DStv Copy Protection

[Bunny Jane]

Could someone clarify something for me? A friend me told that only the HDMI outputs on HD PVRs are copy protected, but when I tried to use a video capture device to record a short clip (less than a minute long) from my SD PVR it wouldn’t work, I couldn’t even take a screen shot.
Is the SD PVR copy protected or not?
Doesn’t MultiChoice care about fair use rights?

 

[ponder]

Doesn’t MultiChoice care about fair use rights?

:erm: No.


Fair use in this case would be allowing you to watch the recorded content. I don;t know why anyone would like to copy it anyway as you can get the stuff of the net much earlier anyway

 

[km2]

Is the SD PVR copy protected or not?

They shove every copy protection they've got on it. On the composite output it has CGMS-A which basically means if you have a new DVD Recorder or something similar it won't let you record anything that comes from the PVR. If you can connect from the PVR over the antenna connection rather than the composite one, you might be in luck (worked with an LG DVD Recorder for me).

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Could someone clarify something for me? A friend me told that only the HDMI outputs on HD PVRs are copy protected, but when I tried to use a video capture device to record a short clip (less than a minute long) from my SD PVR it wouldn’t work, I couldn’t even take a screen shot.
Is the SD PVR copy protected or not?
Doesn’t MultiChoice care about fair use rights?

Huh?? If it's an SD PVR use the coax or RCA cable into a 'video capture device' (whatever the hell that is), if that doesn't work then your 'video capture device' is broken or you haven't set it up right.

HDMI does have imbedded copy protection but as far as I know it doesn't work that great, coax and RCA have none whatsoever and just send the signal.

 

[km2]

Huh?? If it's an SD PVR use the coax or RCA cable into a 'video capture device' (whatever the hell that is), if that doesn't work then your 'video capture device' is broken or you haven't set it up right.

HDMI does have imbedded copy protection but as far as I know it doesn't work that great, coax and RCA have none whatsoever and just send the signal.

Nope.

http://forum.dstv.com/archive/index.php/t-4627.html

Both Macrovision and CGMS-A are implemented on the PVRs. For linear content (either broadcast live or on your playlist), you can copy ONCE to an CGMS-A compliant device, but cannot make copies of the copies (termed 2nd generation copies). These copyright mechanisms are part of our contracts with the content providers. This will allow you to keep a copy for your own personal use.

Except the "ONCE" part generally isn't implemented.

Again just want to say your best bet is to record from the antenna/RF out, because there seems to be less aggressive copy protection on there.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Nope.

http://forum.dstv.com/archive/index.php/t-4627.html



Except the "ONCE" part generally isn't implemented.

Again just want to say your best bet is to record from the antenna/RF out, because there seems to be less aggressive copy protection on there.

I did not know that about the RCA's, hmmmm... Agreed about the coax/RF out, pretty sure there's no copy protection on that!!!

 

[cpu.]

I did not know that about the RCA's, hmmmm... Agreed about the coax/RF out, pretty sure there's no copy protection on that!!!

If I remember correctly, VCRs also came out with copy protection close to its end. 2 VCRs connected together did not allow copying commercial movie/music tapes.

 

[Basjohn]

Can't you simply use an HDMI->DVI cable to circumvent it? Now I haven't tried it myself, but I've read that's how people have bypassed the PS3's HDCP for quite some time now, and with relative ease.