[mythtv-users] Shaw Cable Begins Blocking IEEE 1394 (Firewire) Output from STBs

Tue Dec 25 13:43:56 UTC 2007

Shaw cable here in Canada (specifically Vancouver) on Friday began 
implementing the Copy Control Information (CCI) flag on several digital 
channels, notably a number of HD channels, rendering my IEEE 1394 
(firewire) connection useless on these channels. Below is some 
correspondence I've had with Shaw (note the CRTC is the Canadian 
equivalent to the FCC).

Any Myth users in Canada successfully convince their providers to drop 
the CCI flag? Has anyone else had this issue recently? If so, has the 
CRTC been approached? Were they helpful in any way?

Will keep the list posted of any developments.

Cheers,

Martin

-----Original Message-----
*From:* *omitted*
*Sent:* Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:23 AM
*To:* Eservice Vancouver
*Subject:* Cable/Digital CableAs of Fri, Dec. 21, it appears the output 
of several channels via the IEEE 1394 ports on my Motorola DCT-6200 
either scramble or fail to output several channels (which I subscribe to 
and pay to receive). Specifically: -All time shifted channels -60 (Movie 
Central) -61 (Movie Central) -117 (NHLTV) -139 (DejaVu) -200 (ABC-HD) 
-201 (CBS-HD) -202 (NBC_HD) -203 (FOX-HD) -204 (PBS-HD) -209 (CBC-HD) 
There are several others, and may further be others I don't subscribe to 
but which may be causing problems for your other customers. This is a 
very significant issue, as most 3rd party hard-disk based recorders, 
used for personal use, time shifting and other 'fair use' purposes, 
communicate with the set top box via the IEEE 1394 ports. In my case, I 
use an open-source system called Myth TV. Preventing customers from the 
fair use of channels they've paid to receive absent a cable company's 
proprietary recording/time shifting systems constitutes a restraint of 
trade. Can you please advise what's changed and how I can continue to 
receive the channels I pay for via the IEEE 1394 output? Are there 
settings on my end I can change to re-enable these channels? If this is 
the result of a firmware update, please roll back the firmware to a 
previous version compatible with receiving all the channels I subscribe 
to via the IEEE 1394 output. I've included a copy of this request to the 
CRTC for further clarification of the regulatory propriety of blocking 
subscribed channels on particular output ports and would appreciate all 
correspondence in writing. Thank you. Martin Lynch

>> -----Original Message-----
>> *From:* *omitted*
>> *Sent:* Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:23 AM
>> *To:* Eservice Vancouver
>> *Subject:* Cable/Digital Cable
>> As of Fri, Dec. 21, it appears the output of several channels via the 
>> IEEE 1394 ports on my Motorola DCT-6200 either scramble or fail to 
>> output several channels (which I subscribe to and pay to receive). 
>> Specifically: -All time shifted channels -60 (Movie Central) -61 
>> (Movie Central) -117 (NHLTV) -139 (DejaVu) -200 (ABC-HD) -201 
>> (CBS-HD) -202 (NBC_HD) -203 (FOX-HD) -204 (PBS-HD) -209 (CBC-HD) 
>> There are several others, and may further be others I don't subscribe 
>> to but which may be causing problems for your other customers. This 
>> is a very significant issue, as most 3rd party hard-disk based 
>> recorders, used for personal use, time shifting and other 'fair use' 
>> purposes, communicate with the set top box via the IEEE 1394 ports. 
>> In my case, I use an open-source system called Myth TV. Preventing 
>> customers from the fair use of channels they've paid to receive 
>> absent a cable company's proprietary recording/time shifting systems 
>> constitutes a restraint of trade. Can you please advise what's 
>> changed and how I can continue to receive the channels I pay for via 
>> the IEEE 1394 output? Are there settings on my end I can change to 
>> re-enable these channels? If this is the result of a firmware update, 
>> please roll back the firmware to a previous version compatible with 
>> receiving all the channels I subscribe to via the IEEE 1394 output. 
>> I've included a copy of this request to the CRTC for further 
>> clarification of the regulatory propriety of blocking subscribed 
>> channels on particular output ports and would appreciate all 
>> correspondence in writing. Thank you. Martin Lynch
>>
Shaw Internet Vancouver Help wrote:
 >
 > Hi Martin,
 >
 > 
 >
 > Thank you for choosing Shaw Technical Support.
 >
 > 
 >
 > Presently the 1394 ports you are referring to are actually not active 
on our Shaw Digital Terminals and are unsupported. At present we are 
examining several options for increasing the number of features and unit 
capacity of our units in the future. One option we are looking at in 
particular right now is CableCARD 2.0 in addition to enabling use of the 
USB ports on the units. Unfortunately we have many considerations to 
make including security concerns as well as impact on our current 
business model. We are unsure when future changes will be made.
 >
 >
 > We hope this information has been useful to you.  Please feel free to 
contact us by phone 604-629-4000 or by email response.  If you need 
further assistance you may also visit our website at http://www.shaw.ca/.
 >
____________________________________________________________________________________________

David Rep #7466, Technical Support, Telephone: (604) 629-4000, Shaw 
Communications Inc.

