Setting up CCcam on Dreambox 920 UHD: step-by-step guide

Dreambox 920 UHD is one of the most powerful satellite receivers on the market: a quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 processor, support for 4K HDR, built-in Android 7, and a Linux environment based on OpenATV. It is this last feature that makes it an ideal platform for working with CCcam. In this article, we will cover the complete setup of CCcam on Dreambox 920 UHD — from preparing the firmware to checking the working channels.

What is CCcam and how does it work on Dreambox

CCcam (Card Client Cam) is a card sharing protocol developed in 2004. The principle of operation is simple: a physical access card is installed on a server (Card Server), which decrypts the signal and transmits control words (Control Words, CW) over the network to clients. Dreambox 920 UHD acts as a client — it receives CW via an internet connection and opens encrypted channels without a physical card.

In practice, the delay between the CW request and the server's response is 100–300 ms with a good server. If the latency exceeds 500 ms, the channel starts to "freeze" — the image hangs for 1–2 seconds every few minutes. Therefore, choosing a quality sharing server is critically important.

Dreambox 920 UHD supports CCcam versions 2.1.x to 2.3.x. Version 2.3.2 is considered the most stable for working with DVB-S2 and DVB-C tuners installed in this model.

Preparation: what you need before starting the setup

Firmware and OpenATV version

Before installing CCcam, make sure that the latest firmware is installed on Dreambox 920 UHD. Recommended options:

• OpenATV 7.x — the most popular firmware for Dreambox, good support for emulators and plugins
• OpenPLi 9.x — an alternative with extended SoftCam management capabilities
• DreamOS (native) — factory firmware, but support for third-party plugins is limited

You can check the current firmware through the menu:Menu → Information → System Information → Image Version. If the device is on DreamOS, it is recommended to switch to OpenATV — the installation takes 15 minutes and significantly expands functionality.

Necessary data for connection

To set up CCcam, you will need data from the sharing provider:

• Server host (for example:server.utgard.tv)
• Connection port (standard CCcam —12000, but providers often use 10000–15000)
• User login
• Password

This data forms the so-called C-line — a configuration string in the format:
C: server.utgard.tv 12000 username password

Tools for setup

Prepare the following:

• FTP client (FileZilla or WinSCP) — for transferring files to the receiver
• SSH client (PuTTY for Windows, Terminal for macOS) — for executing commands
• IP address of Dreambox in the local network (find inMenu → Setup → System → Network → Device Information)

Installing CCcam on Dreambox 920 UHD

Method 1: Installation via OpenATV package manager

On the OpenATV firmware, CCcam is installed through the built-in package manager. This is the simplest method:

1. OpenMenu → Plugins → Download plugins
2. In the categorySoftCamfindCCcam
3. Click "Install" (green button)
4. Wait for the installation to complete — usually 30–60 seconds
5. Restart the receiver

After the restart, CCcam will be available inMenu → Plugins → SoftCam Manager.

Method 2: Manual installation via FTP

If the package manager is not working or a specific version of CCcam is needed:

1. Download the binary file of CCcam for the ARM platform (armv7a) — make sure the version matches the architecture of Dreambox 920 UHD
2. Connect to the receiver via FTP: host — the IP address of the receiver, login —root, password —dreambox (default)
3. Upload the binary file to the directory/usr/bin/ and rename it toCCcam
4. Connect via SSH and set execution rights with the command:chmod 755 /usr/bin/CCcam
5. Create a configuration file (more details in the next section)

Method 3: Installation via Enigma2 Plugin Manager

On OpenPLi 9.x, an extended plugin manager is available. Go toMenu → Settings → System → Enigma2 Software Manager, find the sectionSoftcams and install CCcam 2.3.2. This method ensures proper integration with the Enigma2 task scheduler.

Creating and configuring CCcam.cfg

Location of the configuration file

The main configuration file for CCcam is located at/etc/CCcam.cfg. If the file does not exist, create it via FTP client or SSH command:

touch /etc/CCcam.cfg

Basic configuration structure

Minimum working fileCCcam.cfg looks like this:

# CCcam Configuration for Dreambox 920 UHD

Symbol# means a comment — these lines are ignored by CCcam. The C line (C:) is the connection line to the card provider server.

Parameters for multiple servers

You can connect multiple sharing servers simultaneously — CCcam will use the first available:

C: primary.utgard.tv 12000 user1 pass1

CCcam polls the servers in order. If the first is unavailable (default timeout 45 seconds), it connects to the second. This ensures redundancy and continuous signal during maintenance on the main server.

