We have been receiving a lot of requests to find out what if anything has been going on in the videoipher hacker underground. One would think that with all the DBS hacking going on, interest in the C-Band videocipher encryption system would be minimal or non-existent. This is not true at all. There is a rather large number of dedicated C-Band dish folks still using software developed and maintained by a few good underground programmers.
The latest VCII test device that we tested is known as the Auto Roll 6.2 software.
Some history about the VCII C-Band decoder and past compromises.
Auto Roll software has been around for about the past four or five years. The Auto Roll software was designed to assist those who wanted to keep the their old VCII units up and running when General Instruments convinced a number of premium programmers such as HBO, ShowTime, etc. to switch to the more secure VCII plus data stream. The reason for this new VCII plus data stream is that the old VCII system had been compromised to the extent that is was no longer a secure means of safe guarding a programmers pay TV service. The unique and ironic thing is that the old VCII data stream was never totally shut down. Basic satellite delivered services, such as CNN, WTBS, WOR, Discovery, ESPN and many more, still operate to this day on both the old as well as the newer VCII plus data stream. When General Instruments decided it was time to force the home dish user to switch out to the more secure Plus VCII module, G.I. started offering all sorts of trade incentives, such as: $100.00 and your old VCII module would get you a new $450.00 VCII plus module. There were a lot of takers due to the fact that most thought this would be the end of the old VCII.
When G.I. thought that the swapout was completed, all of the old residential VCII module unique unit ID's were removed from the old VCII data stream. However, the old data stream remained intact. Why?, Cable TV headends throughout America were, and still are today, using the old VCII data stream to decode the basic cable TV services.
Back as little as 7 years ago, when a VCII module was compromised there were three methods used by the satellite underground. These methods are known as 1. A straight clone 2. A 3-M device. 3. Key Wizard technology.
In the straight clone, a master unit's unique unit ID and associated seed keys were copied into software and then installed into a second, third and so on VCII module. Whatever programming was purchased on the master unit would then be also received on the cloned modules.
The 3-M software worked some what differently. Each unit that the 3-M software was installed into would require at least a subscription to one basic service, then the key calculator within the 3-M software would calculate a working monthly key for the remaining services ,thus opening up the sky .
Key Wizard Technology is software that allowed the user to enter the working month key for a VCII encrypted service into a VCII decoder via the satellite receiver's remote control or the VCII standalone chassis key pad. These wizard keys could also be uploaded to a VCII through modem technology that was custom designed for this propose by the VCII underground . The wizard key is the end product calculation of the unique unit ID and a selected seed key after the unit is authorized by the programmer.
After G.I. removed all the residential unique ID's from the old data stream, the only active ID's remaining would be those of cable TV headend VCII decoders. At this point all the old clone software and 3-M software sold by the satellite underground was rendered useless.
It was not long before engineers with-in the VCII underground started making friends with folks in the cable TV industry, and,for some sort of monetary or what ever exchange, be allowed to pull ID's and seed keys form commercial VCII decoders that were working with the old VCII data stream.
The ID's and keys that the underground folks were pulling was not released to the general hacker public. Instead of developing software using the newly acquired ID's and seed keys, the underground developed a product known as wizard key software, then for a very small fee sell the end-user of the wizard software the necessary monthly key or wizard code list for the wizard software to work. The end-user of the wizard software could also join a service that would upload the new wizard codes to the users VCII via a modem on the users request.
The code updating did not last very long, as GI some how caught wind that the satellite underground was pulling ID's and seed keys from commercial VCII units and distributing the monthly working keys to wizard users. In GI's mind, it was time to change monthly working key on a daily basis instead of once a month. This would ultimately make distributing the wizard codes an impossible task for the satellite underground, Thus Auto Roll software was created.
The Autoroll 6.2 that we tested has ID's and keys working for most of the basic satellite services. The software is very easy to use. Basically, just plug the Auto Roll loader into the U-30 socket of an 010-019 VCII module and power the module up for a few seconds. This will allow the VCII module to download information needed to prepare the module for operation with the Auto Roll run chip. The module will report on the television screen if the loader information was properly downloaded to the module . Next, you install the Auto Roll run eprom, go to a basic satellite channel, press the help key, select that channel from the list and wait for a hit. To monitor the hits after you select the channel that your are on, press the text key and you will enable the Hit Monitor. When that channel key is received, the unit will display "Next Code Stored". This code will produce audio when the particular service switches to that code.
Auto Roll 6.2 also has another fine feature; the user can turn on and off the VCII plus channels from the setup screen. The password for this function is 0000.
One note that may interest you: General Instruments is no longer manufacturing Video Cipher encryption equipment, but it has been observed by many in the satellite industry that new VCII services are using the old data stream.. Hmmmmmmmmm
Well, it took a while but it appears that the security of the "H" or 4 series card has been compromised. At this point we are not exactly sure if it is a 3-M or straight Clone hack. However, as time permits, we will find out and pass the info along to you. The cost for the card is said to be around $500.00 U.S.
Howdy All,
Well, as you will see in this issue of the SWN, the DBS H card is hacked. Compromising the "H" card did not take as long as most said it would. The next event will be, how long will it last before it is ECMed, only time will tell.
