Use of own Cable Cards - FCC teritory

OneGr8Mick · 03-19-2008, 11:27 AM

I have 2 HDs and a series 3. Out here in western MI they dont issue M cards I assume its because they dont have enough. I called up comcast and asked if I was able to use my own Mediacipher Multisteam M-Cards. And they said no. My question is, does the FCC cover this I know they have to supply them but can they ban the use of purchased one. Or am I stuck having to rent from them.

Thanks for any help

Micky

Combat Medic · 03-19-2008, 01:47 PM

Will they provide S-cards? The FCC only requires that they make them available.

classicsat · 03-19-2008, 01:51 PM

The whole point of cablecard is, in part, to have the security element in the provider's control, while having a customer owned terminal.

The FCC does permit a provider to have a monopoly on access devices.

OneGr8Mick · 03-19-2008, 02:20 PM

They will provide s cards. but i have a bunch of m cards. which would save me 10 or so a month if they would let me use my own i just dont know if its legal for them to force me to rent when i already own a bunches

Dancar · 03-19-2008, 02:23 PM

Why not just insert one of your M-Cards, call the cable company and ask them to pair it? The worst that can happen is that it won't work.

litkaj · 03-19-2008, 02:40 PM

Where did you get "a bunch" of M-Cards?

OneGr8Mick · 03-19-2008, 02:47 PM

bought them as unclaimed freight. I could just call them up and ask if they will pair it but when I called to see if they would they said no. I could just go around them and see if they will pair it but I would rather go the right way which would be to have them allow me to do it. I just want to know if they can legally not let me use them

PeteEMT · 03-19-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litkaj

Where did you get "a bunch" of M-Cards?

Well there was this empty cable truck...

cableguy763 · 03-19-2008, 02:53 PM

You can't just pop in any old card and get encrypted channels. The card's mac address and serial number have to be entered in the headend system and the billing system. After that, the pairing info has to go in.

The point of seperable security for cable is that they still have control of their network using THEIR decryptor. Using YOUR equipment opens that up for compromising their network. That is why they won't let you use your own cablecard.

OneGr8Mick · 03-19-2008, 02:58 PM

even if i give them the Serial # and let them pair them on the head end

Micky

cableguy763 · 03-19-2008, 03:10 PM

I know with an SA sytem that a specific file from SA is loaded into the DNCS to make any card work on that system. Not 100% positive, but I bet Moto has a very similar system. Do you know what kind of headend you have: SA or Moto?

MichaelK · 03-19-2008, 03:42 PM

FYI- some providers refuse to rent the cards out and sell them instead- Service Electric apparently does that.

So there is a perfectly legal way that someone could wind up owning cards and also that a cable company would let a card they dont own hook into their system.

OneGr8Mick · 03-19-2008, 03:43 PM

Moto

cableguy763 · 03-19-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelK

FYI- some providers refuse to rent the cards out and sell them instead- Service Electric apparently does that.

So there is a perfectly legal way that someone could wind up owning cards and also that a cable company would let a card they dont own hook into their system.

True. I forgot about Service Electric. Thanks Michael.

ciper · 03-19-2008, 06:07 PM

I say call back and act dumb. Tell the support person that "an installer was just out here and he said I had to call you to get the cards paired or something. He said to read some numbers of the screen to you. Do you know what he was talking about"

classicsat · 03-19-2008, 06:08 PM

In theory, possibly practice (some Canadian providers have a good outside box policy), outside Motorola access devices can be authorized by a Motorola provider. It is just most have a policy that prohibits outside devices at all.

ah30k · 03-19-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciper

I say call back and act dumb. Tell the support person that "an installer was just out here and he said I had to call you to get the cards paired or something. He said to read some numbers of the screen to you. Do you know what he was talking about"

I'd bet that if they do enter it into the system, they will bill you for it. I think that a case of CableCARDs obtained through secondary market is good for nothing.

saboken · 07-15-2012, 05:01 AM

I just had a heck of a time getting my Card activated because Atlantic Broadband refused to activate me from the Headend and insisted I was doing something wrong and said I had to pay for a truck roll!!! when the guy got here he did exactly what I asked them to do call the Headend and hit the card from there and the card was up in seconds!! also I see the forums here have been very quite since the New FCC laws were passed! have all The Tivo customers droped there service for something else?

MichaelK · 07-16-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saboken

I just had a heck of a time getting my Card activated because Atlantic Broadband refused to activate me from the Headend and insisted I was doing something wrong and said I had to pay for a truck roll!!! when the guy got here he did exactly what I asked them to do call the Headend and hit the card from there and the card was up in seconds!! also I see the forums here have been very quite since the New FCC laws were passed! have all The Tivo customers droped there service for something else?

nope- the providers as a whole have been playing nice with cablecards - so there's less need to complain here on the forums. Seems you got one that is not. Not sure if they are big enough to have to be following all the rules but complaining to the FCC might not hurt...