[mythtv-users] Firewire can record channels that Homerun Prime Cannot

[Peter Bennett (cats22)]

On 11/01/2014 06:21 PM, Gary Buhrmaster wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 1, 2014 at 6:08 PM, Ronald Frazier <ron at ronfrazier.net> wrote:
> ....
>> Also, I did a quick search. It appears you used to be able to downgrade HDHR
>> products,
> You have always been able to downgrade the HDHR (non-Prime)
> products.
>
>> but a few years back they implemented a lock to prevent it from
>> happening.
> Right about the time of the Prime.  For the Primes, that has
> always been intended to be true (it is a CableLabs mandate,
> for not only the Prime, but any certified product, and any
> CableCARD itself (I am talking about the crypto part of the
> products, not the operating system, for products that differentiate
> the firmwares) in order to prevent "downgrade" attacks,
> although there was a (apparently timing attack) method
> where that was possible for the Prime for some versions if
> you got "lucky" (or you spent time to analyze the stream)).
>
> <doom_and_gloom_conjecture>
>> Very unfortunate. I'll make sure to NEVER "upgrade" mine.
> Not to worry, there is a method for the MSO to require the
> firmware to be upgraded for continued operations of the
> device.  I would not be at all surprised for it to be rolled out
> to all CableCARDs once the entire clarification processes
> regard the interpretation(s) of the new rules (and the fiasco
> that was Motorola TA certs) has gone through the various
> appeal processes and new production firmware is ready.
> Give the speed that an average MSO operates, that might
> easily mean over a year.
> </doom_and_gloom_conjecture>
> _______________________________________________
>

If the cgms flag on a channel can change from minute to minute, I can
never know if something will actually record. I removed USA network and
FX from the homerun prime source to prevent recordings, but some shows
on those networks may actually be unprotected, I have no way of knowing.

Peter