What the ????! Cable TV can't record... I have a VCR/DVD player/recorder. I have always been able to record.

Question

Any program that came from TW Cable, network, HBO on demand, just everything. Went out of the country for a few months, now every time I hit the dvd 'record' on a HBO or 'On Demand' program, it says I cannot record, checked with the VCR/DVD maker and they say the error code signifies the broadcast is 'protected' grrrrrrrrrrrr however, I can record the programs on the VCR just fine (quality suffers of course) but then they will not dub to DVD.

Is this being done by everyone? This ticks me off, I PAY for those programs! Why begin blocking them? TWC says I can record anything as long as I lease THEIR DVR... this seems almost illegal!!

I am not crimminally inclined, but I would not feel any guilt finding a way around this BS! Anyone else having this c**p going down?

yeah i am venting as much as anythng, but would like to know how others are dealing with this GREED from TWC...

Answer 1

First of all, may I say thank you for your service to the USA! I am a 'wounded' Army vet and will be going back active shortly...

As a token of appreciation, I submit the following solution to your and everyone else's problem in this area. TWC and other greedy services have decided that the public cannot have what they pay for, at least not more than THEY want you to have it, so they are all instituting methods to prevent the recording of their broadcasts, sadly for you, where you live happens to be one of the first to see this come about, I can guess you live in a locaton that would be considered a Major Market!

If you want the detailed workings of what is going on in the system, I will be happy to email the info, but no need to go into it here. Basic problem is the TWC Broadcast signal that they do not want you to be able to record is sent with a signal (CGMS-A) that alerts YOUR DVD/VCR unit to NOT RECORD that particular signal, HELLO digital world, betcha 98% of owners don't know that their recorders have this little feature!

Considering the lack of interest in this topic, I am going to email you the source you need to DEFEAT this c**p! It will cost a little money, not much, but it is a PERMANENT fix, the Cable and Sat-com services are not going to change their rip-off system, it is designed to function with what is being built into todays recorders. One solution is to go to a thrift store and buy an OLD VCR, it will not have the recognition capability and will continue to function normally! That is probably why you are still able to record on the VCR side of your unit.

Drop me an email if you have any  questions, the info I am sending you is a real solution, I know because I am using it myself!

Answer 2

Sure sounds like DRM (digital rights management).  The recording industry is just getting over themselves by letting mp3 files be sold without DRM.  Meanwhile the television and motion picture industries are getting more aggressive at trying to protect their 'property'.  I'm sure you are not recording to make multiple copies and it is a shame that you have the equipment but are robbed of the 'permission'.