My 8300HD was properly authorized by the service provider (Rogers Cable).

Will I be able to test the device's video processing features by feeding in a test signal - a transport stream generated according to ITU-T J.83.

Is the authorized STB set for a particular content from the provider?

Some vital components within the generated test stream may be missing or suffer from a lack of SI (system information) or other tables (SI/PSI/PSIP , etc).

No, alot of US cable systems are built around alot of DVB similarities. However the set-top itself will not tune in to your signal if the signal from the MSO is lost, which provides it authorization and the ability to tune in.

AFAIK anyways.