What to do in case of NTV Plus smart card errors

It is impossible to use paid subscriptions to NTV PLUS satellite channels without a unique subscriber identifier. The access card is installed in the reader on the TV set-top box or CI expansion board of the TV. But, as with all devices that have contact groups, malfunctions in the operation of the identification system are possible. An NTV Plus smart card error may indicate either its absence or incorrect operation. Before contacting a branch of the TV company to replace the media, you should try to get rid of the malfunction using simple methods.

Incorrect installation

First of all, if errors are displayed, you should make sure that the access card is inserted into the reader correctly. To do this, pull it out, after which:

read the operating instructions for the set-top box or expansion module to find out how the card should be inserted;
place the identifier in the slot, paying attention to the coincidence of the contacts of the reader and the chip.

There is a general recommendation for installing a smart ID. The card should be inserted into the reader slot with the chip facing up, and after placement, the latter should be on the opposite side from the user, at the far end.

All operations involving removing the media and placing it in the interface should be performed only with the power of the set-top box or TV turned off.

How to connect to NTV Plus via the Internet

Hybrid set-top box
If there is no dish, you can enjoy television with just a hybrid set-top box. How to connect it:

The equipment is placed in a stable place.
Insert the access card into the slot (chip side down).
Connect the set-top box to the TV (via RCA or HDMI).
A cable is connected to the set-top box (if the Internet connection is wired).
The receiver is connected to a power source.
Register on the official website of the service.

provides 24/7 access to content. The service is available from any device connected to the Internet. What are its advantages:

access to paid channels;
no need for third-party software (smartphones on iOS and Android have their own applications);
one-time payment;
"Favorites" list;
free access to the Match TV channel.

If you need more channels, activate one of the paid packages, including both basic and thematic ones.

Problems in the contact group

Fingers are a source of fat, which inevitably contaminates the contacts and leads to malfunctions of the reader. Understanding what to do to clean is quite simple. You need to use a light solvent that will remove grease, but will not damage the design and materials of the card.

It is recommended to use pure medical or formic alcohol, which can be purchased at any pharmacy. The procedure for cleaning the contact surfaces of the chip is as follows:

the surface of the foil is thoroughly wiped with alcohol;
the card is left to dry completely;
The contact pads of the chip are carefully wiped with a school eraser.

After this, you can insert the card into the reader and check its functionality.

Problems with the reader

The reasons for incorrect card reading or complete loss of contact may lie in the reader of the set-top box or TV expansion module.

Advice! To carry out cleaning or repairs, you need to contact a specialized workshop or service center of the manufacturer of a specific piece of equipment.

Independent intervention is allowed only if a foreign object, for example, a piece of paper, is clearly visible in the reader slot. It should be carefully pulled out using suitable thin tools.

Contact wear

Sometimes it happens that attempts to correctly insert the card into the receiver or reinstall the identifier in order to reinitialize the set-top box occur so often that the contacts of the chip are wiped. This is clearly visible from the condition of the foil pads. In this case, it is recommended to contact a branch of NTV PLUS to replace the smart card.

However, if making a new ID is not possible or takes a lot of time, you can try to fix the contacts yourself. For this:

the card is removed from the reader;
Carefully rub out through scratches on the foil pads with a highly soft graphite pencil;
the chip is carefully inspected, the gaps between the contact pads are wiped with an ear stick, and graphite crumbs are removed in areas where treatment should not have been carried out.

After this procedure, the card is inserted into the reader slot to check its functionality.

This repair method is only suitable if there are thin abrasions on the chips. If the NTV smart card continues to be completely undetected, or does so uncertainly, the media must be replaced.

Bottom line

Problems with access cards are an infrequent occurrence, and in most cases they are resolved by the subscriber. If you have difficulties with authorization or initialization, you can always contact support. They will provide detailed consultation on any questions.

Another possibility to restore the device’s operation is to send it for testing to one of the specialized laboratories of the satellite operator. Upon completion of all necessary tests, it will be restored and returned to the client, and in case of irreparable damage, a new one will be issued.

The smart card is an integral component of the receiver.
Without it, watching TV channels is impossible. NTV PLUS smart card error message appears , the first step is to find out the cause of the malfunction.
Let's look at some of them in more detail, focusing on ways to troubleshoot the problem. The phrase “Please enter a card” indicates that there is no media at all or it is installed incorrectly. Read the description and complete the required steps.

“The smart card is faulty” , respectively, the problem occurs for specific reasons. You need to remove the module and check it for damage.

The NTV PLUS error may occur due to problems with the slot or media:

Doesn't fit tightly enough;
Not fully inserted into the slot;
You need to turn the other side;
Contacts are clogged;
Overfilled and must be replaced with another one.

