Comcast just scrambled my signal

[dongna]

Hello, long-time NPVR user here. Win7-64 with Hauppauge WinTV-7164 tuner.

I've been humming along just fine until earlier this week when Comcast went and scrambled my signal, requiring me to obtain their converter box. I'm sure this is a common situation, and I looked through the Wiki for help on the topic, but could find none. For now, I'm simply trying to activate the boxes I got (which they identify only as XFINITY Universal Digital Transport Adapter). In order to do so, I'm being instructed to tune my TV to channel 3. I don't think I even have channel 3 in my list of channels. Can (should) I manually add it? If so, how?

Any pointer to existing documentation on this issue, or help appreciated!

[sub]

Your best bet long term is to move to a tuner like the HDHomeRun Prime.

You can probably use Analog connected to your DTA for now though, but it'll be slower to change channels, and the quality wont be as good.

Win7-64 with Hauppauge WinTV-7164 tuner.

Is this an HVR-2250, or something else?

[sub]

In order to do so, I'm being instructed to tune my TV to channel 3. I don't think I even have channel 3 in my list of channels. Can (should) I manually add it? If so, how?

I think you'd have to go into the Settings->Devices screen, and into the settings for the "Analog" device, hit Import, set the "Input Source" to "fixed-channel", and set the fixed channel to ch3, etc..

[dongna]

Just to clarify, my cable signal was previously converted from analog to digital a year or two ago (just not encrypted), and in fact I replaced my analog tuner at time with the Hauppage one I have now. Yes, it's an HVR-2250. The current change enacted by Comcast, as I understand, is to encrypt their signal, which now requires their box to un-encrypt (I guess to prevent people from somehow stealing their content). I don't relish the idea of having to purchase yet another tuner.

Also, just as an aside, I'm most likely eventually going to just cut the cord with Comcast and go with an antenna as I only subscribe to their most basic cable package with doesn't really offer any content above what I believe I can get through an antenna. But for now I'd like to try and get this working with the Comcast boxes.

[BrettB]

I've been notified that Comcast will be scrambling my local channels on November 17th. So I've been looking at the options.

I already have 1 DCR-2650 Cable-card device (2 tuners). So that will continue working just fine. However, it only has 2 tuners--so only 2 shows can be recorded at once. (No multi-record with Cable-card even if the channels are on the same frequency.)

Which DTA did you get? I found out that they do now have an "HD DTA" which has an HDMI output in addition to the analog (channel 3/4) output. I picked one of those up Thursday night to try out. I'm not particularly excited about it. But figured while it's "free", I'd at least get one to test. I don't currently have any device to allow recording from HDMI (such as the HD-PVR or Colossus)--and even if I did I'm not sure it would work with the Comcast HD DTA.

Apparently they now also have an "E-DTA" which can be used with a Boxee TV device. The E-DTA (also called an EHD-uDTA) has an ethernet port on it which will stream the selected channel via DLNA or UPnP (or VPOP?). In theory, I believe that if you had appropriate software on the server (NetworkRecorder?), then you wouldn't need any additional hardware (i.e. no HDHR Prime, no tuner cards, etc.) to record digital streams from Comcast. That part sounds cool! However, each box only streams one channel (boo!). And they are currently only giving them out if you have a Boxee TV. But, there is potential for the future... More info can be found here: http://media2.comcast.net/anon.comcaston...0final.pdf

I'm probably also going to setup one of my HDHR tuners with an antenna to pickup OTA broadcasts (which are pretty good quality here). This move by Comcast may push me to drop them completely. We'll see...

[spinnaker]

I had DirectTV. I dropped it about a year ago and I am so glad I did. There is almost nothing on the "cable" stations anymore. I now record OTA and fill that in with Amazon.com and a few other paid internet sources. I save myself a ton of money now. If Comcast is going to start scrambling channels, you might want considering doing the sam if you have the option of decent reception OTA.

[dongna]

Which DTA did you get?

I was given the "XFINITY Universal Digital Transport Adapter". On the bottom of the box it says it's manufactured by Dolby? Not sure what it can and cannot do. It does have an HDMI output. All I know is this is a royal pain. The WAF also just went down several more notches with yet another box sitting next to the Popcorn Hour, Wii, etc.

[sub]

Just to clarify, my cable signal was previously converted from analog to digital a year or two ago (just not encrypted), and in fact I replaced my analog tuner at time with the Hauppage one I have now. Yes, it's an HVR-2250. The current change enacted by Comcast, as I understand, is to encrypt their signal, which now requires their box to un-encrypt (I guess to prevent people from somehow stealing their content). I don't relish the idea of having to purchase yet another tuner.

It may not be clear to you what the DTA box is doing. Its not un-encrypting the digital signal and passing it on as digital. It takes digital cable in, tunes to a station, decodes the digital stream, then outputs the station as analog on CH3. ie, its just like an old-school cable set-top-box.

Your HVR-2250 is capable of recording from this setup, but it'll require you to use the analog side, and you'd need to use an IR Blaster to tell the DTA to change channels.

If you wanted to receive digital channels directly, then you'd need to move to a cablecard device HDHomeRun Prime or Hauppauge DCR.

[dongna]

It may not be clear to you what the DTA box is doing.

It most definitely isn't...

Its not un-encrypting the digital signal and passing it on as digital. It takes digital cable in, tunes to a station, decodes the digital stream, then outputs the station as analog on CH3. ie, its just like an old-school cable set-top-box.

Am I reading you correctly that you're saying the signal coming out of the DTA is analog? How can that be in this day and age? Don't all "modern" HDTV's have digital inputs/tuners?

Your HVR-2250 is capable of recording from this setup, but it'll require you to use the analog side, and you'd need to use an IR Blaster to tell the DTA to change channels.

If you wanted to receive digital channels directly, then you'd need to move to a cablecard device HDHomeRun Prime or Hauppauge DCR.

And I'd only be able to record one show at a time, correct? If this, and everything else you mentioned, is the case, then I think it's definitely time to cut the cord with Comcast. I already have a Winegard antenna in my attic... I just have to run the cables to connect it. Sounds like a lovely project for an autumn Sunday afternoon.

[mvallevand]

Don't all "modern" HDTV's have digital inputs/tuners?

Yes and cableco's want you to rent another box to use those inputs. BrettB mentioned the HD-DTA which is interesting option if you are considering going the HD-PVR route, but the non-addressable nature of DTA's mean no premium content so definitely cablcecard is comparable and gives you more tuners while it is supported.

Martin