Season Interface Problem

[checkitout]

Hello All

Finally got around to ordering a season interface and a couple of BF units from Sattronics so as to setup my Grey Wolf correctly.

I already have a mini season working great between a Hummy and a Grey Wolf server. When I have tried to replace the mini season with the season from Sattronics I do not get a connection.

When I plug the Power plug in I have a red LED come up on the season.
I have tried it in my Opentel box and the same problem happens.

Does anyone know what the season interface com settings should be? (I believe it should be 9600 N 8 1)

I must be missing something basic?

[urban_s0ulja]

check if the season is making contact with the card reader

thats as basic as i could think

if its a loose a bit of tape will make it nice n snug

[fandtm666]

could be a few issues

1: dont use the power there should be enough from the unit to run it
2; could not be making proper contact
3; double check com port
4: insert it into the hummy restart gw then do a soft restart on the hummy

[checkitout]

Thanks Fandtm666

I have tried all things you have mentioned both with my Hummy and my Opentel with and without power supply.

If I watch the client log for the hummy I notice that I get an "RTS Low" message before it goes back to "Wait for Data"

A couple of things I would like to check with members here:
1. Power supply has positive as the centre conductor?
2. A am using a direct comms cable between the Season Interface and the serial port of the Grey Wolf server (Same cable as what I am using for the mini season) - Is this correct?
3. Apparently I can test the season also with Cardcom - Has any one done this?

Not sure what else to do here.

[statesmanjeff]

I Am Having A Similar Problem.
What Is A Mini Season And Did You Get This To Run Without A Bf430?

[LeroyPatrol]

I Am Having A Similar Problem.
What Is A Mini Season And Did You Get This To Run Without A Bf430?

the mini season is what fandtm makes up. You can make one up yourself with a bit of vero board if you are handy with a soldering iron. This is what I did. Not as flash (no leds) but it does the trick and is what I use with my BF.

Leroy

[checkitout]

I got my Mini Season from Fandtm666 and it works a treat with my hummy and grey wolf direct except for when the hummy is on a horizontal channel.
I have not hooked up my BF Unit yet but will soon (next project)

The season I bought from Sattronics is still a problem - Would have thought the cable setup is the same, so it should be simple to swap over.

I need more time to try some other things - Cardcom anyone??

[statesmanjeff]

checkitout. let me know how your bf unit goes.
I have had numerous attempts and still cant get mine to work?
what color season did you get from sattronics.
if you need a wiring config for rs232 to rj12 (green or blue card) i can post it.

[checkitout]

Thanks Statesman

I have a green season card.

Any info you have will be much appreciated.

Have not had time to try the BF Units yet but will in the next week or two. Will let you know.

[statesmanjeff]

How To Wire A Blue Or Green Season.
Rs232 Connector With Solder Connections
Rj12 Connector (6p4c) 6 Pins Wide 4 Copper Connections On It
2 Mtrs 4 Wire Internal Phone Cable (yellow Green Red Blk)


At The Rs232 End
Pin 1 = Connect Yellow Wire
Pin 2 = Green
Pin 3 = Red
Pin 5 = Black

You Will Need A Tool To Crimp The Rj12.
Put The Connector In Front Of You On A Flat Surface.
Contacts Facing Upwards And Away From You And The Clear Clip Facing Down.
The Cable Entry Hole On The Connector Will Be Facing You.
From Left To Right The Connections Are.
Yellow, Green, Red And Black

Now Your Rj12 Should Click Straight Into Your Season.


Hope This Helps

[checkitout]

Did a bit more playing around tonight and I have had absolutely no luck in getting the Season Interface that I got from Sattronics to work for me.

I am still using the Mini Season I bought from Fandtm666 (which works absolutely great).

Moved on to the BF Unit. That was too easy, done in less than 2 minutes - I have it working now with the mini season - I will "soak test" with the hummy now on horizontal channels to see if it drops out.

In regards to the cable connection between the Sattronics season and the BF unit (or for that matter between the season and the serial port on the Grey wolf server) where does the RJ12 come into the equation?
I have 2 x RS232 DB9 connectors with a direct cable between them?

I have spent much time trying to look at the signals with a break out box and I still can not figure it out e.g trying to compare between working & not working setups. (I am so glad that Fandtm666s season worked first time for me)

Does anyone have any advice here to offer....

[gw1]

I'm not familiar with the Sattronics season but if you like to post a couple of closeup photos of it I should be able to figure out what's going on. It's mainly the copper side of the board that I need to see.

[checkitout]

Thanks so much GW1

Here you go - Let me know what you think.

Copper Side


Copper side 2

(I have placed a pen marker pointing to pin 1 of the max232 chip)

Component Side 1



I would have thought that there would be a few members with the same Sattronics Season interface and probably the same problem.

Look forward to hear what you think.

[gw1]

Looking at the circuit it turns out the so-called "Season/Logger interface (RS232)" from Sattronics isn't a season at all - it's just a passive logger. The description on the Sattronics online store isn't correct.

What's the difference?

