One more thought.

If this does NOT get resolved, and we do in fact end up with expensive paperweights, we need to lobby the hardware vendors who will be the financial loosers if there is not home use for DVD recorders.

I had not tried to record any programming to my dvd recorder (via s video) since the last shaw update until today and found the dreaded "copy protected" message on my recorder. I then found this forum. I can tell you that this can be defeated and I was able to do so but then my HD shaw box went funny and I could not access my pvr list or even the on sceen guide. I unplugged the unit and it worked again but I am wondering if anyone has had this problem after defeating the copy protection.

Shaw has toasted my DCT6208 twice in the last week doing firmware upgrades. I have a Sony GX300 (using S connector only) that I tried copying a movie from Ch 55 today got the message saying it can't be recorded. Shaw support has yet to get back to me from last week.

Yesterday another upgrade left me with a small 1/4 screen image in the upper left when I hit 'Guide' - plus I have one movie that won't delete from the PVR anymore (says file is in use). The screen was okay after unplugging for a few minutes. But I still can't erase the movie and now aspect ratio changes on it's own when switching from HD to regular digital (to wide zoom).

If this isn't corrected maybe the best for everyone is to boycott VOD and PPV, and rent from the local Rogers shop for a few weeks until they correct it!

Dave

...defeating the copy protection.Discussions regarding defeating copy protection are not allowed on this forum.

- Set the unit to output only 480i to see if that is a "workaround". Again, please reply here.

My settings were:
TV TYPE 16:9
YPbPr OUTPUT 1080I
4:3 OVERRIDE 480I

I switched them to:

YPbPr Output 480I
4:3 OVERRIDE OFF (this changed automatically when I made the YPbPr change)

While I had the settings this way I was able to copy high definition programs stored on the 6412 to my Pioneer DVD recorder.

Not very convenient, but it helped for now.

meshmellow

My settings were:
TV TYPE 16:9
YPbPr OUTPUT 1080I
4:3 OVERRIDE 480I

I switched them to:

YPbPr Output 480I
4:3 OVERRIDE OFF (this changed automatically when I made the YPbPr change)

While I had the settings this way I was able to copy high definition programs stored on the 6412 to my Pioneer DVD recorder.


meshmellow

To respond to recent posts by 57 and meshmellow, last evening I again tried unplugging my 6208 and just as soon (within a minute or so) as I could access my list of previous 6208 recordings, I was able to record a program to my Panasonic DVD recorder successfully. I was able to do that with a second program as well. This evening I wanted to see if that would still be possible, but I am again getting a message from my DVD recorder that it can't record from the 6208.

On the question about TV settings (see quote from meshmellow). In checking my status I see that my YPbPr Output shows up as 720I and 4:3 override at 480. Should the YPbPr not be 1080I?

Assuming that at HiDef it should be 1080I, can someone advise how I reset to achieve that - I can't remember how or figure it out at the moment. Thanks in advance.

This may help.

http://digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21274

Assuming that at HiDef it should be 1080I, can someone advise how I reset to achieve that - I can't remember how or figure it out at the moment. Thanks in advance.

Power off at the 6412 and then quickly press menu. Use the up/down cursor buttons on the box to move up and down the list and the left/right cursor buttons to make changes.

meshmellow

I have just purchased a Panasonic DMR-ES20, and here's what I've found.

I live in North Vancouver, and have my Motorola STB connected to my HDTV by component outputs for HD channels.
The STB is also connected to my DMR-ES20, by S-Video.

I can record all non HD channels no problem, but on ALL HD channels, the recorder will not let me record, ..I get the "Recording Not Allowed" splash screen.

I then set up the STB as in post #105

My settings were:
TV TYPE 16:9
YPbPr OUTPUT 1080I
4:3 OVERRIDE 480I

I switched them to:

YPbPr Output 480I
4:3 OVERRIDE OFF (this changed automatically when I made the YPbPr change)

and can record all channels, including HD.

Change the STB back to 1080i, and cannot record the HD channels again.

My .02c in this confusing debacle.

Power off at the 6412 and then quickly press menu. Use the up/down cursor buttons on the box to move up and down the list and the left/right cursor buttons to make changes.

meshmellow

Thanks so much 57 and meshmellow for the help.

Yes! It worked just fine to change to 1080I. In trying to figure out how I had the wrong setting, I realized that when my first 6208 crapped out and Shaw Wpg. replaced it, I never thought to check things out. Lucky, in a way, that this other problem (trying to record to DVD recorder) helped me stumble on this. Can't believe I've been watching at 720 instead of 1080 for many months now (I imagine that's what I have been doing).

I guess my next task will be to change the setting to 480 when I go to record to my DVD recorder to see if the blocking stops.