Advanced configuration parameters

For stable operation on Dreambox 920 UHD, it is recommended to add additional parameters:

# Maximum number of reconnection attempts

Starting CCcam and managing through SoftCam Manager

First launch

After creating the configuration file, start CCcam:

1. Go toMenu → Plugins → SoftCam Manager
2. SelectCCcam 2.3.2 from the list
3. Press "Start" (green button)
4. The status should change toRunning

Alternatively, start via SSH:
/usr/bin/CCcam&

Or with the systemctl command on newer firmware:
systemctl start CCcam

Connection check

Open the log file to check for a successful connection:

tail -f /tmp/CCcam.log

Signs of a successful connection in the log:

• Connected to server.utgard.tv:12000 — connection established
• got card: [CAID] [Provider] — cards are available
• RECV: CW OK — control words are being obtained

Signs of problems:

• Connection refused — server is unavailable or incorrect port
• Wrong username or password — authorization error
• Timeout waiting for CW — high latency or server overload

Setting up CCcam autostart

To have CCcam start automatically after rebooting the receiver, add it to autostart. On OpenATV, this is done through SoftCam Manager — check the "Autostart" box next to CCcam.

On OpenPLi the path is different:Menu → Settings → System → SoftCam Settings → Autostart → CCcam.

For manual configuration via SSH, add the line to/etc/rc.local:

/usr/bin/CCcam&

Typical problems and their solutions

CCcam does not connect to the server

The first thing to check is the correctness of the C-line. Common mistakes:

• Extra spaces at the beginning or end of the line
• Incorrect case of username or password (CCcam is case-sensitive)
• Port blocked by the internet provider — try VPN
• Router firewall blocks outgoing connections on non-standard ports

Check server availability from Dreambox via SSH:

ping server.utgard.tv

Channels open, but the image periodically freezes

Freezes lasting 1–3 seconds every few minutes indicate latency issues. Causes:

• High load on the server — the server is processing too many simultaneous requests. Solution: change server or tariff plan
• Unstable internet on the client side — check the ping to the server with the commandping server.utgard.tv. Norm — up to 80 ms
• Weak router processor — when simultaneously watching several channels on different receivers, the router may not cope

Temporary solution — increase the parameterRECONNECT TIMEup to 60 seconds and enable caching (CACHE MODE: 1).

Encrypted channels do not open

If CCcam is connected (the log showsConnected), but specific channels do not open, check:

• CAID (Conditional Access ID) of the channels is included in the server subscription. For example, Viasat uses CAID 0604, Sky Germany — 09C4
• The tuner correctly receives the signal — open an unencrypted channel on the same transponder
• The CCcam version supports the required CAID — some providers use proprietary algorithms that only work with specific versions

CCcam performance optimization on Dreambox 920 UHD

Caching configuration

Dreambox 920 UHD has enough RAM for effective CW caching. Enabling the cache reduces the number of requests to the server and decreases delays when switching channels:

CACHE MODE: 1

The parameterCACHE DELAY: 10means 10 ms delay before sending CW from the cache — a compromise between speed and data relevance.

Monitoring via the CCcam web interface

CCcam provides a built-in web interface for monitoring. By default, it is available on port 16001:

http://[IP-address-Dreambox]:16001/

It displays: the number of connected clients, a list of available CAID, the status of each server from the config, current load. If the web interface is unavailable, add toCCcam.cfg:

WEBINFO PORT: 16001

Alternative to CCcam: OScam on Dreambox 920 UHD

If CCcam is unstable or the provider recommends another protocol, consider OScam (Open Source Cam). OScam supports the CCcam protocol as one of the modules, allowing the use of the same C-lines but with enhanced configuration capabilities. OScam is installed similarly — through SoftCam Manager in OpenATV, the configuration file is placed in/etc/oscam/.

The fundamental difference: OScam is actively developed and supports newer encryption systems, while CCcam has been frozen at version 2.3.2 since 2012. For most satellite packages (Astra 19.2°E, Hotbird, Amos) CCcam still works great, but for some cable providers OScam is preferable.

Dreambox 920 UHD provides all the technical capabilities for stable CCcam operation. The ARM Cortex-A15 processor with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz handles the decryption of even several streams simultaneously, and 2 GB of RAM is sufficient for caching and the parallel operation of Enigma2 with plugins.