[mythtv-users] Shaw Cable Begins Blocking IEEE 1394 (Firewire) Output from STBs

Tue Dec 25 14:19:33 UTC 2007

Martin Lynch wrote:
> Shaw cable here in Canada (specifically Vancouver) on Friday began 
> implementing the Copy Control Information (CCI) flag on several 
> digital channels, notably a number of HD channels, rendering my IEEE 
> 1394 (firewire) connection useless on these channels. Below is some 
> correspondence I've had with Shaw (note the CRTC is the Canadian 
> equivalent to the FCC).
>
> Any Myth users in Canada successfully convince their providers to drop 
> the CCI flag? Has anyone else had this issue recently? If so, has the 
> CRTC been approached? Were they helpful in any way?
>
> Will keep the list posted of any developments.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Martin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From:* *omitted*
> *Sent:* Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:23 AM
> *To:* Eservice Vancouver
> *Subject:* Cable/Digital CableAs of Fri, Dec. 21, it appears the 
> output of several channels via the IEEE 1394 ports on my Motorola 
> DCT-6200 either scramble or fail to output several channels (which I 
> subscribe to and pay to receive). Specifically: -All time shifted 
> channels -60 (Movie Central) -61 (Movie Central) -117 (NHLTV) -139 
> (DejaVu) -200 (ABC-HD) -201 (CBS-HD) -202 (NBC_HD) -203 (FOX-HD) -204 
> (PBS-HD) -209 (CBC-HD) There are several others, and may further be 
> others I don't subscribe to but which may be causing problems for your 
> other customers. This is a very significant issue, as most 3rd party 
> hard-disk based recorders, used for personal use, time shifting and 
> other 'fair use' purposes, communicate with the set top box via the 
> IEEE 1394 ports. In my case, I use an open-source system called Myth 
> TV. Preventing customers from the fair use of channels they've paid to 
> receive absent a cable company's proprietary recording/time shifting 
> systems constitutes a restraint of trade. Can you please advise what's 
> changed and how I can continue to receive the channels I pay for via 
> the IEEE 1394 output? Are there settings on my end I can change to 
> re-enable these channels? If this is the result of a firmware update, 
> please roll back the firmware to a previous version compatible with 
> receiving all the channels I subscribe to via the IEEE 1394 output. 
> I've included a copy of this request to the CRTC for further 
> clarification of the regulatory propriety of blocking subscribed 
> channels on particular output ports and would appreciate all 
> correspondence in writing. Thank you. Martin Lynch
>
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> *From:* *omitted*
>>> *Sent:* Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:23 AM
>>> *To:* Eservice Vancouver
>>> *Subject:* Cable/Digital Cable
>>> As of Fri, Dec. 21, it appears the output of several channels via 
>>> the IEEE 1394 ports on my Motorola DCT-6200 either scramble or fail 
>>> to output several channels (which I subscribe to and pay to 
>>> receive). Specifically: -All time shifted channels -60 (Movie 
>>> Central) -61 (Movie Central) -117 (NHLTV) -139 (DejaVu) -200 
>>> (ABC-HD) -201 (CBS-HD) -202 (NBC_HD) -203 (FOX-HD) -204 (PBS-HD) 
>>> -209 (CBC-HD) There are several others, and may further be others I 
>>> don't subscribe to but which may be causing problems for your other 
>>> customers. This is a very significant issue, as most 3rd party 
>>> hard-disk based recorders, used for personal use, time shifting and 
>>> other 'fair use' purposes, communicate with the set top box via the 
>>> IEEE 1394 ports. In my case, I use an open-source system called Myth 
>>> TV. Preventing customers from the fair use of channels they've paid 
>>> to receive absent a cable company's proprietary recording/time 
>>> shifting systems constitutes a restraint of trade. Can you please 
>>> advise what's changed and how I can continue to receive the channels 
>>> I pay for via the IEEE 1394 output? Are there settings on my end I 
>>> can change to re-enable these channels? If this is the result of a 
>>> firmware update, please roll back the firmware to a previous version 
>>> compatible with receiving all the channels I subscribe to via the 
>>> IEEE 1394 output. I've included a copy of this request to the CRTC 
>>> for further clarification of the regulatory propriety of blocking 
>>> subscribed channels on particular output ports and would appreciate 
>>> all correspondence in writing. Thank you. Martin Lynch
>>>
> Shaw Internet Vancouver Help wrote:
> >
> > Hi Martin,
> >
> > 
> >
> > Thank you for choosing Shaw Technical Support.
> >
> > 
> >
> > Presently the 1394 ports you are referring to are actually not 
> active on our Shaw Digital Terminals and are unsupported. At present 
> we are examining several options for increasing the number of features 
> and unit capacity of our units in the future. One option we are 
> looking at in particular right now is CableCARD 2.0 in addition to 
> enabling use of the USB ports on the units. Unfortunately we have many 
> considerations to make including security concerns as well as impact 
> on our current business model. We are unsure when future changes will 
> be made.
