Time-Warner STB & Firewire Questions

[bimmer_immer]

Hello there HD fans,

Can anyone tell me:
Which set top box(es) Time Warner Milwaukee uses for HD? (not HD DVR, plz)
Is Firewire enabled on any of them?
Also, which video outputs do they have? (Component?, VGA?, DVI?)

You can probably guess where I'm going with this -- recording HD to DVHS or computer harddisk via firewire. Other folks around the country are doing it. Can we?

Thanks,
-Brian

[mhz40]

The SA 3250 HD is the firewire box.  It has component and firewire, as well as composite, I think.  Not at all sure about RF out & if it has DVI, it is not supported.

[TPK]

Has anyone had success in recording from this box to the PC via firewire???

And how/where can I get this box...  I  have made 3 attempts to get this box with 3 different results and no success...

I tried going into the TWC showroom at Mayfair and they told me that the don't have any in right now, and that they don't know when they would be coming in...

I also tried calling them (at the mayfair showroom) a couple days later and they told me 'we don't support firewire', and after arguing with him for a few seconds, he told me that I would have to come into the store and 'special order it'...  Whatever that means.....  (I guess I couldn't 'special order' it over the phone??)

So whats the deal with this box?  And how is it possible for me to obtain one??

[Mark Strube]

It's definitely possible to obtain it... I have a friend in Sussex who got one, and some people in this forum have had luck... so just keep trying. I think your best luck would be to call TWC customer service and ask them to have someone come out and install that specific model.

However please note, if firewire is enabled on this box, you will only be able to record unprotected channels... I believe the only unprotected channels are the HD locals. As far as capturing it into your PC, check out the AVS forums, they've got an entire howto thread dedicated to that here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=403695

Good luck! I'm curious to know how this works out for you, keep us posted!

[TPK]

Hello....  Thank you for the response...

If it can only output 'unprotected' channels, than what good is it???

Kinda silly that it won't it be able to output any channel I am authorized for and tuned to with the box???

[Joseph S]

However please note, if firewire is enabled on this box, you will only be able to record unprotected channels..

...with a computer based PVR. With a DVHS, you can record all.

[Mark Strube]

Not silly to them... same concept as copy protecting DVD's. They don't want people ripping premium HD content (HBO movies, HDNet shows, etc) and making it freely available online... that would destroy the purpose of paying for it and they'd be losing out.

[TPK]

...with a computer based PVR. With a DVHS, you can record all.

Are you saying that with the firewire output from the cable box, I can record everything on a DVHS but not on a computer based PVR??

If thats the case, then couldn't this be solved with a software hack??   How can the cable box know the difference between a computer and a DVHS when hooked in through firewire???

[Joseph S]

The DVHS supports 5c encryption, the computer does not.

[TPK]

I see.....

I imagine eventually though someone will write some software or a driver hack that will enable the PC to understand 5c encryption, no??

[mrmike]

I see.....

I imagine eventually though someone will write some software or a driver hack that will enable the PC to understand 5c encryption, no??

There are a few 5C compatible IEEE-1394 chipsets out there (one or two from each of the biggies), but they don't tend to show up in commodity PeeCees.  The few cards that do 5C sell for $250-$400 if you can find one still.  It's unlikely that you'll see a solution for a Windows box that does 5C support until they've got their DRM tied to the hardware in a way that makes the **AA happy.

-MM