TWC - Will QAM Tuner Card Work?

[Scott Zsori]

I've started looking into HDTV tuner cards for in my movie server (all my movies upconverted to 1080i and available in any room with a TV :D ). I'm on TWC, so I know I need a card that has QAM capability, but will that allow me to access 504-512 , 531, and 541? Does anyone know if those channels are scrambled or not?

[mhz40]

I've started looking into HDTV tuner cards for in my movie server (all my movies upconverted to 1080i and available in any room with a TV :D ). I'm on TWC, so I know I need a card that has QAM capability, but will that allow me to access 504-512 , 531, and 541? Does anyone know if those channels are scrambled or not?
Local HD's are in-the-clear. The rest are encrypted. The tuner card would need a cable card slot and installed card to decode them.

[Joseph S]

I know the non locals are encrypted, but why are HDNET and HDNET movies encrypted with 5C even with the Cable box? Mark Cuban has said he doesn't require 5C for his stations.

[Mark Strube]

Hmm so are we sure the HDNet channels are 5C encrypted? If not, that would push me over the edge to get a QAM HD capture card.

Also, does QAM allow me to access all the standard digital channels?

[kevbeck122]

When I used the QAM tuner on my TV, all I got was the local standard def channels, local high def channels and the on demand preview channels.

[Gregg Lengling]

Hmm so are we sure the HDNet channels are 5C encrypted? If not, that would push me over the edge to get a QAM HD capture card.

Also, does QAM allow me to access all the standard digital channels?


I know that at least HD Movies is encrypted because we had problems with our boxes being properly authorized and we could get HDNET but not the HDNET movies till they fixed it.

[Mark Strube]

Interesting... yeah all I'd really want is the standard HDNet channel, since that's the one with the movie trailer shows. (I work over at Movie-List, so to get all those movie trailers in HD would be a godsend).

So, anyone know for sure if HDNet works with QAM? :confused:

[Gregg Lengling]

Tell you what on Tuesday when I go to work I'll grab a LCD with a QAM tuner and hook it up to the TWC feed and see what I get......Hold on til Tuesday night for a report.

[Mark Strube]

Awesome!! Thank you very very much! :D

[mhz40]

Interesting... yeah all I'd really want is the standard HDNet channel, since that's the one with the movie trailer shows. (I work over at Movie-List, so to get all those movie trailers in HD would be a godsend).

So, anyone know for sure if HDNet works with QAM? :confused:
Yes, I know... and a standard QAM tuner won't work. It's encrypted and you will need something with a cablecard in it.

[Mark Strube]

Well that's crappy... I wonder what Mark Cuban has to say about that. (Hopefully I'll find out soon. ;) )

[Joseph S]

Marc Cuban has said he doesn't support having 5c encryption enabled on his channels. This is done by TWC here.

[Mark Strube]

I just emailed him about the subject... he actually writes back! :)

Mark Strube <markstrube@gmail.com> Sun, Mar 20, 2005 at 7:26PM
To: mark@hd.net

Mr. Cuban,

First I'd like to compliment you on your great network... not only
does it have the best picture quality out of all the other "premium"
HD channels, it has the best content. I hope HDNet has a bright
future.

Now for my question... I was curious if you intend for your network to
be 5C encrypted by cable companies? I ask this because I was asking
some people if I could pick your network up with a QAM tuner card...
I'm very interested in being able to archive all the great high
quality movie trailers on your Nothing But Trailers show. However,
they ("they" being a local cable tech) said that the local cable
company (Time Warner Cable - Milwaukee) encrypts both HDNet channels.
I can understand encrypting HDNet Movies, but HDNet? Are they supposed
to be doing this? I had always gotten the impression that you were
against such content encryption pushed by Hollywood.

