[mythtv-users] Comcast CableCard Info

[Tom Bongiorno]

On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 11:11 PM, Tom Bongiorno <two.bits.11 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 2:38 PM, Tom Bongiorno <two.bits.11 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 11:36 PM, Steven Adeff <adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 10:37 PM, Ronald Frazier <ron at ronfrazier.net>
>>> wrote:
>>> > On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 10:07 PM, Tom Bongiorno <two.bits.11 at gmail.com>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >> Under ths Conditional Access page, it say "Status: Not Staged".  The
>>> >> Copy
>>> >> Protection page says "Auth Status: Waiting for CP Auth".  Not sure
>>> >> what this
>>> >> means, but it doesn't sound good.
>>> >
>>> > Not staged? That's needs to be done before the device can be paired,
>>> > and it can only be done by engineers in the NOC. I think sending a
>>> > tech to your house is gonna do nothing but waste time for both of you.
>>> > I'd try calling comcast back, getting in touch with the engineers and
>>> > let them know your cablecard isn't even staged.
>>> >
>>> > For what it's worth, I found this thread where someone mentions that
>>> > apparently a lot of people are having problems with unstaged cards:
>>> >
>>> > http://forums.comcast.com/t5/XfinityTV-and-Equipment/CableCARD-Ceton-InfiniTV-4-tuner-Win7-Media-Center-does-not/td-p/914313
>>> >
>>> > And also, for what it's worth, I saw someone in the silicondust forums
>>> > having similar issues with their Prime.
>>>
>>> agreed, the techs know what needs to be done, the first person you
>>> talk to on the phone *does not*. Call, ask to talk to a tech. It took
>>> the ones in my region 1/2 a day to figure out what was wrong for me.
>>> For me it turned out the initial setup was done poorly so their system
>>> could not send the signal properly to my card.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Steve
>>> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/User:Steveadeff
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>>> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions
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>>
>> I called Comcast this morning and have now spoken with three engineers.
>>  They are essentially following the chain of systems responsible for
>> triggering the outgoing validation message.  I am now awaiting a callback
>> from the local engineer responsible for the last system that actually sends
>> out the validation message.  I don't truly understand how staging happens or
>> if a validation message will make this happen.  The engineer did go through
>> the process of removing and re-adding the card to my account.  They
>> attempted to send a validation message a few times.
>> The last engineer informed me that they are purchasing a Linux box and a
>> Ceton card to become familiar with the platform and card.  I told them that
>> they may want to purchase a PRIME while they were at it.
>> -Tom
>
> WE HAVE VALIDATION!!!  I went out for a few hours and came home to the
> message "Validated, validation message is received, authenticated, and the
> IDs match those in the current binding".  At this point, the engineers do
> not know that it is working.  They are expecting to talk to me tomorrow.  I
> will try to pick their brains about all the steps that they went though.  My
> goal is to come up with checklist for us to use when trying to get a CC
> working under linux.
> I did notice one big problem though.  Nearly three dozen channels are
> incorrectly marked as copy-once.  I submitted my CCI scan (Sicklerville, NJ
> 08081) to Ron Frazier's site.  I had them fix these problems back when I was
> using Firewire capture.  When I got my HD-PVR, I stopped using the flakey
> Firewire capture.  Since then, Comcast has done major lineup changes.  I
> guess they screwed it all up again.  I shot an email off to my trusty
> Comcast contact from back then.  I will also mention this to the engineers
> tomorrow, but I don't think this is their area.
> -Tom

I was unable to get a detailed list of steps from the engineer.  He
did say that he knows what went wrong and has put in a request for a
fix.  Unfortunately, it may only affect my local Comcast.  He admitted
that they have no formal procedure for adding a CableCard or to
resolve problems.  They are figuring it out as we speak.  Yikes!  On a
good note, they do have a dedicated group of CableCard engineers.

My high-up contact at Comcast fixed ALL the channels that were
incorrectly marked copy-once.  He got my email this morning and his
"conditional access team" had it fixed by the afternoon.  Now that is
what I call customer service!  I have submitted an update to Ron's
site.

Ron, I am not sure if you want to remove the old channel list or not.

-Tom