces will follow soon after. This is going to be a pain for customers who have un-activated IRDs (read:receiver) sitting around because if they aren't present in a customer's account, no card will be sent for that receiver. I'm a Tech 2 agent at BEV, and as a "first-line" agent I can tell you that it'll be a real pain for us too...I'm so glad I'll only be working part-time for BEV now... I wasn't taking calls but I saw what it was like on last monday...agents couldn't even transfer calls to other departments, and apparently, from what I read here, 1-888 SKYDISH wasn't even answering! The lines weren't cut, I can tell you, the call dispatch queue was just overloaded!

[TJ77]

From what I understand, the 9242 and 6141 will receive an update, and the 4100/6100/9200 will get cards. Is that correct?

I feel for you, it will be hell when the swap speeds up. They provide a different 800 number for activating new cards, is that automated or does it go to an agent? And if it goes to an agent, are these agents specialized in the swap or just regular Tech agents?

[bev fan]

Originally Posted by Nimiq USA

can someone plz tell me on what channel is the above card swap vid located in da programming guide? I've searched the entire guide for 10 minutes and can't seem to find a single clue.

So far that channel is not available to BEV subscribers , only pirates can see it on their hardware.

[L2666]

About the receivers: nope. 4100/6100/9200s are cardless receivers except for some 6100s which have a card. Those are most likely refurbs in which the chip which acts as a smart card has failed. So the auxilliary reader is used in this case. As for the 800 #, I don't know, as I didn't take any calls this week so I didn't access our info headlines. Either it's gonna be done through Emily or by an agent...a regular tech agents as all techs are able to activate smartcards or receivers. We all use the same application, and we techs also do customer service such as billing and account management (programming upgrade/downgrades, movings, service calls, etc...).

[querty-m4n]

So my 3100N receiver will say DNASP: 103 REVxxx?

[L2666]

About the receivers: nope. 4100/6100/9200s are cardless receivers except for some 6100s which have a card. Those are most likely refurbs in which the chip which acts as a smart card has failed. So the auxilliary reader is used in this case. As for the 800 #, I don't know, as I didn't take any calls this week so I didn't access our info headlines. Either it's gonna be done through Emily or by an agent...a regular tech agents as all techs are able to activate smartcards or receivers. We all use the same application, and we techs also do customer service such as billing and account management (programming upgrade/downgrades, movings, service calls, etc...).

[i hate tv]

The "cardless" 6100's and 9200's that have cards are refurbs, and have cards because they have an onboard DishNetwork chip
They were purchased when Dish swapped out MPEG2 receivers and moved to MPEG4, just like Bell is doing now
I think it sounds better when it is said that the onboard chip failed, instead of saying that the receivers were on another satellite system, but are now obsolete for HD on that provider
That would get customers nervous, so hence the "on board chip has failed" story, or at least thats what I think happened

[orlando]

Does anyone know which receivers will receive the card swap besides 3100/6100 models. I have the 6000, 5100, 4700 and 2700 models. Will those receive the new cards as well?

[classicsat]

Originally Posted by barter

I would hold on to any current smartcards and any new spare rom240's as they may be worth $$$ in the future.

Not for legitimate purposes. Bell wants them destroyed so they don't get into the hands of TV pirates.

I remember rom102's selling for $10-15 in early 2005 on ebay, by the late fall of 2005 some were selling for $250 a piece!

And who do you think was paying$%250 for an officially "obsolete" smartcard, and what were they going to use it for?

[L2666]

To i hate tv:
Yes, I became aware of that lately (the dishnetwork swap), but keep in mind that there are also real chip failures, such as when the S/C # indicated is S0000000000, which causes red guides or other errors (like the receiver stalling at the 015 screen).

[i hate tv]

Yea I hear you
I'm not knocking you, but many of the CSR's are unaware of things like this
But, I would guess that the majority of cardless receivers, with cards, are from the USA, not from Canada
All electronics fail, eventually, but if the amount of cardless recievers that have cards in them were due to failure, then Bell would need a new STB manufacturer

[barter]

Not for legitimate purposes. Bell wants them destroyed so they don't get into the hands of TV pirates

That goes without saying, but if this card swap works it won't matter if TV pirates get theirs hand on them will it.

And who do you think was paying$%250 for an officially "obsolete" smartcard, and what were they going to use it for?

There not obsolete, there still in use, they are the card currently being swaped out.

[L2666]

To i hate tv again:
Of course many if almost all of the CSR's are unaware of this!!! Tech2s are basically people with no tech knowledge who undergo a 4 week training + 2 weeks of "academy" which means taking calls with people helping them with their calls. Personnally, without wanting to brag about anything or whatever, I read alot about general satellite tech info outside of my job. I guess I would represent about 2-3% of all Exvu CSR's out there...I sometimes puzzle Tech3 agents. Although having a background in film making and audio-visual tech stuff helps alot...! And guess what? I had coachings by my team manager because I spend too much time with my customers trying to help them...because yes, we are monitored on the time we spend on each call.
Anyways, end of rant, I'm a bit "drunk" and my job puts a lot of pressure on me. I will try to help people on this forum as much as I can, because some of Exvu's policies are plainly a pain in the ass. I'm just sick of taking sh*t in the name of a company I hate. But hell, it pays the bills.
Have a nice uh...night. lol