On Wednesday July 23,
1997, a day which some contact “Dark Monday” Directv and Media Datacom executed the P2 datastream. Directv had been sending new access cards out to readers for around a year. The new card, dubbed the P2 or “H series” was developed to boost safety of these conditional access system Toseina.
The initial P1 or “F series” card had been completely hacked, with a variety of cards available, some readily available for free. The P2 card seemed like the previous one, nevertheless it had been significantly developed internally different.
Along side nearly doubling the EEPROM storage, it now had a intel-based inner Siemens model, as opposed to the Motorola based model that the F collection had. This cards maintain to popularity however was the improvement of yet another portion named an ASIC, or Software Unique Incorporated Circuit.
Several hackers had been working on breaking the EEPROM of the newest card for a while now. One of the significant problems that the F collection hacks had was that they may perhaps not copy the Motorola model completely, therefore they’d to imitate it with an intel based one.
This huge difference was one of the factors that the cards were ECM’d therefore often. Another reason was that the application was frequently easily launched to the internet. Once launched to the masses via the internet, their start period for DTV and NewsDatacom. So the model issue was good information, nonetheless they however had to “dump” the EEPROM (Electronically, Erasable, Programmable, Study, Just, Memory) and acquire the microcode out therefore they may start on a testing solution.
Some of the designers of the F collection cards such as for instance AXA seemed to own underestimated the safety of the newest cards, as they estimated to truly have the solution within a few weeks. There have been a few significant problems. 1) Capital. Opposite engineering is very costly, charges can very quickly explode to around $100 000. 2) Specialized Knowledge.
The designers had experience compiling bootstraps, nonetheless they lacked the complex experience or gear to acquire the microcode from the EEPROM, therefore it absolutely was required to send it to some other lab in many cases. 3) Charge Effectiveness. The ASIC was a huge problem. It was soon discovered how a ASIC labored, however since it absolutely was program particular, it was not available available on the market and it would have to be manufactured from scratch. The expense of such a opportunity will be formidable.
Over per month and a half had passed considering that the datastream was moved, and AXA and other designers however had nothing. At this time we found the emergence of the East 3M card. The 3M designers had started the project of throwing the rule a lot sooner compared to the others and therefore they’d a huge head start.
Since they applied the P2 access card, the ASIC issue was solved. The original cards were pricey, many were selling for $500 US+.Because of the considerable rule alterations, several people were unwilling of spending such a large volume for a card that can go down at any time. They certainly were relying upon the other designers to come through with a more affordable option.
But it was not to be, at least perhaps not proper away. The mixture of talents from AXA, PGM and Tornado turned out to be inadequate contrary to the safety of the P2. Over 2 weeks had passed and they certainly were incapable of eliminate the EEPROM. Without it, a remedy would not be possible.
More and more folks had been giving to the temptation of getting number TV and were getting the 3M card in large numbers. Right after, a new 3M card was developed in american Canada. This could be dubbed the West 3M. Many people were hoping that your competition could trigger the costs to decline significantly. They did not. Rates got down somewhat and settled about $400 US.
For about 2 weeks, the East and West 3m cards were the only possibilities and income flourished. Then a new choice was introduced. It’d number formal title, but soon came into existence known as the Combo Card. However the purchase price was very high, up to $650 U.S. Plenty of sellers were claiming so it could not be ECM’d and therefore several were sold. Short
ly following a new hit down solution known as the DDT was introduced. The price was however high, but less costly compared to mix card. Both the Combo card and the DDT labored together with a P2 access card. The significant huge difference was that the mix card could make use of a virgin, unactivated access card and the DDT required a small membership to be able to work. It’d now been around 5 weeks because he datastream change, number ECMs had occurred.
The very first ECM occurred on December 21, 1997. It was targeted contrary to the 3M cards. It was thought a member of the East 3M class has submitted a copy of these software following creating a bunch of money and causing the group. This is wherever some exciting things happened and the East class lost plenty of their popularity.
Both the East and West 3M cards were ECM’d with an enormous 99 hook, inducing the cards to lock up and be neither readable or writeable. Nearly straight away, the East 3M class issued a record claiming that the cards were incapable of be fixed and they required an individual to pay for $100 US plus outline their previous card. Many people were enraged about this as they certainly were stated free support. What enraged people many however was that the West 3M class was claiming that the cards could possibly be fixed.
The west group’s provide was far more appealing. They offered to reprogram a new card for $50 Cdn.(cost of new card) and an individual could have the previous card returned when fixed, or an individual can delay and be given a FREE unlooping and reprogramming. More additionally they provided to give the provide to East 3M consumers except they would keep carefully the previous access card.
New software was available about two weeks following the ECM and many individuals who paid the $50 were playing within a month. Many were keeping down for a free unlooping as it seemed encouraging a answer will be found. The original unlooping was not entirely successful.
The very first attempts were engineered by Eddie from North Sat Technologies in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They first experimented with glitch it from the 99 hook by making use of minimal voltage to the card. Some cards were fused permanently.
Following some playing, it seemed that they’d it, it absolutely was unlooped and they may now see the card, they certainly were sent down to be tried for reprogramming. It was soon unearthed that they may perhaps not be prepared to however and therefore it absolutely was necessary to use again.
In regards to a week later North Sat was successful and he started to unloop cards and send them to the programmer. The sheer number of cards turned out to be the Achilles heel as just therefore several cards could possibly be reprogrammed in a day. Many people were playing again with unlooped cards 2 weeks following the ECM.