HD cable settop box has two Firewire ports called 1349: Mac drawable signl?

[tab75-13]

My cable setop box called an Exlorer 3250HD by Scientific Atlanta has two Firewire ports in the rear. I tried connecting them to my PB G4; nothing doing. I called the cable company and the rep said that they could connect to a tv or a DVR, (something like a Tivo). My question is if I understood the rep. correctly, if these ports are for a TV or a DVR, in order to receive a signal from them (audio/video) is all that is necessary is to obtain dvr service, which i don't subscribe to presently? Could there be a way around that at all? I mean is there any way to elicit a firewire signal from these ports that might enable me to record programs in iMovie or Toast?

Anyone know anything about these settop boxes and these ports in particular?

If that fails, how can I record programs from my HDTV or settop box via only the current programs in my mac? When I had an analog tv, I knew I had to convert the signal to a digital one by a converter that had a firewire port that could link into the computer (i was hoping for something similar with the ports on the settop box), do I need a converter if most of my channels are already digital (with a few being HD) and I want to draw a signal in order to record something via the computer without recourse to programs and hardware devices that I know are out there?

Thanks; sorry for the longwindedness.

T

[Case]

Based on the User's Guide, the FireWire ports are "reserved for future use", so there is no telling if they can be used at all (with current firmware), according to official source. Still, someone may have found a way.

Edit: It seems some MythTV (Linux) users have this sort-of working, but your cable provider must "enable" you/your region to use firewire somehow by authorizing the SA3250HD to do it (in the signal). It may work on some authorized digital channels (usually public channels, not the premium), or not at all. This seems to be related to "5C DTCP".

And I found what I think is a tangential relevant thread: Topic 299908 on this site. Not Mac specific, tho'.

[edDV]

Last time I talked to Time Warner Houston about the SA tuners (~last spring?) the IEEE-1394 ports were not supported (turned off) by current firmware.

The port would normally export a MPeg2_TS stream (in D-VHS format) that matches the tuned channel or DVR mode. 5c codes can inhibit the port on a program by program basis. In extreme cases (like Comcast) this means all channels are blocked except the locals. Last year the FCC ruled that cable companies cannot block the locals. Thank you Michael Powell.

So, no it has nothing to do with Firewire. It is MPeg2_TS as broadcast.

You can't get anything unless the cable company enables the port with firmware.

When they enable it, 5c codes will limit which channels or programs that exit the port.

There are various MAC and PC programs that can capture the MPeg2_TS stream to HDD or HDTV tuner/capture devices. Easy to Google.

[AntnyMD]

And just a small note about 5C encrypted programs/channels. If you record to a 5C compliant device, such as a D-VHS recorder, copy once programs will record onto the tape. Everything I've encountered so far from my provider (Comcast) has been copy freely or copy once. I've yet to come across a program that was copy never.

Macs are unfortunately not 5C compliant.

[tab75-13]

So does that mean that even if my cable company enables the IEEE 1394 ports, I cannot receive the signals from those channels that the cable company does allow to be transmitted on my Mac, much less capture them?

[edDV]

So does that mean that even if my cable company enables the IEEE 1394 ports, I cannot receive the signals from those channels that the cable company does allow to be transmitted on my Mac, much less capture them?

If varies locally. Here there was no blocking during the upgrade, but when they finished, all was locked down for export from the Motorola 6xxx boxes. It will record internal to the Motorola 6412 DVR and locals are kept clear.

So experiment.

I just use the S-Video out to my Canopus ADVC-100 to normal Firewire.

[tab75-13]

Thank you all. It seems that the point is moot, however, because my local Time Warner rep just told me that those ports were inactive and gave me no hint of any inclination that they would activate those ports. That stymies free access and the possibility of time-shifting of at least the local channels doesn't it, if the FCC allowed for their access before Colin's son stepped down last year? In any case, looks like I may have only the s video and the canopus-advc 100 route left to go, unless it is possible to capture the HD video from some of the offered channels in some other way without resorting to Myth Tv or Elgato TV.

thanks again to all for the education.

[edDV]

You can usually get the local DTV channels (SD and HD) off the cable itself with a PC type QAM tuner card.

[tab75-13]

Will that work on Pb G4 12"? I am afraid I am on the other shore.

[edDV]

Will that work on Pb G4 12"? I am afraid I am on the other shore.

I haven't looked recently for Mac.

Here's a typical tuner that supports open QAM
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?source=MWBAPPLE&store=macmall&dpno=7030...mc_id=MWBAPPLE

[tab75-13]

Thanks. Actually, I was hoping for a soultion involving minimal expenditure, perhaps a little more seat of the pants, but maybe, in that it is necessary to buy something prefabricated, this is the best that can be done for a Mac, for which it seems there is a lot less of a world to choose from.
Thanks again.

[willrob]

New on the scene

http://www.amug.org/amug-web/html/amug/reviews/articles/miglia/tvminihd/