2012-04-30, 20:28
Even though SageTV got bought by Google and is basically dead as a product it still has an active userbase, and many of them use CableCard as Sage used to be the only alternative to WMC that supported them (copy freely, that is). Their forums have a lot of information on this topic.
For example, here's a post about Cablevision:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57564
That unfortunately confirms what I already suspected - Cablevision sends out all of it's channels (other than the local networks) flagged as copy-once.
What this means, in a nutshell, is that the PVR software must support some form of DRM - otherwise the CableCard requirements state that the channel cannot be made available at all. This isn't something SiliconDust or other manufacturers can "work" around, not if they want to keep selling CableCard devices.
WMC is the only PVR software (outside of commercial set top boxes and Tivo) that supports the required DRM. For what are probably obvious reasons, open source solutions like MythTV, XBMC, etc are unlikely to ever support this (or any other) DRM. It's possible the new Google TV will, now that they have bought Sage (if and when that is ever released) however it'll have the same restrictions.
Your best bet to pick up cable channels are analog capture devices like the HD-PVR and a backend that supports them. That is a lot of work, but it is do-able.
Edit: Actually, later on in that thread some users indicate that Cablevision removed copy-once flags from non-premium (hbo, etc) channels, so your mileage may vary.
For example, here's a post about Cablevision:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57564
That unfortunately confirms what I already suspected - Cablevision sends out all of it's channels (other than the local networks) flagged as copy-once.
What this means, in a nutshell, is that the PVR software must support some form of DRM - otherwise the CableCard requirements state that the channel cannot be made available at all. This isn't something SiliconDust or other manufacturers can "work" around, not if they want to keep selling CableCard devices.
WMC is the only PVR software (outside of commercial set top boxes and Tivo) that supports the required DRM. For what are probably obvious reasons, open source solutions like MythTV, XBMC, etc are unlikely to ever support this (or any other) DRM. It's possible the new Google TV will, now that they have bought Sage (if and when that is ever released) however it'll have the same restrictions.
Your best bet to pick up cable channels are analog capture devices like the HD-PVR and a backend that supports them. That is a lot of work, but it is do-able.
Edit: Actually, later on in that thread some users indicate that Cablevision removed copy-once flags from non-premium (hbo, etc) channels, so your mileage may vary.