We have been expericeing some very annoying problems with Bill Cooper of the World Wide Freedom Network. It seems that Bill forgets who has purchased satellite trans-ponder time, and what day and time that particular program is scheduled to air. As of July 24 the Home Sat-ellite show has been preempted 3 times, the first time 10 minutes, the second time 25 minutes and July 24th the entire show was replaced with his own programming. There is no way to contact Bill and remind him what day and time it is when Bill decides to do his thing . The reason is that his only home phone line is tied up airing his program in my PAID FOR IN ADVANCE TIME SLOT. When I first made arangements to purchase transponder time from Bill Cooper, he could not stress strongly enough just how much all of the program-mers on WWFN needed to produce their programs in a professional manner and stick tightly to the pur-chased and allocated time slot.
I think that Bill needs to re-think exactly what he preaches. I will be looking for a new C-Band trans- ponder where the network owner knows how much he has been paid for air time sold to who and when.
Until Next Month
Dan Morgan
Welcome again to another exciting edition of the low power corner. We will be taking up the train of thought where we left off last month, "What is that damn rover thing doing on Mars anyway?" No, seriously, Now that you have selected your frequency, let's put some quality stuff on it.Your audio system that delivers your programming material to the transmitter is usually very basic but very sensitive to external interference, such as AC hum, other random signals and those ever ubiquitous florescent lights. These are some of the most common, but not all, of the possibilities. In order to minimize or totally eliminate the problem, connect a braided copper wire to ALL CHASSIS units. This technique is known as bonding. This is used in recording studios to do the same thing, The last thing you want to do is annoy your audience with a terrible hum.
A few words about setting up the booth or the "room" for your commercials or announcements.production, as well as any live, on-air programming. This space can be of any configuration but, most likely, is a basic room. Well, any port in the storm.
Actually, the 90 degree angles in a normal room can be very problematical. Because of the parallel walls, you can set up a standing wave or very, very short echo, which will sound like a booming effect at a specific frequency!(Whew!). What all that means is that your voice will sound muffled and will sound annoying. Like it or not, our audience has listened to BARF101 (your local Ken and Barbie bad stuff) using state of the art set ups, and we are measured by that standard. You should get as close as you can to that sound, or you may lose your listeners. The nice part of this is however, that after you have secured your listeners they will stay because of the content of the programs. How to rid yourself of that echo thing? Take a rug or any other sound damping material and hang them on opposing walls at angles other than 90 degrees. A technique used by the recording studios for the very same reasons.
Also, for group programming, such as rountable discussions, you can obtain a little item from your local Radio "Room" store.This little gadget is called a PZM microphone, developed by Crown International. The original item bottom line is at $300 plus,but you can get one of these for under 60 bucks and it does the same thing! (It is great for covert recording too! But that is another time and place) With those two items, say good bye to the booming sounds that are so common to the new guys (and ladies).
You may also want to add a few other rather optional things to your lineup as you go. First is probably an audio compressor. This raises the average audio level and gives a fuller sounding audio. Also you will want a graphic equalizer. This acts as a frequency selective volume control used, in this case, to selectively tune out (or in) various frequencies to optimize your sound.
Much of what many of you will be doing will be selectively rebroadcasting programming availableon the various satellites. May I also recommend that when you do go on line, you go for 24 hours a day .This will enable all, who want to listen, to do so at anytime of the day.
Also, if you want to automate your station to add local news or advertising, there is automation software from Broadcast Software International and others vendors. Give some thought about doing commercials and/or public service announcements that would be of interest to your audience, for recalling your mayor for example.
You will be surprised how well your service to your local community will be received. You May also want to make public service time avaialbe to worthwhile groups, who might be denied air time on other outlets.
As this activity grows further in the country, you will see more things getting out to the public in general that would not otherwise be out and around, and YOU ARE part of the solution. For example, there is now a ring of lapper stations around the Chicago area broadcasting the alternative news to many people. Have they been effective? YES! How do we know? Because, after three weeks on the air, the MAJOR FM outlet there had serious inroads made into it's MARKET SHARES.
The translation is, get your paperwork ready because this is where the complaints to the FCC originate. This is not a battle of ideas, as most of you may believe, but a question of who gets the MONEY! So in further issues, along with technical stuff, I will endeavor to keep you out of the FCC frying pan by applying THE LAW. This is a very important idea and PLEASE stop calling yourselves PIRATE stations. You are admitting guilt right there. This is a legal term in Black's law dictionary and will be used against you. Refer to yourselves as low power stations operated by PRIVATE CITIZENS not using an FCC license, and not subject to their jurisdiction as supported by FEDERAL court decisions. Also it would be a good idea to put no trespassing notices on your PRIVATE LAND to put these yahoos on notice!
As you can see, the low power venue is getting more attention all the time and if you are doing your part, you will attract attention. You need a resource to get the needed information out to the public but also to protect yourself. The trails have been blazed, it is up to you to carry on and to get the words out to the people. We are here to help you. However, we need your support to continue. What can you do? First, you can set up your own station using this publication. You can get valuable information by listening to the show on Thursday evening on C Band GE 1 transponder 7, 7.56 wideband and calling in and networking your information with others. With this, and others in the process of broadcasting, you cannot be isolated from your friends who are doing the same. We are planning to have very interesting guests on the show with technical and legal views which have been proven to work for you.
Here is the toolbox for you, now get up and do it! We need support from you for the network, so any pledge of support will be very much appreciated. I do this as a labor of love and hope it is helpful to you and other considering setting out on this venture. By rebroadcasting alternative news, we are some of the last centurions on the wall of the Republic. I could get speculative by giving you various facts on the polictical and national scene, and get kinda scary, but I think you get the idea. As it ALWAYS has been it is UP TO YOU. What are you going to tell you children?
Oh yes, good night Megan! 73's de Docazoid@i-star.com