Cable local channels visible in WMC but not NextPVR

[araghava]

I'm yet another one trying to transition away from WMC to NextPVR.

I have a HD HomeRun Extend and HD Homerun Prime. I'm able to tune into the OTA channels using the Extend without any problems. However I get a black screen for the cable channels.

Just to be clear i cut the cord and i only get internet access through Comcast. However my Prime still works for the local channels when using WMC. When i try to tune the same channels using NextPVR i get a black screen.

Can anyone help?
Thanks.

[sub]

To help us determine if it's a capture or a playback problem (live tv is both of these), do a recording one of these channels, and check if a file gets created, and if you can play it with some other player.

[Graham]

Just to be clear i cut the cord and i only get internet access through Comcast. However my Prime still works for the local channels when using WMC. When i try to tune the same channels using NextPVR i get a black screen.

Apologies if I am misunderstanding ... Does "my Prime still works for the local channels when using WMC" mean "local channels" received via cable?

[araghava]

Yes, even though i don't have a cable subscription i still receive local channels via cable. I'm able to view/record these local channels using WMC.
When i try to do the same using NextPVR, i just get a black screen.

[HarryH3]

Open the web page for your HD HomeRun Prime and click on Channel Lineup. Do the channels that you're trying to watch have the little "DRM" logo next to them? If so, they are copy protected and NPVR will not be able to tune them.

[araghava]

Open the web page for your HD HomeRun Prime and click on Channel Lineup. Do the channels that you're trying to watch have the little "DRM" logo next to them? If so, they are copy protected and NPVR will not be able to tune them.

This is weird. The channel lineup shows no Tv channels. Only a bunch of radio channels. However my guide in both WMC and NextPVR shows the entire cable lineup. In WMC i can tune into the local stations. In NextPVR i get a black screen.

[sub]

In WMC i can tune into the local stations. In NextPVR i get a black screen.

This is typically what you'd get if you're trying to watch a DRM protected channel (since only WMC can view these).

If you try doing a recording, do you end up with a file on disk, with a realistic size? Will that recording show video in any other player?

[araghava]

This is typically what you'd get if you're trying to watch a DRM protected channel (since only WMC can view these).

If you try doing a recording, do you end up with a file on disk, with a realistic size? Will that recording show video in any other player?

I tried recording a 1 hour show on Comcast 702 (FOX) last night. Size is 7.5Gb. So size seems correct. However i can't play it back with either WMC or MediaPlayer or NextPVR or Kodi.
Looks like Comcast is copy protecting local broadcasts.

That's too bad. I was hoping i could use all 5 tuners (3 from Prime and 2 from Extend) when moving to NextPVR.

[sub]

You can use all those tuners in NextPVR, but how useful they'll be will depend on your broadcaster. Some are great, and have pretty much all their channels 'copy-freely', with only a few premiums like HBO marked copy-never/copy-once. Some other broadcasters are not so nice, and have nearly all their channels marked copy-never/copy-oce.

[BrettB]

Yes, even though i don't have a cable subscription i still receive local channels via cable. I'm able to view/record these local channels using WMC.
When i try to do the same using NextPVR, i just get a black screen.

Since you state that you don't have a "cable subscription", I presume that you don't have a CableCARD in the HDHR Prime. Is that correct? This would be consistent with your statement that "The channel lineup shows no Tv channels." because you don't have a CableCARD with a corresponding valid cable TV subscription lineup.

So, what I think that you are saying is that since Comcast has run a cable to your house for your Internet, you are/were able to receive and view Clear QAM channels (ones that are totally unencrypted by Comcast) even though you don't have a subscription for those channels via cable. I believe that in most (all?) markets, Comcast has eliminated Clear QAM channels specifically to prevent customers from doing what you describe (using a cable connection provided for telephone and/or Internet only to also receive cable TV channels). Here in St. Paul, MN, they made this change a couple of years ago and required all TVs and other 3rd party devices to use Digital Tuning Adapters (DTAs) or CableCARDs. NOTE: This encryption is different from the Digital Rights Management (DRM) that can be enforced through CableCARD devices (the "Copy Freely", "Copy Once", "Copy Never").