April 1st is the FCC deadline, will BHN be ready?

[bdraw]

As many of you probably already know the cable companies including BHN entered into an agreement with the Consumer electronics industry. The agreement was call the "Digital Plug and Play agreement". There are many details covered in the agreement and among them, the one that I am the most interested is that the Cable companies agreed to supply STB's with "Functional Firewire port" upon request. The FCC approved the agreement and made it a mandate. Read about it here.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-225A1.pdf

So what does this mean to us?
Well if we have a STB with firewire we can record HD, to our computers, AVHD, and DVHS desks.

To me this is very good news. I am currently using a similar method to record OTA from my integrated tuner in my Mitsu tv, and I would love to be able to record Cable shows.

This also means that one day Home Theater installations may be simplified, we may not need all those wires down the road. See this link for what it may be like one day, with firewire.
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/networking.html

Well when April 1st comes around I am going to call BHN and request a STB with Functional Firwire. I wish I could say I expect the person who answers the phone to know what I am talking about.
After they don't deliver I plan to file a complaint with the FCC, but I hope it doesn't come to that.

Does anyone have any news or insight concerning this issue?
I don't know about anyone else but I find this feature very exciting.

[kevinsnewmatrix]

You might want to look into that FCC link you have there and read it.
1394 to be encripted.
Just like DVI. DVI only works on TV's that have built in HDCP decription and some of those still have issues. The cable companysare not required to have DVI/HDMI functionality until 1 Apr 2005 (ref your document)

I dont really think your gonna be able to hook it up to a pc.

[bdraw]

Actually I did read the entire thing.
And they are not encrypting it yet, and even when they do encrypt it you are still going to be able to reocord to anything that supports the encryption. Currently this is a DVHS desk or the DVR10 soon to be released by RCA.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000BZHBR/qid=1080252653/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl23/103-3451917-0268637?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005RI9I/qid=1080252673/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-electronics/103-3451917-0268637?v=glance&s=electronics&n=172282

There are people who have already recieved firewire enabled boxes and they are currently recording to their pc, but I admit I don't know how long this will last. I only hope that a company like Vividlogic makes software for the PC that support the encryption.

What I would really like to see is a firewire network, and have a HDReplayTV.

I can live without comercial skip, but I have to have a 30 second skip.

[kevinsnewmatrix]

People in the Tampa region have the boxes ? With what company? I'd like to see how good it is. And yea I think ist going to be the same as the DVI it'll work for a while then.......

[jrfsu1]

Its April 1st, does anybody have a firewire enabled box yet ? I just called Brighthouse here in Manatee county and the smart CS rep did not even know what a Firewire port was. She never heard of it , Help !!!

[bdraw]

I called today, and the CS didn't know what firewire was either. But she said that she would ask, an hour later Greg called me back very interested in my question. He listened, and we talked for a few mins, and said he would look into it. I told him I would call back in a few weeks.

I think it will help if as many people call and request one as possible.

I started my cal by saying. "I would like to recieve a new HD STB with a firewire port". Then I went on to exaplain that the FCC mandated it, and that BHN agreed to supply one. If we get a few calls on the books, they may actually move on this.

[jimwhite]

I just got off the phone with the Pinellas Digital Repair rep and he told me that my SA box (as well as the pace boxes) does indeed have a firewire port, on the rear, and they were activated yesterday! Hmmmm..... can't wait to get home and look.... if it's there, I'm gonna hook it up to my JVC 30000 and try it out... will report back !! :P

[Zephod]

I just got off the phone with the Pinellas Digital Repair rep and he told me that my SA box (as well as the pace boxes) does indeed have a firewire port, on the rear, and they were activated yesterday! Hmmmm..... can't wait to get home and look.... if it's there, I'm gonna hook it up to my JVC 30000 and try it out... will report back !! :P

Curious, any luck with this?

[russsail]

I just had two Pace boxes installed yesterday. Neither has a firewire port. I called BHN and the tech said they have a waiting list for boxes with that feature.

I wanted the Pace HD boxes because of the DVI output, since my new Panasonic HD monitor has a DVI input. The install person didn't know what DVI was, or even digital coax. Needless to say he didn't have DVI cables with him. When I called the BHN tech, they told me that the DVI output is disconnected until further notice. Anyone know for sure if it is disconnected? I don't want to buy a cable just to check.

Thanks

Russ

[jimwhite]

Curious, any luck with this?

none.... :x spoke to several 'digital techs" since and get a different story from each one.... sigh.... :roll:

[jrfsu1]

When is not so brighthouse ever going to get it together. I mean my god we are paying a nice amount for their service. :?

[SixIron]

Mostly an FYI here, there are options.

My new TV (Sony 32HS420) only has component and HDMI inputs for HDTV. I purchased a 2' DVD-D to HDMI cable from pccables.com for $25.00 plus shipping (do NOT buy one at local retail, you will get ripped off big time). Anyway, it works fine connected to the DVI out on the Pace box. The picture quality may be slightly better than component but the diff isn't great.