FIOS/TivoHD - Unpaired cablecard still works?

I believe FIOS does not pair the cards to the unit...

 

Really?

 

There is a difference between pairing and activating. He was probably activating them.

I've been out of the loop for a while on the details, but very recently Verizon had not yet updated their DAC to the version that provided the pairing functionality. Verizon is very deliberate and cautious when updating headend gear. I would not be surprised at all if Verizon did not pair cards to boxes.

Soon they will though.

 

Yes, you should be able to do that until they upgrade their Digital Access Controller (DAC) device.

 

Yeah, my installer activated my cards, my S3 died shortly after he left, I exchanged it, and then just popped the cards into the new device.

 

For my local provider (Insight) the moment you plug the CableCARD into another device the chain is broken. You will no longer be able to view encrypted channels even if you place them back into the original device.

 

SA or Mot. This seems to imply there is some sort of upstream communication to the headend.

 

This was with single cards (Motorola). I have been learning quite a bit about the topic of late. There are three numbers:

CableCARD: The CableCARD's ID?
Host: The device's ID?
Data: Generated at the time of insertion?

I think the first two never change and the third being a generated key. The installer has to give all three to the office for activation. Once I removed the card and inserted it into another TiVo HD the second and third numbers changed.

When I placed it back into the original device only the third number was different. All of this is my recollection of the slow moving events to get all of my channels working!

My guess is it's one-way. The cable company sends the three numbers and if they don't match you don't get the encrypted channels (the card blocks their viewing). Until your cable company repeats the process.

 

Ahh, I did not know the time of insertion was somehow hashed into the mix. I just thought the Host and CableCARD id were hashed together. I'll ask some folks who would really know the final answer and let you know what I find out.

 

I'm no expert! But I'm guessing if the card isn't paired with the device (already) it generates a somewhat random number. I hope you can remove the card and insert it back into the same device and still be good to go. I think when I plugged it into the other TiVo HD it paired itself with the new unit breaking the pairing with the first one.

When I inserted it back into the original TiVo HD it generated another number that of course didn’t match what the cable company had on file.

 

I know with the Comcast cards I could remove them and as long as I reinserted them in the same slot I was fine. I have removed one of the cards from FIOS with my TiVoHD and it ws fine wen I reinserted it in the slot. I'm waiting for them to replace the slot one card so I can put a Terabyte drive in it.