Time Warner Cable & HBO No longer as of this Week allow you to Record

[SHS]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the CGMS/A copy protection System Signals would have no effect on a capture card.
Anyone know if this is true?
If so hello Hauppauge.

That would be device dependant, as far as a MV goes the Hauppage doesn't "look" for the MV flag, other devices like a Canopus ADVC, ATI AIW... look for the MV siganal. The same would be true of CGMS/A.

So a capture device like the WinTV PVR USB2 would not detect CGMS/A?

Wrong it dose detect CGMS/A only when it enable meaning if your using MCE then it get enable un like all other 3rdparty software don't use it which by defaults is disable on all Hauppauge PVR/HVR card.

[Peacedog]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been reading for a couple of days now trying to cypher all of this cgms/a broadcast flag info. This thread didn't look too old and deals somewhat with my situation. What sparked my interest was this.

I bought a funai sv2000 dvdr/vhs combo unit a little over a year ago. It has worked very well up until this weekend. I have comcast cable service and occasionaly order a ppv movie from the vod service. I usually record it so that if it's any good I can watch it again, nothing that i haven't been doing for twenty odd years with a vcr. This has never been a problem, the box has recorded faithfully every time, until this weekend.

I got a ppv movie set everything up to start it and record and got a copy protection error. Tried it several times with different disks, no luck. Finally I tried a good old vhs tape, gave no errors and recorded like a champ. Later the next day i decided to dub the tape to dvd to save space, and my tape as I only have one or two lying around now days, and the dvd recorder still gave me the same error from the vhs tape.

So, my questions, what protection am I dealing with, is this cgms/a or broadcast flag? From what I've read if it was cgms/a the vhs tape would not record, however, if it was a broadcast flag, could that stay with a tape?

In any event I am looking to circumvent this situation. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated. Anyone with a grex device that can confirm that it does indeed work as described would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you for your time in advance.

[SmokieStover]

So, my questions, what protection am I dealing with, is this cgms/a or broadcast flag? From what I've read if it was cgms/a the vhs tape would not record, however, if it was a broadcast flag, could that stay with a tape?

CGMS/A is the analog equivalent of the digital broadcast flag, and it is recorded with a standard VCR just as closed captions are.

In any event I am looking to circumvent this situation. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated. Anyone with a grex device that can confirm that it does indeed work as described would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you for your time in advance.

Have no knowledge of such device, but I can tell you that the sima go dvd is a worthless piece of crap.

You could record directly to a PC using the PVR 150, cut edit with VideoReDo Plus (if needed), Author DVD with the included Ulead Movie Factory, and Burn to DVD with ImgBurn (free).

I have a PVR 250, which in my experience, is a pretty overated piece of hardware with horrible audio and video defaults. Registry edits can correct the audio and almost correct the video (whites are a tad bright...could say they even glow). But it's a lot better than VHS. Given the price difference between the PVR 250/350 and the PVR 150, I would try a PVR 150 if I ever bought another one.

[Peacedog]

CGMS/A is the analog equivalent of the digital broadcast flag, and it is recorded with a standard VCR just as closed captions are.

Any idea why the vcr recorded but the dvdr wouldn't?

You could record directly to a PC using the PVR 150, cut edit with VideoReDo Plus (if needed), Author DVD with the included Ulead Movie Factory, and Burn to DVD with ImgBurn (free).

Is there an equivalent to this PVR 150 for a laptop, something that will plug into usb or Type II pc card slot? Also this device doesn't reconize the cgms/a or digital broadcast flag signals? Thank you for your information.

[Seeker47]

CGMS/A is the analog equivalent of the digital broadcast flag, and it is recorded with a standard VCR just as closed captions are.

Any idea why the vcr recorded but the dvdr wouldn't?

Offhand . . . No.

You could record directly to a PC using the PVR 150, cut edit with VideoReDo Plus (if needed), Author DVD with the included Ulead Movie Factory, and Burn to DVD with ImgBurn (free).

