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 ).  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 ).  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!  

[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    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    Sun, Mar 20, 2005 at 8:07PM
To:   Mark Strube , 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: