Pro:Idiom Key Loss Avoidance – Best Practices
Key Loss Causes There are two mechanisms which can cause Pro:Idiom key loss in commercial television sets that have been identified to us by LG Unapproved mapping or remapping of PIDs Off air (OA) ATSC receivers may use PIDs which conflict with PIDs in use in Pro:Idiom licensed systems. edgeQAMs map or remap PIDs in violation of the Pro:Idiom (P:I) licensing agreement. Other unapproved digital video equipment may also use PIDs which conflict with P:I licensed equipment.
Causes - PID remapping PID mapping at the COM24 receiver Pro:Idiom PIDs are in a protected range Channel 1 VIDEO PID = 0x27 AUDIO PID = 0x30 Pro:Idiom PID = 0x105A Channel 2 VIDEO PID = 0x27 AUDIO PID = 0x30 AUDIO PID = 0x31 Pro:Idiom PID = 0x105A PID remapping at the edgeQAM Pro:Idiom PIDs have been remapped and overlap with Audio PIDs on other channels Channel 1 Channel 2 VIDEO PID = 0x13 VIDEO PID = 0x13 AUDIO PID = 0x18 AUDIO PID = 0x18 Pro:Idiom PID = 0x1A AUDIO PID = 0x1A Pro:Idiom PID = 0x1B
Avoidance Techniques – Off Air Receivers 4 ATSC off air receivers There is no way to control the PID mapping used in broadcast programming and we recommend that this equipment NOT be used in P:I systems unless the broadcast PIDs can be remapped in accordance with the P:I system requirements. If an installer does choose to use ATSC off air receivers, broadcast off air (OA) channels MUST NOT be placed adjacent to P:I protected channels in the channel map.
Avoidance Techniques – Off Air Channel Lineup NO! – Off Air and P:I adjacent at 2 locations in the channel ring.
Avoidance Techniques – Off Air Channel Lineup Yes! – Analog or non-P:I SD channels between each OA and P:I.
Avoidance Techniques - edgeQAMs 7 edgeQAM PID remapping A number of edgeQAM products have been designed specifically to work in Pro:Idiom systems and are known to correctly manage Pro:Idiom Key Management message PIDs including but not limited to Technicolor’s QAM24 and Video Propulsion’s Floodgate. Check with other manufacturers regarding their equipment.
Avoidance Techniques – NSG edgeQAM port mapping • When using Harmonic edgeQAMs in the paradigm mode the position of the UDP port in the list of ports available for a given channel sets the first digit of the PID value. • If you pick the first available UDP port value for a given channel all the PID values will start with one, if you pick the second available port value all the PID values will start with two, etc.
Avoidance Techniques – NSG edgeQAM port mapping Available UDP ports for QAM1 Program 1 and 2 are 257 – 511 Available UDP ports for QAM2 Program 3 and 4 are 513 – 767 UDP 513 -> QAM 2 Program 3 -> PIDs 10, 13, 18, 19 UDP 514 -> QAM 2 Program 4 -> PIDs 20, 23, 28, 29 } NO! PIDS are reused UDP 515 -> QAM 2 Program 3 -> PIDs 30, 33, 38, 39 UDP 516 -> QAM 2 Program 4 -> PIDs 40, 43, 48, 49 } Yes! PIDS are unique Available UDP ports for QAM3 Program 5 and 6 are 769 – 1023 9 U
Avoidance Techniques – SW updates Technicolor is constantly working to improve the features and performance of the COM1000 system. It is usually beneficial to update COM24s to the most recent SW revision whenever a field visit is necessary for other reasons. COM24 cards should usually be updated to the most recent release at system integration.
Avoidance Techniques – RF, RF, and RF Although not strictly a key loss avoidance technique, making sure the DIRECTV satellite feed and cable distribution networks are constructed with approved components and good workmanship practices, and operating within recommended equipment limits can significantly decrease service calls which claim “key loss”.
Appendix – A Key Loss Example
The Problem – Illegal PID remapping On this channel PID 0x2A is a Pro:Idiom Key Management message PID On the adjacent channel PID 0x2A is a second audio PID. During a channel change the P:I decryptor device can misinterpret SAP data as a Key Management message.
The Solution – Control the PIDs On this channel PID 0x2A is a Pro:Idiom Key Management message PID The Key Management message PID is not reused anywhere else in the multiplex 14 11/17/2011
