FAQ
TL;DR: One user out of one reported that an NC+ 4K-era card would not run in an ARIVA 250; “a tuner with CI+ support is needed.” [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
Why it matters: If your NC+ card is now paired or CI+-bound, older CI-only tuners like ARIVA 250 will fail.
- CI vs CI+: ARIVA 250 has CI, not CI+. New NC+ access often needs CI+. [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
- NC+ CAID 1884 (“Cayman”) cards are paired; they work via Ultrabox+ or CI+ module only. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879045]
- Legacy CAID 0100 “chameleon” cards were unpaired; many ran in third‑party tuners. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879120]
- Card splitters and non‑paired tuners won’t run new paired cards. [Elektroda, maskisz, post #16877521]
- Confirmed resolution: user accepted NC+ tuner; ARIVA kept for DVB‑T and other sats. [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
Quick Facts
• Symptom: New NC+ card stops working in ARIVA 250 COMBO despite latest firmware. [Elektroda, wejog, post #16876594]
• Root cause: ARIVA 250 only supports CI; new NC+ access expects CI+. [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
• Card type: CAID 1884 (“Cayman”), paired with Ultrabox+/CI+ ecosystem. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879045]
• Legacy compatibility: CAID 0100 cards were issued unpaired and lacked 4K rights. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879120]
• Practical fix: Take NC+ decoder or NC+ CI+ CAM for a CI+ TV. [Elektroda, maskisz, post #16877521]
Why won’t my new NC+ 4K card work in the Ferguson ARIVA 250 COMBO?
Because the ARIVA 250 offers only CI, while the new NC+ access path expects CI+ and card–hardware pairing. The older NC+ card worked because it was not paired the same way. “A tuner with CI+ support is needed.” [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
Does NC+ really pair the new cards to specific hardware?
Yes. Cards identified as CAID 1884 (“Cayman”) are paired. They authorize service only with Ultrabox+ or through an NC+ CI+ module. Unpaired operation in third‑party CI-only tuners is blocked by design. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879045]
Is a ‘4K card’ a thing, or is 4K about the tuner?
The card carries rights; the tuner handles decoding and 4K capability. A user noted the claim of a “4K card” was nonsense. The real blocker here was pairing/CI+ requirements, not a magical 4K card. [Elektroda, maksar, post #16877905]
What is CI+ and why does it matter here?
CI+ is the secure Common Interface used by CAM modules. In this thread, NC+ access is delivered via a CI+ module or NC+ decoder. Devices with only CI cannot satisfy those requirements. [Elektroda, maskisz, post #16877521]
What is CAID 1884 ‘Cayman’ versus CAID 0100 ‘chameleon’?
CAID is the system identifier on conditional access cards. CAID 1884 (“Cayman”) is paired to hardware. Older CAID 0100 (“chameleon”) cards were issued unpaired and commonly worked in third‑party tuners. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879120]
Can I keep my ARIVA 250 and still watch NC+ with the new card?
Not for the NC+ package if the card is paired and needs CI+. The ARIVA 250 can still handle DVB‑T and other satellites. One user kept it for those sources after switching NC+ to provider gear. [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
Will a card splitter or alternative softcam help?
No. The thread reports that NC+ pairs new cards to block use in other tuners or card splitters. Choose an NC+ decoder or a CI+ CAM in a compatible TV instead. [Elektroda, maskisz, post #16877521]
I was only given a card by NC+. Is that normal now?
Posters note NC+ does not issue only the card for paired access. Delivery is with an NC+ decoder or CI+ module to enforce pairing. Clarify with customer service if your package differs. [Elektroda, 1098678, post #16878107]
Is there any chance my ARIVA 250 works with CAID 0100 again?
If your contract migrated to paired access, no. A user suggested older 0100 cards lacked 4K rights and were being withdrawn, so expect no return to unpaired operation. [Elektroda, andpol 33, post #16877130]
What’s the simplest fix to restore NC+ channels?
Use the provider’s Ultrabox+ decoder or get an official NC+ CI+ CAM for a TV that supports CI+. One poster concluded this was the practical solution. [Elektroda, maskisz, post #16877521]
Any real‑world outcome from someone with this exact problem?
Yes. The OP accepted a free NC+ tuner with HDD, changed the antenna setup, and kept the ARIVA for non‑NC+ use. This restored paid channels. [Elektroda, wejog, post #17295618]
How do I diagnose NC+ card pairing issues quickly?
- Check your card’s CAID in account info or on-screen messages.
- Verify your device supports CI+ (not just CI).
- If paired (CAID 1884), use Ultrabox+ or an NC+ CI+ CAM. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879045]
Does the tuner’s firmware update change pairing constraints?
No. The OP had the latest ARIVA firmware and the card still failed. Pairing and CI+ requirements are service-side controls beyond that firmware. [Elektroda, wejog, post #16876594]
Edge case: could rights provisioning be the only problem?
Sometimes missing entitlements cause black screens. One poster suggested calling support to refresh rights. If the card is paired, that still will not override CI+ needs. [Elektroda, internick, post #16879045]
Statistic: how common was failure in this case thread?
In this discussion, 100% of reported ARIVA 250 attempts with the new NC+ card failed. Multiple users confirmed pairing as the blocker. [Elektroda, wejog, post #16876594]
Can I use a 4K TV’s CI+ slot instead of a set‑top box?
Yes, if you obtain the NC+ CI+ CAM from the provider and your TV has CI+. A user proposed this as an alternative to the NC+ decoder. [Elektroda, maskisz, post #16877521]
