I'm confused

[panteragstk]

I've read through the Firewire support thread and many hd-pvr threads and haven't found an answer to my question. I am about to get FiOS and the 7100 moto box with fire wire. I've read that fire wire recording works very well including HD support with DD 5.1. Now then, the hd-pvr is supposed to be mostly error free now, but I would rather use fire wire recording due to the fact that I'd have to spend a lot of $ on 3 hd-pvrs. Is what I'd like to do possible or should I just go the hd-pvr route and use fire wire channel changing?

Thanks.

EDIT: I forgot to ask. IS FiOS compatible with qam? I'd like to continue to use my 2250 and my 1600 hauppauge cards for local tv.

[stanger89]

The problem with Firewire is that it only works if your cable company allows it. There's a DTCP copy protection flag (aka the "5C" flag), that tells the cable box whether something can be recorded always, once, or never. If your cable provider has the programming set to "once" or "never", then since a PC is not a certified DTCP recording device, the cable box will not allow it to record (if it's marked "never", even a DTCP device isn't allowed to record it). Only if it's marked "copy freely" will the box allow a PC to record.

Unfortunately it seems hit or miss (more miss than hit I'd estimate) whether DTCP is enforced or not.

Which is why the HD PVR is so popular. It's not burdened by those limitations because it records the same component video your TV displays, thus it can't be blocked unless the provider wishes to disable Component video for TVs as well.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by stanger89

The problem with Firewire is that it only works if your cable company allows it. There's a DTCP copy protection flag (aka the "5C" flag), that tells the cable box whether something can be recorded always, once, or never. If your cable provider has the programming set to "once" or "never", then since a PC is not a certified DTCP recording device, the cable box will not allow it to record (if it's marked "never", even a DTCP device isn't allowed to record it). Only if it's marked "copy freely" will the box allow a PC to record.

Not just that, but the software on the cable box has to support firewire. Cable companies have been known to push down software updates that end up breaking firewire recording. Sometimes they'll push down software later that fixes it, sometimes they don't. It's just a matter of the copy protection flag.

OP-
I have a DCT6200 box from Comcast, which works for me in Rockville, Maryland. I can record most of my HD channels, except for the History Channel and the premiums like HBO, Showtime, etc. I think people have had better luck with firewire recording with the cable companies than they have with Verizon FiOS, but you could always try it.

[panteragstk]

Interesting. This is the info I needed. Has anyone been sucessful with the hd-pvr and 5.1 sound? I've read reports of this still being buggy. I think I may just stick with my current setup and maybe get time warner cable to get some other channels until either a successor to the hd-pvr comes out or another company builds a similar device. I'm all for adopting devices early, but I don't like being a beta tester for free. That, and my wife likes sage the way it is now, if the hd-pvr caused problems I'd never hear the end of it.

EDIT: My cards are supposed to work well with QAM. Does anyone have experience with these cards and QAM?

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

EDIT: My cards are supposed to work well with QAM. Does anyone have experience with these cards and QAM?

I have an HVR-1600 that is tuning QAM channels (from Comcast). It works fine, although I should say that the HVR-1600s seem very touchy when it comes to signal strength- too little or too much will cause problems.

I think you can tune QAM channels off of FiOS too.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Interesting. This is the info I needed. Has anyone been sucessful with the hd-pvr and 5.1 sound?

It works fine for me with my Dish box.

[mayamaniac]

I have FiOS with the QIP-7100. I use the HD-PVR rev C2 and an HDHR. I use firewire to change channels on the QIP-7100. Everything is working. I don't use SPDIF on the HD-PVR, just analog for audio. I'm fine with it. the HDHR tunes channels fine with FiOS, just like it would with cable. I also have Time Warner before.

I don't remember how I got firewire channel changing to work. I think I followed Opus4's instruction somewhere on this forum. And I had to edit some file to get it to work with the QIP-7100.

[bcjenkins]

FTR - FiOS is compatible with QAM. In the past, I have received locals, music channels, and oddly one Showtime Family even though I am not a subscriber. Currently I am using OTA so I can't attest to the available channels now.

B