Does your cable box have a FireWire port?
There is currently an FCC mandate in effect that requires
all Cable companies to provide their customers a STB with a functional 1394 (FireWire) port on request. This mandate
was agreed to by the Cable companies (yes they all signed it) and went into effect on April 1st, 2004. Back then I tried to get one and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Shortly after another Tampa resident called the CEO of Advance/Newhouse Communications, (the parent company of Bright House Networks) the boxes became available.
This box lead me to write the article "how to record via 1394 using Windows XP". Not too long after that I bought an HD TiVo and gave my SA3250HD with functional 1394 port back. Recently I discovered it was possible to use a 1394 equipped STB to record with Windows Media Center. I decided to give it a try so I could stream cable channels to my Xbox360. Before you ask, 5C ruined my plans.
I headed down to the Bright House Networks office to get a STB. I was disappointed by how difficult it was to get a STB with a functional 1394 port, even though it's been almost two years since the mandate went into effect.
Am I the only one or do all the cable companies make it this difficult?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam @ Feb 1st 2006 5:30PM
No problems with the Comcast dual-tuner DVR. And I was able to pull content from it using the 1394 port.
Jay @ Feb 1st 2006 5:51PM
I prodded Time Warner in Los Angeles for a 1394 equipped STB. After several tries (and quoting the FCC mandate), I finally got the box. I have been able to hook it up to my Mac and record transport streams (non-encrypted of course.) I use it as a backup to my eyetv 500 when there are two shows I want to record simultaneously. Getting the box was a pain though.
Adam @ Feb 1st 2006 5:52PM
I also have the Motorola DCT-6412 dual-tuner DVR from Comcast. It has two firewire ports on the back, both of which appear to be functional. Pulling content from the ports is a snap with my PowerBook and Mac OS X. (Thanks, VirualDVHS!)
Mike Jenkins @ Feb 2nd 2006 7:37PM
I wouldn't be able to tell you, I have Bright House too. I can't wait until Verizon rolls out their IPTV in my neighborhood, I already have FiOS directly to my house, no piggybacking on phone or cable lines from the front of the neighborhood to my house like in some places around here. The only problem is Bright House seems to have made some agreement with my homeowners association to be the only cable company in the nieghborhood and basic cable is included in our homeowners fees. Of course we have way more than basic cable so it's sort of redundant, but do ou think there's still a chance that I could have IPTV from Verizon in my home any time soon?
Chris Wickersham @ Feb 3rd 2006 1:42PM
I'm in Phoenix, when I called Cox and asked for the box they pretended not to know what I was talking about. I say pretended because when I told them that the FCC mandated that they provide it they suddenly 'remembered' reading something about that 'new' requirement. Then they told me that they could offer the HD box with firewire OR the HD DVR with firewire deactivated. You couldn't get both. Technically, I suppose, this means that they have complied with the FCC ruling. I'm going to get an additional HD box soon and hook it up to my mac via firewire and check it out. Amazing that they knew the details of the firewire availability so well after having forgotten it so thoroughly only moments before.