Smart card slots

[juclarie]

I've just noticed that the FS website advertises the Passion Plus with 2 Smart Card Interface(Conax7 & X-Crypt CAS Embedded). Have I missed something here? My one certainly does not have these interfaces

 

[Llew]

There always was space for two card slots on the two Passions above the CAM slots, indeed the picture on FS's site for the Passion+ shows the outline where they would go (I don't have the + model - maybe yours shows this more clearly).

Looks like they may have added the card readers now and opened up the slots.

 

[juclarie]

Looking back an old manual, I see that the 2 Slot Common Interface are listed in the spec but no mention of the 2 Smart Card Interface. I'm just curious to know when this happened (my box is about 12 months old). I see Maplin no longer stock this box as a new item.

One other thing is the continuous mention on FS's website about Real Digital. It looks like they now have access to Sky Sports 1 & 2 for inclusion on their EPG (9th November 2010) and that -

Full details will be announced soon about Real Digital's Trade In Deal for existing Freesat, Sky or generic FTA receivers. Get a substantial discount on a REAL Digital HD receiver when you trade in your old satellite Set top box (no new dish required).

I assume that older Passions are now classed as generic FTA receivers.

 

[Llew]

Don't hold your breath regarding Real Digital. They were supposed to have started, I believe, earlier this year, but nothing came of it. They have been trying to include Sky Sports 1 and 2 to their package for some time, not sure if they've succeeded yet. Possibly they have now.