CableCard Problem - No more Fox channels - Copy Once Flag Turned on
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

All the Fox-owned channels are copy-once, except for the local Fox affiliate.
 

  • FX HD (EAST)
  • Fox Sports 1 HD
  • BTN HD
  • Fox Business Ne
  • Fox News HD
  • National Geo HD
  • Nat Geo Wild HD
  • FXX HD

As a result of this unexpected and recent change (around July 13, 2015), you may lose access to these channels and I'm not sure if Verizon can help you with this problem... this impacts all CableCard users (i.e. Tivo, Windows Media Center, etc.)

0 Likes
Reply
1 Solution
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

Ok, I didn't give up.. and I FINALLY got it working on Windows.

Fox enabled DRM on the channels that I mentioned in my original post.

Here is roughly what I did to fix it....

- Verify that your CableCard is paired with Verizon.   Verify that you are 'subscribed' to those channels with your CableCards diagnostic logs (if you can).

- You MUST use Windows Media Center (WMC) to view DRM protected channels.  Apparently, WMC is the only TV application on Windows that will let you watch DRM protected channels. 

- In WMC and under the Extras menu, you must run the Digital Cable Advisor.  There is a repair tool for Digital Cable Advisor from Microsoft (if you need it or want to run it to be safe -- just google it).   If the Extras menu is not showing in WMC, you will have to turn it on in the registory.  Hkey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Application\Internal (OnStartMenu = True)

- In WMC and under TV-> Settings, you must run the TV Signal activation.

Fox channels (DRM protected channels) returned.

View solution in original post

25 Replies
Atomicpunk1
Newbie
Mcard losing Certain Channels July 2015
I posted this earlier but accidently had my email in it so they removed it, glad they can take the time fine tooth combing an email for removing a post for leaving a trivial piece of information instead of actually fixing and answering a question they still have not fixed...

‎07-19-2015 03:20 AM - last edited on ‎07-19-2015 08:36 AM by a person a Verizon
Who the question is directed at:
If you are an MCard user and have recently lost your FX channels including:
FX, FS1, FS2, BTN, FBN, Fox News, NatGeo, NatGeoWild, FXX, FXM, FCSA, FCSC, FCSP, Fox Deportes, BTN Alt, BTN Alt2, FX HD, FS1 HD, BTN HD, FBN HD, Fox News HD, NatGeo HD, NatGeoWild HD, FXX HD

Request:
Please help with an answer before I go days/weeks without an answer trying hours of troubleshooting.

Problem:
I have an Mcard in a Homerun Prime which has been working great for years and noticed this week that I lost the channels listed above. Everything works fine on other channels, they also come in on a Standard Set top box.

What I have done:
I have contacted tech support and "Reactivated" the Mcard as suggested by DSL reports (http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r30174874-Channels-Fox-Channels-now-Copyright-flag)
An low and behold, it worked but the next morning, back to Subscription required.
Also, A new Firmware update AND software update was done with homerun prime,

What I expect from Tech support:
Find an answer to why the mcard is losing the copyright flagging.
What are the options?
What is the ETA of fixing this situation?

In the meantime, if you have a problem like this one, make sure that you get someone who can reset the card manually (usually a Verizon tech support supervisor), if they let the system do it, it can reset to unvalidated like what happened to me, (there are more details in the DSL Report forums - They go into MUCH MORE detail there...
Good Luck,
Thank you,
William
0 Likes
Reply
tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

Did you check for an update to Homerun? The copy once flag should not stop these from working.

0 Likes
Reply
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

According to what I'm seeing, my HDHomeRun is showing CCI Protection = NONE

0 Likes
Reply
roboengr
Enthusiast - Level 1

Same thing for me.

I have a Tivo Roamio Pro.  Still investigating whats wrong, but I get V58 whcih indicates no subscription

Looks like Verizon just put the nail in their coffin.  Calling comcast tomorrow.

tap1966
Enthusiast - Level 1

Just called Verizon and they manually validated/paired the card in my Roamio. The guy I talked to was aware of the exact problem and knew what to do. Sent me to channel 131 where you will get all the id numbers if your card isn't paired.

0 Likes
Reply
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

Ok, I didn't give up.. and I FINALLY got it working on Windows.

Fox enabled DRM on the channels that I mentioned in my original post.

Here is roughly what I did to fix it....

- Verify that your CableCard is paired with Verizon.   Verify that you are 'subscribed' to those channels with your CableCards diagnostic logs (if you can).

- You MUST use Windows Media Center (WMC) to view DRM protected channels.  Apparently, WMC is the only TV application on Windows that will let you watch DRM protected channels. 

- In WMC and under the Extras menu, you must run the Digital Cable Advisor.  There is a repair tool for Digital Cable Advisor from Microsoft (if you need it or want to run it to be safe -- just google it).   If the Extras menu is not showing in WMC, you will have to turn it on in the registory.  Hkey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Application\Internal (OnStartMenu = True)

- In WMC and under TV-> Settings, you must run the TV Signal activation.

Fox channels (DRM protected channels) returned.

tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

@rockstarcoder wrote:

...d

- You MUST use Windows Media Center (WMC) to view DRM protected channels.  Apparently, WMC is the only TV application on Windows that will let you watch DRM protected channels. 

- ...

Fox channels (DRM protected channels) returned.


The bad news, Windows Media Center, is one of the things that will not be in Windows 10.

0 Likes
Reply
JimSahm
Enthusiast - Level 2

I have the SAME issue here in Delaware.  M-Card in HD Homerun Prime was working flawlessly, now no fox channels, etc.