> >
> >
> > We hope this information has been useful to you.  Please feel free 
> to contact us by phone 604-629-4000 or by email response.  If you need 
> further assistance you may also visit our website at http://www.shaw.ca/.
> >
> ____________________________________________________________________________________________
>
> David Rep #7466, Technical Support, Telephone: (604) 629-4000, Shaw 
> Communications Inc.
>
>
> *From:* Martin Lynch
> *Sent:* Monday, December 24, 2007 5:46 PM
> *To:* Shaw Internet Vancouver Help
> *Subject:* Re: Cable/Digital Cable
>
> Thank you, David - I appreciate the prompt response, however both IEEE 
> 1394 ports on my Motorola 6200 have been active for at least 9 months, 
> as I've been using them continuously throughout that entire time to 
> output the signal to my MythTV setup on my computer in order to time 
> shift the programs I like to watch, which in turn passes the signal 
> via DVI cable to my TV. In fact, it's worked remarkably well during 
> that time.
>
> I should point out that the so-called "US Superstations" never worked, 
> and when the additional HD channels were recently introduced, channels 
> 205 - 208 didn't work from the get-go.
>
> Just to clarify, Shaw has not altered or encrypted any additional 
> channels within the past week? Can you perhaps clarify at which point 
> encryption or other techniques to disrupt the channels I subscribe to 
> are introduced, ie at source, at some redistribution point, at Shaw's 
> distribution point or at the cable box? The reason I ask is that if 
> it's at source, I find it odd that disparate, unrelated (by corporate 
> ownership) channels should simultaneously stop working.
>
> Thanks again for the response and your ongoing assistance - I hope you 
> can appreciate that, having spent considerable funds (and even more 
> time) building my system it is quite disappointing to suddenly find 
> certain channels no longer viewable. Unfortunately no commercially 
> available system combines all the features I want, which to my 
> knowledge only MythTv provides.
>
> Martin
>
> Shaw Internet Vancouver Help wrote:
> > Hi Martin,
> > 
> > We have not made any significant changes to how we encrypt our 
> channels recently. If you connect your Shaw digital cable box to your 
> TV, with the cables provided, and having reception issues, we can do 
> our best to troubleshoot with you.
> > If you are using IEEE 1394 or a Myth TV setup, we can not provide 
> technical support.
> > 
> > We hope this information has been useful to you.  Please feel free 
> to contact us by phone 604-629-4000 or by email response.  If you need 
> further assistance you may also visit our website at http://www.shaw.ca/.
> > Thank you for choosing Shaw Eservices.
> > 
> > 
>
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> I took the liberty of accessing the diagnostics mode of the the 
> DCT-6200 and, unfortunately, it appears you are not providing me with 
> accurate information (or perhaps your choice of the term "significant" 
> is well chosen). Specifically, I checked the status of the Copy 
> Control Information (CCI) flag at menu point 6 for the channels I've 
> suddenly begun having problems with and they all now show the 0x02 
> code, which indicates CCI is now enabled on these channels. This in 
> turn blocks output via the IEEE 1394 ports. It further applies to 
> channel 209 - CBC-HD, a public broadcaster, for which I pay twice 
> (once via my taxes and again in subscribing to this channel). It's 
> difficult for me to fathom how blocking a public channel is in the 
> public interest.
>
> Keep in mind, these are channels I've paid (in advance, as your 
> billing cycle dictates) to receive, and the particular connection 
> through which I choose to receive these signals ought to be a 
> completely neutral issue, left to my discretion. There is a 
> significant restraint of trade issue here, since these channels will 
> now presumably only work with a PVR solution provided by Shaw, and not 
> with the myriad other options available (including the MythTV system I 
> use). There is a rapidly growing segment of your subscriber base which 
> now routes all their entertainment through a computer - implementing 
> obstacles to this convergence of entertainment with the home computer 
> is most certainly not in the interests of your customers. We are 
> discussing, after all, "fair use" issues here.
>
> I've further taken the liberty of copying in the Reporters' Desk at 
> the Vancouver Province, as well as the CRTC who, I hope, can provide 
> further insight on whether you are permitted to do this (in the US, 
> the FCC mandates cable operators must enable the IEEE 1394 output 
> ports at the request of a customer; should that be the case here in 
> Canada, I formally request the ports be enabled for all channels to 
> which I subscribe) and also to make them aware this fact is being 
> obfuscated by Shaw representatives. The Honourable Josee Verner, 
> Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages 
> (and responsible for the CRTC) has been copied in as a courtesy.
>
> Regards,
>
> Martin Lynch
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>   
Well done, Martin!  Please update everyone, if the issue gets resolved 
one way or the other.