A smart card (conditional access) is a plastic plate with a microcircuit. It is an integral part of any satellite equipment and serves to decode the signal. For the equipment to work correctly and be able to watch channels, it is important to be able to insert it correctly. What the Tricolor smart card is and how it works is described below.
What is a smart card
A conditional access card is an analogue of a SIM card for smartphones and performs the same function - it provides access to satellite broadcasting. The Tricolor access card contains a number of information necessary for viewing channels. It helps to decode the signal, carries information for the satellite about what services the subscriber has connected to, and data about the user’s account information, in particular, a unique ID. Without it, watching satellite television is impossible.
Cards from different providers have their own information encoding, Tricolor has DRE Crypt, ADEK. All information is printed on a microchip; it does not have its own power supply, so it operates from the power supply of the receiver or conditional access module, which is inserted directly into the TV. To protect the chip, it is covered with a plastic shell.
Tricolor module price
On the official Tricolor website, the cost of a CI+ module upon purchase will be 3,990 rubles. A set of equipment with an antenna costs 4,990 rubles. The equipment is also included in the exchange program, so if you decide to exchange your equipment for a CI+ module, you will need to spend RUB 3,999.
But the Internet can offer you a better price for the equipment. Here the cost of a CAM module starts from 2,800 rubles, but paid delivery is possible. Beware of scammers and sellers of used equipment, purchase equipment from authorized dealers.
How to insert the card correctly
In order for the television to start working, it is important to correctly install the card in the equipment.
Important! There are two options for Tricolor TV equipment: with a receiver and with a CI module, which is installed directly into the TV.
Regardless of which receiver the subscriber uses, the installation principle is generally the same. To insert a smart card into the Tricolor receiver, you must do the following:
- open the cover on the receiver;
- insert the card with the chip facing forward and upward;
- close the slot;
- turn on the receiver and carry out the first setup of the equipment.
The second option involves installing the card in the CI module. You can use this option for accessing satellite television if there is a special slot on the TV body. In most cases, modules are used for Smart TVs, but there are models of simple TVs with similar support. This function is designated in the instructions as CI+. Before buying a TV, you should check whether it works with the receiver, or whether you can install a module. This option is more convenient as it reduces the amount of equipment purchased.
Installation into the module is carried out according to the following sequence.
- The card is inserted into the conditional access module with the chip facing forward and down.
- The module is installed in the TV according to the instructions for the latter. Options may vary by manufacturer. In some models, the module is inserted directly into the connector; some brands have a special holder that is attached to the TV.
Advice! To understand which side to insert the card in, just look at the device. There are usually installation instructions on the receiver and module.
Advantages and disadvantages of cam modules
Based on reviews from users of TVs with receivers turned on, the following advantages can be identified:
- High-quality and fast reception of encrypted data.
- There is no need to purchase an additional receiver and spend money.
- Thanks to it, channels are automatically tuned.
- Control the operation of the device using the remote control.
There is a serious drawback: if it breaks, the probability of its restoration is close to 0. The elements that make up the chip are so microscopic in size that a minimum of craftsmen will take responsibility for repairing it, and the cost of services will be high.
Important: It's rare that there will be an update for CAM because it doesn't need it. Installation is carried out from a satellite, like on a receiver. In manual mode, specialists adjust Cl+ using special equipment. It is not recommended to touch the settings yourself without proper professional experience.
Possible faults
If the smart card is not detected, or the TV does not show after installing it, then there are several possible faults.
- If an error appears after installation, there is a high probability of incorrect installation. It is necessary to change the side on which the card was inserted, or check - maybe it was inserted correctly, but not completely. In this case, no effort is needed, everything sits freely. Before reinserting the smart card, you need to turn off the receiver's power (if it is a CI module, you must first remove it).
- If the procedure does not help, then the receiver may be broken or the card may be faulty. To check this, you need to insert it into another receiver (CI module). If there is a broadcast, then the problem is in the equipment.
- In some cases, the problem is caused by the microchip becoming covered in dust or dirt. It is enough to remove it with a soft cloth soaked in an alcohol solution. It is prohibited to use abrasive substances for cleaning, as well as to rub it with sharp objects.
Does not work
There are situations when the subscriber does everything according to the instructions, but the TV does not see the device.
