Plugin: DVB Decrypter & Card Client

[routerunner]

A couple of years ago I purchased a valid subscription card to watch encrypted channels and never being able to use it with lots of frustration from my family in particular from my son whom loves sport events which are normally encrypted.

I've been trying for quite some time to make the MDAPI + ACAMD + OSCAM combination to work with SageTV and in particular in service mode without success and sadly gave up, not to mention that with so many software in the chain it is very difficult to keep things working reliably.

I know there are third party solutions out there that works very well on SageTV, but they are mainly network encoders that might appeal to someone, but the configuration and maintenance required can be a little bit daunting and most importantly they will re-introduce "the pause" that, for people watching lots of live TV, can be irritating and I'm the one that upgraded to v7 just because "the pause" was removed.

There are also tuners with an on-board CAM that are working really well, but unless you buy a WiFi CAM to share a single card you're obliged to have a valid subscription for each tuner and that can be really expensive indeed.

After taking all these consideration on board, I decided to take the plunge and start designing a custom DirectShow filter with the purpose of being inserted in the SageTV video capture graph allowing decryption of the incoming transport stream packets. This is not a new concept as it mainly does what the MDAPI filter does, however this new filter, being dedicated to SageTV, does work in service mode and will take a further step by implementing a single card protocol (newcam is the most popular) client, which means that ACAMD is not required anymore as well.

Being a card client it obviously need a reliable card server and I thought of OSCAM as one of the most used out there, yet not the easiest to configure, but when it works it does the job. OSCAM will be the only card server supported and must run locally on the same machine as your SageTV server.


Come on, go native...

• Simplicity - Being a SageTV dedicated solution it is simple and efficient, the configuration required is down to the bare minimum.
• Tuning speed - Decryption is done at transport stream level within SageTV, resulting in incredibly fast tuning speed.
• No "pause" - The pause between shows whilst watching live TV is simply not existent.
• No tuner limit - The real limit to the concurrent number of supported tuner depends on your CPU and smardcard reader's speed.
• Support - Despite SageTV development has reached its end, this plugin will be fully supported and any issues hopefully fixed in a very short time.

Prerequisite

• Make sure your system have the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86) installed on your system or get the free installer HERE.
• Make sure you're running SageTV as Administrator or a user with administrator privileges.
• Make sure that SageTV.exe and SageTVService.exe are both in the firewall exception list.

Installation

This is now a standard SageTV v7 plugin, please found the plugin in the general section under the name "DVB Decrypter". The installation is completely automatic and is made of three components, but installing the main plugin (1) the other components will be installed as well:

1) DVB Decrypter: The installation, configuration and channel selector mechanism plugin.
2) DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter: The DirectShow filter which is the engine that will descramble your channels.
3) DVB Decrypter Smartcard Server: The smartcard server OSCAM distribution.

• Stop the SageTV server and copy your backed up "oscam.server" file or create a new one by following the "Configuration" steps below.
• Start your SageTV server.
• Follow the "Running" steps below.

Please report any problem and feedback HERE.


Configuration

The only file you need to change is the "oscam.server" which contains all the card readers you want to use. I've tried to keep the structure very simple including only what is strictly necessary. This is the standard template, the field in bold are mandatory for validation, the one in italics are highly recommended:

[reader]
label = <your TV provider name>
protocol = <your card reader protocol>
device = <your device (IP/hostname/serial port)>, <port>
group = 1
caid = <your card CAID>
audisabled = 0 (Set 1 for BSkyB or 0 otherwise)
EMMcache = 1,3,2
blockemm-u = 0 (Set 1 for BSkyB or 0 otherwise) 
blockemm-s = 0 
blockemm-g = 0 (Set 1 for BSkyB or 0 otherwise) 
blockemm-unknown = 1

Every card definition starts with the "[reader]" tag. Set the "label" property with the TV package name, the "device" property, if serial, must point to the right Windows serial interface (COM1 is ttyS0, COM2 is ttyS1, and so on) if you are using a payed card sharing service the provider IP/hostname address and port number, the "group" property must be a unique number ranging 1..64, typically 1 if you have one card only and finally the "caid" must contain the CAID your card support (you can find this information in the OSCAM log). If you make mistakes the filter will reject the configuration and the card will not be used (look at the filter's log).
The example above is based on a typical serial/usb (mouse protocol) card reader, but if you have a different one, then please have a look at the official "oscam.server" manual HERE for your reference, however the minimum properties that must be present are the one in the example above.

In addition, if you have an OSCAM server running already (maybe on a raspberry Pi for instance), it is possible to configure the OSCAM server installed with the plugin to connect to the remote OSCAM server by following the simple instruction posted HERE .


Running

When SageTV is running, just run the OSCAM server in background with the arguments "-r2 -b". If everything is fine your server will read the card entitlements and the filter will connect to the OSCAM server automatically. OSCAM server features a web server that can be accessed via port 3001 whereby you can see all your cards, users and real-time logs. When you perform a recording/playback, the log will display only the entitlements the filter will be able to decrypt with the card/s you've got.


License

This software requires purchasing a licence which is tight to your SageTV server MAC address, therefore during the purchasing process, please specify the list of all MAC addresses your SageTV server have. Once the purchase is made, users will receive an email with a file in attachment called DVBDCC.lic which simply need to be downloaded into the SageTV installation directory and restart the SageTV application/service afterwards.

