[mythtv-users] New Comcast DTA, grrrrrrrr.

[Gary Buhrmaster]

On Wed, May 6, 2015 at 1:30 PM, Eric Sharkey <eric at lisaneric.org> wrote:
.
> Are you saying Comcast is just giving out STBs instead of DTAs?

Not exactly.

The original Comcast DTA only had an RF (NTSC) output,
limited to SD content and intended as a cost optimized
solution for those that were still using SD TVs in areas
where Comcast was turning off analogue.  It did not have
guide or interactive (VOD) capability.

The newer HD-DTA has both an RF (NTSC) output, capable
of doing what the older DTA did, and also has an HDMI
output for newer digital TVs.  It is a cost optimized solution
for basic HD content.  At entry to service, it also did not
have any guide, although there was some talk about
basic guide capability (I do not know if they managed to
roll that out), and it also does not have interactive
capability.

They are used by some as "second TV" boxes, although
for those that want cheap, and do not subscribe to the
highest tiers of service, they are an option for anyone.

As neither have out of band tuners, they get their
information in-band (the channel mapping is done via
SCTE 65), and use SCTE 52 encryption rather than the
more advanced CableCARD capabilities (SCTE 52 is
considered "good enough" for content without strong
protection requirements).

With the X1 platform, Comcast is moving away from
the DTAs for second TVs and moving to even dumber
(and presumably still cheaper) device, the Xi3, which
is basically just a front end player for the X1 gateway
which does all the heavy lifting.