Put skycard in HTPC this morning to watch tv and smoke came out of card reader!

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gareth41

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#37972 22-Jul-2009 16:45

Have been using a 17xx sky card in my HTPC for the past year using ndscam 0.0.0.5 and AltDVB without major problems apart from a 10sec glitch which ive heard is a common problem when using the 17xx skycards with ndscam. However this morning sky came and upgraded us to mysky hdi as we have a new samsung hdtv, also because we have multi room we get the hd channels free so I found out from the sky technician. Anyway I decided to try the new 45xx card in my HTPC and see if it eliminated the 10sec glitch, however ended up seeing smoke comming from the cardreader instead of a picture on the screen, pulled card out and chip blown + part of card had melted. Has anyone else ever had this happen? Ive heard that theres been a lot of success with the 45xx cards and ndscam? Obviously its not my lucky day :( I just cant figure out why it did this, ive been using the old 17xx card for ages in this card reader and its always worked, but the new 45xx card just blows up upon inserting it. Now i have to explain to sky why card was blown and get a replacement most probably at my cost. Now my card reader might be stuffed too, the card reader ive always used is a Violet Phoenix I bought from ebay, heres a link to details:
http://www.tronix.gr/tronix-shop/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=49&idart=638&m=&s=

Its plugged into the com1 serial port and has a seperate usb plug used for power only, never had any problems with it up until now.

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#237978 22-Jul-2009 17:03

Is it illegal to use Sky decoder cards with a card reader for non-Sky STB purposes? Otherwise, if you are going to have to pay for it, then why should they care if you can prove the old card is actually damaged.

Don't have Sky, so can't assist with the issue: sorry.

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hads

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#238002 22-Jul-2009 17:47

There's a big difference between "illegal" and against the providers terms and conditions, people often incorrectly state things are illegal.

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gareth41

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#238004 22-Jul-2009 17:56

i will admit that it is against skys terms and conditions but it is not illgeal, i am not getting sky for free at all, and i can only view the channels which i subscribe to anyway, theres another 30 page thread on here somewhere about getting sky thru an htpc using a card reader etc...

RustyGonad

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#238058 22-Jul-2009 21:01

Based on some stuff I have read while playing around, I believe it happened because your reader supplied too much power to the card, causing it to overheat, and then melt. Theres a bunch of info out there on similar stories (using the internal Dreambox readers). This sounds like it has been a reasonably common occurance with the newer cards (overseas use the same cards), and various flavours of readers especially when using non regulated power supplies etc etc etc.

There a bunch of stuff on it at austech.info, but none of that will help you now... They recommend a bunch of readers (including the Jaycar).

My best suggestion would be to start using a Jaycar reader. These limit the available voltage to the cards, and will not provide any additional card cooking services. They also have a proven history with the NZ 45 cards.

gareth41

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#238068 22-Jul-2009 21:35

thanks for the info, i'll definately check out austech.info. I did test the card reader again and it seems to be fine using an old skycard, im surprised the card reader wasnt damaged, however i do also have a jaycar reader i built last year, just havent been using it, its just been sitting collecting dust, will start using it now after reading your post, but thats once i have a new skycard, might have to make up a story for sky to get a new card, eg took card from decoder to stop kids watching tv then simply "lost" it, or the family pet chewed on it :)

Just one other question:
My jaycard reader came with a push button switch next to the cardslot, the jaycar reader will only read the skycard if this switch is in, whats this button for anyway?

RustyGonad

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#238096 22-Jul-2009 22:41

Changes some programming mode I believe. Not needed in the context of what we all use them for, just needs to stay pushed in.

The lost it story already sounds better than I cooked it... :)

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gareth41

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#238163 23-Jul-2009 10:49

Been reading stuff at austech.info, it turns out that my jaycar reader may do the job as it is without any modifictions to change voltage to the card, its a mk II or KC5361. Would I be safe to use another 45xx but this time in my unmodified jaycar reader? or would i have to modify the jaycar reader so the card voltage is 3.3v instead of the 5v? Ive found a tutorial and the electronic components needed for chaging the voltage.

RustyGonad

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#238207 23-Jul-2009 12:19

gareth41: Been reading stuff at austech.info, it turns out that my jaycar reader may do the job as it is without any modifictions to change voltage to the card, its a mk II or KC5361. Would I be safe to use another 45xx but this time in my unmodified jaycar reader? or would i have to modify the jaycar reader so the card voltage is 3.3v instead of the 5v? Ive found a tutorial and the electronic components needed for chaging the voltage.

It should be safe as it is. Lots of people on here using them with 45xx cards.

I've put a few different cards through mine, and haven't cooked any yet. Mines completely unmodified.
If your going to use a external power supply I believe you need to be a little more careful with the type of power supply - check on austech. If your using the internal pc power it will be fine.

allstarnz

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#238215 23-Jul-2009 12:42

the clock speed was probably too high for the card. As rustygonad said, there's a bunch of very knowledgeable people on Austech about this. It seems this can be a real issue with some NDS cards.

richms

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#239051 26-Jul-2009 12:44

they dont take too kindly to lost or damaged smartcards - PPV and all that are stored on them.

Richard rich.ms

gareth41

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#239089 26-Jul-2009 14:44

PPV is actually stored in the sky box itself, every PPV movie you order will be in a list in one of the menus in the sky box, even if you take the card out and put it in another sky box it will not transfer your PPV history to that box or any unpaid PPV, that will only allow you to continue watching your current PPV you just purchased but just on a different sky box. The sky box you order the PPV on just has to be connected to a phone line, it doesnt matter what skycard is in the box, the box will still dialin to sky and report any previously pruchased PPV that hasnt been reported and billed on your account yet. The only way to clear your PPV history is to give the box back to sky and they clear the PPV history on that box before reissuing it to another customer. You cant get PPV just by "losing" the skycard, the only way to get PPV and not pay for a long time, would be to unplug the phone line then order PPV in the allowed time before the box detetcts that its not connected to a phoneline, and leave it in uplugged, but that will not not get you free PPV because when the box goes back to sky (which it eventually will) then they will see all your PPV and bill them on your account.

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richms

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#239091 26-Jul-2009 14:51

Thats not what they guy from sky said when replacing a dud smartcard for my mate for the 2nd time in 3 months - Apparantly removing it from the box so that flatmates cant use the sky is not good for the cards too and it should be left in at all times...

Richard rich.ms

RustyGonad

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#239102 26-Jul-2009 16:27

Yep - I took my card out of the decoder once, I'll regret it forever.

The decoder started to glow a luminous green colour. It then got up and ran into the kitchen, beamed a blue ray of light at my toaster. My toaster then started to wobble, ran over to the microwave, beeped furiously at it, following which all three of them proceed to attack everything in my house.

I ran for cover - the last thing I saw was my vacuum cleaner chasing me as I sprinted down the driveway. I for one will never take my card out of the decoder ever again...

WaffleMakerMan

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#239176 26-Jul-2009 21:12

Glad your ok Rusty

Satch

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#239676 28-Jul-2009 12:42

RustyGonad: Yep - I took my card out of the decoder once, I'll regret it forever.

The decoder started to glow a luminous green colour. It then got up and ran into the kitchen, beamed a blue ray of light at my toaster. My toaster then started to wobble, ran over to the microwave, beeped furiously at it, following which all three of them proceed to attack everything in my house.

I ran for cover - the last thing I saw was my vacuum cleaner chasing me as I sprinted down the driveway. I for one will never take my card out of the decoder ever again...

Ha ha. Love it!

I guess there are some people who really believe the "Card should not be removed" message that the STB gives when you do remove it...

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