In this case, there are several recommendations:
- First of all, you need to check the correct installation of the Tricolor smart card, as well as the module.
- Check whether the “Common Interface” item is active or not. Usually this section is located in the menu, but sometimes, to get to it, you must first go to the “Broadcast” or “System” tab.
- When the “Common Interface” is not active, you need to turn off the TV, and then reconnect the CAM module or adapter. When this does not help, you need to connect another module - this will help identify the cause.
- If the “General Interface” tab functions correctly, but the channels are still encrypted, you need to perform a new setup, try to connect another module, or contact technical support.
Life time
Correctly inserting a Tricolor card into the receiver is easy, but this does not always guarantee the operation of the equipment. Any thing has an expiration date, and Tricolor equipment is no exception. The service life of the conditional access card is 3 years . These operating restrictions do not imply that upon expiration it will immediately fail, but this can happen at any time.
The Tricolor smart card can be replaced by contacting the subscriber at the official office or official dealers. To re-issue, you must have with you documents for the equipment indicating all information about the user, as well as a passport. Moreover, this service is provided only to the official owner - the person indicated in the contract.
Advice! It takes a month to produce a new card, so it is not recommended to wait until it deteriorates, since you will only be able to use the services after a fairly long period of time.
Possible problems and their solutions
If the module was installed but did not connect, something may have been done incorrectly.
- The first and most likely reason is incorrect placement of the card or adapter itself in the slot. Try disconnecting the TV receiver from the network, pulling out the device, checking the installation is correct, inserting it back, and turning on the TV to the network.
- If the device is connected, but does not find channels, then you need to contact your provider regarding settings.
- Some providers do not have automatic channel setup. In this case, they are configured manually.
The TV is one of the most common and popular devices in the apartment. Such an improvement as the CI slot makes it possible to reduce the amount of equipment used when connecting satellite TV. Therefore, equipment of this type is popular among consumers.
Features of LG TVs
The inability of LG TVs to perceive broadcasts divided into channels is due to the peculiarity of the WebOS operating system . However, this does not mean that Tricolor subscribers cannot install the module and receive channels through the CI slot on LG TV. The company is working on improving its software to guarantee the user a normal channel search in automatic mode.
The announcement of the corresponding firmware and versions of WebOS is announced for the end of 2021. Therefore, users of new TVs have access to simple satellite setup and the formation of the correct list of channels from the Tricolor provider. Owners of other models released before 2021 can use a non-standard search algorithm. It involves the initial installation of the provider name. After this, a manual search for channels is done, setting the transponder frequency and other parameters.
Setting up channels
Advice! Before setting up your LG TV to receive Tricolor satellite TV, you should update its software to the latest version. How to do this is described in detail in the model's operating instructions.
Setting up the CI Tricolor module on an LG TV is done as follows:
- the on-screen menu is called up;
- the advanced settings section is found;
- select the “channels” item, then enter the search and setup mode.
The next stage of action is key. The user selects automatic search. Then, in the satellite parameters fields, you should enter Tricolor data. It is also necessary to set the search mode value to “Satellite”. You should indicate the name of the provider by selecting “Other operators” in the appropriate item. After making the above settings, you need to exit the auto search mode.
You can tune in Tricolor TV channels on your LG TV by manual search . To do this, you again need to go to the on-screen menu, the section of advanced settings, channels, search. Further:
- manual search is activated, the mode is set to “Satellite”;
- in the block called Transponder you need to select any value except 12226/L/27500;
- then you should click on the “Transponder” field again, select the value 12226/L/27500 in it and make sure that the “Add” button appears next to it;
- you need to activate the network search with the appropriate switch.
Further user actions are simple. You should click the “Add” button next to the transponder name. The search starts automatically. We need to wait for it to finish.
Important! There is no need to force save channels. Simply exit the search mode by pressing the EXIT button.
Feedback on the interface
For the most part, such devices receive positive feedback from users. And Samsung TVs are famous for their particularly high-quality decoding interfaces. Reviews note the stability of signal reception, ease of managing settings and fairly high image performance in terms of color rendering.
At the same time, there are also negative opinions about the operation of such systems. They are due to the fact that it is not always possible to achieve coordinated interaction between the tuner and adapter with the card. Samsung TVs also suffer from this drawback. Reviews emphasize that the variety of tuner formats is often misleading when selecting appropriate modules.
