Q about HowTO: suck DRM channels from HDHR-3CC?

[mgpaulus]

Hi all,

I'm just wondering if people are able to suck DRM protected channels from their HDHR Prime devices? Seems like I'm able to watch HBO/etc/etc using the Homerun app.

I'm guessing that if I can get this working, then I can eliminate my HDPVR, my BM-3000, and my 2 additional STBs that I keep around to grab Premium type stuff.

Any thoughts/discussions welcome.

[UgaData]

You can use Windows Media Center. Or do what you are currently doing.

I think Silicon Dust has hinted that recording of DRM channels may be available in the future but hasn't happened yet. You can only watch live for now.

It maybe possible to use something like OBS Studio to do screen capture.

[KryptoNyte]

https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63212

You'd still need the HDPVR or BM-3000, and device to play the channel. SageTV has never been compatible with DRM otherwise and I've never seen anyone with any software come forward with a public way grabbing the DRM stream - which I suppose was the point of DRM, at least, in theory.

[mgpaulus]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63212

You'd still need the HDPVR or BM-3000, and device to play the channel. SageTV has never been compatible with DRM otherwise and I've never seen anyone with any software come forward with a public way grabbing the DRM stream - which I suppose was the point of DRM, at least, in theory.

I saw that thread, which was what prompted my question, as in, I was wondering if there were some other alternatives that hadn't been put forward yet.

I suppose, if I can get rid of the 2 STBs, that would save me $20/month, since I rarely, if ever record 6 things at the same time (I have (2) HDHR-3CC, and (2) STBs), so I really don't need 8 tuners of capacity.

[KryptoNyte]

When I searched for cable providers in Colorado Springs it says you have Xfinity in your area. I was under the impression that Xfinity cable card only copy-once flags their premium stations.

So is it only the premiums that are locked down and you just use SageTV straight up for all the rest? I wish Charter Spectrum (old Time Warner) was like this.

[mgpaulus]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

When I searched for cable providers in Colorado Springs it says you have Xfinity in your area. I was under the impression that Xfinity cable card only copy-once flags their premium stations.

So is it only the premiums that are locked down and you just use SageTV straight up for all the rest? I wish Charter Spectrum (old Time Warner) was like this.

Correct. I have (2) HDHR-3CC that I can record most of the channels that have the greatest WAF (Hallmark/HMMHD/UPHD). However, if I want to capture premium channels, then I need to go through an STB, so I have (2) STB (Pace RNG-110), 1 with HDPVR and one with BM-3000.

Here's where it's getting to be confusing for me. My bill is almost $300/month for TV/Phone bundle. But, the other issue is that some of the newer channels (Hallmark Drama, etc) are not able to be tuned by my RNG-110. And, it looks like the HDHR Primes don't see those channels either. So, I'm thinking I need to change out my current RNG110s for something newer. However, I am also using a USB-UIRT and direct to DTA cables to change channels on my RNG110s, as they still have the IR extender ports on the back.

The newer X1 equipment seems to be IR and RF controlled, but the couple boxes I've looked into don't have IR extender ports, so no direct DTA cable support. So, I'll have to look into how to use IR blasters on these boxes (and shield them so no channel changing bleed-over).

It's all so confusing since there are so many options, and they all cost $$. Anyway, yeah, I can watch most channels freely with the HDHR in Sagetv, and have to think of answers for the Premium channels, and apparently the newer IPTV channels as well.

[jpwegas]

When you say the HDHR Primes don't see your "newer" channels, do you mean they are not shown at all in the Prime's web page?

FWIW, instead of renting STBs I have two Samsung GX-SM530CF boxes set up with CableCards. I still have to pay for the CableCard rental, but it's cheaper than renting the STBs.

The Samsung GX-SM530CF boxes are sold used or refurbed on Amazon and eBay. You'll need to use one of the tuning plugins to tune it (look up 'samsungctl' or 'go-samsung-tv' on github, they can tune these devices over the network) or you could use IR tuning if you have that available. The device can only tune a single channel at once (it was meant to be a non-cable-company STB replacement).

Going down that path may or may not be easier and cheaper than just using the STBs from Xfinity. If they are using a lot of IPTV channels that the Prime can't pick up, the Samsung won't pick them up either. It may be less hassle to just use the newer Xfinity STBs which can tune all the channels you receive.

--John

[egeller]

Originally Posted by jpwegas

If they are using a lot of IPTV channels
--John

<rant>
This cannot be over-emphasized, if you are a Comcast customer. I learned of this only recently, and figured it out myself, as I did not see any postings on it. If I missed something, let me know.

Comcast is switching channels from QAM to IPTV and defining new channels as IPTV only. That means that cablecard devices cannot see them, as they deal with QAM only. The IPTV channels are NOT on the cablecard map.

I really do not want to have to get a Comcast X1 box, but I wonder how far this will go.
</rant>

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by egeller

<rant>
This cannot be over-emphasized, if you are a Comcast customer. I learned of this only recently, and figured it out myself, as I did not see any postings on it. If I missed something, let me know.

Comcast is switching channels from QAM to IPTV and defining new channels as IPTV only. That means that cablecard devices cannot see them, as they deal with QAM only. The IPTV channels are NOT on the cablecard map.

I really do not want to have to get a Comcast X1 box, but I wonder how far this will go.
</rant>

So are these IPTV channels regular linear channels that broadcast specific shows at specific times?
I have Comcast and X1, but haven’t seen any iptv channels yet.

Everything I’ve read about Comcast’s plans for iptv was that it would be used for on demand / streaming type services only. Specifically, they were launching their own cord-cutter platform based on X1 that was meant to compete with Roku, and they have their Streampix service that lets you watch cable show via an iPhone or Android app.

[egeller]

Originally Posted by Tiki

So are these IPTV channels regular linear channels that broadcast specific shows at specific times?
I have Comcast and X1, but haven’t seen any iptv channels yet.

You may have seen them and not realized they were IPTV channels. Look for channels on your X1 box but not on a Cablecard map. Also look for channels where X1 shows HD and Sage is picking up SD content for the same channel, via cablecard.

I am drawing conclusions based on symptoms. I may be adding 2+2 and getting 5, but here is what I am seeing and think what might be going on, in no particular order.

The IPTV channels are individual channels that the X1 box can decode and show, but are not QAM (therefore no cablecard). For such channels, all such channels' content is coming as IPTV only.

For example, some new Streampix channels showed up in HD on my X1 box, but not on the cablecard channel map. Other channels have followed. Recently, I found that the Sundance channel, formerly SD, is now HD on the X1 box.

As long as the SD version is on the cablecard map, I can redefine the physical channel, in Sage, to pick up the content, albeit SD, not HD. I did that for Sundance.

Since I have Playon, I can also use it to get the HD content from Comcast, if it is something important to me.

The other thing I've seen includes channels that come over the X1 box, and are not on the cablecard map at all. Some time ago I called Comcast and asked what is going on and, of course, got nowhere at the time.

When I saw that the X1 box had HD channels that were not on the cablecard map I did some research online and stumbled over this link on Reddit from someone who was seeing the same thing.

I would think that the IPTV channels are only sent when the X1 box requests them, saving on network traffic. I understand Comcast is trying to manage their resources, but I do not relish the though to needing to get an X1 box for my SageTV setup.