Someone changed something...

I'd like to hear back what changed on or about 16 July 2015??  Zero byte recordings since then...

Can someone tell me why I am paying $5 a month for a card to NOT allow me to record the channels I am paying for?

Jim

0 Likes
Reply
JimSahm
Enthusiast - Level 2

For now, I am just dumping that tier on my cablecard.  I only have HD Homerun Prime, so if I can't get those channels, why would I pay for them???

If enough 3rd party folks do that, maybe Verizon/Fox will change it back to the way it was.

Jim

0 Likes
Reply
JimSahm
Enthusiast - Level 2

...  bottom line, any HD Homerun CC users should dump the FOX tier, as they no longer function.

Save your money...

Jim

c0nj0b
Newbie

I'm another user that's affected by this change. 

I'm paying hundreds of dollars a month for Verizon Fios to both my business and home.  To lose access to all these FOX channels that we pay for is unacceptable.  Verizon's response to the effect of, sorry, to bad, blame fox, is even worse.

I would think a company as established Verizon would be able to find a solution.  Even a workaround such as a free loaner dvr until a solution is found would be more acceptable than to do nothing.

0 Likes
Reply
CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

I beleive there are two issues:

1) Fox has supposedly requested that all of their channels be changed to copy once. If so, not a lot Verizon can do about that. Content providers get to decide how their channels are carried.

2) I have heard that if pairing is not correct between cable card and device you can get errors. See this thread for help hints: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r30174874-Channels-Fox-Channels-now-Copyright-flag

rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

I've had Verizon pair and re-pair my CableCard at least 10 times... even with a new CableCard... and even when confirmed as paired correctly.... I still do not receive the Fox channels.

0 Likes
Reply
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

The support guy reset, re-reset, and reset again..  reset, re-reset, and reset again... I've had people on the phone reset.. and people at the house reset... nothing fixed the issue with Fox channels and the CableCard.

I did notice that Fox channels show "CCI Protected: none" (coming from Verizon).. but, I'm *not* able to watch the channels I mentioned above (first post)... nothing fixed it... so I got a HD receiver from Verizon for time being to figure out if ComCast or someone else having this issue.. I really like just having a CableCard... and nothing else.

0 Likes
Reply
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2

I typically see Windows Media Center say "Subscription Required"... for these channels... like I'm not paying for them.

0 Likes
Reply
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2
20150722-01:28:40 CableCARD: tuner2 617 Fox Business Ne (auto:387MHz-729) access = not-subscribed
20150722-01:50:41 Tuner: tuner2 tuning 618 Fox News HD (auto:375MHz-725)
20150722-01:50:41 Tuner: tuner2 streaming rtp to 192.168.0.157:5001
20150722-01:50:42 CableCARD: tuner2 618 Fox News HD (auto:375MHz-725) access = not-subscribed


Virtual Channel                           618 Fox News HD
Frequency                                   375.000 MHz
Program Number                        725
Authorization                             not-subscribed
CCI Protection                           none
Modulation Lock                          qam256
PCR Lock                                    locked
Signal Strength                           95% (-3.4 dBmV)
Signal Quality                             100% (37.1 dB)
Symbol Quality                           100%
Streaming Rate                           none
Resource Lock                            none

0 Likes
Reply
rockstarcoder
Enthusiast - Level 2


Virtual Channel                           618 Fox News HD
Frequency                                   375.000 MHz
Program Number                        725
Authorization                             not-subscribed
CCI Protection                           none
Modulation Lock                          qam256
PCR Lock                                    locked
Signal Strength                           95% (-3.4 dBmV)
Signal Quality                             100% (37.1 dB)
Symbol Quality                           100%
Streaming Rate                           none
Resource Lock                            none

0 Likes
Reply
ynk1121
Enthusiast - Level 2

HDHomeRun Prime and Windows Media Center here. It took me less than 10 minutes on the phone to get it straightened out.

First there are three sets of numbers to have on hand before picking up the phone. CableCARD ID, Host ID, and Data. I believe them to be physically written on the card. If you don’t want to turn it off and pop the card out I got them by going to the IP address of the HDHomeRun. Click “CableCARD Menu”, and then “CableCARD(tm) Pairing”.

Once you have these three things, call Verizon and tell them you lost Fox owned channels on the box using your M cable card. It says I’m not subscribed but it works on all Verizon supplied boxes in the house. Don’t try to explain computers or Media Center or anything. It will only confuse them. Stop them from trying to give you advice too.  Simply say you read online that this is a common problem with your set up and all that is needed to fix it is for them to verify/pair/reload/whatever the card on their end. The lady started telling me to get the card out of my device.  I said you just need the CableCARD ID, Host ID, and Data, correct?  She said yes and I didn't need to mess with it.  I read them off, she typed them in, and in under a minute all the channels were back. It now says “Authorization - subscribed” and “CCI Protection - protected-copyonce” in the status menu.  Good luck.  Hope this helps someone.

0 Likes
Reply
JimSahm
Enthusiast - Level 2

Fixed for WMC, but those who use legitimate 3rd party apps with HD Homerun like MythTV are screwed.

I admit it is not Verizon's fault, BUT they COULD lobby on behalf of thier users.... 

0 Likes
Reply
Sailing1919
Newbie

Has anyone heard if this is affecting Comcast/Xfinity?  People on here suggested it was Fox's doing; however, I can't find anyone online complianing about Xfinity losing Fox channels with their cablecards.

0 Likes
Reply