CCcam lines: setup, config, and C-line protocol

If the receiver does not connect to the server, in 90% of cases the problem lies in the configuration line. CCcam lines are not just a set of characters, but an exact syntax where one extra space or incorrect case breaks the entire connection. We will analyze formats, paths, diagnostics, and typical errors that occur even among experienced users.

What is a CCcam line and what types of lines are there

Essentially, a line is one line in the CCcam configuration file that describes the connection parameters: where to connect, under what login, and with what password. Without it, the receiver simply does not know which server to contact for decryption keys.

There are several types of lines, and they can be easily confused—especially if you are looking at someone else's config for the first time.

C-line: client connection to the server

C-line (the line starts withC:) is the most common type. This is what you receive from the provider, and this is what you write in CCcam.cfg on the client side. It tells CCcam: "connect to this server using the CCcam protocol and request keys from it."

The CCcam protocol by default operates on port12000, although the server can listen on any other port—this is specified in the line itself.

N-line, F-line, and other types of lines

F-line (F:) is a sharing line. It is needed not by clients, but by CCcam servers for two-way sharing of cards between each other. If you have two CCcam servers and you want to share cards, you need an F-line in the config of each of them. Important: with multiple F-lines between several servers, it is easy to create a loop where the same ECM request circulates endlessly. We will return to this later.

N-line (N:) is a completely different protocol. This is newcamd, not CCcam. The syntax is similar, but the protocols are incompatible—you cannot add an N-line where a C-line is expected, and vice versa.

There is also B-line (Biss keys, embedded directly in the config), P-line (profiles), but they are not related to card sharing.

The difference between CCcam and newcamd protocols

CCcam (C-line) is a closed binary protocol developed for the eponymous emulator. It supports the transmission of multiple cards from one server and can filter requests by CAID. Newcamd (N-line) is an older and open protocol, widely supported in MGcamd, OScam, and other emulators. Delays in newcamd are usually slightly higher, but it works more stably through NAT.

If the server gives you a C-line, it means it is running on a CCcam or compatible server (OScam in cccam mode also accepts clients via this protocol).

C-line format and breakdown of each parameter

It looks simple, but the devil is in the details. One typo—and the reader goes offline.

C-line syntax:

The basic format is as follows:

C: hostname port username password

Real example:

C: my.server.net 12000 john_doe s3cr3tpass

Four mandatory fields, separated by a single space. The line starts with a capitalC, followed by a colon, a space—and then the parameters. No quotes, no brackets in the basic syntax.

Host, port, username, password

Hostname is the domain or IP address of the server. If the server is behind a dynamic IP (for example, with a hobby sharing partner), then having the IP address in the line is a bad idea: when the IP changes, you will have to edit the config manually. The correct approach is to use a DynDNS domain likeserver.ddns.netA fixed IP is certainly more reliable.

Port — the TCP port number. The default CCcam is12000, but it's just a convention. The server can be set up on15000,9000 or any other. The port in the line must exactly match what the server is listening to. If the provider says "port 17000" — you set 17000, not 12000.

Username and password — the credentials provided by the server administrator. Both fields are case-sensitive.JohnDoe andjohndoe — are different users. Spaces in the login and password are not supported by the standard syntax.

Additional parameters and flags ({ }, no/yes)

You can add optional parameters after the password. For example:

C: my.server.net 12000 john_doe s3cr3tpass { 001 002 } no

The block in curly braces is a list of HOPS (the number of hops that the card is allowed to make). The parameterno oryes at the end indicates whether this server can receive your local cards in response (sharing flag). In practice, most public configs do without these flags — they are mainly needed when setting up F-line sharing between servers.

Spaces around curly braces are mandatory — the CCcam parser is strict about this.

Where to write the line: CCcam.cfg and paths in the system

Found the line — now you need to understand where to insert it. The path depends on the firmware image on the receiver.

Location of the CCcam.cfg file (/var/etc/, /etc/)

On most images (OpenPLi, OpenATV, OpenViX), the configuration file is located at:

/var/etc/CCcam.cfg

On some older or custom firmware, the path may be:

/etc/CCcam.cfg

If you're not sure — check via SSH:find / -name "CCcam.cfg" 2>/dev/null. It will find it in a second.

The file format is simple: each C-line on a separate line. Comments start with#. The order of lines does not affect the connection priority — CCcam tries all, and priorities are set by separate directives.

Editing via FTP and telnet

The most convenient way is FTP through FileZilla. Connect to the receiver's IP (port 21), the login is usuallyroot, the password depends on the firmware (by default empty on OpenPLi). Go to/var/etc/, download CCcam.cfg, edit it with any text editor (Notepad++ on Windows, not WordPad — it's important to save Unix line endings LF, not CRLF), and upload it back.

It's easier via SSH with one command:

nano /var/etc/CCcam.cfg

After editing — be sure to restart the service:

init 6

Or through the CCcam service directly, if it is started by a separate script in your image.

The equivalent in OScam: oscam.server and reader

OScam does not use CCcam.cfg. If you have moved from CCcam to OScam — the C-line needs to be rewritten in the format[reader] section in the file/etc/oscam/oscam.server:

[reader]

This is the direct equivalent of the lineC: my.server.net 12000 john_doe s3cr3tpass. The valuecccversion should be set according to what the server accepts — some CCcam 2.x servers refuse connections from clients presenting themselves as older versions.

After editing oscam.server, changes can be applied without restarting — through the OScam web interface, the "Restart reader" button.

Connection check and diagnostics

You have written it down — now you need to make sure everything works. And not just on the principle of "turned it on, the channel opened — so it's okay," but properly.