Is there an equivalent to this PVR 150 for a laptop, something that will plug into usb or Type II pc card slot? Also this device doesn't reconize the cgms/a or digital broadcast flag signals? Thank you for your information.

Doesn't Hauppauge list a USB model, which would have to be external ?

It has been much speculated here that the TBC-1000, or AVT-8710, or the Grex can strip out these unwanted signal components, but there is a paucity of clear user reports on this matter. It seems that those who have one of these devices (as I do) have yet to encounter protected content from our particular providers, and vice-versa. It does look pretty clear that certain DVDRs (Toshiba, for example) are overly sensitive and may even have "false positives" on what they refuse to record. (I've never had a problem with the Pioneers.) Possibly also the case for some VCRs ?

I've used TW cable in two different regions, though would not bet any money that TW follows the same practices everywhere.
No experience with Comcast, but I'm sure that is a whole different ballgame.

If you get a Grex, or one of the others, and your problem disappears, please let us know. It would be nice to compile some real evidence on this.

[solarfox]

It may simply be that the VHS side of the unit doesn't look for the CGMS/A flag for some reason. If I had to make a bet, my guess would be that Funai probably just keeps taking the same basic VCR recording/playback electronics they've already designed for previous VCRs in the past and re-using it as-is, without bothering to change the design. (After all, how much R&D money would you put into VHS VCR circuitry these days?)

[Peacedog]

Thanks to all three of you for the input. So the Hauppauge cards ignore the cgms/a flags? I'm very interested in this grex unit, less than 100$, works on the fly, this seems to be the easiest route if it actually works.

[SmokieStover]

Any idea why the vcr recorded but the dvdr wouldn't?

The analog broadcast flag is a result of voluntary agreements between the Movie Studios, TV Networks, Big Cable operators and Electronic Manufacturers....the consumer never entered into the equation. I believe the FCC must approve or disapprove its use. VHS VCR's were not included and none have been made that would obey the analog (or digital) broadcast flags. They will record the flag right along with the flagged material. So you now have a test tape that can be used to see what other recording equipment honors the flag and what TBC's or other devices will effectively strip it out.

S-VHS recorders were made part of the collusion, so some of them will obey the flags. The others will record same as VHS VCR.

Is there an equivalent to this PVR 150 for a laptop, something that will plug into usb or Type II pc card slot? Also this device doesn't reconize the cgms/a or digital broadcast flag signals? Thank you for your information.

Yes. Same company makes a USB 2.0 device. Not sure how good the Audio/Video defaults are, and question wether registry edits are possible to correct them if needed.

I think the FCC should step in and require full disclosure from those who use the analog or digital flags....give advance notice, program by program, in all printed and electronic program guides or schedules. Why not inform us about what's going on with a banner across the bottom of the screen every 10 minutes when a flag is in use?

[Peacedog]

So you now have a test tape that can be used to see what other recording equipment honors the flag and what TBC's or other devices will effectively strip it out.

That is my intention. I'm thinking of ordering the grex and trying it out. It seems to be the same as the Zorrila filter at about half the price. I read a thread here earlier today where someone said it is working. If that doesn't work, I'll have to look into the hauppage setup with my laptop, just seems like a lot of work to record a show.

If/When I find a working solution, or can confirm a working product, I will post it here. Thank you very much for the information and your time.

[olyteddy]

Peacedog wrote:

Is there an equivalent to this PVR 150 for a laptop, something that will plug into usb or Type II pc card slot? Also this device doesn't reconize the cgms/a or digital broadcast flag signals? Thank you for your information

.


Yes. Same company makes a USB 2.0 device. Not sure how good the Audio/Video defaults are, and question wether registry edits are possible to correct them if needed.

There are reg edits for audio in the PVR USB2 card. The Whites are a bit hot when burned to DVD and played on a stand alone. AFAIK, mine ignores the flags or they haven't been present in what I've recorded (mostly On Demand stuff, including HBO).