Ceton InfiniTV USB 4 tuner WMC Mcard Cablecard Device Not Recieving Encrypted Channels

[neIVIe515]

All,

Current house media setup was 1 Verizon FIOS set-top DVR and 3 Verizon HD Set-top devices throughout the house.  That's $20 for the DVR and $40 for the HD set-top boxes a month (pushing multi room DVR) in the Virginia DC area totaling $60 a month in rental fees.  Over the next 18months of the contract that about $1k in savings if I could find an alternative to the pricy set-top box rental.  So I ...

Bought a Ceton InfiniTV USB 4 tuner recording device and hooked that up to my Intel Core 2 6400 4GB RAM personal computer.  Cables installed properly.  Mcard installed and was activated through Verizon online activation web site. Ceton device found through Windows Media Center (WMC) and activated.

Ceton device only picks up unencrypted channels.  Ceton diagnostics reports CCV signal is needed and that the headend connection are not working.

I receive unencrypted channels no problem 504, 505, etc but encrypted channels like 257, 901, etc WMC states subscription required.  I currently receive those channels no problem on the current set-top boxes so I know I'm subscribed.

Ceton explained it could take up to 4 mcards to finally get the device to work and I'm currently on card number 5 and still no luck.

I managed to get 2 of the 5 cards to received encrypted channels for approximately 20min at a time.  I would have to cycle the power in the device to bring the encrypted channels back.  This obviously is not an ideal situation.

The plan was to have the PC push out WMC to 3 XBOX360 units as extenders throughout the house that is wired 10/100/1000.

Anyone else have or had this situation and resolved it?

Ric

[Carl]

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@neIVIe515 wrote:

All,

Current house media setup was 1 Verizon FIOS set-top DVR and 3 Verizon HD Set-top devices throughout the house.  That's $20 for the DVR and $40 for the HD set-top boxes a month (pushing multi room DVR) in the Virginia DC area totaling $60 a month in rental fees.  Over the next 18months of the contract that about $1k in savings if I could find an alternative to the pricy set-top box rental.  So I ...

Bought a Ceton InfiniTV USB 4 tuner recording device and hooked that up to my Intel Core 2 6400 4GB RAM personal computer.  Cables installed properly.  Mcard installed and was activated through Verizon online activation web site. Ceton device found through Windows Media Center (WMC) and activated.

Ceton device only picks up unencrypted channels.  Ceton diagnostics reports CCV signal is needed and that the headend connection are not working.

I receive unencrypted channels no problem 504, 505, etc but encrypted channels like 257, 901, etc WMC states subscription required.  I currently receive those channels no problem on the current set-top boxes so I know I'm subscribed.

Ceton explained it could take up to 4 mcards to finally get the device to work and I'm currently on card number 5 and still no luck.

I managed to get 2 of the 5 cards to received encrypted channels for approximately 20min at a time.  I would have to cycle the power in the device to bring the encrypted channels back.  This obviously is not an ideal situation.

The plan was to have the PC push out WMC to 3 XBOX360 units as extenders throughout the house that is wired 10/100/1000.

Anyone else have or had this situation and resolved it?

Ric

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Did you successfully complete the Digital Cable Advisor from the Extras Menu? 

From within the Ceton Diagnositc Utility, have you removed the tuners from Media Center and re-added them? 

Are you up to date on the Ceton Firmware? 

[neIVIe515]

Yes did the DCA under Extras. Yes Cleared Tuner Config and Discover Tuners buttons --> than went through WMC setup again. Ceton Drive Package v 1.5.4304.6 Diagnostic tool v 1.5.0.0 InfiniTV USB v 1.0.4.1 Update, Ceton decided to take the device back and replace it. Waiting on the new device. More after getting the new device. Ric

[Carl]

Phew! I was running out of ideas, short of using the recovery DVD's on you PC or re-installing Windows (which I have had to do for Playready issues). 

[neIVIe515]

Update after getting the new ceton usb device.

Tech support came out to the house a second time.  We added an additional mcard to the new ceton usb device.  it would not maintain the validation CCV signal.

Called verizon tech support the following day and was able to finally get the validation signal to work on the mcard.

So now all diagnostics were green check marks.  Start watching encrypted channel 257 cartoon network which i'm subscribed.  The show played for approximately 20 min and than shut down with subscription required through Windows Media Center (WMC).  The computer then blue screened and rebooted.

I then reset the power on the ceton usb device.  the computer rebooted.  the encrypted channels began to work for another 20min.  Another blue screen.

Thought process now was that its the computer thats messed up.  So changed computers.

downloaded ceton software
followed installation instructions to the "t"

diagnostics on the ceton device on the new computer all green checks

start watching encrypted channels 257 which i'm subscribe to for about 20 min and zap subscription required.  no blue screen though.  rebooted the ceton device and again started watching encrypted channels no problem.  about 20 min later gone again.

verizon tech support states the problem is the fact that verizon moved to simulcrypt broadcasts which allows them to utilize different set top box manufactures.  ceton has not updated there firmware to account for this apparently.  I'm in the Wash DC area so forewarned.

so still as of this writing I own a $250 ceton usb 4-tuner paper weight.

waiting for the ceton tech support reply

thats awesome
Ric

[Carl]

is the firmware on your new USB up to 1.0.9.5? 

I have the PCI-E, so I don't know if the hw version is the same (4884) between the USB and PCI-e. 

[neIVIe515]

InfiniTV USB v 1.0.4.1

the ceton device says things are up-to-date

still no response from ceton

I take it you dont have this issue in CA?

[Carl]

Correct, I am fine here in CA. I have the PCI-express with FW 1.0.9.5, which according to Ceton is the latest public firmware. 

Try a search on your PC (All files) for a *.IMAGE file. 

[SteveP2]

Wow I was just about to press the buy button on a Ceton USB tuner, but I do not want to until this gets resolved. I will be keeping an eye on this thread for updates.

[neIVIe515]

Looks like mine might be a little newer or just different because of the USB device.