[mythtv-users] Firewire on digital cable box - what to ask for?

Erik Karlin e_karlin at yahoo.com
Fri Apr 27 19:50:36 UTC 2007


On Fri, Apr 27, 2007 at 12:41:31PM -0400, Steven Adeff wrote:
> On 4/27/07, Dan Brown <dan at familybrown.org> wrote:
> > My PVR-500 works just fine with my analog cable channels, but I'd like
> > to be able to record the digital material as well.  Currently, though,
> > my Pioneer digital cable box doesn't have a firewire port on it.  So,
> > last night, I called my cable provider (Time Warner in Dayton, OH) and
> > asked to exchange it for a box that does.  The person I spoke with
> > seemed friendly and willing to help, but didn't have any clue of what
> > I was asking for.  Is there something specific I should mention or
> > request to help this go through more smoothly?
> 
> Many of the techs just won't know, its not a common thing and they're
> just not trained well enough. What you should do is ask to speak to a
> manager who should (better) know. It's an FCC mandate (and if you
> search the gossamer will find lots talked about it, I think it may
> even be referenced in the wiki) that they provide you one.
> 
> Thats not to say it will be of any use to you, they may have
> everything locked up tight with 5C.
> 

I've heard in the past, and probably on this list, that many cable
companies only give out firewire enabled STBs when you get their PVR
STB.

Is that still the case? If so, can we ask for a PVR STB and just not
subscribe to their PVR service?

Alternatively, can I call them up and say I just bought / plan on buying
a <blah blah> television that has a firewire port and I want to make
sure I can connect it directly to the STB.

Are there any tv's out there like that yet? And if so, a particular
model/brand that will satisify their curiosity?

I'm about to deal with TWC-NYC, and I've been in one of their customer
service offices and watched a large stack of PVR STBs disappear via
customer trade-in, and I'm sure I overheard the reps talking about PVR
functionality.

Thanks


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