[mythtv-users] Myth HD - requirements?

[John P Poet]

On 7/18/06, Chad <masterclc at gmail.com> wrote:
> > (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)
> >
> > HDTV streams are already MPEG2. The pcHDTV dumps the stream directly
> > to your harddrive; no re-encoding is done.
>
> Correct
>
> > I'm in the US and am definately concerned about DRM.  Some cable
> > companies encrypt their HD streams, however they're _supposed_ to
> > leave channels being broadcast OTA in their area un-encrypted. (as I
> > understand it)  So, if you can get a channel w/ an OTA antanna, it
> > should be unencrypted over your cable (though this isn't always the
> > case).  I can only get about 4 channels unencrypted over my cable line
> > w/ the pcHDTV.
>
> Pretty much right.
>
> > Some people use the Firewire connection from their HD cable boxes,
> > though I don't know if that gives full HD resolution or if it's
> > downsampled, but I believe it's unencrypted.
>
> It's the same as whatever you can pull in over QAM unencrypted (from
> what I've read) but the extra 'nice-ity' from it is that it can also
> pull in your SDTV stations, completely removing a PVR or HD tuner card
> from the equation.


Not here in Albuquerque.  Comcast encrypts *EVERYTHING* that they can.
 The *only* unencrypted channels are the channels available in HD OTA.

Comcast here, also completely disables the Firewire port on their
cable boxes.  They claim too many people were using that port to
pirate HBO movies.

Also, two channels I can get in HD OTA, are not available via Comcast.
 Comcast claims those two channels want too much money for the HD
feed.

<snip>

John