Dish Network Smart Card By Frank Johnson At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

In researching Dish Network as a satellite TV provider, you may have asked yourself…

Just what is the Dish Network Smart Card?

In an effort to combat signal piracy, satellite providers have faced quite a challenge: keep their broadcasting secure from unauthorized users while providing uninterrupted service to their base of subscribers.

For Dish Network, the result is the Smart Card.

In the past, Dish Network satellite receivers used a blue access card to assist with activation and programming setup. Those old blue cards have been replaced by new, yellow smart cards. And quite smart they are.

Already popular in European applications, the Smart Card is now starting to take off in the States as well. Used in credit cards, wireless communications and sensitive personnel identification, the Smart Card is becoming more prevalent as our dependence on technology grows.

The Dish Network Card is similar to the size and shape of a credit card. But that's where the similarities end. Unlike the magnetic strip on your credit card, the Dish Network Smart Card has a microprocessor inside. Where magnetic strips can be easily damaged, erased or worse, read, the microprocessor is much harder to crack, keeping sensitive information secure from prying eyes. The card reader in your satellite receiver actually talks to the microprocessor to determine what programming access you should have and make sure that programming is delivered to you on schedule. It also checks to see that the programming you're receiving is done through the receiver you purchased. This prevents any signal theft in the event your Smart Card is lost or stolen.

Another interesting feature of the new Dish Network Card is that it improves Dish Network's ability to manage your account through more accurate billing. The microprocessor keeps up with any premium programming you might purchase so you're only billed for what you actually watched.

To protect your Dish Network Card, keep it away from magnets and static electricity. The Smart Card should be inserted gently into the receiver ensuring the card is correctly positioned and free of any foreign materials.

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