Want to watch Pay TV on your PC? If so, Hauppauge's new WinTV-CI is here to help. It's an add-on for the company's range of WinTV tuners that allows you to plug in a Common Access Module (CAM) and signal-uncscrambling smartcard.

The WinTV-CI links the WinTV tuner to a range of third-party CAM modules, such as AlphaCrypt, Conax, Irdeto, Mediaguard, AstonCrypt, CryptoWorks and Viaccess. The CAMs are essentially PC Card adaptors for the smartcards Pay TV providers sell. Most of the follow the Common Interface (CI) standard.

Hauppauge's WinTV-CI: CAM card at the ready...

Hauppauge said the add-on works with Pay TV channels on Freeview and on satellite services - but not Sky, the company admitted. That includes Top-up TV and Setanta Sports, both broadcast over the Freeview network.

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Broadcasters will sell you a CAM with your subscription. The WinTV-CI plugs into a spare USB port on your computer.

The WinTV-CI is available now for £80. Details of campatible WinTV products and CAMs can be found here.

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