Please make the very small donation to obtain the license and sustain the project


Troubleshooting

Before reporting any issue, please make sure that you have the SageTV logging enabled and your fault can be easily reproducible with a known number of steps. Please collect all your DVBDCC-Tuner-xx.log, the sagetv_0.log and tuner's .FRQ files at the time of the fault, pack everything as a single zip file and send to:

edoardo [dot] rossi [dot] home [at] gmail [dot] com

Thanks
Eddy

[routerunner]

Watching encrypted channels with SageTV in native mode with any DVB (C/T/S) tuner is possible and is here, so it is with great pleasure that I announce the very first plugin version of this software

Please read carefully the instruction in the first post before proceeding, also note that this is a very alpha version and I expect lots of issues.

This software has been tested on "Tivusat" smartcards only and proven to work for some channels, but not all, however I'm working hard on that and expect a full support shortly.

BSkyB in the UK has not been tested at all as I don't have such smartcard, so any helper is welcomed in particular from whom that have a currently working card sharing system and using solution like DVBLogic to descramble.

Any other user living in a country that have DVB (C/T/S) system is welcomed to try this software and let me know whether is working or not.

Remember, this is only the beginning of a long journey

Thanks
Eddy

[routerunner]

I'm very pleased to announce that the Italian Tivusat channels are now all supported as the bug preventing the correct usage has been finally fixed. That also means that all the channels for all the Countries supporting DVB standard should also work

The tuning channel performance is incredibly fast. On average, only 1 second more to tuning an encrypted channel is required, most of the time you don't notice whether the channel is encrypted or not.

No "pause" on live TV as this is not a network tuner.

As this is a library upgrade, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Enjoy!
Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Fix WinX64 key path.
- Better "no tuner" situation handling.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Fix very first tuning might fail or take long time.
- Further improvement on channel tuning performance.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

An highly recommended upgrade is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- More instrumented debug.
- Changed autotune algorithm due to lazy tuners.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- More card sharing friendly.
- Web server can be accessed from anywhere within your local network.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A critical upgrade is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Support hybrid tuners.
- Sometime SageTV uses encrypted channels for the startup testing procedure failing the registration so look for first clear available channel instead.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Startup procedure no longer required.
- Fixes failure when running SageTV in service mode.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Removed unused types and methods.
- Enabled the SageTV PTSFix mechanism.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Fixes crash that sometimes happen when closing SageTV after the first usage only.
- Optimization which reduces the overall CPU load of about 10%.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new and highly recommended version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Disabled the SageTV PTSFix mechanism.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Fixes Sky UK encrypted channel support. This should also fix some other channels around the world as well.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Further ~300msec improved channel tuning speed.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Enjoy!
Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Support physical channels made in the form of [NID-TID-SID-CH] typically used for transport stream EPG automatic detection.

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

It is with a great pleasure that I announce a full new release of the plugin ready to download:

DVB Decrypter
- Handle channel tuning synchronization failure, by means of SageTV automatic tuning retry mechanism wasn't handled properly.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Full support of German HD+ channels package.
- Added a ready HD+ oscam.server template (post #1).
- Minor fix and improvement.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Server
- Update to build #8935

IMPORTANT: Before doing the update please stop the OSCAM server first.

Enjoy!
Eddy

[routerunner]

A new and highly recommended version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Implemented variable synchronization algorithm for tuners not capable of providing a properly aligned sample.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download:

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- New optimized code which improves CPU usage.
- Fixes a very rare instability issues that happens only when closing down the SageTV application or stopping the SageTV service.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download which introduces the parallel decryption method. As announced previously the parallel mode is available to project's donors only. Without a donation the filter will run the single mode algorithm as before, but it will benefit from upgrades and improvement as appropriate.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Introducing the parallel descrambling algorithm which greatly reduces the CPU usage and therefore enable recording more simultaneous decrypted channels.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download which introduces the dynamic sample packing algorithm. Basically when the plugin is running in parallel mode a new algorithm kicks in which dynamically adjust the sample size in order to maximize the parallel decrypter engine usage and consequently reducing even further the CPU load. The optimization is done per a channel basis and it takes about 30/40 seconds to reach its optimum stage, but don't worry you will be able to watch in the meantime as normal, the algorithm is working transparently under the hood.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Introducing the dynamic "sample packing" algorithm.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new highly recommended version is available to download.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Fixes the random 'no signal' issue which normally disappear at the second tuning attempt.
- Support the special multiple EMM/ECM packet handling for IRDETO smartcard.
- Added extra smartcard validation code to help identify configuration issues in the log.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Support missing CAT table in transport stream from some (FTA only) naughty transponders

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Added a setting to the oscam.conf which keeps the [cs378x] connection alive. The new setting is apparently relevant for certain configuration that use card readers.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy

[routerunner]

A new version is available to download.

DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter
- Support the 'in the middle of a program encryption switch' mechanism that unfortunately is happening on some Tivusat channels.

As this is a library upgrade only, SageTV will not notify of the new version, therefore you have to do it manually via:

Setup > SageTV Plugins > Installed Plugins > Library > DVB Decrypter Smartcard Client Filter

Please restart the SageTV server if not prompted to do so.

Eddy