HELP ME CHALLENGE CHARTER'S NEW CABLECARD COPY PROTECTION SETTINGS

In San Luis Obispo, California, Charter Cable recently (July 2014) converted to an all digital and all encrypted channel lineup - now, when using a CableCard, Local Broadcast Channels are NOT set to Copy Freely (in violation of federal law) and therefore are not recordable on a home-built DVR (Digital Video Recorder).  More info about my trials and tribulations is HERE.  Please help me by contacting me if you know how I should try and get this changed or if you are a Charter customer who is experiencing something similar.

Thanks,
Gary

Verizon "no-dial-tone" DSL

Verizon now has dry "no-dialtone" DSL. It's approximately $5 per month more than their regular DSL but that's much less than keeping a telco line that you no longer want or use. The pricing is as follows:

3.0 mbps down $42.95 (with phone line is 37.99)
3.0 mbps down with 1 year contract $34.95 (with phone 29.99)
768 kbps down $22.95 (with phone 17.99)

Setup fee is $19.95. If currently have Verizon DSL, a 2 week outage will result when transitioning from "dial tone" service to "no dial tone" service since their provisioning systems can't handle anything but a full disconnect and a full new install on the new dry line. This should be improving in the future.

HDTV

4:3 - Standard
16:9 - HDTV

SDTV - Standard Definition Digital
EDTV - Extended Definition Digital (similar to DVD resolution)
HDTV - High Definition Digital

CRT (Direct/Analog) - $
DLP (Projection/Digital) - $$ (rear or front proj)
LCD (Direct/Digital) - $$(?)
LCD (Projection/Digital) - $$$
Plasma (Direct/Digital) - $$$$ (picture degrades over time)

Input: Digital DVI or HDMI
Resolution: 1080i (high def) or 720p (better)

Broadcasters must have Digital by 2007

Adelphia Blocked Ports

Adelphia (Cablemodem service) stated that this is their current blocked port list
For additional info on a given port, go to --- http://grc.com/port_###.htm

To contact Adelphia about a particular port email --- support@adelphia.net

53 inbound - DNS
67 inbound - bootp/dhcp server listener
69 inbound - Trivial File Transfer Protocol (tftp).
80 inbound - Web Servers
135 inbound - DCOM Service Control Manager
136 inbound - PROFILE Naming System
137 inbound - NetBIOS name service
138 inbound - NetBIOS datagram (UDP) Used by Windows
139 inbound - NETBIOS Session Service.
161 both - SNMP
162 both - SNMPTRAP
445 both - Microsoft Directory Services
520 both - Extended file name server
1433 inbound - Microsoft-SQL-Server
1434 inbound - Microsoft-SQL-Monitor
1900 both - UPnP Simple Service Discovery Protocol
3128 (?) both - Active API Server Port
27374 both - Trojan Sightings
39213 both - Sygate manager

(no mention of ports 21 or 25)
###

Underground Service Alert Color Markings

Underground Service Alert

APWA Utility Color Code

RED = Electric

YELLOW = Gas-Oil-Steam

ORANGE = Communication and Cable TV

BLUE = Water

GREEN = Sewer

PURPLE = Reclaimed Water

WHITE = Proposed Excavation

Depths are unpredictable - there’s no general rule. Utilities are not usually placed at specific depths.

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Common Marking Identifiers

E=Electric
G=Gas
S=Sewer
SD=Storm Drain
SL=Street Lighting
TEL=Telephone
TS=Traffic Signal
TV=Television
W=Water/Reclaimed Water
USA=Underground Service Alert

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Common abbreviations and descriptions as used in underground construction.

ABS=Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
ACP=Asbestos cement pipe
CAP=Corrugated aluminum pipe
CIP=Cast iron pipe
CMC=Cement mortar coated
CML=Cement mortar lined
CSP=Corrugated steel pipe
CU=Cooper
DIP=Ductile iron pipe
DU=Duct
ELC=Electrolier lighting conduit
FC=Fiber conduit
GIP=Galvanized iron pipe
GSP=Galvanized steel pipe
IP=Iron pipe
MCD=Multiple concrete duct
MH=Manhole
MTD=Multiple tile duct
P=Plastic(conduit or pipe)
PB=Pull box
PC=Plastic conduit
PE=Polyethylene
PL=Property line
PVC=Polyvinyl chloride
R=Radius
RCB=Reinforced concrete box
RCP=Reinforced concrete pipe
SCCP=Steel cylinder concrete pipe
STL=Steel
STRUC=Structure
T=Transmission facility
TR=Transite(asbestos cement pipe)
Trans=Transition
TSC=Traffic signal conduit
VCP=Vertrified clay pipe

Traffic Signal Wiring

New traffic signal (in SLO) head wiring colors:
Green: Brown
Yellow: Yellow
Red: Red
Neutral: White

Walk: Brown
Don’tWalk: Red
Neutral: White

Terminal strip in Pole J-Box: 12 position 2 screw terminals per position

Cable TV Frequencies

Most cable systems are now a hybrid "anaog/digital" system.

Analog is typically on channels 2-78 and 95-99 (approx 55 mhz - 550 mhz).
Digital is normally channels 79-116 (approx 550 mhz - 750 mhz).

Unlike standard analog channels, the digital channel numbers are abitrary and don't necessarily reflect the actual frequency used.

Modulators used on a system where the digital channels are NOT desired should typically be on 83 or higher (and a low pass filter used).
Modulators used on a system where the digital channels ARE desired should typically be on 123 or higher (a low pass filter may be needed).