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Hi Jessica,

Often a small number of my shows fail to record, and in the windows event log I see errors about copy protection set by the broadcaster.

I have basic cable (NTSC) from Rogers here in Canada, and I generally assume that Rogers is not meaning to prevent me from recording shows.

Is there anyway I can investigate this further? If I call up Rogers, they are likely to tell me that they do not support MCE and that it is an MCE problem. I emailed my tuner company (Hauppaauge) and they said they it was not their problem.  Likely Microsoft would say its not their problem either, so I am stuck in the middle :)

If I could some how show Rogers something conclusive that indicated they were in fact setting some flags in the TV signal, then they might fix it if they agreed its a problem.

Got any ideas?

Thanks!

- Alex

Also, I'm trying to rule out the possibility in my mind that this is a bug in MCE of some kind, or with the tuner (or its driver) and the error being recorded is misleading.

Articles like this: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/10/25/484995.aspx seem to indicate that it is not always Broadcaster's fault that recording fails with this error.

- Alex

In case you need more info:

- I am running Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit

- I have a Hauppauge WinPVR 500 and 150

Here's the thing: Most likely, it is the broadcaster, who sets the "protected" flag - even temporarily - and we read that and block the recording. The way to tell is to capture and analyze the actual stream before it gets to Media Center; I'm sure there are third-party tools to do this, but I can't name any.

What channels are you seeing this on, and what programs?

At least from my observations, I haven't seen this on any of the major prime
time television shows (Rogers, analog, Toronto)

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx



wrote in message news:176207@10.240.6.244...
> Hi Jessica,
>
> Often a small number of my shows fail to record, and in the windows event
> log I see errors about copy protection set by the broadcaster.
>
> I have basic cable (NTSC) from Rogers here in Canada, and I generally
> assume that Rogers is not meaning to prevent me from recording shows.
>
> Is there anyway I can investigate this further? If I call up Rogers, they
> are likely to tell me that they do not support MCE and that it is an MCE
> problem. I emailed my tuner company (Hauppaauge) and they said they it was
> not their problem. Likely Microsoft would say its not their problem
> either, so I am stuck in the middle :)
>
> If I could some how show Rogers something conclusive that indicated they
> were in fact setting some flags in the TV signal, then they might fix it
> if they agreed its a problem.
>
> Got any ideas?
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Alex
>

I'm seeing this on: Frends; Style by Jury; Take this house and Sell it, and a couple others.

Most of those chose (except friends) are on the W network I think.

In the event logs, i see two errors generally, one about "Copy Never" and one about "content is prohibited"

1. Recording of The Notebook began as scheduled on 02/18/2007 15:58:03 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
2. The Notebook was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.

Here are some event logs:

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        Recording
Date:          13/03/2007 12:30:44 PM
Event ID:      8
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      mediaone.blackstar.com
Description:
Friends was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Recording" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">8</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-03-13T16:30:44.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>3213</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Media Center</Channel>
    <Computer>mediaone.blackstar.com</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Friends was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.</Data>
    <Binary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inary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        Recording
Date:          12/03/2007 12:04:30 PM
Event ID:      3
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      mediaone.blackstar.com
Description:
Recording of Friends began as scheduled on 03/12/2007 11:58:02 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Recording" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">3</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-03-12T16:04:30.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>3184</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Media Center</Channel>
    <Computer>mediaone.blackstar.com</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Recording of Friends began as scheduled on 03/12/2007 11:58:02 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.</Data>
    <Binary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inary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

 

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        Recording
Date:          21/02/2007 1:05:36 PM
Event ID:      3
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      mediaone.blackstar.com
Description:
Recording of Style by Jury began as scheduled on 02/21/2007 12:58:02 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Recording" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">3</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-02-21T18:05:36.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>2545</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Media Center</Channel>
    <Computer>mediaone.blackstar.com</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Recording of Style by Jury began as scheduled on 02/21/2007 12:58:02 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.</Data>
    <Binary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inary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        Recording
Date:          19/02/2007 7:34:41 AM
Event ID:      8
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      mediaone.blackstar.com
Description:
Style by Jury was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Recording" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">8</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-02-19T12:34:41.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>2434</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Media Center</Channel>
    <Computer>mediaone.blackstar.com</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Style by Jury was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.</Data>
    <Binary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inary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        Recording
Date:          18/02/2007 4:24:20 PM
Event ID:      3
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      mediaone.blackstar.com
Description:
Recording of The Notebook began as scheduled on 02/18/2007 15:58:03 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Recording" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">3</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-02-18T21:24:20.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>2399</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Media Center</Channel>
    <Computer>mediaone.blackstar.com</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Recording of The Notebook began as scheduled on 02/18/2007 15:58:03 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.</Data>
    <Binary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inary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        Recording
Date:          18/02/2007 4:24:20 PM
Event ID:      8
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      mediaone.blackstar.com
Description:
The Notebook was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Recording" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">8</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-02-18T21:24:20.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>2398</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Media Center</Channel>
    <Computer>mediaone.blackstar.com</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>The Notebook was not recorded.  Recording of this content is prohibited by the content provider.</Data>
    <Binary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inary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

