CableCard OEM Restriction Lifted!!!

[crobs808]

Originally Posted by reggie14

What's the alternative? You have to do access control somehow, and given the FCC's separable security requirement, there really isn't anything besides cable card.

I don't see why when you cant just hook up any DVR to any STB these days, and record via composite out or HDMI out; using an IR blaster to change channels on the STB, so what's the big deal? The Compostie and HDMI out ports are not "encrypted" or anything. My friend uses a 3rd party DVR with FioS and I use my computer (via an HDMI capture card) with a composite out from my U-Verse.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Taddeusz

This is pure speculation on my part but I'm sure the MPAA and major networks have had a part in preventing CableCard from becoming more popular among DVR/PVR systems.

I've got no love for the industry, but I don't see how they could prevent DVRs from becoming more popular. The simple fact of the matter is, the rental DVRs do what 99% of customers want, they record shows.

IMO it's the DVR maker's fault for their poor popularity. First there's cost, a standalone DVR is a lot of money ($hundreds) compared to a "free" (just a little cost on your bill/month) cable DVR. But moreso, they've done very little to distinguish themselves.

What does a Tivo do that a cable DVR can't? Not much, it's a bit more refined but that's about it. Moxi's a bit better with their Moxi Mate, allowing viewing in another room. But overall the standalone PVR makers just have done a horrible job of distinguishing themselves from the cable DVR.

Originally Posted by crobs808

I don't see why when you cant just hook up any DVR to any STB these days, and record via composite out or HDMI out; using an IR blaster to change channels on the STB, so what's the big deal?

HDMI essentially can't be recorded, due to HDCP. And no DVRs include HD video encoders in them that's why.

The Compostie and HDMI out ports are not "encrypted" or anything.

HDMI can be. And I think you mean component, not composite. The former can be HD the later can't.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by crobs808

I don't see why when you cant just hook up any DVR to any STB these days, and record via composite out or HDMI out; using an IR blaster to change channels on the STB, so what's the big deal? The Compostie and HDMI out ports are not "encrypted" or anything. My friend uses a 3rd party DVR with FioS and I use my computer (via an HDMI capture card) with a composite out from my U-Verse.

HDMI does have encryption called HDCP. They don't care about composite, because the quality is so poor, no one's going to use it for piracy anyways.

Also realize, that a major part of the reason for the encryption is not necessarily content protection, but service protection. Do you not remember the late 80's and early 90's where everyone had 'their cable guy' that would hook them up for cheap/free? or those neighborhoods that had coax draped from house to house 'sharing' cable? That is where cable scrambling/encryption came from, and it is why it's still important today.

[Taddeusz]

Yea, I know it was probably really bad speculation on my part. Probably more than anything it was the cable TV industry itself dragging its collective feet on CableCard that prevented the standard from becoming more prevalent in consumer products.

Not to mention making consumer CableCard capable devices less desirable by not allowing on-demand content be viewable on them. This even though the rental STB's have a CableCard in them and are fully capable of viewing the very same content. It's not a limitation of the technology but a decision within the cable companies to limit individually rented CableCards in order to force people into rental of whole STB's.

I would like to think that if CableCard were more prevalent and fully supported by their cable services that people would be more likely to get the cards rather than the full STB. If for no other reason than to have one less box and remote to deal with on each TV.

And for the cable companies it's still something that customers need to rent from them. Sure, they're cheaper and as such have a lower rental cost so they wouldn't be nearly the cash cow that the STB's and DVR's are now. The problem is that customers don't have a choice and are so used to not having a choice that they don't know that they're supposed to be complaining. Or really don't care.

[Fuzzy]

Honestly, I think the last statement is most correct. Most people just don't care abotu cablecard, because they can watch and record tv just fine on the company provided box. it's just how it's done. It's simple, and it just works.

[crobs808]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

HDMI does have encryption called HDCP. They don't care about composite, because the quality is so poor, no one's going to use it for piracy anyways.

