HDHomeRun Prime and NPVR - Do I need Media Center OS?

[JavaWiz]

Looking to add a HDHomeRun prime to my setup. Scanned the forums and was not able to locate an answer to my question.

Per the HDHomeRun Prime "Operating System Supported" : Fully Compatible With Windows Media Center on Windows 7/8.

Do I need Media Center version of Win8 to use the prime, or can I just use NPVR with Win8 Pro (no Media Center add-on)?

[HarryH3]

You won't need Media Center to use NPVR. However, any channels that are flagged as Copy-Once or Copy-Never by your cable company will not be viewable or recordable in NPVR. Media Center has the DRM software that lets it, and only it, record from those channels.

[JavaWiz]

Thanks Harry. Question, is there a way to tell if channels are flagged as Copy-Once or Copy-Never? I have Comcast/XFinity in the Modesto/Stockton area of N Cal.

[donschjr]

I have comcast in Pa. and none of the normal channels are flagged here only premiums like HBO and such, YMMV.

[HarryH3]

Thanks Harry. Question, is there a way to tell if channels are flagged as Copy-Once or Copy-Never? I have Comcast/XFinity in the Modesto/Stockton area of N Cal.

Log into the web interface of the HDHR Prime while NPVR is tuned to a channel. Click "Status Menu". The lower box will show what tuner is is use and what channel it is tuned to. In the upper box, select the tuner number that is in use. The page that comes up will list details, including any protection flags. If they are listed as "None" then you should have video in NPVR.

[ga_mueller]

I have comcast in Pa. and none of the normal channels are flagged here only premiums like HBO and such, YMMV.

+1 San Jose, btw, the first cablecard it totally free, insist on it!

[JavaWiz]

So, if I have this right... With Comcast/Xfinity, when using the Prime with a cable card, I'll be able to stream/record normal channels (up to 3 concurrently), but not the premium ones. For the premium ones, I'll still need to feed via the Cable Box for streaming and recording. If true, this is probably OK, as it's the normal channels that I usually have a conflict with (overlapping time and back-to-back shows).

Also, is there any tool that I can use to detect the CCI on my channels (prior to forking out $$ for the prime), to insure Comcast out here has not enabled protection on the normal channels too?

[whurlston]

If you have a cable box, you might be able to google how to get to the diagnostic menu on it. One of the pages should give you the CCI information

[mikeh49]

You can see the channel copy info on a Motorola box from the diagnostic menu, as whurlston says. You should be able to find how to enter the diagnostic menu on the 'net. It's readily available for Moto boxes. It's a fairly slow process (enter and exit the diagnostic menu for each channel) and you'll need some info to decode the display. I have Charter and only the premiums (HBO, etc) and PPV are flagged. I don't subscribe to the premiums, so no problem for me.

[JavaWiz]

Thanks guys. I have RNG110 box, am able to get into diag mode and on the "CURR CHAN STATUS" menu can see the CCI hex code. I should be able to figure this out now... The Prime ($99 @ newegg) is looking promising....