[mythtv-users] Why FireWire makes sense even for those without HDTV displays

[Chris Ribe]

>
> It's important to note that different cable providers have different
> policies regarding what channels their boxes output on FireWire. Many
> do not output the premium, copy-protected channels, but some do. It's
> possible some providers' boxes only output the digital channels and
> not the analog (generally those below 100) channels; my box outputs
> both.
>
>

Just to clarify this point, some cable providers (like mine - Comcast) only
make OTA rebroadcasts available unprotected over firewire.  The only
channels I get over firewire are CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and PBS.  I pay $14
extra per month for this priviledge ($8/month for the box and $6/month for
something along the lines of a "digital basic" upgrade).

This is on top of the $9/month I was paying for "basic cable" (Analogue OTA
and local access only).  As a bonus, I can get ESPNHD, TNTHD, DSCHD, iNHD1,
iNHD2, and NESNHD from the S-video output. (None of my HDTV monitors have
anything other than VGA/DVI-I inputs).

In addition to the substantial cost of the firewire solution (which I find
bearable because I am 100+ miles from the broadcast towers),  it is less
than perfectly reliable in operation - although I cannot compare it to other
HDTV capture solutions.
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