Dreambox
The DreamBox is a Linux-powered DVB digital satellite and cable decoder set-top box, produced by German multimedia vendor Dream Multimedia. Its firmware is officially user-upgradable, due to its Linux base, as compared to third-party patching of alternate receivers. All units support Dream's own DreamCrypt conditional access system, with software-emulated CAMs available for many alternate CA systems. The combination of third-party developers and a built in ethernet network port that facilitates card sharing make Dreambox use particularly common among enthusiasts and those who intend to obtain services without payment. Third party software for this purpose is not officially endorsed or supported by Dream Multimedia and voids the official warranties but unofficial web sites support a large community of enthusiasts.
Models
As of 2005, there are 4 models of DreamBox available (-S=Satellite, -T=Terrestrial, -C=Cable):
DM 500
The DM 500 is the smallest and cheapest DreamBox, with a 250Mhz PowerPC processor and ethernet connectivity, as well as the standard features of a free-to-air satellite receiver including hardware MPEG 1 & 2 decoding and a single smart card reader.
DM 7000
The DM 7000 has all the features of a DM 500, but with 64MB of RAM, a Common Interface slot, dual smart card readers, a Compact Flash card reader, USB port and an IDE interface for attaching an internal 3.5" hard drive to convert the unit to a digital video recorder.
DM 7020
The DM 7020 is essentially a DM 7000 with 96MB of RAM however the file system has changed and no longer uses root.cramfs.
DM 7025
The DM 7025 is essentially a DM 7020 with the ability to add a second "snap-in" tuner, a 300Mhz processor and 128MB of RAM. The CPU is switched from PowerPC architecture to MIPS architecture.
Software
The Linux distribution installed by default on the Dreambox is mostly available under the GPL and uses standard Linux API's including LIRC to allow users to modify its functions.
For all models of Dreambox, unofficial third party Conditional Access emulators are widely circulated on the Internet that emulate the Conditional Access systems developed by VideoGuard, Irdeto Access, Conax, Nagravision, NDS, Viaccess and other proprietry vendors. For many Dreambox users, these softcams are often used in conjunction with Card Sharing to access Pay TV services without a provider card. This practice is illegal in some jurisdictions.