Dallas Area... HBO Blocked????

[TexasGrillChef]

I have been getting HBO in HD on my S3 now for the last few months without a problem. I am in North Dallas area using Time/Warner Cable. I am not on the A/B system.

This morning when I turned on the TV HBO HD (Channel 815) on my S3 now says:

"Viewing is not permitted using the Tivo Digital MEdia Recorder, Try another TV input"

Is anyone else using a S3 with TIme/Warner in the Dallas area getting this on 815? All my HBO is getting this.

I have not yet contacted, HBO or Time/warner. Have any of you yet?

My Time/Warner provided Motorola DVR is still receiving these with no problem.

TexasGrillChef

[Solver]

Someone talks about this here:

http://thomashawk.com/2006/10/more-drm-crap-from-tivo-and-hbo.html

[Shawn95GT]

Let me guess... you are using HDMI.

Short answer... if the content is flagged a certain way (premium channels should be), any of these will bring that message up:

You have a bad HDMI handshake (plug / replug should cure it)

You are using HDMI for your TV and one of the other outputs for another TV / VCR / DVD recorder / whatever.

Your TV is connected via HDMI and turned off and you are tyring ot watch the Tivo from another one of it's outputs.

If you need to use multiple outputs and subscribe to 'protected' content, the best work around is to use componenent video to your TV.

In my case my Main TV doesn't have HDMI so I'm using componenet video. I have no problem using multiple outputs even on the 'copy never' stuff.

[Solver]

Great cnet article about a "JVC glitch" here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6650194.html

[TexasGrillChef]

Thank you everyone. With the information you gave me this is what I found out.

My Tivo S3 is currently HDMI to a Pioneer VSX-84tx Receiver which is then HDMI to the HDTV & Component to another HDTV.

S-Video out of Tivo S3 to Slingbox (Classic) and Component out of S3 to Slingbox Pro.

If the Pioneer is turned off. Then NO HBO on either Slingbox (No HBO out of SVideo or Component) if the pioneer is turned on, Even if BOTH TV's are off. Then I do get HBO out of Svideo & Component.

Up until today... The Slingbox's worked even with the pioneer turned off.

My Solution. Leave my pioneer receiver on all the time. & then Turn on or off the TV's as needed.

My other solution but the end results are the same... is my pioneer VSX-84tx can simultaneoously put out HD 1080i video out HDMI, Component, & Svideo. It wil down convert the video for the S-Video out. Only thing with this setup, is I would still have to leave the Pioneer on to get video out of the component &/or Svideo.

Another FYI

I have the GeFen 1 source to 2HD display (HDMI SPLITTER). I just haven't found a need for it yet. Since my LCD HDTV doesn't have a HDMI input on it.

When I connected the TIVO S3 to the HDMI splitter... then used the output of the splitter to my pioneer vsx-84tx, since the splitter is ALWAYS on.. (No power button on the splitter) it also solved the issue of needing the "TV ON" for HDMI.

The HDMI splitter only draws 50 watts of power, the drawback to the HDMI splitter is that its cost is nearly $250.

go to www.gefen.com for more info on the HDMI splitter.

AGain thanks everyone for your help and input.

TexasGrillChef

[phototrek]

The HDMI splitter only draws 50 watts of power
Only?!? I guess it's all relative.

[Roderigo]

Up until today... The Slingbox's worked even with the pioneer turned off.

Since this behaviour is triggered by the channel having copy protection on it - it's possible that your cable company just turned it on.

[djwilso]

I have also had this error. In my case, it seems to be a bad HDCP handshake because the TV wasn't fully on and ready to talk evil DRM yet.

Putting the Tivo into Standby and bringing it back out with the TV on clears the problem for me. Recorded content can also exhibit the same problem and the Standby sequence corrects that as well.

It's annoying, but it only take about 5 seconds since my Harmony 880 remote has the code to put the Tivo directly into Standby without going into the Tivo menus. The same code wakes it up (the code is called PowerToggle for any Harmony users out there).

Your setup is far more complex than mine, so I'm glad you found another solution that works for you.

Dennis