Hi all,

I have written this post (predominantly) to help/guide newbie Technomate forum members... but if it happens to be of help to other forum members then all the better... the post is just a general guide for those who don't already know how to use/open/search/edit the TMSoftcam Keyfiles generated by TechnomateMaker 1.5 (or) the TMSoftcam Keyfiles posted here on the forum by xxxxxx... so here is a brief explanation... it's pretty basic stuff really...

Download TechnomateMaker 1.5 (link below)
DigitalWorldz Downloads

or alternatively...

Download the latest TMSoftcam Keyfile posted on the forum by xxxxxx (link below)
http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/25329...cams-keys.html (go to his most recent post)

If you have decided to download/use TechnomateMaker 1.5 then it is advisable to first copy libmySQL.dll from within the decompressed Zip file and then paste it into C:\WINDOWS\system32

Next you will want to know how to use the program... it's very straightforward...

Open TechnomateMaker 1.5

Select the Softcam Keys file which best suits your particular satellite set-up... the selections are...

MonoFeed (13.0°E)
DuelFeed (13.0°E/19.2°E)
Motor (45.0°E to 45.0°W)
All (95.0°E to 55.0°W currently)

Download TMSoftcam Keyfile
Save TMSoftcam Keyfile
TechnomateMaker 1.5 now asks if you want to open and edit the file
(Alternative open/edit method below)

TechnomateMaker 1.5 also enables you to send a new TMSoftcam Keyfile directly to your receiver via an RS232/Null Modem cable connected between your PC and Technomate receiver... however... by the time you have connected the cable... selected the Com port etc... it's really not worth it...it makes more sense (nowadays) to simply save the TMSoftcam Keyfile to a USB flash drive and then load the file to your receiver...

You will notice that the downloaded TMSoftcam Keyfile is a Registration Entries file...
To open/edit/search the TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file) without the aid of TechnomateMaker 1.5 just follow the instructions below...

Right-click TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file)
Select 'Properties' from the drop-down box
Go to 'Opens with'
Click 'Change' button
Select 'Notepad' from list of programs
Click 'OK'
Click 'Apply'
Click 'OK'

You are now able to open/edit/search (with 'Notepad') any TechnomateMaker generated/forum posted TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file) by simply double-clicking on the file.

When you open the file... what you will see inside is a list of all keys that are/should be active/working when the TMSoftcam Keyfile (Regitration Entries file) is written to the Phantompatch on your Technomate receiver... the top section of the file (entries identified with 'Slot' numbers) ...these are the CAS keys... this is the only part of the file that is actually written to the Phantompatch... the majority/rest of the TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file) is populated with BISS/DCW keys that can only be entered into the Phantompatch (BISS Menu) manually... using your Technomate remote control...

To enter BISS/DCW keys into the BISS Menu... simply go onto the channel that you have BISS/DCW keys for... press 8-2-8-0 on the remote control and the BISS Menu will appear... select a line... press OK... then enter the 16/32 digit key... when you have finished press the Exit button... Settings were changed - Do you want to save? Select Yes

If you download the TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file) daily using TechnomateMaker 1.5 (as I do) then you might want to know the easiest way to find out which keys have changed within the file and which keys have been added to the file since the previous TMSoftcam Keyfile... this can be done very easily...

Double click and open the latest TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file)
Maximize the file (for ease of reading)
Highlight and copy the date at the top of the file
Click 'Edit' on the file toolbar and select 'Find' from the drop-down box
Paste the date into the 'Find' box and set 'Direction' to 'Down'
Click anywhere on the file above the 'Slot 1' entry then click 'Find Next'
Click 'Find Next' repeatedly to locate more new/updated entries (until a box appears stating 'Cannot find')

If you feel a little more adventurous... and want to edit/update the TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file) yourself... i.e. when you see a new key or an updated key anywhere on the internet/forum... just copy and paste the new/updated key into the TMSoftcam Keyfile (Registration Entries file) save the changes... then load the file to your receiver...

As I mentioned at the top of the post... this is just a general guide with a few basic tips... but I hope this might help someone...

Best Wishes,
Zorch

Cheers Zorch - 'pretty basic stuff' eh ? Gulp ! Will take my tiny brain quite while to plough through that and make some sense of it - but I usually get there eventually with much hair tearing out !