How to Prepare for a Cable Card Firmware Upgrade

Some cable and satellite receivers require an access card to be inserted into the receiver in order to view programming. This access card has all the coding required to unscrambled the stations you pay for, so if you have recently changed your service plan you are going to receive a new cable card with the updated firmware upgrade. The preparation process is rather straightforward, but if you don't follow the exact steps provided, the upgrade is not going to function correctly.

• 1

  Power down the cable receiver. It must be off when inserting the new cable card.

• 2

  Open the access card slot on the receiver. This exposes the current card for the hardware.

• 3

  Push the card in toward the receiver. It then pops out. Remove the card and discard it (unless the cable company requests you to return the card).

• 4

  Inset the new cable access card into the receiver, then close the card lid and power on the equipment. Once the receiver is on it detects the newly inserted card and beings to install the upgraded firmware.