[mythtv-users] pvr150

[Raphael]

steve wrote:
> John Drescher wrote:
>> On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM, steve <sfreilly at roadrunner.com> wrote:
>>> Was wondering if someone could briefly explain why when running cable
>>> directly into a pvr150 myth allows you to watch and record encrypted
>>> channels?  I thought the stb had to decode it first?
>>>
>>> I know the channels are encrypted as when I scan with an hdhomerun I get
>>> 4 local channels not encrypted, all the rest are, or at least it says
>>> they are.
>>>
>> Because you are picking up analog channels with the pvr150 and digital
>> channels with the hdhomerun. There is no encryption with analog only
>> digital.
>>
>> John
> 
> got it..... I guess I always thought everything was encrypted across 
> cable except locals.  thanks.
> 
> 

Used to be somewhat the opposite of that, and may still be in a few 
places actually. As in, when I had comcast five years ago, nothing was 
encrypted - it all came down the line in analog form, and to stop you 
from viewing channels you hadn't paid for they simply had filters on the 
line. Since channels correspond to certain frequencies they literally 
just filtered them out of the signal. When I got HBO, Stars, etc., all 
those premium channels that are now all normally encrypted, they simply 
removed the corresponding filter. The signal that came through was 
analog (thus unencrypted) and could be freely recorded with a PVR150. No 
STB was needed to view those, I just had the cable plugged right into 
the back of my TV.
Maybe if you have analog only cable and ask to order premium channels 
without an STB this could still be possible. Probably wishful thinking.
raphy