[mythtv-users] Voom integration

[Michael T. Dean]

Chris Petersen wrote:

> I do, however, remember a law becoming active recently that requires 
> cable (dunno about satellite) broadcasters to provide you with a 
> firewire-enabled box:
>
>    Starting April 1, 2004, cable operators must supply, upon request,
>    HDTV boxes with functional IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connectors, and by
>    July 1, 2005, all HDTV set-top boxes require a DVI or HDMI interface.
>
> Unfortunately, this does not say that they need to provide you with an 
> unencrypted signal, as I've read a few people have found out.  Also 
> curious that it says this only applies to HDTV boxes, and not standard 
> ones (since I believe that everyone charges extra for the HD boxes).

Actually, the firewire connections *must* be unencrypted, but will only 
be allowed to output 480p/480i (or lower) resolution.  Full resolution 
video can only be output on a 5C-compliant connection ( 
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/77170?search_string=5c;#77170 
).  Since firewire does not implement any of 5C's hardware-based DRM 
solutions, it is considered an insecure link, and therefore video must 
be downsampled to DVD/NTSC-quality video (or will have to be come July 
1, 2005).

Mike