Probably, every user of satellite television at least once, sorting through the channels, came across the inscription "Code Channel". Naturally, access to broadcasting on this frequency is limited. And here a logical question arises: how to decode Tricolor TV channels and secure access to viewing? Let's try to understand this situation.
Why can the channel be encrypted?
In order to solve the problem, you must first understand the causes of its occurrence. A scrambled channel message may appear in the following cases:
- the subscriber has not paid for access to the service;
- the coded channel belongs to a package that is not connected to the subscriber;
- the activation keys flew off the receiver;
- the receiver has been standing idle for too long;
- equipment has expired.
The procedure for each case will be different. In the first two situations, you just need to make a payment or connect the desired service. In all other options, you will have to make additional settings.
When federal channels are encrypted
Like any company that provides access to television services, Tricolor has a set of channels that should always be available. The list of these channels is determined by law, although each company tries to reduce it within its capabilities. It includes at least the First, Russia1, Culture and a dozen more frequencies.
Important! A complete list of federal channels can be found on the Tricolor official website.
If an encoding message appears on one of these channels, there is some kind of failure that has occurred with the operator. In this case, please contact. The contact center number - 8-800-500-01-23 - is available around the clock, and the call to it is not charged by telecom operators.
Instructions for decoding the receiver
Most often, a coded channel message appears as a result of a failure of activation codes. This can happen for various reasons. Sometimes the operator himself is to blame for the fact that the activation keys have flown off. In some cases, a hardware error is causing the problem.
Resetting the keys can also happen if the set-top box has been left off and unused for too long (a week or more). Activation commands are updated from the satellite automatically during the operation of the receiver. When the equipment is idle for some time, the update does not occur, therefore, the set-top box cannot receive access to broadcasting after that. In any case, decoding the Tricolor TV channels here will consist in re-obtaining activation codes.
How to update activation commands?
The easiest option for updating activation codes is to turn on the equipment and leave it for 3-8 hours on one of the encrypted channels. Most often, it is recommended to switch to the Kinopokaz channel, but this is not essential. As soon as the satellite enters the subscriber's region of residence, activation codes will be automatically sent to the receiver and broadcasting will be restored. As a rule, this takes about 3 hours, but the operator states that the procedure may take longer. Therefore, it is not worth raising a panic earlier than after 8 hours.
What to do if there is no automatic update
If the previous option did not help, and the activation commands were not sent automatically, you should request them yourself. To do this, you need to go to the subscriber's personal account on the Tricolor website. In the cabinet menu there is a tab "My services". By clicking on it, the subscriber will see data on the status of their subscriptions, and under them the red button "Request activation commands". This button must be pressed, and then repeat all the steps described in the paragraph above.
Important! If for some reason the subscriber does not have access to his personal account, he can contact the Tricolor TV technical support operator.
Another instruction for decoding
In some cases, receiving activation commands does not help you access encrypted channels. Here you can try to perform more serious operations.
Important! It makes sense to use the methods described in the article if the encoding message gives a channel that was previously available. To view channels and packages that are not connected to the subscriber, the methods given here are not suitable.
Change settings
So, if simply updating the activation codes did not help decode the hardware, you can try the following steps:
- reset all operating parameters;
- reboot the receiver by disconnecting it from the network for 5-10 minutes;
- re-request activation codes;
- leave the set-top box on on a coded channel for 3-8 hours.
For each of these stages, we have already written detailed instructions. They can be found on our website, in case of difficulty with any operation.
Rollback of settings usually allows you to restore access to TV broadcasting within 1-3 hours. But on the operator's website a longer period is declared, in order to avoid any kind of failures on the satellite. Therefore, it is worth waiting at least 8 hours before contacting technical support for help.
Important! If the described methods did not help, there is only one way out - contacting the Tricolor operator himself or the dealer from whom the equipment was purchased.
outdated receiver
Since 2016, the Tricolor operator has changed the broadcast format from MPEG2 to MPEG4. In this regard, large-scale campaigns began to replace client equipment with a new one, which allows receiving video in an updated format. The list of receiver models to be replaced is published on the Tricolor official website.
The operator disconnects outdated equipment from broadcasting independently. As a result of this, a message appears about the encoding of the channels. If the subscriber is aware that his set-top box was purchased more than three years ago, it is worth checking if it was included in the “black list” of outdated models. If necessary, it can be exchanged for an up-to-date one using any operator's promotion - with a small surcharge or even free of charge. It is impossible to decode channels on Tricolor TV if the equipment was turned off by the company due to loss of relevance using the methods described above.
