[mythtv-users] Can Myth 'tune' these 'free' converter boxes?

[Raymond Wagner]

marc.aronson at comcast.net wrote:
> Has anyone figured out how to get the Hauppauge PVR-150's integrated 
> IR blaster to work with this device (Pace DC50X)? I am able to get the 
> PVR-150's IR blaster to work with my Motorola DCT-6200, but not he 
> DC50X. Thanks!
Don't bother.  These boxes have no functional crypto hardware, meaning 
they can only tune the unencrypted digital channels.  As such, Comcast 
has unencrypted their entire basic digital tier, meaning anything this 
little box can receive can also be recorded straight from any QAM tuner 
card at much higher quality.



A little more reading on the whole encryption thing... These DTAs 
apparently have a 'privacy mode', which allows channels to be minimally 
encrypted using some form of single-DES.  While nowhere near the 
complexity of full CAMs in a traditional STB (single-DES can be cracked 
in a matter of hours on a decent size cluster), it ends up being far 
cheaper for Comcast, and still blocks myth users from accessing those 
channels. However, current FCC mandate forbids use of STBs with 
integrated security, so for now, the crypto hardware is disabled.

Now what this means for the future, Comcast is hoping that the new Obama 
administration results in a FCC chair more agreeable to their desires, 
allowing a waiver for this device to enable its 'privacy' features.  At 
that point, you would no longer have access to those QAM channels in 
myth, likely leaving only the basic broadcast channels.  Furthermore, 
since Comcast will have already dropped all those extended analog 
channels, you're left with just basic cable to capture with the PVRs.