Comcast HD STB

[Bandit]

Well, comcast has finally started a waiting list in my area for HD boxes so I put my name down. However, when I mentioned the need for FW to be enabled the lady was so dumb it made me mad. She then stated, "you can't have a home built dvr, we dont allow other equipment on our services." I had to bite my tongue as to not laugh in her face.

Anyone here have comcast service, hopefully out of the Pittsburgh region that can report back to me if the channels are encrypted or not out of the FW?

[phelme]

I'm in California and basically gave up on using Comcast's STB (in my case a Motorola 6412).

I got the Firewire working, which is way cool, but way too may channels are encrypted or blocked. For me, CBS has the copy once flag set so content never makes it to my PC. Also noticed individual programs were occasionally flagged this way too on other networks (Fox) and so I gave up and got an HDHomeRun. That CCI flag is the work of the devil.

check the AVSForum's HDTV section and see if you can find any Pittsburgh info. Good luck!

this reminds me, I need to return that 6412...

[Bandit]

So you've had good luck with the HDHR on comcast? I just ordered one a few hours ago.

[phelme]

Originally Posted by Bandit

So you've had good luck with the HDHR on comcast? I just ordered one a few hours ago.

yes. it's great! I run the HDHR half QAM, half 8vsb. I can get FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS and their sub channels in the clear with cable. And then I use the OTA tuner so I can get those networks + CW and independents too in HD. I'd run both tuners OTA but I'm 45 miles from most towers so weather can be a factor and occasionally stuff will get flaky so it's nice to have cable as insurance.

[bbig119]

Originally Posted by Bandit

So you've had good luck with the HDHR on comcast? I just ordered one a few hours ago.

I'm in South Jersey and had good luck with HDHR. I've got it setup pretty much the same way as phelme. I gave some thought to setting up firewire from my comcast STB, but after reading around a while and knowing what my HDHR can and can't pull in-- I backed away. I doubt there's a chance in hell that I'll get anything in addition to what my HDHR can get. if the HDHR can't get it, you'll have problems pulling it via firewire.

[Muchacho]

I live in the 'Burgh with comcast and have had good results with the HDHR. As far a firewire goes I get PBS and on occasion INHD- the rest are flagged.

Good luck, Mike

[flavius]

I use the 6412 to record premium channels in HD, and this thing sucks, it does record ok, but the interface is lousy and dog-slow since the last "upgrade" which put more ads everywhere - between pages, for example, when you browse a list. Monopolies suck, or just Comcast?

With my HDHR I get about 20 channels in Southern NH. Nice device and 6.1 now officially supports it.

[Bandit]

Thanks for all the feedback, will have my HDHR Thursday and will finally be able to take advantage of the 1080p tv