New MySky HDi copy protection

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51 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#225995 17-Jun-2009 22:11

No simple traditional Macrovision simple hardware workaround at present.

But I don't personally understand what financial benefits Sky expects from this change; to offset the minority enthusiasts' backlash at this new policy. Others don't care and are uninvolved, understandable, but no monetary advantage to Sky either way.

In my business if I pissed off a group of the customers, they'd look elsewhere. Sky?

Freeview anyone? No problems. FTA, great! Even better HD pix on TV1 2 3, cool! Timeshift okay too!

Hatch

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Hatch (affiliate link).

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#227509 22-Jun-2009 20:31

Just to clarify, when you say that there is no simple macrovision-type workaround at the moment, is this "information recieved" or something you have personally tested?

I understood that the HDi box has analog outputs, and that the "video stabilisers" that regenerate the line that the Macrovision signal was embedded in also got rid of CGMS/A and all the other nasties. If this doesn't work, then it is a "showstopper" for upgrading to HDi as far as I am concerned.

Not sure what Sky are doing on this one. Clearly they don't mind people recording to DVD off the normal boxes - they Sky installer even furnished an extra cable to hook the decoder up to my recorder, hooked it up, and tested that it worked as part of the install. When I get round to it I will have to investigate furhter and look at ways of bypassing if necessary, but I don't really have the time at the moment and am pushing the boundaries of my technical competence fairly hard as it is. Until then, will stick with the current setup.

Wizzid

51 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#227546 22-Jun-2009 21:49

To the best of my knowledge and limited experience the traditional macrovision removal hardware does not allow time shifting to DVD from the new copy-once Sky software other than using largely locally unavailable DVD-RW CPRM compatible media.

For the record,I've never ever ripped torrents or downloaded tv shows from internet, but I like to see Tv shows at my convenience from off-air recordings over weeks or months, which I've always done.

This SkyTV change may well be a showstopper (as you say) for TV enthusiasts who have previously time-shifted shows for many years, but from what I see, to my surprise, there are few reading this forum who have interests in viewing this medium on a creative basis, just a blow-it-away viewership.

i.e. If it doesn't interest one personally, it's easy to dismiss it.

Cheers.

angelique21nz

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#229563 30-Jun-2009 14:06

i phoned sky today and they said it wasnt a mistake they did, they are going to make all of the chanels like this soon, which is so irritating because i spend alot of money every month!! do you think that they still instal the old grey boxes?

Acrux

56 posts

Master Geek

#234050 11-Jul-2009 13:13

I feel you have the wrong end of the stick if you think Sky cares about DRM. The people who care are the movie makers and content providers who insist that Sky impliment this or they simply won't sell their movies to them.

zaptor

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

#235998 16-Jul-2009 10:13

Just stumbled onto this old thread while investigating MySkyHDI.

I'd just like to add a couple of clarifications regarding NZ Copyright law.

1. We are allowed to record content from TV (or radio) under the exception of time-shifting (it's been that way for years). It should only be for personal use, and you're meant to delete the recording after it's been viewed.

2. There is also a format-shifting exception that was introduced late last year that covers the copying of sound recordings for personal use (i.e. converting sound recordings to MP3 format). This exception does not cover movies.

Edit: Updated 2nd point; you're allowed to rip an audio CD to your iPod, but not a DVD movie

Wizzid

51 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#237254 20-Jul-2009 19:28

Hi Zaptor

If we record to DVD recorder (from TV) {Sky} doesn't that come under the exception of time-shifting? (it's been that way for years).

Moot point. IMHO. Thank you for your clarification.

zaptor

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

#237259 20-Jul-2009 20:02

Wizzid: If we record to DVD recorder (from TV) {Sky} doesn't that come under the exception of time-shifting? (it's been that way for years).

Yep. It does indeed.

ZollyMonsta

3009 posts

Uber Geek

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#237266 20-Jul-2009 20:18

zaptor:
Wizzid: If we record to DVD recorder (from TV) {Sky} doesn't that come under the exception of time-shifting? (it's been that way for years).

Yep. It does indeed.

However, unlikely to be covered under that if you posess a MySky and are trying to make 'a timeshifted copy' to an external DVD recorder.. If you have already recorded the programme on the MySky, then you have already in effect made your allowed time-shift copy.

zaptor

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

#237277 20-Jul-2009 20:58

ZollyMonsta: However, unlikely to be covered under that if you posess a MySky and are trying to make 'a timeshifted copy' to an external DVD recorder.. If you have already recorded the programme on the MySky, then you have already in effect made your allowed time-shift copy.

Don't know.

I'm not sure if the exception specifically states how many times the same time-shifted recording can be made. Whether you make a copy to either MySky or an external source, or to both.

Like any rule, I think the exception is meant to be interpreted in the spirit of the law.

You record it, watch it later at a convenient time then remove it (all and any copies?)

Wizzid

51 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#237286 20-Jul-2009 21:24

Thank you for your input, guys.

I suspect that given that Sky has blocked recording of all FTA HD Channnels in SD and all movie channels in SD in NZ, that it has only authorised Sky HDi box to record content of these things so far. Nothing external to the box the same format so far. We might find that FTA content and others disappears in a few days after broadcast like On Demand when circumstances permit.

A subsequent software update.............soon? Watch this space.

lchiu7

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#245355 11-Aug-2009 20:27

A friend of mine just encountered this problem on his HDi box. Having upgraded to HDi he sold his Freeview box so now has no way of transferring content to a DVD for later viewing and it was TV1. Without knowing the specifics of the problems since I don't have HDi and based on what I have read, am unlikely to go down that path I offered two theoretical solutions.

1. Get a video stabiliser aka Macrovision remover though based on the comments in this thread it might not work anyway. (as an aside does the HDi box have composite video out?)

2. Use a PC with something like a Hauppauge WinTV USB2 capture device. I seem to recall those devices didn't honour the Macrovision signal but then again that was just an assumption - never have encountered the problem.

His option is to get a cheap Freeview box!

Did I mislead him?

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allstarnz

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#245393 11-Aug-2009 22:18

i don't know what the problem is....

i can record of TV One HD to DVD recorder with composite cables (yellow, red, white) no worries

lchiu7

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#245406 11-Aug-2009 22:44

With a HDi box? If so then he must have another problem in the chain

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allstarnz

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#245592 12-Aug-2009 14:02

lchiu7: With a HDi box? If so then he must have another problem in the chain

yeah, with an HDi box. The only problem is now and then i'll get that warning about it having to downscale to SD.

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