I just did the unthinkable (no, not dropped Sage... yet)

[stanger89]

So, I switched to cable.

OK, let me rephrase that more accurately, I scheduled installation of FTTH that they just ran to my neighborhood.

So now it's time to figure out what the next step is. I know (assume) from my parents service (same provider but not FTTH) that most of the HD stations are Clear QAM, so I should be able to use my HDHR or Duet for those channels.

Question becomes what to do for the rest. I've got an open question in to them, via the rep I called that setup my neighbor as a beta tester (I must be losing my edge missing out on the beta test, even if it was just for a week or so), about how they're flagging stuff. I'm hoping that given they're a small/local provider that most everything will be copy freely.

So I guess the question becomes, any thoughts on what CC tuner I should get? Or maybe I should just wing it for a while and see about the Q....

[ckewinjones]

If most or all of the channels you care about are in the clear, you can't go wrong with the Ceton InfiniTV4 (with the SageDCT software shim). It was a little bumpy setting it up, but if you follow the advice here on the forum (especially from the King of Bayonne), you will be OK.

I used the Ceton when we were still with Comcast. Some channels were marked Copy Once or Copy Never, but the ones we actually used were not. Now we are with Verizon FiOS & everything (or almost everything) is in the clear. The Ceton works like a champ.

[tmiranda]

I bought an HDHR Prime for two reasons:
- I preferred to use a network tuner.
- It can handle QAM and digital cable.

No regrets, other than my small cable company marks everything as copy once and won't change it since "that's how it comes from our provider."

Tom

[KeithAbbott]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

I bought an HDHR Prime for two reasons:
- I preferred to use a network tuner.
- It can handle QAM and digital cable.

No regrets, other than my small cable company marks everything as copy once and won't change it since "that's how it comes from our provider."

Tom

Are you using it with Sage? I thought it was not possible for channels flagged as copy once...

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by stanger89

So, I switched to cable.

This is one of the signs of the coming apocalypse. Be afraid, be very afraid ...

[stanger89]

I just keep telling myself its FTTH not "cable", that and it's not Mediacon

[bcjenkins]

I don't know if it matters, but the 6CC SD tuner can be rack mounted. It works great with QAM. My cable co sends everything encrypted as well..

[mguebert]

The only thing I don't like about the SD 6CC is that it requires two cable cards, which does for most people introduce additional fees, and perhaps more headaches getting both cards paired and authorized correctly. I have a Ceton InfiniTv4 and have had some issues but they were being caused by AVG anti virus. Ceton's new 6 tuner card will only need one CC FWIW.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by KeithAbbott

Are you using it with Sage? I thought it was not possible for channels flagged as copy once...

I'm using it for QAM only. I'm still pestering my cable company to see if they can get the copy flag removed.

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by mguebert

The only thing I don't like about the SD 6CC is that it requires two cable cards, which does for most people introduce additional fees, and perhaps more headaches getting both cards paired and authorized correctly. I have a Ceton InfiniTv4 and have had some issues but they were being caused by AVG anti virus. Ceton's new 6 tuner card will only need one CC FWIW.

I guess depending on your cable co - for me it is $1.75/card Cheap.

No issues using them with Windows Media Center. I had to use TunerSalad though for all 6 tuners. For now, they are out of the 6CC and it is QAM until I decide what to do.

B

[Naylia]

It's very cheap to be using cable card. I pay $1.10 for the card vs $7 for a HD box, and on top of that I get an additional $2.50 credit for using "Customer Owned Equipment".

This might be helpful: http://www.missingremote.com/forums/...us-master-list

[stanger89]

I've looked there, my provider isn't in that list.

[stanger89]

So has anyone used TSreader to look at the data for QAM channels, specifically to check the tagging? I saw some references to it reporting an "ATSC: Redistribution Control Descriptor", but it was unclear if that's the CCI=Copy Once or not. I tried my HDHR and TSmuxer at my dad's place which has the same provider and I didn't see that on anything I looked at, but I don't know if that means it's not flagged or if TSmuxer just can't/doesn't read the flags.

[stanger89]

So I've done a little more looking/thinking/investigating/remembering, and things may well be easier than I was thinking.

First things first, I needed to step back and remember that all HD on Imon (my soon to be new provider) is ClearQAM, well at least aside from the movie channels. Looking at their lineup again, that means that essentially everything I care about is clear QAM.

Which really only leaves a couple of "issues". Probably the big one is Top Gear (UK). I was watching that in HD the other night realized I'd really miss it in HD, and unfortunately Imon doesn't have BBCA in HD (yet). Doctor Who is another, but both of these are available on Amazon Instant in HD, so I think that will work nicely for that (though I'll have to use my Roku rather than Sage for that).

There's one or two other shows, but those aren't HD on Dish either (or anywhere that I know of), and I can just record those off the box, or if they've got stuff flagged Copy Freely, maybe I'll snag a CableCard for that.

[darcilicious]

Are you certain that HD channels other than your local networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc) are in the "clear" (unencrypted)? That would be very unusual if so...

[stanger89]

Yup:

Is ImOn HD programming really free?
Yes - ImOn customers can get HD programming with a $9.98 HD cable box or by connecting ImOn cable directly to your HDTV that has a built-in HD tuner. Here is a list of HD channels that can be picked up without an ImOn HD box for customers who have ImOn Local Plus cable or above:

39-1 – HGTV HD
40-11 – Food Network HD

40-5 – Travel Channel HD
41-21 – Speed HD

46-19 – Animal Planet HD

47-3 – ABC Family HD
47-7 – ESPN U HD
48-1 – KFXA (Fox) HD
49-5 – National Geographic HD
49-6 – ESPN 2 HD
75-1 – Discovery Theater HD

75-5 – Cartoon Network HD
78-2 – WGN HD
78-3 – ESPN HD

80-1 – Outdoor Channel HD
81-28 – TNT HD

82-2 – Tru TV HD
82-32 – TBS HD
83-5 – KCRG (ABC) HD

83-6 – FX HD

84-1 – Fox Business Network HD

87-3 – Discovery HD

87-4 – TLC HD

88-1 – Comcast Sportsnet HD
92-1 – PBS HD

92-3 – HD Net
93-6 – Comcast Sportnet Plus HD
93-7 – Fox New Channel HD
94-4 – QVC HD
94-5 – Big Ten Network HD
108-33 – NFL Network HD
109-1 - KGAN (CBS) HD
109-3 - KWWL (NBC) HD
110-7 – HD Net Movies

122-1 – Disney HD

122-2 – History HD

123-3 – A&E HD

That and I've tried it with both an HDHR and a TV at my Dad's place.

[darcilicious]

Wow, that IS very unusual! Enjoy it while it lasts!

[skiingwiz]

Originally Posted by stanger89

First things first, I needed to step back and remember that all HD on Imon (my soon to be new provider) is ClearQAM, well at least aside from the movie channels. Looking at their lineup again, that means that essentially everything I care about is clear QAM.

Words can not express my jealousy.

[KeithAbbott]

Originally Posted by skiingwiz

Words can not express my jealousy.

+1

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Yup:



That and I've tried it with both an HDHR and a TV at my Dad's place.

That is quite a few. Too bad all cable companies aren't like that. If sage does completely stop working, or you just decide to go to something else (Q, Echo or similar setup) your cable company will work with anything you choose. I really like DirecTV, but I would drop it if cable companies around here did that.