[mythtv-users] Firewire Port on cable box?

Daniel Thor Kristjansson danielk at cat.nyu.edu
Thu May 6 21:02:56 EDT 2004


]This WOULD be the greatest thing since slice bread but most channels (all
]but NBC on cox) are encrypted with 5C. Till somebody hacks 5C it's
]completely useless if it's encoded with it.

I've been thinking about this. The FCC declined EFF's plea to have
channels available over the air remain free of encryption on cable
systems. So soon everything might be encrypted on most cable systems.
However, I'm wondering, if you had a firewire capable TV could you
just replay the encrypted stream and get to see the video that way?
If so that capability could keep MythTV relevant in the US for people
using cable when ATSC takes over. We can hope Kerry appoints someone
that will undo Powell's damage at the FCC, but even if there is a
less evil* person in that office they will be busy with pressing
issues like stopping the countdown on the elimination of DSL ISPs.

*I don't think Powell is inherently evil, I think he does evil things
because he has a limited understanding of technology and business.

-- Daniel


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