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Post by Chris Miller on Nov 9, 2009 15:34:27 GMT -5
If you have Windows 7 Media Center, it looks like you can get access to SDV CableCard channels. There is an update to the ATI CableCard tune that adds support for the Cisco and Motorola Tuning Adapters. It also drops the DRM for recordings where the CCI flag was set to Copy Freely (yeah I know, don't get me started about that one). A second update was pushed out that allows non-OEM PC's to add ATI CableCard tuners to your Win7 Media Center. Previously, you had to buy the PC with the ATI CableCard tuner, now you can just buy the tuners. |
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Post by Skaggs on Nov 9, 2009 16:30:14 GMT -5
$249.99 for the ATI CableCard tuner on eBay. Pretty steep.
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Post by hurnik on Nov 9, 2009 18:49:36 GMT -5
I'm guessing that it still adheres to the CCI bytes, and probably only works with Windows, so the DRM restrictions are probably up the wazoo.
I'm surprised that Cable Labs has allowed the device to be purchased separately, as that used to be their restriction previously.
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Post by adam on Nov 10, 2009 14:28:51 GMT -5
I had the Windows 7 RC and used its Media Center with two USB tuner cards and it worked great. I then got the Windows 7 final release and now with the same tuner cards I have all sorts of problems with MC crashing whenever I watch a SD channel live or recorded (example comedy central) but the QAM channels are fine.
It's strange since it worked on the RC. Not looking for a solution, just letting people know that MC, like anything else made by Microsoft isn't bulletproof and I wouldn't trust all of my TV recording/watching to it.
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Post by Chris Miller on Nov 15, 2009 13:33:12 GMT -5
Microsoft and Cable Labs have dropped the OEM BIOS requirement, anyone can add a cable card tuner to their PC, providing they have hardware and OS support for it. Windows 7 has added support for the Motorola and Cisco Tuning Adapters. I was talking to a TWC CSR last night over a problem with my STB and he had some interesting information to share: - They already have at least two customers using Tuning Adapters with Windows 7 Media Center with the ATI adapters.
- TWC Albany will be buying one of the Ceton Cablecard adapters when they become available in Q1/2010. The Ceton adapter is an internal card that can take multiple cablecards and record up to 4 channels under Windows 7. OEM versions will have special drivers and can record 6 channels simultaneously.
- They are are still working on licensing issues with the CCI Flag with the content providers. According to the CSR, a number of employees at TWC have Tivo HD's and they want the CCI flag set to copy freely too.
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Post by Skaggs on Nov 16, 2009 9:49:39 GMT -5
Sounds like you spoke to a knowledgeable TWC customer service rep. You should play the lottery today, because that is a 1 in a million shot.
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Post by Chris Miller on Nov 16, 2009 14:08:22 GMT -5
I'm starting to feel like it was the lottery. In the endless journey to keep my tuning adapter from losing it's connection, TWC is coming out on Wednesday to replace my m-card with two single stream cards. I don't get how that will fix the problem. If I have a bad m-card, just replace the m-card.
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Post by hurnik on Nov 16, 2009 21:34:03 GMT -5
Are they going to charge you for each S-card?
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Post by Chris Miller on Nov 17, 2009 21:15:05 GMT -5
That's a good question. If that's their plan, I'll keep the m-card.
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Post by Chris Miller on Nov 18, 2009 12:50:18 GMT -5
At the risk of taking this further off topic, I got to keep the m-card. The TWC technician came out and was able to boost my signal by 5db and we decided to keep the m-card in place.
He also told me that they plan on getting me back to RoadRunner. They plan on seriously blowing past Fios speeds. And I told him that when they can beat my 21/5 speed that I have now, I would drop Fios.
For all of my complaining, TWC support still beats Verizon support.
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Post by adam on Nov 18, 2009 14:28:14 GMT -5
I have Road Runner and according to Speedtest.net using the Manchester, NH server last night I was able to get 21/1. Just FYI.
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Post by hurnik on Nov 18, 2009 16:40:48 GMT -5
I've just swtiched to RR again (I could've saved money by just keeping the package the same at $29.99/month for 12 months). But I upgraded to RR Turbo so that it's the same price I WAS paying with FIOS. Their upload speed (RR) is slower than FIOS though. 20/1 from RR for $39.99/month (special offer) vs. 10/2 for $49.99/month from Verizon for FIOS. I think the next plan from Verizon was 20/5 for some obscene amount ($69.99/month?)
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Post by Chris Miller on Nov 18, 2009 21:25:35 GMT -5
A few years back I got a special deal from Verizon where I get the 20/5 plan at the 10/2 price.
I really, really like the 5 mbs upstream. I'm not going back to anything else if I can help it.
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Post by hurnik on Nov 18, 2009 21:34:37 GMT -5
That would be a good deal. When I originally got FIOS it was $29.99/month. then they put it to $34.99/month and now they want $49.99/month for the 10/2. I don't usually upload so I suppose the 20/1 from RR will suffice.
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Post by adam on Nov 18, 2009 22:42:09 GMT -5
I mean the whole idea of having such a terribly low upload speed is basically made up. The internet works both ways, it is one "pipe" so in the real world you can have as much download as upload but if you can upload as fast as you can download then things like torrents work much better so they chop it way down to discourage that sort of thing. So basically everyone with RR should have 20/20 instead of 20/1. So much for net neutrality.
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