October 22, 2002 

By: Bob Buckham

dish network access card: Getting the best signals

When you buy a direct satellite system, you need a special dish network access card that is programmed for you to access all the channels. If you own a system and want to sell it to someone, the buyer must get a new dish network access card. We'll discuss this more below.

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Why does a direct satellite system require a dish network access card and how does it work? The access card, which comes with each system, acts as a "license plate" for your system. It provides security and encryption information and allows you to control the use of your system. The access card also allows your satellite provider to capture billing information that is specific to your account so if you sell your system you'll want the buyer to get a new card. The card contains a microprocessor that enables the card to act as an auxiliary processor for your satellite receiver.

If you were a satellite TV subscriber early last year, you might still be using the H dish network access card instead of the HU card, which was only made available later in 2001. Both the H and the HU access cards are being used to authorize satellite programming, with the difference that the H card can only pickup an analog signal while HU TV card can pickup both analog and digital signals.

The dish network access card is also offered separately by online retailers in order to allow more freedom of choice to the consumer. In addition, there are some companies offering H and HU test cards. A test card is new software loaded onto a satellite access card to authorize the user to receive all channels available on that system instead of only limited channels offered through subscription. In other words, a “fix” for your dish network access card can assure you unlimited freedom of channel-choice.