[mythtv-users] Comcast Digital HD and HDTV-5500

[Chris Ribe]

>
> > I understand that QAM-capable tuner cards can't decode encrypted (5c)
> > digital channels. I also was under the impression that Firewire
> > couldn't pass these channels through either.
>

I don't have much help to offer, but maybe I can help clear up some
cunfusion.  To the best of my knowledge,  5c encryption is something
that applies only to the firewire link between the cable box and myth
host.  That encryption is added to the transport stream as it is
demodulated in the cable box.

QAM is just a modulation scheme for encoding multiple digital streams
into a single analog signal, any encryption of your cable feed is
independent of the QAM modulation, as far as I know.

The digital streams within the QAM signal are likely encrypted
independently of the 5c encryption later added in the cable box.

Basically, what I am saying is that you shouldn't expect to see much
correlation between the channels you can get over firewire and the
channels your QAM tuner can receive - except that anything that is an
OTA retransmission should be free and clear.