Is it worth it to reflash the prefix?
Some subscribers, in an effort to save money on connecting paid channels or time to replace equipment, turn to the services of specialists who promise. And those who are a little familiar with programming sometimes try to carry out such operations on their own by downloading pirated software from the Internet. The network is full of sites that provide firmware, supposedly giving unlimited access to satellite TV.
How useful is such software and can you trust the promises? It's hard to say for sure. Perhaps some programs can really help you watch all the channels for free. However, the purchase of such firmware will also have to be spent. And their installation will be regarded as a violation of the contract with the satellite operator, that is, as an illegal act.
Stable operation of equipment and services from the largest Russian satellite television operator becomes possible only if there is an active subscription and its timely payment. The spread of various methods for connecting, activating and paying for tariff packages and additional functions greatly simplifies the work with satellite broadcasting. However, users still often encounter the problem: "Encoded channel on Tricolor: there is a signal, everything is paid for." This question is ambiguous and has several options for diagnosis and independent solution.
In this article, we will consider what causes the occurrence of an encrypted channel and try to fix the error on our own using the services available in 2019.
Reasons for encoding
The occurrence of a coded channel message is mainly associated with a negative result of an automatic software check of the status of the service package being used. The reason for the deactivation of television channels is the lack of timely payment, which can be done in several different ways.
New subscribers must go through the process of registering equipment in the Tricolor TV network, and create an account in the user control panel with an additional link to a service agreement. If you do not perform these operations as soon as possible, watching television channels will become impossible.
Having considered why an error occurs about the encrypted channel, we will find out what exactly it means and how to eliminate it.
Encoded channel EST from Tricolor: what to do
The channel encoding message is sent by the satellite after processing the request for data received from the receiver. If the receiver writes “Encoded channel EST”, this means that the equipment has not been tested by the satellite and cannot access a particular channel. Preliminary diagnostics will help to quickly identify what is the cause of the malfunction.
If the message appears on all channels, you have not completed the registration process. It can be done independently, or using the services of the operator's technical support service. If the inscription about the encoding appears on specific channels, the problem lies in paying for the service package. Let's look at each of the errors in detail in separate paragraphs.
Equipment Registration
Registration of equipment is a mandatory process, without which stable operation is impossible. This operation must be performed by a Tricolor specialist when installing the receiver and setting the direction of the satellite, but if you did the installation yourself, do not forget about registration.
This process can be done in several ways:
- by opening the corresponding page on the official website of the operator. You will be prompted to enter personal details, contact information and the serial number of your equipment, which can be found on the back of the receiver or smart card. Pre-check the input data - they are manually processed by the operator. After entering all the required information, submit the form;
- by calling a free mobile or landline support number. Tell the operator the purpose of your call, and then follow his further instructions. Activation in this case is also done manually.
Equipment activation can take 7-8 hours, during this period of time it is recommended to disconnect the receiver from the network. Turning on the device after the set time initiates the process of sending a special request to the satellite, which will help decode the broadcast image and transmit information about active subscriptions to the receiver.
Payment failed
Considering the question: “Tricolor, coded channel, what to do?”, It is worth paying special attention to the process of checking the account balance and paying for the required service package. When replenishing the balance, the funds are initially transferred to the general account, after which it is required to manually transfer the money to the account of the required service. If this is not done in a timely manner, the service will be blocked, and viewing the TV channels included in the package will become unavailable.
Go through the registration process in the user control panel for free and go to the main page. Click on the "Payment for services" tab and redirect funds from the general account to the required subscription. Here you can attach a salary plastic card, from which the amount necessary to pay for services will be withdrawn every month. All information about expenses is recorded in the appropriate section. Unlocking the channel may also take some time, please reboot the receiver first.
What to do if the encrypted channel is in Tricolor
If the above instructions did not help solve the problem of scrambled channels and they are not displayed, contact the Tricolor support service for help, where a qualified specialist will tell you in detail about the possible causes of incorrect functioning and how to eliminate them.
You can do this in the following ways:
- call a free 24-hour mobile or landline number;
- leave a message in the billing of the user account, after which the operator will independently call back to the specified contact details;
- call the official account of the operator in Skype;
- use the methods integrated on the operator's website, which include voice and text chat.
conclusions
An error with encoding Tricolor TV channels is quite common among subscribers and is not critical. The user can fix the problem by himself, following the above instructions. If you couldn’t solve the problem on your own, contact the operator, who will give detailed information on restoring a stable broadcast, and in extreme cases, send a specialist to your home.