*From:* Martin Lynch
*Sent:* Monday, December 24, 2007 5:46 PM
*To:* Shaw Internet Vancouver Help
*Subject:* Re: Cable/Digital Cable

Thank you, David - I appreciate the prompt response, however both IEEE 
1394 ports on my Motorola 6200 have been active for at least 9 months, 
as I've been using them continuously throughout that entire time to 
output the signal to my MythTV setup on my computer in order to time 
shift the programs I like to watch, which in turn passes the signal via 
DVI cable to my TV. In fact, it's worked remarkably well during that time.

I should point out that the so-called "US Superstations" never worked, 
and when the additional HD channels were recently introduced, channels 
205 - 208 didn't work from the get-go.

Just to clarify, Shaw has not altered or encrypted any additional 
channels within the past week? Can you perhaps clarify at which point 
encryption or other techniques to disrupt the channels I subscribe to 
are introduced, ie at source, at some redistribution point, at Shaw's 
distribution point or at the cable box? The reason I ask is that if it's 
at source, I find it odd that disparate, unrelated (by corporate 
ownership) channels should simultaneously stop working.

Thanks again for the response and your ongoing assistance - I hope you 
can appreciate that, having spent considerable funds (and even more 
time) building my system it is quite disappointing to suddenly find 
certain channels no longer viewable. Unfortunately no commercially 
available system combines all the features I want, which to my knowledge 
only MythTv provides.

Martin

Shaw Internet Vancouver Help wrote:
 > Hi Martin,
 > 
 > We have not made any significant changes to how we encrypt our 
channels recently. If you connect your Shaw digital cable box to your 
TV, with the cables provided, and having reception issues, we can do our 
best to troubleshoot with you.
 > If you are using IEEE 1394 or a Myth TV setup, we can not provide 
technical support.
 > 
 > We hope this information has been useful to you.  Please feel free to 
contact us by phone 604-629-4000 or by email response.  If you need 
further assistance you may also visit our website at http://www.shaw.ca/.
 > Thank you for choosing Shaw Eservices.
 > 
 > 

Thanks for the reply.

I took the liberty of accessing the diagnostics mode of the the DCT-6200 
and, unfortunately, it appears you are not providing me with accurate 
information (or perhaps your choice of the term "significant" is well 
chosen). Specifically, I checked the status of the Copy Control 
Information (CCI) flag at menu point 6 for the channels I've suddenly 
begun having problems with and they all now show the 0x02 code, which 
indicates CCI is now enabled on these channels. This in turn blocks 
output via the IEEE 1394 ports. It further applies to channel 209 - 
CBC-HD, a public broadcaster, for which I pay twice (once via my taxes 
and again in subscribing to this channel). It's difficult for me to 
fathom how blocking a public channel is in the public interest.

Keep in mind, these are channels I've paid (in advance, as your billing 
cycle dictates) to receive, and the particular connection through which 
I choose to receive these signals ought to be a completely neutral 
issue, left to my discretion. There is a significant restraint of trade 
issue here, since these channels will now presumably only work with a 
PVR solution provided by Shaw, and not with the myriad other options 
available (including the MythTV system I use). There is a rapidly 
growing segment of your subscriber base which now routes all their 
entertainment through a computer - implementing obstacles to this 
convergence of entertainment with the home computer is most certainly 
not in the interests of your customers. We are discussing, after all, 
"fair use" issues here.

I've further taken the liberty of copying in the Reporters' Desk at the 
Vancouver Province, as well as the CRTC who, I hope, can provide further 
insight on whether you are permitted to do this (in the US, the FCC 
mandates cable operators must enable the IEEE 1394 output ports at the 
request of a customer; should that be the case here in Canada, I 
formally request the ports be enabled for all channels to which I 
subscribe) and also to make them aware this fact is being obfuscated by 
Shaw representatives. The Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of Canadian 
Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages (and responsible for 
the CRTC) has been copied in as a courtesy.

Regards,

Martin Lynch

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