Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Not so much asking for help but more asking if this has happened before.....
Got home from work on monday night turned on telly to catch up on the days events get the blue error box coming up saying my smartcard is not inserted correctly please re-insert and press the red button which i do (Strange bit here the smart card has never been removed from the day and hour i got the box)
Then done the usual things that you are asked to do when you call up tech support IE turn of box for a period of time then switch on again woth no effect whatsoever.
Then phone up support who told me to do what i had already done after a cobsiderable time of trying this and phoneing tech support an engineer is booked and should be arriving tommorow sometime but have been told that even when he does come and the problem still exists there is not a lot that he can do as it related to the smart card so has any other members experienced a simalar problem and if so what was the resolution.

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Did they tell you to clean the smartcard? - sometimes they can get dirty.

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Over time, sometimes static or something like it can build up and affect the smart card. If the STB can't properly communicate with it due to this interference, Digi TV gives up.

Sky boxes can have the same problem.

Quite why there is a need for a smart card on the ntl boxes, I don't know.

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Yes they said to clean with a clean cotton cloth to remove any dirt or any static build up

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Hmm odd, I have heard of instances where the smartcard has warped with the intense heat of some STB's, anything visible, on the card that could indicate this?

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

yup there is some brown burn like marks on the card as if it had been scorched

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

I can't understand why you have been told there is nothing that can be done when the tech arrives. The Tech can swop the box, which if the issue is as it sounds like a card issue, will resolve it. The new box will come with a new card.

If you press Page Up, Page Down, Blue, what does the text say about the CA status?

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

I used to get this all the time when we had Ntl and a 2000 box, when they swapped it for a 4010 it stopped.

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Can not get to the CA status page

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Where are you?
Do you get anything pressing page up page down and then blue?

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Get absolutly nothing when doing this

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

So your old ntl ? The 'where are you' bit asked about that!

I think either the card or the reader is knackered. See my previous post, I can't see why a visiting tech can't resolve with a new box.

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Aye i am old ntl original cabletel area what i think the techie meant was that the box i do have could not be fixed but a new one would do the trick

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Update
New box installed the fault was the card reader it self and not the card

Re: Strange problem with Digi TV
 

Glad its all sorted.