Receiver settings failure

If the receiver settings fail, it stops detecting the card. Repeated or single reboots can get rid of the problem. It is recommended to turn off the device, remove the card from it, wait up to 10 minutes, reinsert the ID and turn on the set-top box.

After this, the channel to which the purchased subscription applies is selected. It is recommended to wait a while before initializing the receiver. This requires about an hour, during which you should not switch channels. After the image appears on the screen, you can use the satellite television system as normal.

Antenna

And now, the installation is complete, everything is fine, and you can proceed to the next stage - setting up the NTV antenna.

The converter cable is connected to the receiver, and the receiver itself is connected to the TV. It is important to follow all instructions from the manufacturer, this will help avoid breakdowns.
Slowly and carefully rotate the antenna dish vertically and horizontally towards the location of the satellite until excellent quality pictures and sound appear. To make the process go faster and more comfortably, it’s better to do everything together – one rotates the antenna, the other coordinates by phone.
And now, the screen pleases with a high-quality picture, the next step is to activate the “received signal level” command on the receiver. Try to make the scale as full as possible.

With due patience, setting up an NTV satellite will not cause problems.

Upon completion of registration, the card is automatically activated within 24 hours.

Expansion module settings failure

If the settings of the CI expansion card of the TV fail, it is recommended to reset it to factory settings.

Advice! How to do this is indicated in the operating instructions for the specific TV. In its menu there should be a section for settings of the internal adapter or CI card. In the information block there is the required reset item to factory settings.

After reconfiguring both the set-top box and the TV expansion card, it is worth re-finding the NTV PLUS broadcast channels. For some TVs, detailed instructions are provided on the official website of the television company. If the model you are looking for is not there, you should look for information in its instruction manual.

Search channels

At this point, setting up the satellite dish is completed, and it’s time for the next stage - searching for channels. There are two types of search - automatic and manual. For users who have not previously tried to configure the NTV Plus dish on their own, it is better to stick to the automatic mode, since it is enough to launch it in the receiver menu . In some situations it does not work, so you will have to enter all the settings manually to find channels. How to do this is described below.

To configure the antenna yourself by entering all the data manually, you must first reset all settings. To do this, you need to enter the “menu” - “default setting” - “channel” - “antenna”.
When the user selects “antenna”, the system will ask for a password. It defaults to four zeros. You can change it, but it is better not to do this, so as not to later encounter the fact that it is forgotten.
After entering, a menu will appear in which a large number of satellites are ticked. The user is required to remove all labels and leave “EutelsatW4 36E” active.
Manual channel search requires input of data for transponder and LNB levels. For the transponder you need to specify the value - 12130 R, for levels - 0 and 10750 (lower and upper).
After the data has been entered, you just have to wait until the search ends. It usually takes a significant amount of time, so you'll have to wait.

Hardware problems

If card errors are displayed on the screen, but there is no blocking, and visually the media is in perfect order, it is worth considering the issue of a malfunction of the receiver or CI expansion module. You must first insert another ID into the slot. If it doesn’t work, you should proceed in this order:

make sure that the contact groups of the CI module and the TV are in order;
check the expansion module in another TV;
Pull out and insert the card several times with the device's power off.

If no methods of returning functionality help, you need to seek qualified help. The set-top box is sent to the manufacturer’s service center.

If there are problems with the CI module, you can only take it to a specialized workshop. However, it is recommended to check both devices: the expansion card and the TV.

Recommended equipment and linking access cards to official receivers

In recent years, an unpleasant trend has been observed in the pay television market - operators tying access cards to certain models of receivers. At the same time, the performance of the card in other (not recommended) devices is not only not guaranteed, but simply impossible! This is not to say that this is some kind of know-how. Similar technologies are used all over the world, but our country has its own nuances, which I will talk about below... Let's begin.

Why do operators link their cards?

In fact, as always, the idea itself is very correct. Of course, it is much better when the entire army of subscribers has standard equipment. Think for yourself:

The technical support service can answer any subscriber’s question on the fly, because... Operators have thoroughly studied instructions and typical customer questions.
Equipment repairs are carried out much faster and cheaper, because components are supplied in a continuous flow from a single source.
Receiver software updates are carried out quickly and simultaneously for all subscribers.
The cost of receivers can be reduced thanks to constant large purchases.

Agree, everything is quite clear and logical. Of course, it smells like a scoop and brings back memories of Soviet films - identical hats, jackets, coats with a fur collar and boots - but the idea is very correct. Let's try to figure it out in more detail...

