I agree, a notebook with an additional special controller connected to
PCMCIA slot that could be switched in and out into CAM/CI mode would be a
better solution. Unfortunately none of notebook vendors I know of makes such
notebook.
I my country we have very good DVB-T coverage with good and strong signals.
On the market there are small (USB memory key size) and cheap DVB-T
receivers that you connect to USB port and then you can watch TV (we don't
have analog anymore). Unfortunately only few channels are free so you simply
need a CAM to watch the rest. Because nobody wants to drag around a separate
DVB-T receiver box when traveling and not many boxes interface to a notebook
computer display then a natural and obvious solution seems to be using CAM
in PCMCIA slot in a notebook. So obvious to me that I was sure somebody has
already done that.
When streaming TS data through a CAM, the software would have to write bytes
to CAM by using PCMCIA address bus and read bytes from CAM by using PCMCIA
data bus. The data rate for DVB-T is around 5 Mbps. Given that modern
processors can pump data at 100 Mbps or more through a network this shouldn't
be a problem for the processor itself. I don't know however about ratings of
PCMCIA supporting circuits. Perhaps this discussion should be on
linux-pcmcia forum.
An alternative solution would be using the original SmartCard (the one that
is inserted into CAM) in a smart card reader in a notebook and then do
whatever CAM does but in PC software. However, I think that the PCMCIA CAM
route is cleaner.
Mikael
----- Original Message -----
From: "Manu Abraham" <abraham.manu@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Mikael Hakman" <mhakman@xxxxxxxx>
Cc: <linux-dvb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: PCMCIA CAM/CI inserted into computer's PCMCIA slot
Mikael Hakman wrote:
Hello,
Is there software (library) that would allow an application to use
services provided by a PCMCIA CAM/CI inserted into computer's PCMCIA
slot?
The question is about legal usage of legally purchased legal card.
Well, theoretically you can do it, copying in and out data manually. But
in any case when you do it, you will be probably maxing out your CPU on
I/O, such that it is not good for any useful purposes.
Manu
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