OScam web interface (port 8888 / httpport)

OScam raises the web interface on the port specified in/etc/oscam/oscam.conf in the section[webif], parameterhttpport. By default, this is8888:

[webif]

Open in your browserhttp://192.168.1.100:8888 (IP of your receiver), go to the "Readers" section. There you will see each reader and its status:ONLINE,OFFLINE orCONNECTING. If the status is ONLINE — the connection is established. Next to it, the number of available cards (cards) and the average response time for the ECM request is displayed.

ECM time less than 300–500 ms — good. Above 800 ms — channels will open with a delay or may not reach the timeout at all.

CCcam logs and line status indicator

In pure CCcam, the log is usually written to/tmp/cccam.log. View it via SSH:

tail -f /tmp/cccam.log

Key lines to look for:connected to (successful connection),connection failed (could not connect),login failed (incorrect login/password),disconnected (the server terminated the connection).

Through telnet to the CCcam port (usually 16001 or 15000, depending on the firmware), you can get an info screen with the current status of all cccam lines and the number of active cards.

Checking port openings and host availability

If the status is constantly CONNECTING — first check the basics: is the host pingable:

ping my.server.net

Then check if the port is open:

telnet my.server.net 12000

If telnet hangs or refuses the connection — the port is unavailable. There are two reasons: the server is down, or the port is blocked — either by the provider on your side or by a firewall on the server side. Some internet providers block non-standard ports or specifically port 12000. In this case, ask the server provider to raise it on an alternative port (443, 80 — they are usually open).

Typical configuration errors and their solutions

I have gathered the most common problems encountered when working with cccam lines.

Line offline / connecting but not online

The CONNECTING status means that CCcam or OScam is trying to connect but cannot. Checklist:

• Is the host correct? Try using the IP instead of the domain (if known) and see if the status changes.
• Is the port correct? Double-check what the provider sent.
• Is there a typo in the login/password? Case matters.
• Has access expired? If the account is temporary — the term may have ended.
• Is the CCcam version compatible? Old CCcam 2.0.x sometimes does not connect to servers configured for 2.3.x. In OScam, this is resolved with the parametercccversion.

A separate case: the line works on one receiver but not on another. Most often, this is due to different versions of CCcam or different firmware images. Sometimes, the new receiver has a different MAC address, and the server ties the account to the MAC. In this case, you need to contact the server administrator.

Channels do not open with an active line

This is the most insidious situation. The reader is ONLINE, cards show, for example, 500 — but a specific channel does not open. There are several reasons:

There is no required CAID/ProvID. The server is connected but does not have a card for the provider you are trying to watch. In OScam, the reader details show a list of supported CAIDs. If the required one is not there — this line will not help you.

Reader priorities. If you have multiple readers or a local smart card — OScam will send the request to the one with the highest priority. The local card always wins by default. Configured through cccam_priority and group parameters in oscam.user and oscam.server .

Conflict between local card and remote line. If there is a physical card in the receiver for the same CAID that the line provides — OScam will use the local one. This is the correct behavior, but if the local card is not working (expired, blocked), and the line is working — you need to disable the local reader or lower its priority.

High ECM time. Technically, the reader is online, but the server responds to ECM in 2–3 seconds. Many channels wait for a response no longer than 1.5–2 seconds and close. The channel flickers or does not open at all — even though the reader is "alive."

Conflict of multiple readers and priorities

If there are multiple readers in OScam looking at the same CAID — the ECM request will go to the one with the highest priority in the config. This is set by the priority parameter in the [reader] section (or through the web interface). A value of 1 means the highest priority, the higher the number, the lower the priority.

With the F-line, another problem arises: looping. If server A shares cards with server B through the F-line, and server B shares back with A, and the cccmaxhops parameter is not set, the same ECM can loop, creating load and delays. The solution is to limit cccmaxhops to a reasonable value (usually 3–5) and explicitly specify reshare in the settings.

How to choose a reliable line source (criteria)

There will be no specific names here — it makes no sense to name them, the situation changes quickly. But there are technical criteria that work regardless of the provider.

What to look for: uptime stability and support

The first is the presence of a trial period. A normal source provides 24–48 hours of free testing. This allows you to check ECM time on your channels before payment. If they do not offer a trial at all — that's strange.

The second is transparency regarding supported CAIDs. A decent provider clearly states which packages the line supports: Viasat, Tricolor, CanalDigitaal — or whatever you need. "We open everything" without clarification — red flag.

The third is the response speed of support. If the line goes down during non-working hours and no one responds for 12+ hours — this is a characteristic of the service.

Technical signs of a quality line

ECM time below 300 ms on average — good. Below 150 ms — excellent, channel switching will be instantaneous. Above 600 ms — there will already be complaints.

Connection uptime — check in OScam on the reader tab, it shows connection time and last disconnection time. If the reader reconnects every few hours — the server is unstable.

The number of simultaneous connections on your account. If the provider specifies 1 connection — you cannot connect two receivers at the same time. Some servers silently drop the second connection, others block the account.

Red flags when choosing

Promises of "10,000 channels" and "999 cards" — marketing nonsense. Cards in CCcam are not the number of TV channels, but the number of keys/cards on the server. The actual number of channels available to you depends on the CAIDs supported by your package.

The requirement to install unfamiliar software or send receiver data beyond the MAC address — be cautious. Normal cccam line setup does not require anything other than the specified C-line in the config.

Unrealistically low price for an "unlimited" package. The server costs money. If the offer sounds too good — either the quality is corresponding, or the service does not last long.