Just recently, in eastern MA, Comcast has started scrambling the HD signal in the Local channels. I can still watch them but cannot record them. Has anyone else discovered this and have you found a solution? is there a codec that can get past the encryption?

 I have had the cable plugged directly into the pc for a long time and only record from the basic channels. I don't want to add a box to the setup if I don't have to.

What tuner card? Only way you couldn't record might be if the Don't Copy flag is permanently set.

 Haupage? or something like that. I have recoerded HD in the past. Something happened recently. Now if I program to record I get nothing and if I push the record button when watching I get a message that says that it is encrypted. Like a DRM issue?

 What is the "Don't Copy" flag?

One thing that could cause that would be a CCI flag of 0x2 which is copy never. Now that's not allowed by the FCC for over the air broadcast stations so if that's what you can't record you need to call your cable provider and ask. They may have set something incorrectly at the headend.

Basically in QAM there can be encrypted (which you can't see at all without a cablecard tuner) and clear. I've never run into a CCI flag on clear QAM but have with cablecard content which can be copy freely (0x0) or copy once (0x1). Copy once you can record and watch but you can't watch on other PCs just extenders.

When you're watching live tv can you pause and return? If so you are recording because Media Center starts a buffer as soon as you tune a station so if that works, something else is going on with your system and it's local to your machine (disc space?).

John

 No disk space issue. And I haven't tried pausing. I also read while searching for an answer that comcast has recently gotten approval from the FCC to encrypt HD signals.

 

I talked to Comcast yesterday and didn't get a definite answer but they did say that, on the switch to full digital, the HD shows on local channels they do an encryption. 

They can't do that - FCC states all locally broadcast content must be unencrypted!

 Is a network show (i.e.: 60 minutes) on a local channel still considered local content?

Try going into Tasks --> Guide Setup --> edit channels and running Auto Select. I had this problem before and running auto select re-enabled my recording ability. Auto select can take some time to go through if you have a lot of channels that your tuner card finds, so make sure you disable sleep mode before you run it. My HDHR finds 500+ channels (not all watchable, that's just what it detects), and running auto select can take 2-3 hours.

johnfn

 Is a network show (i.e.: 60 minutes) on a local channel still considered local content?

Yes, local content is any station which is available over the air in your market including all the network channels and all the network programming. What isn't are program sources such as Showtime, HBO, Discovery, National Geo, DIY, etc which the cable co gets by sat and sells as part of a package or as premium channels. Those can be encrypted and require a cablecard to view.

John

 Well, I can watch the shows. I just can't record. Is this a loophole for Comcast? Or is the network the limiting factor?

Run auto select under edit channels. I have comcast and encountered the same issue. I could watch channels but not record. Running auto select restored recordability. I can record all clear QAM channels.

johnfn

 Well, I can watch the shows. I just can't record. Is this a loophole for Comcast? Or is the network the limiting factor?

No this is a set-up problem on your machine. See the post on auto select above.

John

To add, no issues here. I'm in the Acton system (~5 towns).

 Problem solved, thanks. I rescanned the channels. It took over an hour and now it can record. The people at Comcast say they are getting a lot of calls about this. It happened after the switch to digital.