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Ask the Doctor

Second Opinion: DVR Video over FireWire

Posted 09/26/08 at 11:00:00 AM  by The Maximum PC Staff

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Ask the Doctor LogoSecond Opinion is where readers respond to the Doctor, share their wisdom, correct him if he's wrong, and generally show the world what smart, beautiful people you are.

I can’t agree more with the Doctor regarding his advice to Michael Collins (June 2008) on a TiVo as the best option to extend your DVRing capabilities, especially for transferring recorded programs to a computer. The TiVoToGo feature is great. However, the Doctor’s advice regarding the FireWire ports of most cable DVRs is, as Dwight Schrute would say, “False!”

As to Michael’s question regarding legal issues, there are no implications. Just as the DVI and HDMI ports are protected with HDCP, the FireWire ports are protected with 5C DTCP encryption. Programs that are supposed to be copy protected are encrypted and cannot be captured with a computer, though the copy-protected content varies by market. One needs a D-VHS deck for authorized copying of such programs.

The FCC has mandated that cable DVRs must have the FireWire ports enabled. While many channels are encrypted, basic cable channels are not to be encrypted. If you find you can’t capture a basic-tier channel (including local HDTV channels), call your cable company to complain; then lodge a complaint with your local cable franchise authority (usually listed on your monthly bill).

–Kevin Onken

 

  SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION Are flames shooting out of the back of your rig? First, grab a fire extinguisher and douse the flames. Once the pyrotechnic display has fizzled, email the doctor at doctor@maximumpc.com for advice on how to solve your technological woes.

 

 

COMMENTS:4
TAGS: dvr, cable, fcc, tivo, ask the doctor, firewire, second opinion
COMMENTS
avatarExDeus Rocks!

Submitted by Raiju on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 3:18pm

ExDeus You are the man!!!!! (or woman if the case applies as I am unsure of your sex but either way you rock!) I have been searching for this mandate for awhile and coming up empty handed. I currently have a fight brewing with Comcast who refuse to supply me with a unlocked firewire HD STB. 

 

Raijū (雷獣,"thunder animal" or "thunder beast") is a legendary creature
from Japanese mythology. Its body is composed of either lightning or
fire.

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avatarIn case that resource goes away...

Submitted by ExDeus on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 12:47am

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/part76.pdf

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:4.0.1.1.4&idno=47#47:4.0.1.1.4.11.3.15

FCC (47 CFR) 76.640

(4) Cable operators shall:

(i) Effective April 1, 2004, upon request of a customer, replace any leased
high definition set-top box, which does not include a functional IEEE 1394
interface, with one that includes a functional IEEE 1394 interface or
upgrade the customer's set-top box by download or other means to ensure that
the IEEE 1394 interface is functional.

(ii) Effective July 1, 2005, include both a DVI or HDMI interface and an
IEEE 1394 interface on all high definition set-top boxes acquired by a cable
operator for distribution to customers.

 

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avatarFCC Mandate

Submitted by oldskeptic on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 3:28pm

I have seen numerous references stating that there is an FCC mandate to have the Firewire port enabled on DVR settop boxes.  I have never seen any reference to a scource for this mandate.  Searching the FCC site for Firewire brings up some hits but none with respect to this mandate.  My provider, Verizon FIOS, does not enable the interface and I have confirmed with a level 3 techie that it is not enabled on their DVRs.  I have come to the conclusion that this mandate thing is a myth.  I can accept that some DVRs have an enabled Firewire port that allows folks to access the hard drive.  But the fact remains that this is less than a universal feature.  Can any one cite a source for the supposed mandate?

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avatarFCC 76.640

Submitted by fullur on Sat, 09/27/2008 - 9:21am

http://sujan.hallikainen.org/FCC/FccRules/2005/76/640/
 
I actually found that in the 
"Does Ethernet Belong in Cable TV Set-top Boxes? Intel Says Yes - Asks FCC To Mandate It" article on this site.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/does_ethernet_belong_cable_tv_settop_boxes_intel_says_yes_asks_fcc_to_mandate_it 
 

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