• A passive logger enables a PC to listen to communication between an ISO7816 card host (such as a sat receiver) and a smartcard. By passive we mean the PC can only listen; it cannot send commands or issue card reset.
• A season enables a PC to communicate with a card host as though it were a smartcard. It hears when the host tells it to reset, it's able to send out an ATR, and it's able to hear and reply to commands.
• A season logger is an interface which can do both (though not at the same time).

Like most loggers this one gets the smartcard power, reset and clock straight from the host device (ie satellite receiver). They've chosen here to use a plugpack to power the transmission back to the PC. Some loggers power the transmitter from the host and therefore don't require a plugpack.

The red LED just tells you power has been applied from the plugpack. It tells you nothing about what's going on with the receiver or card.




What you're probably wanting to know is whether you can make it work as a season. Well sure you can if you don't mind a little modding.

1. Check that pins 11 & 13 of the MAX232 aren't connected to ground (they don't appear to be but I can't tell for sure from the photos). If either of them are grounded then you'll need to isolate them by desoldering and/or cutting the copper around them.
2. Connect pin 1 of the DB9 socket to MAX232 pin 14.
3. Connect pin 3 of the DB9 socket to MAX232 pin 13.
4. Connect the RST pin of the card socket to MAX232 pin 11.
5. Connect a BAT85 diode (Altronics Z-0044) or 1N5819 diode (Jaycar ZR-1020) across MAX232 pins 10 and 12, with the cathode on pin 12.
6. Connect a 0.1uF monolithic capacitor (Jaycar RC-5490) between the output and ground pins of the 78L05. This is optional but I recommend you add it.

And unless I'm mistaken that should do the trick. See how you go.



FAQ.
"Can I use 1N4148 or 1N914 instead of the Schottky diode?" Usually yes, it'll normally work depending on your receiver. Give it a try. Just don't overheat diodes while soldering/desoldering - you can kill them if you apply heat for more than a few seconds at a time.

"Where do phoenix interfaces come into all this?" A season lets your PC impersonate a card. A phoenix lets your PC impersonate a card's host. A logger lets your PC listen in on a conversation between a card and its host.

"How do I use the interface?" It depends on the purpose of the smartcard - the interfaces are just fancy cables or connectors and don't have any intelligence of their own. For beginners wanting to learn how smartcards work, a good place to start is to get hold of a working one and study it with a logger and a terminal program to view the data on the serial port. There are lots of good free terminal programs available but even Windows Hyperterminal is good enough to begin with. Terminals usually can't autodetect the necessary communications settings - what you need depends entirely on the card host (eg sat receiver model) you're using - but 9600 N 8 1 is fairly common. If you can't guess the correct settings or find the answer with google then an oscilloscope becomes useful.

There are many logging programs made specifically for certain smartcard applications in order to give better readiblity than a terminal, which is only able to display information in a generic, unformatted manner. CARDCOM for example is a classic logging program for Irdeto smarcards; it has a dictionary of commands and their parameters specific for Irdeto cryptology and uses that information to transcribe their card conversations in an ordered fashion and with a degree of commentary. Writing your own logging program is one of the best ways to learn and understand a new smartcard application or version when you encounter one. Many people have done just that, which is why there are so many different card logging tools to choose from and explore.

[fandtm666]

nice explanation GW1 on the type of card it is and method of making it work as a season

[checkitout]

Thanks GW1 - You are a legend.

As far as doing some modding, I am all in for it. I love the challenge.
I need a little time as I am busy at the moment but I will do it soon.
Of course I will post my results here.

It goes to show that there is an explanation for everything.
Now I am sure there are other members here with the same problem.
This will no doubt benefit them as well.

I love this forum - you and other members that provide support like this here, are all legends.

Many Thanks Again

[checkitout]

I dived into this project tonight and I am very happy to report that the modded changes works a treat.

Works fine either direct serial or with a BF unit to the Grewolf.

Thanks so much GW1.

It looks like another problem has been sorted out.

In closing however I have noticed that it all works with my hummy no problems but does not work with my Opentel. (the Opentel works fine if the card is placed directly in the unit)

I am not too concerned but more curious as to why this might be?
Also if my Hummy ever died I would like to use the Opentel or another box a short notice assumming that is possible.

[z80]

In closing however I have noticed that it all works with my hummy no problems but does not work with my Opentel. (the Opentel works fine if the card is placed directly in the unit)

I am not too concerned but more curious as to why this might be?
Also if my Hummy ever died I would like to use the Opentel or another box a short notice assumming that is possible.

Have aplay with the ATR timings parameter settings.
That will be it i reckon....cause defaults are for Humax...

[checkitout]

Have aplay with the ATR timings parameter settings.
That will be it i reckon....cause defaults are for Humax...

I have sorted this one out now (at least with the direct serial connection Opentel to serial port on Grey Wolf anyway)

In the serial port settings in the greywolf client I have changed the stop bits from 1 to 2.

This seems to work for both the Opentel and Hummy.

I will run without the BF Units for a while and then add the BF Unit back into the mix obviously I will need to change settings in the BF unit also from 1 stop bit to 2.

It is great when the theory shows itself true to what it should be.

Thanks z80 and everyone here that has helped with their input