Smartcards
The smart card is the last piece in the code puzzle. The CAM takes care of the decoding of the basic coding system, but needs additional information for it, which is supplied by the smart card. That information (keys, subscription info etc.) will vary for every provider. And on top of that, each provider will change that information periodically. Some providers change their keys hardly ever or never at all (Canal Digitaal in Irdeto). Others change their keys every hour or so (Pink Plus).
A smart card is in fact a little processor, combined with some memory. The processor contains a software program which is run on request. The data it needs (keys etc.) is retrieved from the cards memory. The software program is static and doesn't change. The memory does however. The memory needs to be updated regularly. Either by an Auto Update procedure contained in the software and triggered by satellite signal, or by hand.
If you have an original card (MOSC) then the card will calculate the new keys itself. This is called Auto Update. If you don't have these Auto Update codes, you will need to edit the operational keys by hand, using a file editor on your PC.
Below you can see a few examples of original smart cards, also called MOSC ( M odified O riginal S mart C ard).
As with all cards, these MOSC can be altered too, but as long as you don't know exactly what you are doing, I advise you to leave your original cards alone. They can be destroyed when you modify them.
