I have a SA 8300HD from Brighthouse in Central Florida. I have got into the diagnostic menu, all 28 pages, by select hold, flashing mail icon, arrow down, arrow down, but can't find anything that tells me if the channel is copy protected. I looked for firewire, 5c, CCI/EMI. I'm interested because I may buy a TIVO HD to use TIVO TO GO to get programs on my laptop, but would like to see which channels I can actually copy to it. This seems to be a big issue over at TIVO community. I was wondering how I can tell which software the 8300 is running. I tried numerous threads, but it seems many are old and no longer applicable. We have gotten a software change recently. I see no logos or any indications as to the name. Could it be Navigator?

I have a SA 8300HD from Brighthouse in Central Florida. I have got into the diagnostic menu, all 28 pages, by select hold, flashing mail icon, arrow down, arrow down, but can't find anything that tells me if the channel is copy protected. I looked for firewire, 5c, CCI/EMI. I'm interested because I may buy a TIVO HD to use TIVO TO GO to get programs on my laptop, but would like to see which channels I can actually copy to it. This seems to be a big issue over at TIVO community. I was wondering how I can tell which software the 8300 is running. I tried numerous threads, but it seems many are old and no longer applicable. We have gotten a software change recently. I see no logos or any indications as to the name. Could it be Navigator?

Yes you have Navigator with all its issues.

OK, so how do I know if a channel is copy protected?

In most markets, copy protects almost every channel aside from the locals.

Is there a way to see on the 8300 Navigator software if a channel is copy protected? When you say locals are you talking HD Network TV, ie the local FOX, NBC, ABC channels that are also broadcast OTA or strictly locals, like channel 13 broadcasting from my home town?

Is there a way to see on the 8300 Navigator software if a channel is copy protected? When you say locals are you talking HD Network TV, ie the local FOX, NBC, ABC channels that are also broadcast OTA or strictly locals, like channel 13 broadcasting from my home town?
I haven't used recent versions of the Navigator software, but I'm fairly certain there isn't a way to tell from the guide.

Federal law prohibits cable providers from copy-protecting locals (including HD locals) and public interest channels. Anything else can be protected at the cable company's discretion.

Is there a way to see on the 8300 Navigator software if a channel is copy protected? When you say locals are you talking HD Network TV, ie the local FOX, NBC, ABC channels that are also broadcast OTA or strictly locals, like channel 13 broadcasting from my home town?

Unlike the previous poster, I believe there probably is a way to tell. There are several different screens in the diagnostics that tell you the answer in the other SA8300 software versions and supsect Navigator is not any different.

However, as Navigator is in very few markets, you would need someone that is in a Navigator market to tell you which screen it is on.

On another note, Brighthouse does EXACTLY what TWC tells them to do - and they have told them to copyprotect all HD channels except the local OTA. Brighthouse does EXACTLY that to the letter. In fact, they often go overboard and copy protect the local OTA HD Channels as well which takes calls to the TV Station's Engineering Department to have them call and make them remove it.

I'd be willing to be you will not find anything other than what you can receive OTA in without copyprotection in place. This includes such things as their local news network as its not an OTA station.

I haven't used recent versions of the Navigator software, but I'm fairly certain there isn't a way to tell from the guide.

Federal law prohibits cable providers from copy-protecting locals (including HD locals) and public interest channels. Anything else can be protected at the cable company's discretion.
I believe you are confusing Copy Protection and Encryption. My cable supplier encrypts all but the local OTA digtial stations as allowed on under FCC rules. It only also copy protects channels as required to by the supplier of that channel.

I believe you are confusing Copy Protection and Encryption. My cable supplier encrypts all but the local OTA digtial stations as allowed on under FCC rules. It only also copy protects channels as required to by the supplier of that channel.Actually, I wasn't.

FCC mandate dictates that all locals must be flagged "copy freely," i.e. no copy protection.

FCC mandate dictates that all locals must be flagged "copy freely," i.e. no copy protection.

True. Most content is encrypted on the side you'd want to copy from but merely flagged inbound. So if a given box were convinced to ignore the flag all the PVR woes would vanish ;)