H card and HU Q & A

What is the difference between a P2 or h card and a P3 or HU card?
The DSS access card, dubbed the "H" card has a blue face on the front. The "H" card is also known as the "P2" card. First released in late 1996 to replace the fully hacked "F" series card, the "H" card was given its name due to the fact that the access card serial number began with an H. In early 1999, a new access card emerged. Known as the "HU" or "P3" card, it has a photo of a football player on the front of the card. Currently an HU card cannot be programmed.

I have a HU card, can I program it?
At the moment, the HU card cannot be programmed. There is not software available either commercial or public. The only access card that can be programmed is the "H" card.

What about the ads on EBay and Yahoo Auctions?
There is currently NO software available to anyone that can activate an HU card. There are lots of fraudlent claims on auction sites and free web sites that claim can. These have been proven to be frauds. Do NOT send any money to anyone that claims to possess software UNTIL you hear about a software release on a major DSS info site like the Pirates Den , DR7 , DSS Underground or TCUP.

When software comes out, how will it be released?
The cost of reverse engineering a dss access card is extremely expensive. A special lab, highly skilled people and capital outlay of $100 000 or more would be required. For this reason, as in the past a commercial group will likely be the first to release software. The program will not likely be released to the public, rather cards will be programmed for a set fee. Usually after the "fix" has been out for a year or more, a public version is made available. It is not likely that a public version will be released first.

How can I find an "H" card in the meantime?
Although a lot more difficult to find than before, there are still vast amounts of H cards on the market. A few are still available from electronic stores and satellite dealers. A lot of people have success by placing classified ads in their local newpapers to buy used DSS systems. If you have a friend that currently has an H card that he is using for a subscription, you can purchase a new receiver with an HU card and trade your friend for his older receiver. The friend can then transfer his subscription to the new receiver by calling Directv. You can also find older DSS systems at garage, estate and yard sales for a reasonable price. Finally, you can also purchase cards through online auctions like EBay and Yahoo Auctions. At these auctions, you will pay much more and your chances of getting a damaged card or none at all greatly increases due to auction fraud.

How can I tell a H card from a HU if the system is in the box?
Look on the outside of the box and it will list an access card serial number. This will resemble a bar code. If the number is BELOW 0001 699 999, then the system likely is an H card system. If the number is ABOVE 0001 700 000, then it is an HU card systems. If you have identified that the systems appears to be an H card system, next you should inspect to see if the box had been opened and re-sealed. Many stores were instructed to replace H cards with HU cards for systems still on the shelf. If the box appears to have been opened, you will have to visually inspect the receiver to ensure that the card has not been switched.