TiVo Community Forums Archives - New Scientific Atlanta 8300

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New Scientific Atlanta 8300
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Posted by: nyy7

They have a new box that they are marketing to cable providers that allows user access from additional three non-PVR boxes(co-ax wired)in the house to watch recorded shows.
Interesting.
Bruce in Belle Harbor

Posted by: dt_dc

Kindof cool how it works too ...

The 8300 has a QAM modulator in it. Recorded content is 'distributed' just like another digital cable channel. No loss in PQ. In THEORY ... it could even be setup so any CableCard tuner could watch distributed content (SciAtl has said the content is encrypted ... so an unscrambled QAM tuner wouldn't work). Of course , I'm sure it's also possible SciAtl has put something proprietary in the mix ... and of course you'd probably need an SciAtl box to pass commands to the 8300 ... but still kool.

Note ... you do need an isolation module:
http://www.sciatl.com/customers/Source/7001717.pdf

Another note:
The 8300 has an SATA port for an external hard drive ... "check with your cable operator for approved models"

And finally ... they're also supposed to be working on an 8300HD

Posted by: ellinj

Now if only they would fix the braindead software.

Posted by: dt_dc

quote:
Originally posted by ellinj
Now if only they would fix the braindead software.

Yes ... well ... there's always a catch. ;)

But I guess part of my point was that if this is their approach ... QAM modulators must be pretty cheap ... and with the explosion of QAM tuners we're about to see ... it would make for a pretty good cheap / universal multi-room approach that any manufacturer could take (without being locked into some sort of proprietary solution that will only work with certain STBs).

SciAtl has the advantage in that they control the headend ... so they know no one's going to be using QAM channel x. Another manufacturer would have to either 1) allow for a dynamic channel (which I'm sure is more expensive) ... or 2) use some set channel and hope there's no conflicts.

Even a cheap little dedicated QAM modulator w/ Firewire input could be made and have some cool uses ... set up a multi-room system over existing coax for any Firewire source (including HD) ... it would put the existing analog distribution systems to shame.

Posted by: GoodSpike

QAM may be cheap, but I don't think it's necessarily easy. In the HDPC area the Fusion card's attempt to move to QAM has been rocky. Might be a bad example though because I think their software has been a bit flaky in other areas.

Posted by: dt_dc

quote:
Originally posted by GoodSpike
QAM may be cheap, but I don't think it's necessarily easy.

Well now you're thinking like an engineer. On these boards you're supposed to think like a product manager ... if we can think it, it must be easy to implement ... especially if SciAtl or Mot can do it! :D

Good point ... but with all the QAM/CableCard tuners I don't think QAM DEmodulation is an issue.

QAM modulation ... that could be a different story. I can certainly see where SciAtl would have a huge knowledge / IP advantage there!

But the big issue ... DRM / copy protection.

SciAtl gets to piggyback on their own CA systems. If you want a non-proprietary system you're sitting around waiting for all the various committees to finalize their recomendations. Even if you want to implement a proprietary system you've got to get 'approval' from the powers that be ...

DMCA ... Stifling innovation since 1998 :(

Posted by: ADGrant

quote:
Originally posted by ellinj
Now if only they would fix the braindead software.

Would support High Def cable. The great Tivo software doesn't help me if I want to watch something in HD. I am back to checking the TV schedule and having to be at home to watch.

Posted by: ellinj

Agreed, but since my cable system still isn't offering the 8000HD I am not holding my breath

Posted by: tomo_kun

quote:
Originally posted by ellinj
Now if only they would fix the braindead software.

Oh god yes, but i doubt they would even concider TiVo. Thank god for D*.

Posted by: ADGrant

D* does have Tivo. Unfortunately it doesn't have local channels in HD (except CBS in some markets).