insight digital cable has apparently begun to- or already has- locked down ALL digital content channels with
CCI 0x02 copy-once protection, thus denying us consumers the right to record or stream the cable content we
are purchase through "non-compliant devices" like windows HTPC systems and my mythtv system (via firewire).

a description of my situation is here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10412654&&#post10412654

i am in the process of escalating a complaint process through the ranks of insight VPs and would appreciate any
information from fellow insight customers as to their current recording/streaming abilities and any interest in a
mass-exodus type boycott of insight services that is in the works, should they not decide to play FAIR about this.

if you are an insight customer and don't appreciate your ability to FAIRLY USE the content you are paying dearly
for being so UNFAIRLY denied, feel free to PM me here.

if we don't raise hell en-masse, they aren't going to listen.

If I can help, let me know. I am equally irritated by this.

insight digital cable has apparently begun to- or already has- locked down ALL digital content channels with
CCI 0x02 copy-once protection, thus denying us consumers the right to record or stream the cable content we
are purchase through "non-compliant devices" like windows HTPC systems and my mythtv system (via firewire).By FCC regulations, the cable systems are allowed -- if not encouraged -- to apply the 5C "copy once" to everything except broadcast (over-the-air) television. Broadcast television channels must be marked as "copy freely." The "copy never" flag can only be applied to PPV and VOD.

The overwhelming percentage of cable providers already do this. If your cable provider just started, you had a reprieve for awhile, but there was no way that was going to last, especially with the rampant piracy on the Internet. Some content providers now demand the "copy once" flag as part of newer carriage agreements, so there was really no way Insight could continue to keep those channels in the clear, marked as "copy freely."

Note you can still record these channels with DTCP authorized (Cable Labs Certified) hardware. For example, you can record those channels with dual-tuner CableCard DVRs like the $499 (http://www.tivo.com/0.11.welcomeback.asp) Tivo Series3, and Windows Vista PC solutions like OCUR (http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2959). You can also record channels with a JVC HDTV D-VHS VCR, which will preserve those flags. In a year or two, we'll see HDTV Blu-ray recorders to replace those D-VHS VCRs. But the MythTV system, as currently conceived, is pretty much a dead-end solution.

All satellite programming is encrypted, and there exists no solution to natively record Dish and DirecTV content to PC.

there exists no solution to natively record Dish and DirecTV content to PC.

Not true. There is a mod available so that you can record from Dish via firewire.

By FCC regulations, the cable systems are allowed to apply the 5C "copy once" to anything except rebroadcast over-the-air television...

this is not 5C encryption... all channels are 5C CLEAR. they are applying the CCI copy control, RC and DRM flags-
and are doing so to channels that are OTA, unencrypted analog channels that are re-muxed into their digital
channel packages and OTA HD channels. they are applying these flags incorrectly and to channels that are broadcast
without them in other markets, etc.

as far as buying additional hardware... the STB i rent from them is supposed to provide the functionality i require- and it
DID, until they shut off the tap. why should we be expected to BUY anything beyond the hardware they provide?

the media is bought and paid for... why should we not have the right to send it into a room that THEY CAN NOT PROVIDE
SERVICE TO or record it to watch later using the PVR of choice- whether open-source or not?

Not true. There is a mod available so that you can record from Dish via firewire.Quite right. I should have said no "supported solution." "Hacks" -- aka mods -- are available.

this is not 5C encryption... all channels are 5C CLEAR. they are applying the CCI copy control, RC and DRM flags-
and are doing so to channels that are OTA, unencrypted analog channels that are re-muxed into their digital
channel packages and OTA HD channels. they are applying these flags incorrectly and to channels that are broadcast
without them in other markets, etc.The DTCP (5C) specification (http://www.dtcp.com/data/wp_spec.pdf) defines Copy Control Information (CCI) and EMI. If they are applying those flags to local broadcast (OTA) channels, then that is a violation of FCC rule. You should submit a FCC complaint.

That said, they can certainly do it for digital simulcast, and probably 90% of cable service areas in the United States have done so for months. As noted above, content providers don't like to see their original digital signals copied and redistributed over the Internet, and law abiding customers are forced to pay for the abuses of a minority. You can still record almost anything with Cable Labs' certified hardware, which typically encrypts recordings to disk so they cannot be easily redistributed.

as far as buying additional hardware... the STB i rent from them is supposed to provide the functionality i require- and it
DID, until they shut off the tap. why should we be expected to BUY anything beyond the hardware they provide?Access to cable is not a legal right. Cable is a closed, private system. They define what you can and can't use to access their system, and what you can and can't do with their digital signals. If you want to use cable, you've got to play by their rules. If you aren't willing to do that, then you can stick with OTA like many MythTV users have elected to do.

You can still record almost anything with Cable Labs' certified hardware, which typically encrypts recordings to disk so they cannot be easily redistributed.

Have you any experience with this? From what I have read, only Vista is supported, correct? If I had a cable provider that supported Cable Labs hardware, then I could technically archive movies, even those with CCI flags and 5C present, correct?

i received a call from "art" at my local late yesterday. he was wanting to know
exactly what was going on, as corporate wants to know, "exactly what (my)
problem is".

we talked for about 10 minutes or so and he understood what was going on and
why i was raising hell. actually, he was most helpful and supportive, as the local
service has always been. he said there was not much he could do about the 3
local HD channels, as they are broadcast 0x02 and insight can't reset that (correct).

however, he said he would try to get to the bottom of locking down the entire
digital lineup. he confirmed that this seems to have been done corporate-wide friday
morning, including IL, IN, KY, et. al.

i told him it was complete BS to blame the broadcasters, as the majority of the
channels they locked down are broadcast "clear" in other markets and on other
carriers- according to informal polls i have done on forums and irc.

he said someone would be contacting me again at some point for further information
or to provide difinitive answers.

i also got an email from the EFF with a link to directly complain to the FCC. he
said that if insight does not resolve the issue, make the complaint and if the FCC
does not respond, he will help escalate the matter.

on another note, i was forwarded an email last night from djdrock, who is apparently
in semi-regular contact with mark cuban, who owns HD-NET, and had sent him an
email about this.

as the email came from his corporate account and included a privacy statement, i
will respect mark's valid rights and not post a copy of it. however, i do have
djdrock's permission (as the recipient) to accurately paraphrase it here (right? ;) ):

mark agrees that the customer is getting screwed and that insight was likely pressured
into doing this. (they are in the process of being acquired by comcrap). he suggested
contacting michael wilner at insight and letting him know that what they are doing
is wrong.

if anyone is interested- his email address is michaelwillner@insightbb.com

It's a real bummer that the industry has succeeded in locking down digital cable. I can record OTA stuff with myth, but the only channels I enjoy are 5C encrypted.

The 120 gigs in my cable box doesn't hold a whole lot of HD.

Even if it had more space, the cable box is slow, has ads in its menus, and can't skip commercials!

It might be time to start looking for component video capture devices..