[mythtv-users] Switching away from comcast to online streams

[Michael T. Dean]

On 01/27/2014 02:47 PM, Andre Ross wrote:
> Sorry for the post and any data that should not have been in that post.
> Thanks for the input I want to pay for source data and still record it for my own use on my own devices.
>
> I have two sony hdmi receivers same make and model.
>
>
> When I sent the output to the Hauppauge Colossus HDMI input.
>
> One sony will give the colossus a blank recording.
> While the other sony I'm able to record.
>
> I did not hack or break the sony receiver it came from sony that way.
> Question about recording programs DRM, DMCA, or terms or service.
>
> If I record cable or shows from direct tv that pass thru the sony receiver and it lets me am I OK 
> or if not who would I be in trouble with.

AIUI, the Hauppauge Colossus is not compatible with GNU/Linux, which 
implies you're using Windows.  Since MythTV doesn't support device-based 
capture on Windows (only network capture or similar) due to MythTV's 
reliance on the Video4Linux API, I'm assuming you're using something 
like Windows MCE to record.  If that's the case, then I can only imagine 
that the hardware and software are doing the right thing, as they must 
go through several licensing and certification bodies before release to 
be able to work with protected content.

So that means you have one Sony receiver that uses HDCP to protect its 
output and one (presumably older) receiver that doesn't (likely because 
it wasn't a requirement at the time the receiver was manufactured).  So, 
if anyone is doing something wrong, here, it's Sony (or, specifically, 
that Sony receiver that's failing to apply HDCP), but likely it's not 
"wrong" so much as just "outdated" and expected to be "fixed" through 
attrition/eventual replacement.

I do know that the Colossus will not record video from HDMI sources with 
HDCP copy protection (see 
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/webstore2/webstore_colossus.asp?product=colossus 
), which implies that if you're able to record from one of your Sony 
receivers, it's not applying HDCP.  That implies that particular 
(licensed with HDMI Licensing, LLC) receiver is not required to protect 
that content when sent via HDMI, so it seems that you're allowed to 
connect it to any HDMI-receiving device for use.  Remember, though, I am 
not a lawyer, and this is not meant to be taken as legal advice or counsel.

Now if either of the receivers are modified or you're using something to 
circumvent the HDCP, that's a whole other situation--and one we don't 
want to hear about on MythTV lists or IRC or wiki or ...

And no need to give any details on the receivers (such as models or 
manufacture dates) as we don't want this to look like a HOWTO for people 
to find some receiver that allows "manufacture-date-based circumvention 
of HDMI/HDCP".  :)  If you want to make that information available, 
please do elsewhere (and please don't link to that other location from 
this list) because of the possible interpretation by outsiders of the 
discussion as helping people violate copyright not to mention the fact 
that it isn't even applicable to MythTV/MythTV users since the Hauppauge 
Colossus isn't usable with MythTV.

Oh, and the above is all just my best guesses, so may well be completely 
wrong.

Mike