no more DVD recording

larrycohen · January-8th-2009, 03:50 PM

I'm not talking about pirating, I'm just talking about normal recording from TV, like we've been doing with VCRs for years. I have a DVD recorder, and I was using it for this. I like it better than a DVR (hard drive), because it's portable - you can record in one room, and watch in another room, or maybe even in another house.
The problem lately is something called a "broadcast flag". Anytime I try to record from TV to a DVD, I get a message that "you cannot record a copy protected movie". Apparently, the TV stations are all including this broadcast flag, and there is a circuit in DVD recorders that sees it and stops you from recording anything. My DVD recorder now has very limited use. For practical purposes, it has become a DVD player.

Anybody have any advice on this, or just wanna join me in grumbling?

Scott Dolan · January-8th-2009, 03:52 PM

I'm sure there are several modification chips on the market already.

tippy · January-8th-2009, 03:54 PM

I didn't even know it was possible to record DVDs in the first place!

(aren't I so annoying?)

Pete C · January-8th-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

I'm not talking about pirating, I'm just talking about normal recording from TV, like we've been doing with VCRs for years. I have a DVD recorder, and I was using it for this. I like it better than a DVR (hard drive), because it's portable - you can record in one room, and watch in another room, or maybe even in another house.
The problem lately is something called a "broadcast flag". Anytime I try to record from TV to a DVD, I get a message that "you cannot record a copy protected movie". Apparently, the TV stations are all including this broadcast flag, and there is a circuit in DVD recorders that sees it and stops you from recording anything. My DVD recorder now has very limited use. For practical purposes, it has become a DVD player.

Anybody have any advice on this, or just wanna join me in grumbling?

My problem started when I switched from regular cable to digital cable and got a new box, a couple of years ago. My recorder is combo VHS/DVD. I really bought it mostly to transfer tapes, back in 2003, but I did use it occasionally to record films off of TCM. No more--I figure it's the cable company trying to insure that you rent their DVR box. Now if I need to record something once in a blue moon I have to use the shitty VHS half. I've already transferred all of my VHS, so the only reason I use the DVD recorder now is to record from my Philips player that converts PAL to NTSC, so I can share DL'd music videos from European TV with people who don't have PAL-capable players.

Troll · January-8th-2009, 04:59 PM

Larry,

Try saving the show to an analog device first - your old VCR recorder. Transfer that to DVD.

See .pdf here, page 18 of 43. Page 20 shows that this may not work for your set if it's 'new', but given that you already have a VCR this is a free workaround if...it works.

Pete C · January-8th-2009, 05:09 PM

Then all you'd get is a dvd of a shitty vhs copy. Also, when I tried it on my unit it still wouldn't copy the signal from the VHS.

bigtiny · January-8th-2009, 05:56 PM

When this broadcast flag debate was up before the FCC a few years ago it was big news. But as usual, the big media companies and their paid stooges at the FCC got what they wanted.

So now, my guess is, the only way you'll be able to get around this is to find somebody who makes and sells a 'black box' of some kind that will filter the broadcast flag. I don't know for sure that they exist, but my guess is that they do. Of course, the minute you buy one of these and hook it up.....you're a criminal. Only a criminal would want to tape a 30 year old movie to watch at their leisure, an honest person would pony up and go BUY it.....(tongue firmly in cheek even though we aren't amused).

I'm waiting for Time-Warner, Microsoft, and EMI to push through legislation that forces me to send them a dollar every time I take shit...oh, I mean, purge non-licensed media into the electronosphere....

bigtiny

larrycohen · January-9th-2009, 08:21 AM

I looked around, and I found something called "Grex". If I get it, that means I would have to spend $89 to continue using equipment that I already own, to do what I already can do with tape, and has already been approved by the Supreme Court. If anybody is interested:

http://www.xdimax.com/grex/grex.html

Pete C · January-9th-2009, 01:19 PM

Larry, if you get that, please report--I may consider it. Only problem is, my recorder is so old it'll only handle 4x DVD-Rs, so after my stock of those (about 40 left) is done the thing is useless, since you can't find the raw media.

Chazro · January-9th-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

I'm not talking about pirating, I'm just talking about normal recording from TV, like we've been doing with VCRs for years. I have a DVD recorder, and I was using it for this. I like it better than a DVR (hard drive), because it's portable - you can record in one room, and watch in another room, or maybe even in another house.
The problem lately is something called a "broadcast flag". Anytime I try to record from TV to a DVD, I get a message that "you cannot record a copy protected movie". Apparently, the TV stations are all including this broadcast flag, and there is a circuit in DVD recorders that sees it and stops you from recording anything. My DVD recorder now has very limited use. For practical purposes, it has become a DVD player.

Anybody have any advice on this, or just wanna join me in grumbling?

I have a Sony DVD recorder but haven't used it in 2009. It was recording movies just fine in Dec. of '08 though. I'll be checking it later to be sure but I'm curious, exactly when did this 'blocking' thing begin with your machine?

kedoane · January-9th-2009, 01:28 PM

I haven't encounter blocking problems with my Panasonic DVD recorder. But then again I haven't recorded much DVD's. The last time I recorded a DVD was last Sunday and it was a movie on TCM. I also recorded the 60 Minutes interview with Barack and Michelle Obama, which was on a CBS owned and operated station a while back. Neither one of those channels were blocked.

Pete C · January-9th-2009, 01:41 PM

The grex seems to get good reviews. There's also a Toshiba recorder on Amazon for $109 that gets great reviews. In 2003 my Sylvania combo recorder cost about $300, and Sony & Panasonic were about $500. I'm pretty sure everything coming from my Time-Warner HD box is blocked, and it definitely started when I upgraded to that box.

larrycohen · January-9th-2009, 02:28 PM

I tried several channels - the standard broadcast networks, and HBO - and it looks like everything is blocked. I don't know for sure if it's Cablevision, the cable HD box, or the TV networks. I'm not giving up the HD box, since I have an HD TV. The guy at Cablevision claims that they're not doing anything, but sometimes they just don't know.
I hadn't tried to record anything for at least a few months. I just tried again in the past week or so, and found everything blocked. