Hopefully this is not off topic..

Comcast is planning to stop analog service in the SF bay area. I personally think this is a good thing as many of the upper analog channels are poor quality even for analog (I think this is intentional - some channels will even go black and white for extended periods).

Whats not clear to me is if any or all of the channels will be encrypted. They are providing a box to all basic customers but this may be mostly for digital to analog conversion and pay per view type service. They seem to imply that even customers with digital TV's will need some type of cable card.

Currently I get 2-82 with some of the locals already digital. My concern of course is that I will no longer be able to use a generic media center for any Comcast services.

Anyone know if all or some of the 2-82 channels will be encrypted?

Here's the article and yes I could ask Comcast but I have never had any luck with their customer service (they answer every question with a yes in my experience).

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_11620152

 

 

 

30-80 will be encrypted QAM which require a box from them to decode

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/brierdudley/2008480563_brier08.html

I'm pretty sure the DTA's do no decrypting and thus the channels from 30-82 should technically be in the clear.  Any decrypting requires a Cablecard, even cable company owned STBs use internal CCs. 

I guess time will tell.  It would be nice to have these stations tunable from the HDHR as well as the locals in HD.

another article

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2008/12/08/some_faqs_on_comcast_digital_s.html

Q: What about TVs with QAM tuners - can they get signals directly from the cable? (NEW)

A: No. "They would need a digital adapter, a standard set top box (DCT) or a CableCard in order to view the channels," Kipp said. "The first CableCard is free with each additional CableCard costing $1.79 per month." This is because the signals will be scrambled/encrypted, and a device from Comcast is needed to descramble them.

Interesting..

I see that MS has been advertising Media Center on TV lately. I wonder what services besides OTA they expect you to use?

I did a little research on this and it appears that DirectTV dropped out and we may see something from Dish Network.

I especially like this quote from the Seattle Times article:

Q: Will this affect setups with a Media Center PC connected to a TV?

Sometimes. Kipp's still gathering info on this, but said Microsoft is now working on it with Comcast. His answer: "From what I understand so far, there are some situations where the digital adapter would work with a media center and some where it would not ... In any event, please keep in mind that each customer also will receive a much more advanced digital set top box at no extra charge in addition to the two digital adapters. The advanced set top box should work with a PC Media Center. In addition, we are working with Microsoft on this issue."

So what exactly is Microsoft working on with Comcast?

 

I see that, but DTA's have no ability to decrypt anything.  Here's the DTA made by Pace http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21518134-Digital-Transport-Adapter-Unboxing-Photos

I'm just not sure the press release is true or accurate.  They cannot encrypt the channels and then use a DTA that doesn't decrypt, for those channels.  Unless there is a new generation of DTA coming that does decrypt, that's the only other explanation.  Perhaps they just want you to get a real STB anyway so they're not being forthcoming.

link from the DSL reports posting

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=163600&site=cdn

apparently the DTAs support "privacy mode" which is implemented for VOD streams.  Chances are Comcast will try to get away with encrypting channels 30-82 until a big enough stink is made about it.  At which point Comcast will be all "Were sorry, we forgot that was illegal"

htolino:

Q: Will this affect setups with a Media Center PC connected to a TV?

Sometimes. Kipp's still gathering info on this, but said Microsoft is now working on it with Comcast. His answer: "From what I understand so far, there are some situations where the digital adapter would work with a media center and some where it would not ... In any event, please keep in mind that each customer also will receive a much more advanced digital set top box at no extra charge in addition to the two digital adapters. The advanced set top box should work with a PC Media Center. In addition, we are working with Microsoft on this issue."

The only thing that would satisify me is if the settop box can connect to a Media Center PC via USB, includes dual-tuners and drivers for Vista/Windows 7. Otherwise, I'll be shopping for another TV provider.

Comcast doesn't even know the answer to your question, yet.

Comcast certainly *intends* to encrypt the former Extended Basic channels (approx 30-80), if they can get a waiver from the FCC to enable some type of encryption on the DTA boxes they'll be giving to customers. The cheap DTA boxes don't use (exepensive) Cablecards for decryption, therefore Comcast can't enable it under FCC rules. So until this waiver happens those channels will be un-encrypted, clear QAM - as they currently are here in the Seattle area. If the waiver is approved, they'll encrypt them. If the waiver is denied, who knows - they'll likely keep them un-encrypted at least until they come up with Plan "B".

I believe they intend to keep 2-29 un-encrypted, regardless.

This is actually good news for HDHomeRun users.

http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=34539

Actually, it is VERY unclear if it is.

In all the reading I have done so far, it seems that a TV with a Quam tuner will not be able to receive the expanded basic Digital channel without the Comcast box. But nowhere did I find an explanation as to why that would be (if you do , please post a link).

If a TV with QAM tuner has to have a box, then what happen to user of Media center with QAM tuners (cards, HDHR...). I do not see how a QAM only tuner would work with a DTA box... and even if it did, the box would probably only output one channel at a time, preventing the Qam tuner to do the tuning, and requiring IR blaster (if the box can work with them). Not mentionning HD, would the box output QAM HD ???

scrambler:

Actually, it is VERY unclear if it is.

In all the reading I have done so far, it seems that a TV with a Quam tuner will not be able to receive the expanded basic Digital channel without the Comcast box. But nowhere did I find an explanation as to why that would be (if you do , please post a link).

As I posted above, IF Comcast gets a waiver approved by the FCC to allow integrated decryption on their DTAs, only then will they re-enable encryption on these former Expanded Basic channels. That is Comcast's *intention*, which is why they are telling people upfront that QAM tuners won't work. However, if the FCC denies their waiver request, then most likely these channels will remain un-encrypted, as they are right now (which *is* good news for HDHR & other QAM tuner users). I don't know the status/schedule for Comcast's waiver request; I've heard they were waiting to get a feel for Obama's new FCC commisioners before proceeding.

If a TV with QAM tuner has to have a box, then what happen to user of Media center with QAM tuners (cards, HDHR...). I do not see how a QAM only tuner would work with a DTA box... and even if it did, the box would probably only output one channel at a time, preventing the Qam tuner to do the tuning, and requiring IR blaster (if the box can work with them). Not mentionning HD, would the box output QAM HD ???

If the channels are encrypted, QAM-only (or QAM/Analog) Media Center users will be out of luck, unless they can record the DTAs output (via video-in or RF ch. 3/4) and control it via IR blaster. 

This move affect SD analog channels, not HD. Local HDs will still be un-encrypted as before. The DTA boxes do not support HD.

Thanks, makes sense.

We will keep our fingers crossed until march then...

I don't know if any of you have noticed, but when you scan for channels on Comcast you should get many, many digital channels in the 90's and 100's. Many have the lock symbol but they can still be viewed (the lock symbol is in error). Obviously these have no guide data associated with them. Many of these are digital versions of analog channels.

 I have tried to asscociate the guide data for the analog channel to the digital channel. It seems that VMC has a provision for this but I can't quite make it happen. Let me outline the process that I attempted since it's a little complicated and then perhaps someone can comment-

1. First locate the digital channel that you would like guide data for by scrolling through the "Edit Channel" menu (these default to disabled). The channel will have a generic name such as C109.1. Let's say this is A&E.

2. Locate the analog A&E channel in the "edit channel" menu which of course will have the guide info.

3. Highlight the channel name and press enter which gives you a "Settings for A&E" menu. This menu allows you to edit the channel number which I assume associates the current guide with a new channel. However, it only allows analog channels to be entered.

4. Go the menu "Edit Sources" in the same "Settings for A&E" menu. When I do this, I have only one source listed, my Hauppage 1800 tuner. It does not list tuners as analog or digital. I was hoping that this menu would allow me to change to the digital tuner but it does not.

It looks like VMC is allowing you to edit the channel assigned to the guide listing but you have to stay within the analog or digital domain. Of course if all channels go digital and these "undocumented" channels remain perhaps what I'm trying to do above might be possible*.

Or perhaps there is another way? 

Of couse you can still rename the channel, reference the guide on the analog and easily locate the corresponding digital channel.

* this statement may not appear to make sense but some analog movie channels are listed in the guide but there is no analog signal. I'm thinking they may remain encrypted even when converted to digital but perhaps the unencrypted undocumented channels will remain. It's enough to make your head spin.