[mythtv-users] comcast digital box and mythTV

[Andrew]

Steven Adeff wrote:
> On 3/27/06, Dewey Smolka <dsmolka at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>>>Here in Chicago, Comcast requires a box for basic cable. Its a small
>>>motorola device which decodes the encrypted channels and provides a
>>>channel guide. Without the box you only get the broadcast channels.  I'm
>>>at work so I cant give the model number,
>>
>>Hey Mike,
>>
>>I was in the same boat after moving to Chicago about six weeks ago.
>>Was mad as hell at Comcast about it as well, since they sold me an
>>'analog' package that was 90 percent digital.
>>
>>It doesn't much matter what Motorola box you have as they all work
>>pretty much the same way. As another poster noted, you should figure
>>on controlling the box via an infrared transmitter.
>>
>>You may or may not have on the cable box a serial port, which may or
>>may not be active. I had at least four Comcast techs swear up and down
>>to me that there are no serial-enabled boxes in the Chicago area,
>>although I've found a few people on this list who have them. Go
>>figure. Just don't count on getting one.
>>
> 
> <snip>
> 
>>For your capture card, unless you want headaches, get a Hauppage PVR
>>x50 card. The 150 is probably your best bet. If you run coax from the
>>decoder into the 150 you'll get audio and video together. If you use
>>composite (the yellow RCA) or S-Vid, you'll also need to run an audio
>>patch from the cable box into the PVR card. S-vid is the best quality,
>>followed by composite, followed by coax.
> 
> 
> My experience with a DCT2xxx series cable box was that the port was
> not enabled when I got it. I called up tech support and the lady said
> she didn't know anything about it, and that she'd have no problem
> enabling it if she *knew how*.
> 
> I happened to get one of the nice phone techs so she told me to hold
> on while she asks some of her colleagues, so I waited, and googled and
> found some thread (which I no longer have a link to) where some kind
> soul posted the exact command the cable company needs to send your box
> to enable the serial port.
> 
> She came back and said no one she talked to knew how, so I told her
> what I found, which she entered, commented on how poorly informed the
> techs are, and bingo! it was enabled and worked! We went on to talk
> about stuff, she told me some interesting "insider stories" into how
> ComCast operates, we had a few laughs, and bid farewell. All in all a
> great experience, I lucked out, and I got the port enabled.
> 
> BUT, they are not required to enable the serial port because of the
> existance of IR Blasters. So ask, if needed, call back a few times to
> see if you can get a kind soul on the other end of the line who will
> enable it, and if needed, google for the command to enable it.
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> --
> Steve
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I have comcast basic cable 50 miles west of you and no box.  I was thinking they were all the same outfit.  Must not be.