[mythtv-users] Protocol: Used HDHRs

[Eric Sharkey]

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 4:04 PM, Matt Emmott <memmott at gmail.com> wrote:
>> It's still a very useful
>> tuner, and it can record some channels that the Ceton/Prime cannot if
>> they have a cable card installed.
>>
>
> Can you explain that, or point me to something with more info? I must have
> missed some details on the recent Prime thread, and am wondering what
> channels the Prime can't get with a CC installed.

The Prime/Ceton when working with a cable card will honor the copy
control flags on broadcast.  If the copy control information is set to
"Copy Once" or "Copy Never", then these cards will only send the video
to a trusted device (Windows 7 Media Center) which enforces DRM.
MythTV can only get content marked as "Copy Freely".

Some channels may be broadcast in clear QAM with a restrictive CCI
setting.  To tune these channels with a Prime or Ceton, you must first
physically remove the cable card so it can't see the CCI flags
anymore, and then reconfigure it for QAM tuning.

This isn't theoretical.  I have a handful of channels here on Verizon
Fios with exactly this combination.  They're marked Copy Once, but
broadcast unencrypted.

Eric