SamyGO

Hi,
I'm writing here in hope to get some sensible advise for getting a CAM card for my first CI enabled TV set.

I realize I'm thrown into a dark ocean full of dangers and fatal one-way caves. It's my first TV with built-in DVB-C/T/S tuners. But I'm completely new in this field, although I'm a professional when it comes to many other hardware and software. (Like Android, embedded ARM etc.)

The current setup include some unknown collection of about 3-5 sat dishes on the roof. (I don't have access to check..) An apartment cable outlet (which used to have a sat / cab TV receiver box) that worked. Since I'm located in Lithuania, I have access to several free standard channels when digitally tuned from the "Air". (They just went from analog to Digital a few months ago.) And a couple of channels, like: NatGeo HD, Eurosport HD, Discovery HD etc, that are received, but scrambled, and usually dubbed! In the end I'd like to be able to watch these (in original language) and in addition be able to receive some of the other (sat?) channels like CNN, BBC, Euronews etc. So I started looking for a CAM card and some appropriate subscription, including the decoder card. I was amazed and confused to see the quantity different CAM cards, and the lack of decoder card info from the major cable/sat suppliers here. (Viasat, Gala/Teo etc).

Some (or all) of the CAM cards are found here: http://www.rdi-cam.com/unofficial.php
others are found here: http://www.buydvb.net/smit-irdeto-2-pro ... e_p35.html
and here: http://www.pulsat.com/products/Diablo-C ... -v2.3.html

As you see there are literally hundreds of versions to choose from. But I have seen that a card just called "Conex" is sold here and around. But when checking their site, I find that there are several versions of "Conex" and that it mostly refers to the encryption algorithm used, and doesn't specify the type of card.
However, the TV I have is Samsung UE40ES5700 and come with a very poorly written manual, that mention compatibility with CI+ for the 6100 model, but nothing is stated for my model. So I don't even know if I should get a CI or CI+ or even what the practical difference is...

So the bottom line is:

1) What CAM card should I Get?
2) What subscription service should I get? (To maximize the value to the number of international channels.)
3) How/where can I find out the compatibility of (1) when using other satellites (to get other or more channels)?

I really do not want to get another cable-provider box, so do please do not suggest me to get some "package" deal...

Thanks.

Not much going on here...

But I finally got a (Neotion) "Flexbox" Conax CAM, specified as CAS-7 compatible, together with a GALA subscription. It looks very similar to this and also seem to be CI+ compatible.

Now I get several channels from "Air" interface, all local channels, CNN, BBC, Euronews etc, and a few HD channels...

However, most are barely watchable due to very poor bit-error rate (~2000), while Signal is at 90 (out of 100).
Any suggestions to what is the problem?

I have two Samsung TV`s and tested two CAM modules (provided by cable provider):

1. SMiT conax module: no problems for over two years on B series, also for few months on D series with no complaints.
2. Neotion CA module: - have problems with it on both B and D series TV`s - too much OTA updates (almost every day - module searches for some firmware update and at this time i can`t watch TV - need to restart) also not rare TV looses signal and tells me channel is scrambled.

I heard Neotion has some compatibility problems with Samsung TV`s. I would recommend to try another module if possible.

Thanks, very good to know. I'll keep it for now and see how it goes, the funny thing is that I have no problems with the HD channels what soever, only the other ones... Very strange. Perhaps they use a different dish?