My experience with DirecTV and the phone line is that is establishes a sort-of two way communication. The satellite system by itself is one way. They can send program guide updates AS WELL AS smart card software updates via the satellite stream. That's how they get those hacked cards. They can change the software that runs on the smart card...via the satellite stream. They issue read/write commands to the smart card that contains the program that decrypts the stream. Anybody remember "Back Sunday" Do research on that and that will explain. I could go on but it would turn into a primer on how satellite encryption works.
The phone is used for reporting PPV and other stats. Have your phone line plugged into your receiver now? Supposedly if you unplug it and buy a PPV, you won't receive a bill for that PPV until you plug it back in. I received a bill after my receiver had been unplugged and purchases had been made w/o the line being plugged in. The line was restored a month later and a bill showed up for the PPV.
As far as your Tivo guide, sounds like you have received plenty of advice telling you to use the network card and some mods to get it working over the net.
I have called DirecTV NUMEROUS times to change programming and other things and they have never said anything to me about my phone line not being plugged in and it has been over a year since it was last plugged in!!! Good Luck. IMHO.
My experience with DirecTV and the phone line is that is establishes a sort-of two way communication. The satellite system by itself is one way. They can send program guide updates AS WELL AS smart card software updates via the satellite stream. That's how they get those hacked cards. They can change the software that runs on the smart card...via the satellite stream. They issue read/write commands to the smart card that contains the program that decrypts the stream. Anybody remember "Back Sunday" Do research on that and that will explain. Try This article I could go on but it would turn into a primer on how satellite encryption works.
The phone is used for reporting PPV and other stats. Have your phone line plugged into your receiver now? Supposedly if you unplug it and buy a PPV, you won't receive a bill for that PPV until you plug it back in. I received a bill after my receiver had been unplugged and purchases had been made w/o the line being plugged in. The line was restored a month later and a bill showed up for the PPV.
As far as your Tivo guide, sounds like you have received plenty of advice telling you to use the network card and some mods to get it working over the net.
I have called DirecTV NUMEROUS times to change programming and other things and they have never said anything to me about my phone line not being plugged in and it has been over a year since it was last plugged in!!! Good Luck. IMHO.
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My experience with DirecTV and the phone line is that is establishes a sort-of two way communication. The satellite system by itself is one way. They can send program guide updates AS WELL AS smart card software updates via the satellite stream. That's how they get those hacked cards. They can change the software that runs on the smart card...via the satellite stream. They issue read/write commands to the smart card that contains the program that decrypts the stream. Anybody remember "Back Sunday" Do research on that and that will explain. I could go on but it would turn into a primer on how satellite encryption works.
The phone is used for reporting PPV and other stats. Have your phone line plugged into your receiver now? Supposedly if you unplug it and buy a PPV, you won't receive a bill for that PPV until you plug it back in. I received a bill after my receiver had been unplugged and purchases had been made w/o the line being plugged in. The line was restored a month later and a bill showed up for the PPV.
As far as your Tivo guide, sounds like you have received plenty of advice telling you to use the network card and some mods to get it working over the net. I have called DirecTV NUMEROUS times to change programming and other things and they have never said anything to me about my phone line not being plugged in and it has been over a year since it was last plugged in!!! Good Luck. IMHO.
My experience with DirecTV and the phone line is that is establishes a sort-of two way communication. The satellite system by itself is one way. They can send program guide updates AS WELL AS smart card software updates via the satellite stream. That's how they get those hacked cards. They can change the software that runs on the smart card...via the satellite stream. They issue read/write commands to the smart card that contains the program that decrypts the stream. Anybody remember "Back Sunday" Do research on that and that will explain. Try This article I could go on but it would turn into a primer on how satellite encryption works.
The phone is used for reporting PPV and other stats. Have your phone line plugged into your receiver now? Supposedly if you unplug it and buy a PPV, you won't receive a bill for that PPV until you plug it back in. I received a bill after my receiver had been unplugged and purchases had been made w/o the line being plugged in. The line was restored a month later and a bill showed up for the PPV.
As far as your Tivo guide, sounds like you have received plenty of advice telling you to use the network card and some mods to get it working over the net.
I have called DirecTV NUMEROUS times to change programming and other things and they have never said anything to me about my phone line not being plugged in and it has been over a year since it was last plugged in!!! Good Luck. IMHO.