Q. What is cardsharing?
Hopefully this thread will help complete beginners to understand more.
Cardsharing, card shares, 'sharing' and 'CS' are commonly used to describe the method of using a smartcard (or cards) over a network. In practical terms an original legitimate subscription card could be mounted in a receivers slot; then another box that is in another room, or even a thousand miles away, could access the smartcard via 'local network' or 'internet' to clear channels that the subscription card allows.
So no sharing needs to be involved, its purely access to a remote card that isnt actually plugged into your own card slot, that we refer to with the phrase 'cardshare'.
This method has existed for many years and not new, even though the majority of people have not heard of it. Talk of 'sharing' is banned on many forums and a taboo subject due to its obvious possible illegal uses.
Cardshare or card-over-network is not illegal per se, but it is the use of the method that can be against Uk and international law and generally everyone in the Uk wants to ask "so how do i get free sky?" which is just direct illegal discussion that could lead to the closure of any Uk forum. Teaching someone directly how to 'steal' is also a prosecutable offence, so posts are often removed for safety of the helpful members too.
##Lets make this clear, cardsharing has nothing to do with Sky branded equipment whatsoever, but yes the method does work with Uk smartcards so we cannot condone anyone wishing to use cardshare information to commit crime##
Q. So what do I need?
Firstly you need equipment that is networkable, such as Dreambox and similar linux based satellite products. These receivers have ethernet connection in the same way as computers do, and have ability to use developed software to send and receive information.
Over the years of development many versions of software have evolved and names such as Newcs, Cccam, Mgcamd, Gbox, Newcamd and others have gained popularity due to their ability to network-share. Legal practical use has allowed the subject to expand and even top brand names like PACE, Amstrad, etc, now use the idea to develop new hardware for the future. Legal benefit to networking is you are able to pay for an encrypted package and then watch with a receiver of your choice in your own home and no longer need to keep taking the card in and out of the slot and forgetting where it is etc, or use a favourite machine that doesnt have a supported cam/card slot. 'Grey area' use also includes using over the internet too, because if you PAY for subscription and then watch a channel in your holiday home whilst your card remains at home, how can you be committing a crime? Its not piracy or theft because you are legally paying for the privilege to watch.
Q. How does it work?
For receivers to communicate over a network they need to be configured. Firstly a box needs to know where the card will be located. This hardware holding the card is known as the 'server' or 'cardserver' or 'host' and relates to whatever equipment physically hosts/mounts the smartcard. Other receivers without the smartcard directly inserted are known as the 'clients'.
Standard computer based IP address format is used for real-world location, which acts like telephone numbers for internet connectivity in the same way our pc's work all over the world. So 1 box knows where another is by direct IP number etc.
Each of the software cams mentioned (Gbox, Cccam, Newcamd etc) use 'protocol' or language that is specific to that product. Some cams are able to 'talk' to others, but this can be limited so usually each receiver will keep the same software cam. However, this part is where different development has taken place to give wider suitability and capability.
Eg. As example we will use 'Newcs' as the card server on a machine we'll call 'North'. So a machine running this software hosts an original subscription card in its slot. Now Newcs 'talks' in newcamd protocol, meaning it can communicate with other receivers with software speaking the same digital language.
1 satellite receiver we'll call 'East' uses Mgcamd as its soft-cam. This receiver will be set as a 'client' and does not have a card.
Another satellite receiver we'll call 'South' uses Cccam as its soft-cam This receiver will also be configured as a client to 'North'.
A 4th receiver we'll call 'West' and this also uses Cccam and is configured as a client to 'North'.
>>So this example is nice and simple, all 4 satellite receivers would be able to view channels that the subscription card in receiver 'North' allows. Mgcamd and Cccam are both popular and both able to communicate with Newcs so all is well.
This is the point 'shares' can become more complex and the 'sharing' description more relevant. What happens if South has a different subscription card in its slot that would be good to allow the other receivers to access? Well this means that South will be a Server as well as a client. Using the same soft-cam makes things very easy, it is a simple process to add a line of numbers into West to make it a client, and add a line of numbers into South so that allows West the access. At this point in the example, the result would be that North and East only clear Card1 channels, but both South and West equipment clears Card1 channels and Card2 channels too.
There are options for North & East, its not as complicated as it seems, its just a process of configuring each receiver again and all being on a protocol that each box understands, but sometimes trying to imagine 50 or 100 receivers is a harder task. The point to make is that the method is the same and its not really relevant how complicated it can get, cardsharing is all about the possibilities.
Finally, modern cardsharing can be about paying for access to a share, or splitting costs of a subscription between friends etc. This is where the line is crossed and something legal becomes a criminal offence. Discussion of the technique on this forum allows us understanding and allows progress with multi-card & multi-client development but you will not find details of commercial servers here. If you want to break the law just to get free or cheap access to Uk Tv channels then you need your favorite search engine to help you. Additionally you should always be aware of scammers who abuse the private message function of forums to find new and gullible clients.
This forum is here to help, I hope this post gives more understanding.
Complete newbies to satellite tv should also read here- https://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/19208...asy-steps.html