A simple question

[tsitalon1]

Hey guys,

Since I use Firewire to change channels on my 3 motorola STB's, I decided to take it a step further and try to tune through the FW port as well and try to get some true HD content.

As expected, all basic channels 2-99 tune in fine. Local network HD channels also tune in, however, all other "digital" HD and non HD channels seem blocked.

My questions is this:

If I bought a HDhomerun, would I be able to get more channels? Meaning, does the STB itseld encrypt the firewire output?

I am really hoping that a HDHomeRun would be able to tune more channels than the firewire output.


I hope this makes sense.

Thanks
James

[ke6guj]

Unfortunately, there is no way to know what channels you'll get via unscrambled QAM without testing it (although I have heard that you may be able to get the info via the STB's service menu).

It looks like you are getting your analog channels recoded into a digital format for output from the STB's firewire port (motorola boxes do this, Scientific Atlanta boxes don't). You'll lose those channels on the HDHomerun.

There is no correlation between what channels you'll get via unscrambled QAM and what channels you'll get via unencrypted Firewire output, also known as 5C encryption.

For example, I get every channel that I pay for out of my firewired STB, including premium channels. In QAM, I only get my locals and 1 or 2 other SD digital channels.

Another poster mentioned that he got just about every non-premium digital channel via unscrambled QAM. There is no rhyme or reason to what you can get, you just have to check it out yourself. I can't wait until we can get consumer grade component capture cards that can encode on the fly to something reasonable.