So, that basically confirms that one of two things are happening:

1) The broadcaster is setting the "Copy Never" flag and Media Center's behavior is expected.

or,

2) Media Center is misinterpreting data it receives.

The only way at this point to know which is the case is by capturing the stream before it happens and analyzing it. Does anyone out there have a reasonable method for doing this, that could possibly help this user?

If you can capture a stream, I could try to get a capture developer to look at it.

The shows he's recording are not HD shows. Is the "copy-never" flag in analog broadcasts as well? What's to stop broadcasters from disabling all DVRs by just putting this flag on every broadcast?

what channel are you trying to record friends from?
CityTV? or some other station?

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx



wrote in message news:176486@10.240.6.244...
> I'm seeing this on: Frends; Style by Jury; Take this house and Sell it,
> and a couple others.
>
> Most of those chose (except friends) are on the W network I think.
>
> In the event logs, i see two errors generally, one about "Copy Never" and
> one about "content is prohibited"
>
> 1. Recording of The Notebook began as scheduled on 02/18/2007 15:58:03 and
> was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
> 2. The Notebook was not recorded. Recording of this content is prohibited
> by the content provider.
>
> Here are some event logs:
>
> Log Name: Media Center
> Source: Recording
> Date: 13/03/2007 12:30:44 PM
> Event ID: 8
> Task Category: None
> Level: Warning
> Keywords: Classic
> User: N/A
> Computer: mediaone.blackstar.com
> Description:
> Friends was not recorded. Recording of this content is prohibited by the
> content provider.
> Event Xml:
>
>
>
> 8
> 3
> 0
> 0x80000000000000
>
> 3213
> Media Center
> mediaone.blackstar.com
>
>
>
> Friends was not recorded. Recording of this content is
> prohibited by the content provider.
>
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
>
>
>
>
> Log Name: Media Center
> Source: Recording
> Date: 12/03/2007 12:04:30 PM
> Event ID: 3
> Task Category: None
> Level: Warning
> Keywords: Classic
> User: N/A
> Computer: mediaone.blackstar.com
> Description:
> Recording of Friends began as scheduled on 03/12/2007 11:58:02 and was
> stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
> Event Xml:
>
>
>
> 3
> 3
> 0
> 0x80000000000000
>
> 3184
> Media Center
> mediaone.blackstar.com
>
>
>
> Recording of Friends began as scheduled on 03/12/2007 11:58:02
> and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
>
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
>
>
>
>
>
> Log Name: Media Center
> Source: Recording
> Date: 21/02/2007 1:05:36 PM
> Event ID: 3
> Task Category: None
> Level: Warning
> Keywords: Classic
> User: N/A
> Computer: mediaone.blackstar.com
> Description:
> Recording of Style by Jury began as scheduled on 02/21/2007 12:58:02 and
> was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
> Event Xml:
>
>
>
> 3
> 3
> 0
> 0x80000000000000
>
> 2545
> Media Center
> mediaone.blackstar.com
>
>
>
> Recording of Style by Jury began as scheduled on 02/21/2007
> 12:58:02 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never
> content.
>
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
>
>
>
>
> Log Name: Media Center
> Source: Recording
> Date: 19/02/2007 7:34:41 AM
> Event ID: 8
> Task Category: None
> Level: Warning
> Keywords: Classic
> User: N/A
> Computer: mediaone.blackstar.com
> Description:
> Style by Jury was not recorded. Recording of this content is prohibited
> by the content provider.
> Event Xml:
>
>
>
> 8
> 3
> 0
> 0x80000000000000
>
> 2434
> Media Center
> mediaone.blackstar.com
>
>
>
> Style by Jury was not recorded. Recording of this content is
> prohibited by the content provider.
>
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
>
>
>
>
> Log Name: Media Center
> Source: Recording
> Date: 18/02/2007 4:24:20 PM
> Event ID: 3
> Task Category: None
> Level: Warning
> Keywords: Classic
> User: N/A
> Computer: mediaone.blackstar.com
> Description:
> Recording of The Notebook began as scheduled on 02/18/2007 15:58:03 and
> was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never content.
> Event Xml:
>
>
>
> 3
> 3
> 0
> 0x80000000000000
>
> 2399
> Media Center
> mediaone.blackstar.com
>
>
>
> Recording of The Notebook began as scheduled on 02/18/2007
> 15:58:03 and was stopped because the recording was of Copy Never
> content.
>
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
>
>
>
> Log Name: Media Center
> Source: Recording
> Date: 18/02/2007 4:24:20 PM
> Event ID: 8
> Task Category: None
> Level: Warning
> Keywords: Classic
> User: N/A
> Computer: mediaone.blackstar.com
> Description:
> The Notebook was not recorded. Recording of this content is prohibited by
> the content provider.
> Event Xml:
>
>
>
> 8
> 3
> 0
> 0x80000000000000
>
> 2398
> Media Center
> mediaone.blackstar.com
>
>
>
> The Notebook was not recorded. Recording of this content is
> prohibited by the content provider.
>
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
>
>
>

