[mythtv-users] Can a pcHDTV record standard definition?

R. G. Newbury newbury at mandamus.org
Wed Dec 13 23:49:41 UTC 2006


brad at bradandkim.net wrote:
>>>> On Dec 12, 2006, at 8:34 PM, Brad Fuller wrote:
>>>>>> It will only receive *unencrypted* QAM which, depending on your
>>>>>> cable
>>>>>> system, might be anything from all digital signals to none of them.
>>>>>> In my case it is just a few digital video channels and a *lot*
>>>>>> of the
>>>>>> digital music channels (with a video slate screen that changes only
>>>>>> when the song does).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Receiving unencrypted QAM signals without a subscription to Digital
>>>>>> Cable might be technically possible, but is probably illegal.
>>>>> Gee, I don't know about "illegal." Maybe without a subscription at
>>>>> all.
>>>>
>>>> Hypothetically, if you could receive one or more channels via
>>>> unencrypted QAM that you could not get as analog channels, and you
>>>> had only an analog subscription, this might be considered "stealing"
>>>> by some.
>>>>
>>>> You could of course argue that the cable operator should encrypt
>>>> anything they do not want you to receive, but cable operators pay
>>>> some program suppliers on a per-subscriber basis and if you are not
>>>> paying for digital cable the programmer would not be receiving
>>>> anything from you.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know whether the simple act of modulating a signal via QAM
>>>> would be considered "protected" within the meaning of the DMCA or
>>>> not, but stranger interpretations have been made.
>>>>
>>>> I'm certainly not an attorney (nor would I wish to be), but receiving
>>>> a channel you are not paying for would seem to me to be at least
>>>> morally wrong if not legally so.
>>>>
>>>> All hypothetical, of course :-)
>>> Well, I do have a digital subscription so luckily I will not have to
>>> wrestle with any ethics   :)
>>>
>> I certainly didn't mean to imply that you were "stealing", only to
>> point out the potential for problems.
>>
>> Of course it gets even more complicated - is the extra money for
>> digital for the channels involved, or is it only for the required
>> STB ? What about somebody willing to pay for the extra channels but
>> unwilling to pay for a STB they won't ever use that the cable
>> operator insists on charging for anyway?
>>
>> The channels that I could receive via unencrypted QAM are ones that I
>> get via satellite anyway, so what would it matter where I actually
>> got them from ?
>>
>> One difference would be the commercials that are inserted are
>> different, but thanks to Myth I never see those commercials anyway.
>>
>> I guess these are the sort of questions that keep lawyers driving
>> Mercedes Benz automobiles :-)
>>
>>
> So if my cable company sends unencrypted QAM HD channels, then it is
> possible that I am already receiving those channels with my digital
> subscription and would not need to either upgrade my subscription or my
> STB as the pcHDTV would handle that for me?

Your are talking about 2 things. The HD3000 will receive unencrypted 
digital streams. Some may be HD as FCC mandated. Some will not. For 
those you need the HD level subscription and the Settop Box.
Note that I am unclear about what your 'digital subscription' entails 
because some cableco's have a middle tier, where you get digital SD 
channels but not HD channels...

Geoff




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