fig2 cpu 20 detects that pod module 26 is inserted into digital receiver 10 step 210 the detection may be based on the presence of a card detect signal on line 46 from the pod module if at any time the pod module is removed from the receiver the method is aborted but commences again at the beginning when the pod module is re inserted after insertion of the pod module is detected the cpu initializes the receiver so it may communicate with the pod module step 220 by way of input output lines 45 if communications are expected a response timer is started from zero step 230 if a communication is not received before a predetermined timeout for example one second step 240 branches to a pod module failure decision step 700 if a communication is received before the predetermined timeout step 240 branches to step 250 the latter completing the initialization and configuration of the pod module once initialization and configuration are completed the method enters the next phase which includes monitoring communications from the pod module step 300 monitoring the transport stream into the pod module step 400 monitoring the transport stream from the pod module step 500 and monitoring the transport stream clock signals step 600 if at any time during initialization and configuration the cpu determines that the receiver is not receiving a required response a pod module failure signal is placed by the cpu on line 31 after initialization and configuration are completed cpu 20 continues to monitor one way or two way communications with the receiver as shown in steps 300 340.