Um....Composite is NOT poor quality, lol...it can handle up to 1080i just fine. The reason they protect HDMI is because it can go up to 1080p I am guessing. Like I said in another thread...I got Tron (HD) off my DVR via Composite, and it looks just like the original broadcast on the BD disc I created.

[amg]

Originally Posted by crobs808

Um....Composite is NOT poor quality, lol...it can handle up to 1080i just fine.

I think you are confused between composite and component. Composite cannot handle 1080i. Composite is the yellow RCA video connector.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by crobs808

Um....Composite is NOT poor quality, lol...it can handle up to 1080i just fine. The reason they protect HDMI is because it can go up to 1080p I am guessing.

Component can handle 1080p just fine too. The reason they protect HDMI is because they can.

[crobs808]

Originally Posted by amg

I think you are confused between composite and component. Composite cannot handle 1080i. Composite is the yellow RCA video connector.

LOL..I ALWAYS switch those two, even thought I know the different. one is RWY cable and the other is RGB cable. I have used component for years and I keep calling it Composite. my bad.

[crobs808]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Component can handle 1080p just fine too. The reason they protect HDMI is because they can.

Well sort of...Component only looks good for a meter of cable, then it degrades really badly. If my HD-PVR has a HDMI out, you can bet I would be using that.

On that note - is there a HD-PVR 2 yet? or another device that can beat it? I am not getting the quality I want from my STB. In otherwords, my STB records fine, but the only way to get the files off of it, are to re-record it through SageTV via the HD-PVR.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by crobs808

Well sort of...Component only looks good for a meter of cable, then it degrades really badly. If my HD-PVR has a HDMI out, you can bet I would be using that.

Not sure what you're basing that on, I've got component and HDMI running to my projector (50'+ component) and they're practically indistinguishable.

[Fuzzy]

Yeah, properly shielded coaxial cables can carry analog signals quite a distance without noticable degredation. there are many people who use component matrix switches to bring HD video to their whole homes.

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by crobs808

Well sort of...Component only looks good for a meter of cable, then it degrades really badly. If my HD-PVR has a HDMI out, you can bet I would be using that.

On that note - is there a HD-PVR 2 yet? or another device that can beat it? I am not getting the quality I want from my STB. In otherwords, my STB records fine, but the only way to get the files off of it, are to re-record it through SageTV via the HD-PVR.

I am running Component cables 30+ feet with no noticeable degradation to a projector running a 103" screen.........

[Edit: As a matter of fact, I bought a 30 foot HDMI cable at one point and ran it along with the component run and it looks exactly the same when switching between outputs on the same device]

[crobs808]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

I am running Component cables 30+ feet with no noticeable degradation to a projector running a 103" screen.........

[Edit: As a matter of fact, I bought a 30 foot HDMI cable at one point and ran it along with the component run and it looks exactly the same when switching between outputs on the same device]

Maybe they have improved shielding in the last 2 yrs. I tried it with a monster cable, which is the highest quality you can get, and I had two of them. 6ft and 1 ft...the 1ft looked perfect, the 6ft looked washed out. Both were same brand/model.

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by crobs808

.... I tried it with a monster cable, which is the highest quality you can get......

Seriously, you have got to be kidding!!!!!!!

Just to give you an idea of what you should be dealing with when you buy cables.

This is what I have and they put Monster to shame:
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-...a/prodCPA.html

Here's a few sites you can look at for real cables:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product_list.asp?cat_id=2010
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-...uctname-en-asc

[Edit: Also, check out this link to show you how important the brand name Monster has become: http://consumerist.com/2008/03/do-co...er-cables.html ]

[MitchSchaft]

For cryin' out loud. Why is this thread attracting the weirdos?

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by crobs808

I tried it with a monster cable, which is the highest quality you can get.

perfect quote.. i love i... hehe

[Clift]

Ok I am calling troll on Crobs808

[sleonard]

Highest cost yes, highest quality, ...

S

[brainbone]

If you like monster cables, you'll probably like these as well.