1.0 Overview
2.0 Satellite Access Cards
1.0 Overview
The satellite receiver is the same basic kind of component as the cable box, but is designed specifically for use with satellite HDTV systems. In the early days of satellite TV, DirecTV had other companies making their hardware. One of these companies was Sony, which used the very popular TiVo operating system for their early, standard-definition sat receivers and recorders. Once News Corp took over DirecTV, they abandoned technical support for TiVo, thus relegating the device to world of aftermarket cable boxes. Some of the early DirecTV HDTV recorders used TiVo, much to the pleasure of the end users. Today, MPG4 compressed satellite receivers (you need MPEG4 to get all of the 100-plus HDTV channels from the satellite providers) come with their own proprietary operating systems. Competing Dish Network DVRs also come with their own operating systems; they never used the TiVo system.
2.0 Satellite Access Cards
Unlike most cable boxes, a satellite receiver comes with a highly sophisticated access card that must be plugged into the front (or back, for older units) of a satellite receiver in order to get a signal. The code from the satellite receiver needs to be given to the satellite provider so that it can track the usage of the system and activate the signal. Years ago, hackers found a way to crack cable cards, allowing those feeling frosty to get any and every channel, movie and sports program. Satellite companies quickly caught up, leaving these users frequently missing all of their channels. Today, most users don't find it's worth playing the cat and mouse game of trying to cheat the satellite company out of some free channels, considering the legal and logistical ramifications.
