ECM, EMM and Signals for both Plastic and FTA explained...

First of all, satellite signals do no harm to any equipment. It's physically impossible. Even receivers made by Dish and BEV cannot be destroyed with a signal. It just doesn't happen.

The software on Dish/BEV receivers is designed to do certain things when it receives data from the satellite: Send and deliver messages, process payments, order ppv movies....or....shut down when it is told to look for certain coding on the card. That's right-- even the card itself cannot be destroyed by the satellite signal.

Simple logic applies:

If A = B, then C. In this case, A= A certain offset in the bin file on the card, B= a ppv string, blocker, or anything else that a normal sub would not have, and C= loop the card or write a string of code on the firmware that causes it to not function.

FTA receivers do not have software designed to interact with the data stream in that way. They do not process Charlie's "If A=B then C" commands. FTA receiver software cannot be updated through the data stream. It only gets updated through the RS-232 port by your computer. That's why key changes, map calls, algorithm changes, and other things that cause FTA receivers to lose Dish/BEV channels are not ECMs.

Charlie can change the way the keys are processed. He can also change certain areas of the MAPROM to serve different functions. Keys change on a routine basis as well. The FTA software contains a card image that operates just like a smart card and it is designed to accept these changes. The firmware bin outside of the card image cannot be touched through the stream. When these changes occur, sometimes screens go dark and channels disappear. Many people call this an ECM but that is not technically true.

Since a True FTA receiver that doesn't use a third-party bin doesn't have a card image, there is nothing on the firmware that is designed to be altered through the data stream. As another pointed out, that makes as much sense as the radio station sending out a signal to change the station on your radio dial.

In order for Dish or BEV to truly ECM an FTA receiver, it would be necessary for them to have in their possession the source code for all 20-30 different FTA receiver brands. You and I don't have the source code, so you can bet Charlie doesn't either-- even if he has a room full of Viewsats and Sonicviews.

Next, after having the source code for every receiver, he would need to stream this code in the data stream. Satellites do not have unlimited bandwidth. He'd have to drop about 100 channels or so just to fit all of that firmware in the data stream-- on all 7 satellite locations.

Then, he would have to post a hacked bin on all of the sites and hope that people are dumb enough to load it to their receivers. Remember, Dish receivers interact with Charlie because they are programmed to. FTA receivers would have to be programmed to do so as well. Currently, they are not.

After all of the dumb mofos out there loaded Charlie's bin to their receiver, then Charlie could indeed wreak all sorts of havok on them with his update from the stream. Of course, with 100 channels chopped off of the lineup not many people would still be watching anyway. Those who were smart enough not to fall for such a thing would be sitting here laughing at all of the idiots who fell for Charlie's trap.

So you see, as it stands now, Charlie...

1) does not have the source code necessary to cause FTA receivers not to function.

2) does not have the bandwidth on the satellites to accomodate all of the firmware that would be necessary to launch such an attack.

3) does not have the legions of idiots foolish enough to fall for such a trick that it would take to make such an ECM effective.

In other words, I repeat:

DISH CANNOT &$%! WITH YOUR RECEIVER!