What is SoftCSA?

SoftCSA adds native software descrambling to Enigma2 for channels encrypted with Algorithm 3 (CSA-ALT). These channels cannot be descrambled by the receiver’s hardware descrambler and previously had to be handled via the StreamRelay workaround in OSCam.

 

SoftCSA integrates descrambling directly into Enigma2: the encrypted transport stream is received, descrambled in software, and seamlessly passed on to the decoders. Result: faster zapping, better performance, and full feature support.

 

 

What does SoftCSA bring?

 

Benefits compared to StreamRelay

• Channel switching: StreamRelay = Delayed (HTTP overhead) | SoftCSA = Fast (direct)

• Timeshift: StreamRelay = Limited | SoftCSA = Fully working

• Recordings: StreamRelay = Complicated | SoftCSA = Like normal channels

• Multi-tuner: StreamRelay = Consumes capacity | SoftCSA = No extra overhead

• Audio track selection: StreamRelay = Problematic | SoftCSA = Works normally

• EPG/Subtitles: StreamRelay = Partly faulty | SoftCSA = Complete

• FCC: StreamRelay = Not possible | SoftCSA = Supported

 

Technical highlights

• Transparent integration: For the user, a SoftCSA channel behaves like any other channel

• Automatic detection: OSCam reports the algorithm; Enigma2 enables SoftCSA when needed

• Hardware decoder: The box’s AV decoder is still used – only descrambling is done in software

• Cross-platform: Tested on Broadcom, HiSilicon, and AMLogic chipsets

• System information: SoftCSA status is shown in Enigma2 system information

• Skin integration: Optionally show a “SoftCSA” indicator in the infobar

 

 

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

 

What exactly is it?

SoftCSA is a software descrambling implementation directly inside Enigma2. For CSA-ALT encrypted channels (Algorithm 3), Enigma2 performs the descrambling itself instead of using OSCam StreamRelay as a detour.

 

Why does this make sense?

• No StreamRelay overhead: no more double HTTP connection

• Direct descrambling of the AV stream within the Enigma2 process

• Better performance for zapping and timeshift

• Fewer interruptions and more stable playback

• Full recording functionality – recordings are playable on a PC as well

• FCC support – Fast Channel Change works

 

What do I need?

• Compatible box – Your box must be listed here:

   

  Devel Status

• OpenATV 7.6 image ( newer than 01 February 2026)

• OSCam 11907 or newer built WITH_EXTENDED_CW (The secret feed has this):

   

  Code

  opkg install oscam-master

  libdvbcsa library (installed automatically with oscam-master):

   

  Code

  opkg install libdvbcsa1

 

Which settings are required?

 

1. Disable StreamRelay for affected channels

• Mark the channel in the channel list → “Play channel without StreamRelay”

• Or: rename/delete the file /etc/enigma2/whitelist_streamrelay

 

2. Adjust the OSCam configuration

In the [dvbapi] section of oscam.conf:

Code

pmt_mode = 6 extended_cw_api = 1

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Alternatively via the OSCam WebIF under Config → DVBApi.

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3. Verification

If the following entry appears in the OSCam log, everything is set up correctly:

Code

2025/12/17 21:09:34 c (dvbapi) Client connected: 'Enigma2' (protocol version = 3)

 

protocol version = 3 indicates that Enigma2 is connected with Extended CW support.

 

How do I know if SoftCSA is active/available?

• System information: Menu → Information → System Information shows whether SoftCSA is enabled in the image

• OSCam log: Software descrambling is logged for SoftCSA channels

• Skin infobar: Optionally show a “SoftCSA” indicator (see skin tweak below)

 

Do recordings and timeshift work?

Yes! This was one of the main development goals:

• Recordings are stored correctly descrambled

• Timeshift works like with normal channels

• Recordings are playable in VLC and other players on a PC

• FCC (Fast Channel Change) is supported as well

 

Which boxes are supported?

The implementation has been tested on these chipsets:

• Broadcom BCM7252S, BCM7278, BCM73625 (VU+, Mut@nt, etc.)

• HiSilicon Hi3798MV200 (Octagon, AB-COM Pulse, etc.)

• AMLogic (DreamOne, DreamTwo)

 

The complete list of supported boxes can be found via the BuildStatus link above.

 

Skin integration: SoftCSA indicator

If you want to show an icon in the infobar when SoftCSA is active, you can use this skin code:

Code

<widget alphatest="blend" pixmap="icons/ico_softcsa.png" position="1800,1004" render="Pixmap" size="56,35" source="session.CurrentService" zPosition="3"> <convert type="ServiceInfo">IsSoftCSA</convert> <convert type="ConditionalShowHide"/> </widget>

 

The icon must exist in the skin directory as icons/ico_softcsa.png. Position and size can be adjusted to your skin.

 

 

Known limitations / notes

• SoftCSA (CSA-ALT) only: other encryption types are handled as usual

• OSCam required: keys are still provided by OSCam – only descrambling runs in Enigma2

• Preview status: this is a test build – feedback is explicitly welcome!

 

 

Issues? Feedback?

Please test extensively and report:

• Which box / which chipset

• Which channel / which bouquet position

• What exactly does not work

• Debug logs are welcome (with Enigma2 debug enabled)

 

Enjoy testing!

 

 

Other images:

The code has been added to some other images and is available from:

• Open Blackhole (Version 5.6 003 and newer)

• Open PLI (Scarthgap branch - 05 February 2026 and newer)

• Open ViX (6.8 004 - when its released)