The first conditional access modules (CAMs) for the Top Up TV service look likely to become available next week, with distributor Turbosat already allowing them to be pre-ordered on its website for £39.99 inc VAT. The CAMs are designed to be plugged into Freeview receivers equipped with a common interface: the Top Up TV pay-TV card then slots into the CAM. All IDTVs have to carry a common interface by law, but set-top boxes do not, which means that only a few models have them.
Reports suggest that the Top Up TV smartcard will work with the old ITV Digital CAM modules (however many there are out there), although perhaps not perfectly. In some cases, apparently, the picture suffers periodic break-ups. So far, manufacturers making receivers with CI slots are wary of endorsing the use of the old modules because of the lack of any guarantee that they will work, and the resulting problems it might cause their call-centres.
we understands that so far the Nokia 221T and Netgem boxes have passed testing with the Top Up TV CAMs, together with Techsan's LCD IDTV. Meanwhile, the market is waiting to see whether the Sony IDTVs - which probably constitute at least half the Freeview devices containing common interface slots - will pass testing.
Tim Page, technology marketing manager at Sony TV Europe, said that Sony was "in the process of evaluating the CAM, and only when those tests are complete can we give our seal of approval, not before."
Even if a receiver fails the CAM tests, however, in most cases the issue could probably be fixed by updating the software with an over-the-air download. Unfortunately, that requires an investment in programming time, and bandwidth for over-the-air upgrades is scarce. Thus some manufacturers might decide not to upgrade their equipment for Top Up TV unless they are compensated in some way.
Reports suggest that the Top Up TV smartcard will work with the old ITV Digital CAM modules (however many there are out there), although perhaps not perfectly. In some cases, apparently, the picture suffers periodic break-ups. So far, manufacturers making receivers with CI slots are wary of endorsing the use of the old modules because of the lack of any guarantee that they will work, and the resulting problems it might cause their call-centres.
we understands that so far the Nokia 221T and Netgem boxes have passed testing with the Top Up TV CAMs, together with Techsan's LCD IDTV. Meanwhile, the market is waiting to see whether the Sony IDTVs - which probably constitute at least half the Freeview devices containing common interface slots - will pass testing.
Tim Page, technology marketing manager at Sony TV Europe, said that Sony was "in the process of evaluating the CAM, and only when those tests are complete can we give our seal of approval, not before."
Even if a receiver fails the CAM tests, however, in most cases the issue could probably be fixed by updating the software with an over-the-air download. Unfortunately, that requires an investment in programming time, and bandwidth for over-the-air upgrades is scarce. Thus some manufacturers might decide not to upgrade their equipment for Top Up TV unless they are compensated in some way.