I'm very interested in your thoughts on this, and any suggestions you
may have on how I could archive your trailer show (besides the HD-DVR
provided by the cable company which I already have) would be greatly
appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

-Mark Strube
Elm Grove, WI
mark cuban <mark.cuban@dallasmavs.com> Sun, Mar 20, 2005 at 8:07PM
To: Mark Strube <markstrube@gmail.com>, mark@hd.net

Its up to them, we don't have a say in that

I don't suppose mhz40 could do an inside job on letting HDNet slip on the encryption front? {fart} ;)

[RS922]

HD Net was unencryped on satellite when it first launched. In December 2003, it went encrypted and has been that way since. Ask HD Net why they are encrypted and you will then know why TW does the same. Who would pay for the HD tier if the signal was free to everyone?

[Mark Strube]

I think if they insist on encrypting channels to maintain control over different programming tiers, they should then at least provide active firewire ports. We have a right to record and archive tv broadcasts, and their 5C encryption is preventing that. Makes me so mad. :bang:

[mhz40]

If you spent some time searching the valuable info the many users have posted here over the years, you would have found the SA 3250 HD. It's not a DVR, but has a firewire output. For recording in the digital domain, no other combination exists.

[Joseph S]

The 3250 is flaky. It doesn't allow the firewire to change the channel like the motorola box or any STB, often requires hard reset/reboot every day to reconnect, has gray sidebars instead of black on all non HD channels, and it too still suffers from 5C on Marc Cuban's channels.

[Mark Strube]

Mhz40... I'm insulted... I have "actually" spent time reading these threads about firewire, and I was aware of the 3250. I am NOT ready to go thru the hassle to obtain one of these (only to find out it might be one of the versions without firewire), and we already have a SD digital box and the 8300HD coupled with the HD package, the digipic 2000 package, AND road runner, there is NO way we could afford the fee for yet another box... which is why I'm upset the 8300 has no firewire port, and if it did it probably wouldn't be active. Also, the 3250 wouldn't even solve the 5C problem which is mainly what I've been writing about in this thread... so unless the 3250 is 5C immune, your comment was useless. :guns:

[mhz40]

Mhz40... I'm insulted... I have "actually" spent time reading these threads about firewire, and I was aware of the 3250. I am NOT ready to go thru the hassle to obtain one of these (only to find out it might be one of the versions without firewire), and we already have a SD digital box and the 8300HD coupled with the HD package, the digipic 2000 package, AND road runner, there is NO way we could afford the fee for yet another box... which is why I'm upset the 8300 has no firewire port, and if it did it probably wouldn't be active. Also, the 3250 wouldn't even solve the 5C problem which is mainly what I've been writing about in this thread... so unless the 3250 is 5C immune, your comment was useless. :guns:
Your original post said I think if they insist on encrypting channels to maintain control over different programming tiers, they should then at least provide active firewire ports.
IMO, you were representing to the group that in fact, there were no firewire options available. It's simply not true. In fact, I think providing a firewire option is a requirement.
Anyway; I understand your frustration. Specifically, the 8300 does not have firewire, but it does have USB and S-ATA. It would be nice if some form of archiving were available via these ports... a built-in or add-on DVD burner would be kind of sweet.
Unfortunately, the 8250 firewire set top is simply the plain (and for many, sad) truth right now. However, I have heard success stories regarding the ability to record to D-VHS (or is it VHS-D?). It may not be something anyone wants to hear (i.e.: "useless"), but it's the simple fact.
In terms of another fee for another box, you could consider swapping your SD box for the 3250... for what I think should be no additional fee. It would give you the option to get some long-term storage going outside the constraints of the current DVR situation.
I feel the forums here are filled with good info and facts. When I read what I perceive as misinformation, I try to correct it with factual information to the best of my knowledge. When I repeatedly make corrections on the same topics, it can get frustrating --- like that one nail that sticks out of the drywall every spring. It's not personal, so please don't take it that way.

Now, where's that hammer?? :Smash:
Cheers
MHz40

[Mark Strube]

Sorry for any misunderstanding... I mentioned encryption, so my frustration was the fact that even if I got a box with firewire, I still could only archive stuff from the HD locals.
I've considered swapping the SD box, however it's the one my mom uses, so everytime I decided I wanted to capture something, I'd have to go in her room and unhook it, and hope there's nothing on she was planning to watch. So I'm kinda stuck at the moment.
Thanks for being helpful!! Didn't mean to get in your face there, it's just a frustrating situation. :wave: