Guys,

My mediastar DW-820PVR as of yesterday has refused to recognise the Austar card. I get the E30 message coming up all the time. The satellite feed is coming into the box as the programming info is there, just no decoded picture.

I put the card back in the Austar box and the channels view fine and almost straight away. Put the card back in the Media star and E30 messages still.

There has been previous talk of dud cams. Has any of this been proven?

Any suggestions on how could I check my cam to see if it is a dud?

My software is version MDS-106e-2087L, build date Jul 25 2007.

I'll have to find my reciept and see if i still have some warranty left and also contact the supplier to see if there is a newer software version available.

I still also have some other issues with
- timer recordings that do not start. The box will switch to the channel but not start.
- box locks up when viewing satellite channels while recording a terrestrial channel (hasn't happened much)
- brief boughts of pixelation and sound drops outs on recording from terrestrial channels.
- the time lag it takes for the austar channels to display after switching from Terrestrial channels (when it was working).

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regards,

Craig

Go look on the Austar Board at http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=65644

None of us can use our Austar cards outside their boxes now.

John

Bugger, what a PITA.
I hope some resolution (legal) can be found, going back to the Austar box is a real let-down!
Make the Mediastar prety expensive just for FTA (that I don't watch much of anyway.
Must say though, I have had a good run out of the box, with very few of the problems mentioned here.

Thanks Tassie,

didn't even think to look there! My apologies.

Hopefully someone can find a way to get it back and working in third party boxes.

Its going to be a real pain to have to use the Austar box again.

Yes, I agree re the Austar box. PQ has gone backwards now in this house.

John

From what I can see, it appears they (Austar) have married the card to the Austar box.

SelecTV have the box married to their card (if you purchase the Arion box/card package) but you can still use that card in third party boxes, just as if you purchased the card-only.

I don't know the figures, but I'd say the majority of Austar customers use the Austar box, who won't have noticed any change, so I doubt Austar will bother to make any changes to help the minority among us who prefer to use better quality boxes.

I have to admit, it's a very simple way to combat pirate cards by requiring any particular Austar card to match Austar box data (serial No etc). Surprising they didn't do that long ago.

Yes, Austar flashed over the air all their own boxes with a new cam registry, therefore Austar cards now only work in Austar's supplied equipment.

Solution 1. cancel Austar go withe selectv 20$ buys you the card + Monthly as low as 30$ you also get 2nd and 3rd months free when you subscribe, you are not locked in to a contract and you don't need to acquire further hardware.

Solution 2. waite a few months until someone comes up with a new cam module for the Mediastar or new cam software which will accept the Austar card. No guarantees on this one.

Of course, we all know that Austar was never ever ever going to do what they've done therefore purchasers of 3rd party boxes will never ever have any problems, eh Refidim?

Don't expect a properly licenced implementation of Irdeto2 in a CAM to work with Austar unless Austar retreats from its current position (unlikely). You'll need to use a CAM with 'hacked' firmware or a dodgey non-licenced implementation which may well conk out at a minutes notice.

Notice how Austar was able to prevent Refidim's 'genuine licenced purple CAMs' from working despite what he said / implied?