Recommended Equipment

In Russia, the term “Recommended Equipment” was, naturally, introduced by NTV Plus. Moreover, this was back in 2000. Only initially there was no strict binding of access cards to receivers. You could buy a receiver you liked (more expensive and sophisticated or, on the contrary, a budget one), insert an official card into it and calmly (paying a subscription fee) watch paid channels. Recommended equipment was merely “recommended” for use. It guaranteed reception of channels without interruptions and timely software updates.

But with the advent of MPEG-4 and HD channels in NTV Plus, the television company began to strictly bind cards to its receivers. Those. or our card with our receiver, no way! At the same time, the exchange of old cards (without linking) for new ones (with linking) began.

So, in fact, now it would be more correct to use the term “Imposed Equipment”. Many cable and satellite operators followed the same path: Continent TV (Orion-Express), OnLime, Akado, Tricolor Full HD and others.

It is worth noting, however, that a number of broadcasters acted more democratically, and, as it were, humanly, or something, by linking their cards, but not only to receivers, but also to access modules (CAM modules). This is much more convenient, because... The access module (with a card inside) can be used with any receiver equipped with a CI interface and, most importantly nowadays, with TVs that have a built-in tuner! This approach practically does not limit users in choosing receiving equipment, forcing them to buy only an inexpensive module in addition to the card. True, some of the operators immediately raised the prices for these very modules, selling them at exorbitant prices (instead of 1500-2000 rubles for 4000-5000), but, on the other hand, the choice of the main element of your television system is yours.

Why is recommended equipment bad?

Here we come to the main part of the story. Everyone in Russia loves to scold everyone, but I will try to explain in detail why pay TV operators who impose their equipment should be scolded.

First, of course, is the cost of equipment. I already mentioned prices for CAM modules a little higher... so it’s the same story with receivers. NTV Plus has been selling its HD receivers for exorbitant prices for a long time. At the same time, the same models, which, by the way, did not have outstanding picture quality and functionality, could be bought in Europe for a much lower price.

Now NTV people have come down to earth, but their HD receivers with hard drives are still not cheap.

Tricolor Full HD, which offers a GS brand receiver, the quality of which has long been legendary, unfortunately, decided to go the same route.

Secondly, quality. Unfortunately, the recommended receivers cannot boast of the quality of the transmitted picture. Those. They, of course, work well, but when you compare their picture with those of their non-recommended competitors, you can’t help but wonder why it was impossible to recommend a more decent receiver?!

Thirdly, the functionality of the receivers. Unfortunately, the requirements that operators place on equipment manufacturers are extremely meager. Apparently, it’s easier not to make fancy receivers than to maintain a staff of competent technical support. Hence the mediocre picture quality and the lack of additional functions. Sadly.

Fourthly, the restrictions that operators impose on the capabilities of the equipment. Don’t be surprised, but NTV Plus also has a receiver in which it is impossible to sort the channels in the right order! It’s not uncommon for officials to “cut off” the ability to receive other channels and satellites on their receivers. There are also more schizophrenic deviations, such as advertising for Tricolor TV between switching channels...

Fifthly, the fundamental refusal of broadcasters to make “Recommended receivers” with CI interfaces... I.e. for example, you won’t be able to watch NTV Plus and Tricolor TV on the same receiver...

Sixthly, the manufacturers themselves are losing interest in making new interesting models. Why, if you have a stable order for 10 thousand receivers per month?! Why invent something?!

Well, and the like...

So good ideas designed to make people’s lives easier are ruined...

How to be?

Perhaps the most important question that follows from this whole idea is: “Why am I forced to buy something?” In fact, forcing any service or purchase is illegal!

Hence the constant questions from honest taxpayers, such as:

“I have a receiver. Gifted or left over from the previous operator. I like him! Everyone is happy! Why am I paying you a subscription fee and can’t leave mine?!”

“I bought an expensive 3D panel. It has a built-in tuner. I don't want to buy your receiver and I don't need a separate remote control for the receiver. Why can’t I buy an access module?”

“I need a receiver with Internet access. You don't have that. I'm ready to pay a subscription fee, but I only need a card! I don't need your receiver. What should I do?

“Why do your HD channels look like a piece of shit on your receivers? Why is the picture of free German non-HD channels better than your paid HD channels?

The forums are full of such questions. I think that operators of call centers of paid broadcasters respond to such “cries from the heart” more than once a day.

The answer is always the same: “If you are not satisfied with the rules for the provision of services, you do not have to use the services of our company.”

I wonder if in our country it is possible to sue a paid operator for imposing a paid service???

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satellite TV
satellite receivers