austinite:

The shows he's recording are not HD shows. Is the "copy-never" flag in analog broadcasts as well? What's to stop broadcasters from disabling all DVRs by just putting this flag on every broadcast?

Correct, these are not HD, I don't have HD.. Just analog basic cable.

JasonT:

what channel are you trying to record friends from? CityTV? or some other station? -- Jason Tsang -

I'm not sure.  The error doesn't seem to say.  I record friends successfully most of the time, I have like 40 episodes on my hard disk.

Ok, I checked in MCE: 7 (CITYTV), 28 (WUTV) and 60 (W).  W is the Women's network.  I think all these problems are on that channel (mostly my wife recording these, not me! :)

Jason, can you try recording some shows on the W network?

- Alex

Yup, I will do that.

I've recorded past eps successfully off WUTV and City, so that's why i was
wondering what channel you were recording off of.

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
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wrote in message news:176954@10.240.6.244...
> JasonT:what channel are you trying to record friends from? CityTV? or some
> other station? -- Jason Tsang -
>
> I'm not sure. The error doesn't seem to say. I record friends
> successfully most of the time, I have like 40 episodes on my hard disk.
>
> Ok, I checked in MCE: 7 (CITYTV), 28 (WUTV) and 60 (W). W is the Women's
> network. I think all these problems are on that channel (mostly my wife
> recording these, not me! :)
>
> Jason, can you try recording some shows on the W network?
>
> - Alex
>

To answer something deeper in the thread: CGMS-A is for analog TV (that's what the "A" stands for). So I know it's not HD stuff.

And what's to stop broadcasters from preventing us from using DVRs? I'm not sure what the law is here - does anyone else know what they're allowed to put "Copy Never" on and what they're not? It was my understanding when we did the implementation that "Copy Never" was only supposed to be used on PPV and the like (even HBO I thought was "Copy Once"), but I'm not sure where I got that idea from.

Until recently I had no difficulty recording any shows on any specific channels. Now I receive the under noted message on channels & programs that previously recorded just fine.

********************

“Program” cannot be recorded. Restrictions set by the Broadcaster and/or originator of the content Prohibit recording of this program.

********************

These programs record just fine on my VCR as well as my Star Choice DVR up stairs. I also find I can occasionally record the show if I can locate it on another channel. This coding by the channel provider could effectively block MCE from being able to effectively record shows for later viewing. <sigh> 

Jessica,

Here's the FCC document on broadcast flags ("Digital Output Protection Technologies and Recording Method Certifications"):
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A1.pdf

Even "copy never" content can be recorded according to section 75. We just can't transmit it digitally without HDCP or DTCP to protect it.

Also, you are right about the PPV only (well, plus DVDs, section 63 of the document). But section 64 says that they have not made any rules as to using these flags in analog content (as the poster on this thread has been hit with).

Well, I'm not a lawyer and it's possible the FCC changed it's mind later (although I haven't found a document), but it seems like Vista MCE is going beyond what the requirements are for "copy never". [Edit: I just realized that for analog tranmissions, the FCC rule does not apply. Instead, CGMS-A applies, and the Vista MCE is reacting appropriately to the "Copy Never" flag in CGMS-A. Unfortunately, my next point becomes even more likely then.]

And we can have our nice Vista MCE box be rendered unusable as PVRs by a cable company that just chooses to put "copy never" on everything. Yikes! I guess I'll have to stay with XP MCE.
[Edit: at least until I decide to drop all analog TV watching, since (for now), HD has better consumer protection (i.e. "copy never" can still be recorded)]