The reson for 5C=1 flagging is up to your service provider. Sometimes it's done deliberately to prevent someone from copying the content. Other times when it is and is not included it's done in error.

In other words... who knows.

so can anyone from ontario give me a update to which channels have 5c?

I am interested in what HD and non HD channels have 5c... seems like using firewire to record regular channels will give better quality then any tv tuner or other recording device could ever hope for...

Apparently channels from different cities have different 5c encryption (or did I dream that?)... What HD channels does shaw have 5c encryption on?

I think I read somewhere on this forum that every non-hd channel has it expect like 2-3, is this correct?

Baisicly I need to know what has 5c (wouldn’t it be great if shaw had a list on there site?). I do not have a HDTV (will be using firewire), and it is critical I know what channels have 5c before I spend hundreds of dollars on the dct6200 terminal.

As this thread shows, this can, and does, change, so you pretty well have to build your own current list. It is a bit tedious to go through each channel then turn the PVR off and use the Diagnostics to show you the channel status, but do it once and you'll know your channels in your particular region.

well... yes... but my problem is... I dont want to spend +200$ and find out I dont get very many channels cause the 5c...

Clarification. The 5C issue has nothing to do with watching though. It's only regarding recording via firewire. The PVRs sold by Shaw record bit for bit, so there is no PQ advantage in recording via firewire.

>The reson for 5C=1 flagging is up to your service provider. Sometimes it's done deliberately to prevent someone from copying the content.

So much for fair use. I've pretty much given up on trying to record stuff from my cable box these days. I just download. Why bother with the hassle when most of the popular shows are readily available in HD the next day. The fact is, we are getting screwed in Canada because the CRTC is weak. If this was in the US, lawyers and mob of people will be all over the cable company. Of course I still love Canada the way it is. This is just one of those inconvenient I'm willing to accept to live in Canada :) I just wish the CRTC would do its job and we wouldn't have such along thread.

The laws are different in the US. The cable companies there are required to provide local channels unencrypted (in the clear for QAM tuners) and unencumbered by 5C. There is no such requirement in Canada. For premium or other channels, the cable companies can do what they want in the US.

Clarification. The 5C issue has nothing to do with watching though. It's only regarding recording via firewire. The PVRs sold by Shaw record bit for bit, so there is no PQ advantage in recording via firewire.

It does when you have a CRT monitor :P (LCD SUCKS)....

My tv is a cheap 200$ 27" regular CRT, so I got to stream the videos to my PC using firewire, no other options (id imagine tv tuners would give me the same problem).... Hence why 5c is very critical for me...

Its very important to know what HD channels have 5c, because I wont be able to view them in there HD state by any means.... As for regular channels, my DVD recorder gives me ok quality, but its lots of work, being able to stream mpegs (or whatever) to my PC from regular channels would be a other bonus of firewire if they do not have 5c.

Is the 27" TV in a different room? If not, you should be able to connect the two. What inputs are on the 27" TV?

well there is component and composite inputs...

but I use component for TV-out from my PC.... besides, this is a very low quality TV... id never use it for 720p or 1080i... The whole reason for getting HD terminal (dct6200) is to record HD content and not having to setup my DVD recorder to record regular TV at high quality... At the same time I can watch HD content on my PC...

Try the composite input. Obviously wouldn't be true HD, but even on a 27" TV, HD programming is a big step up from regular SD. HD content would essentially be DVD quality in that scenario. We bought an HDPVR before we bought an HDTV, so we had it hooked up to a 27" TV for a while (via S-video). All in all, seems easier to try than using firewire all the time and fighting 5C. Hope that helps.

lol, I do not want to use composite input because its not HD. Which is why I want to use firewire.... which is why I need to know what has 5c...

I have been trying to find this out for a while (about a month), its like pulling teeth... It doesn't matter if I ask shaw, ask someone who is telling me how to do firewire or ask in a 5c thread, seems like nobody wants to tell me :confused:

well, if nothing else, can anyone at least tell me (spend 2m checking) what HD channels have 5c? It would be appreciated.

Couple things:
- as has been mentioned, it varies from city to city....and changes from time to time. I doubt anyone's going to try it on the off chance they live in the same city.
- whether you think it's simple or not is irrelevant. As someone else mentioned, it's a rather tedious process (turn off the box--check the value; turn it on, change the channel, repeat).

Here's my suggestion:
- buy a 6200 or some other Shaw HD DCT from an authorized retailer with a clear return policy
- take it home, try it out, and go through the 5c process check yourself
- if you don't get the answer you like, take back the DCT

Granted, that's a bit of work, but not too bad when you really want to know something. The bonus is that process will yield the most accurate 5c info (correct for your location; it's not dated info).

I can't believe nothing has really happened over the past few years regarding HD in Canada. What a joke. I considered getting a terminal about 2 years ago (last time I posted anything here) but quickly discovered how overpriced they were and how restrictive and useless they are...
What is it: 160GB now for the 62?? whatever model ...

I solved my problem quickly back then with an HTPC and some serious bandwidth. We now have only the most basic cable at our house in order to receive a clear signal should we ever choose to watch normal TV (rarely EVER) but that is it. I just finished building my 2nd HTPC last weekend and now I have 2 TB of storage with the ability to hold HD programming of every major TV show you can imagine... Lost, Heroes, Grey's, you name it - they are available only a couple hours after!

Net result= minimum 720p beautiful signal, no commercials, no interruptions, available any time you want. Until Shaw and other cable companies stop screwing us up here in Canada and start to act fairly you will not catch me feeling guilty about enjoying my free HD (other than the cost of my beautiful HTPC).

Who needs stupid commercials and americanized news networks anyway - Mainstream news networks are the surest way to rot your brain. Long live P2P!

I now have more programming than I have time to watch.

I suppose there will always be some people who believe that they can have something for free. It's only free to you because others have paid for the production and others subscribe to various services. I don't particularly enjoy subsidizing your "free" TV. If it weren't for the majority of people being honest and paying for services, you wouldn't have access to your "free" material.

But that is all the topic of another thread. Now back to the thread topic.

Yes, sorry for getting off topic. I do my part by paying for basic cable I suppose. I would gladly pay for HD if it weren't so restrictive here in Canada. It is the subscribers in the US and elsewhere that are providing the programming by the way because you can't rip your HD programming to avi or other suitable format, unless I am missing something. So, my point being that if I could do that in order to record and archive shows for my personal use in the format that I choose, I would gladly pay for HD no questions asked but until then forget it. More people here in Canada should do what I and others are doing: Boycott HD programming and you'll see how fast things will turn around. So, sorry to make you feel like you are subsidizing my free tv. I've done my share of subsidizing other things for other people

Did you see these (among many others):

Basic programming with HD box?

Transferring content from a PVR

Some programming is tagged with 5C, which prevents the transfer over firewire. Phew, we're somewhat tangentially on topic. With that in mind, the PVR thread above is probably a better place to continue the discussion of archiving HD content off the PVR.

I may be misunderstanding hdcp. But, if my info is correct, the recording issues only come into play if you use the hdmi input. Use the component cables and separate audio. You still get the same hd resolution. If I'm totally offbase on this, please let me know.