🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <DLrv3M.10z@nemesis.lonestar.org>, mike@nemesis.lonestar.org
(Mike) wrote:

>Has anybody looked into the encryption method used by Starsight?
>This is the gadget that lets you "read" the TV guide electronically.
>It gets the data from the vertical blanking interval of PBS, MTV or
>Nickelodian feeds (at least in the US), and displays it.
>
>(This is different from VideoGuide, a product that does similar things
> but gets its data from pager transmissions.  VideoGuide doesn't appear to
> be licensing to anybody, so I am focusing on StarSight.)
>
>I am told StarSight boxes have some Motorola decryption chip in it, but
>haven't had the opportunity to take one apart.
>
>The reason I am asking is to see if the decryption being done is within
>the horsepower range of a Pentium, assuming of course that I had the
>appropriate keys, and wasn't trying to do a brute force attack or anything
>like that, just straight decryption with valid keys.   I would like to do
>a software based version, rather than have to drag this Motorola decrypt
>chip around on some plug-in board.
>
>Thanks in advance!

Can you say "theft of service?"

David