[mythtv-users] comcast digital box and mythTV

[Steven Adeff]

On 3/28/06, Andrew <lists at heathsworld.com> wrote:
> Steven Adeff wrote:
> > On 3/27/06, Dewey Smolka <dsmolka at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >>>Here in Chicago, Comcast requires a box for basic cable. Its a small
> >>>motorola device which decodes the encrypted channels and provides a
> >>>channel guide. Without the box you only get the broadcast channels.  I'm
> >>>at work so I cant give the model number,
> >>
> >>Hey Mike,
> >>
> >>I was in the same boat after moving to Chicago about six weeks ago.
> >>Was mad as hell at Comcast about it as well, since they sold me an
> >>'analog' package that was 90 percent digital.
> >>
> >>It doesn't much matter what Motorola box you have as they all work
> >>pretty much the same way. As another poster noted, you should figure
> >>on controlling the box via an infrared transmitter.
> >>
> >>You may or may not have on the cable box a serial port, which may or
> >>may not be active. I had at least four Comcast techs swear up and down
> >>to me that there are no serial-enabled boxes in the Chicago area,
> >>although I've found a few people on this list who have them. Go
> >>figure. Just don't count on getting one.
> >>
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> >>For your capture card, unless you want headaches, get a Hauppage PVR
> >>x50 card. The 150 is probably your best bet. If you run coax from the
> >>decoder into the 150 you'll get audio and video together. If you use
> >>composite (the yellow RCA) or S-Vid, you'll also need to run an audio
> >>patch from the cable box into the PVR card. S-vid is the best quality,
> >>followed by composite, followed by coax.
> >
> >
> > My experience with a DCT2xxx series cable box was that the port was
> > not enabled when I got it. I called up tech support and the lady said
> > she didn't know anything about it, and that she'd have no problem
> > enabling it if she *knew how*.
> >
> > I happened to get one of the nice phone techs so she told me to hold
> > on while she asks some of her colleagues, so I waited, and googled and
> > found some thread (which I no longer have a link to) where some kind
> > soul posted the exact command the cable company needs to send your box
> > to enable the serial port.
> >
> > She came back and said no one she talked to knew how, so I told her
> > what I found, which she entered, commented on how poorly informed the
> > techs are, and bingo! it was enabled and worked! We went on to talk
> > about stuff, she told me some interesting "insider stories" into how
> > ComCast operates, we had a few laughs, and bid farewell. All in all a
> > great experience, I lucked out, and I got the port enabled.
> >
> > BUT, they are not required to enable the serial port because of the
> > existance of IR Blasters. So ask, if needed, call back a few times to
> > see if you can get a kind soul on the other end of the line who will
> > enable it, and if needed, google for the command to enable it.
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > --
> > Steve
>
> I have comcast basic cable 50 miles west of you and no box.  I was thinking they were all the same outfit.  Must not be.

The lady I talked to was in Chicago or something? I know each Comcast
region is run seperately but I think they share a support center. Who
really knows where the lines are drawn though... My dad in LA. has
comcast but they operate much differently than my comcast. I think it
comes down to how comcast came to be in your area.

--
Steve