Once again, I appreciate this forum so much. I've solved a number of perplexing problems since I started visiting it a few years ago. Thanks!

BPwingN - thanks for the info. The thing that is so ridiculous about this is that even when the STB is set to 1080i, any video going out through the S-video is downrezzed to 480i anyways! Shaw needs to fix this! Having to change the HD ouptuts to 480 just to record out of the s-vid is stupid when even with the box set to 1080 (for component outputs) it only sends 480i out the s-vid and therefore should be recordable. Ugh.

Sorry for the tardy followup. As I think I mentioned before, I called SHAW customer service a few days ago to complain and was told that the "error" had been resolved. They just need to reboot my box, which the CSR did as we spoke. Thereafter I have been able to record all TV channels, both regular and HD. I have not tried PPV or VOD because they are "rental" services and I presume are copy protected.

Bottom line, SHAW came through, and for now protection is setup as it should be.

I have just got off the phone with Shaw Vancouver.
I had the most wonderful CSR who actually went and talked to the HighDef Senior tech about this....twice!

First off...she has heard of this problem, and we tried the reboot......no joy.
She excused herself and put me on hold as she went and talked to the techie. He told her that Motorola has been contacted, as it seems to be a software issue with their boxes, one that has popped up since the VOD software switchover. I asked her if any DVD recorders are more prone to this than others, and again she politely put me on hold to get info.
She came back and explained this is not brand specific to any particular DVD recorders. The tech told her it is a macrovision problem. ...and a temporary solution is to get a macrovision filter to put between the Motorola box and the DVD recorder.
She also explained the "switch to 480i" setting that I posted about a few posts above this.

He told her that they are aware of the problem, and though no solution is immediately known...that it's being worked on.

Very high marks to the CSR I spoke to. NO BS from her....she understood all the terms I spoke of.....gave me some ideas for temporary workarounds.....and....NOT ONCE TRIED TO SELL ME A PVR!

The plot thickens, huh?

First off...she has heard of this problem, and we tried the reboot......no joy.
She excused herself and put me on hold as she went and talked to the techie. He told her that Motorola has been contacted, as it seems to be a software issue with their boxes, one that has popped up since the VOD software switchover.

He told her that they are aware of the problem, and though no solution is immediately known...that it's being worked on.



Then why were they able to "fix" the problem in Calgary?

Then why were they able to "fix" the problem in Calgary?

needmo$$:

For how long has yours remained "fixed"? I had them reset my 6412 but by the next day I was unable to record again (in Surrey).

meshmellow

Then why were they able to "fix" the problem in Calgary?

Mine isn't fixed in Calgary. The 480i solution spoken of elsewhere in this thread works. As long as I don't turn to a HD channel all is well. All HD channels and all resolutions above 480i on the component outlet affect the S-video outlet also. For normal viewing I can have the compenent set to 1080i and as long as the 4:3 override set set to 408i the extermal recorder works on all non-HD channels. Switching to an HD channel brings up the copy protection notice. The change that has happened in the last couple of days is that if the recorder or cable box is turned off after switching to a non-HD channel on the box the recorder once more works. If the component outlet (connected to the TV) is switched to 480i (only this resolution works) then both S-video and component work on all channels. I am also able to download any material, HD or not, that has been recorded on the PVR to the external recorder.

At least for now there is a suitable work-around. It shouldn't be considered as the final solution but it is passible.

needmo$$:

For how long has yours remained "fixed"? I had them reset my 6412 but by the next day I was unable to record again (in Surrey).

meshmellow


You're right! This morning it was unable to record again until I got the CSR to reboot the box. So they are still struggling to figure it out.

This morning it was unable to record again until I got the CSR to reboot the box.

It puzzles me that high def programs stored on my 6412 are locked and can't be copied to my DVD recorder. However, if I have Shaw reset the box, the programs that couldn't be copied before can once again be copied.

Rather than have the box reset every day, it looks like I'll have to go the route of switching over to 4:3 OVERRIDE 480I when I need to transfer something.

meshmellow

The CSR I spoke to, mentioned they believed it to be a Macrovision problem, and that other than doing the menu change to 480i......a macrovision filter would probably do the trick too.

Well...I got one....and....PRESTO!

No more having to switch the menu on my STB to record the HD channels onto my DVD Recorder.

I'm going S-Video cable out of my box, into the macrovision filter, out of the filter with S-Vid again, and into my DVD recorder.

Just thought I'd keep everyone up to speed.

Man...this is a relatively expensive way of not having to do a menu change on the STB.........cost me about $149.00CDN.

Man...this is a relatively expensive way of not having to do a menu change on the STB.........cost me about $149.00CDN.I think Shaw/Motorola will be fixing this software problem at some point. Hope you can get your money back.