Official Optus Aurora Smartcards
Australian Government regulations specify the areas into which the commercial broadcasters may transmit their services. The official Optus Aurora smartcard is used to control the transmission of authorised programme content into geographic areas in accordance with these regulations.
There are several official Optus Aurora smartcard types. Please check that you have one of the following official Optus Aurora smartcards in your set top box:
Front view:
Back Notation:
This card is valuable.
If found please return:
PO Box 1 N.Sydney 2059
This card is valuable.
If found please return:
PO Box 1 N.Sydney 2059
If found please return card to:
Optus Satellite Facility
PO Box 235 Frenchs Forest
NSW 1640
Retain in decoder
Front view:
Back View:
Use of Unofficial Smartcards or Cardless Set Top Boxes
Aurora viewers who are utilising unofficial smartcards or cardless set top boxes may experience service difficulties when changes are made to the Aurora system.
If your set top box or smartcard type does not comply with the information above please contact your equipment supplier.
Alternatively, official Optus Aurora smartcards can be obtained from the following distributors:
| Distributor | Contact Number |
| Nationwide Antenna Systems Pty Ltd | (07) 3252 2947 |
| Hills Antenna and TV Systems | (02) 9717 5217 |
| Sciteq Pty Ltd | (08) 9409 6677 |
| Jonsa Ellies (Aust.) Pty Ltd | (02) 9648 1132 |
| Phoenix Technology Group Pty Ltd | (03) 9553 3399 |
| Kristal Electronics Australia | (07) 4728 7704 |
| Laceys.tv | (03) 9776 9222 |
| Aardvark Electronics | (07) 4955 5879 |
| Strong Technologies Pty Ltd | (03) 8795 7990 |
| Videosat Pty Ltd | (02) 9482 3100 |
| Comsyst | (02) 9774 7476 |
Activation of Optus Aurora Smartcards
You can complete an online request to have your Optus Aurora Smartcard activated by clicking here.
If you'd prefer to email or fax the smartcard activation request to us, please complete one of the following forms and email to sss@optus.com.au or fax to 1300 555 221.
If email or fax facilities are unavailable to you or your smartcard dealer,
you can activate your smartcard by phoning us on 1300 301 680.
Correct Operation of Your Set Top Box
To maintain your set top box operation in synchronism with any changes to the Aurora system it is advisable to where possible:
- Leave the set top box connected to power and the receiving antenna.
- The set top box may be left in the standby mode if not in use. This enables the set top box to receive any updates to system information as they occur.
Failure to follow this practice may result in loss of service for a period, until the box receives the latest updated information. This problem is most likely to occur if you reactivate your box after a lengthy period of disconnection.
About Optus Aurora
The Optus Aurora system provides transmission of free–to-air services for the national broadcasters, remote area commercial broadcasters, business television providers, radio broadcasters and audio narrowcasters. Reception of the services can be direct to home (DTH) or direct to business (DTB) via a satellite dish, set top box and Optus Aurora smartcard, or via retransmission facilities using terrestrial transmitters for broadcast to TV's.
The Optus Aurora system is designed to operate in an encrypted format, making use of smartcards, within the set top boxes, to decrypt the services applicable to the entitlements on the particular smartcard, held by the set top box. There are a few special instances where a small number of Aurora services are transmitted without encryption, allowing reception without a smartcard, but in general an official Optus Aurora smartcard is required for correct operation.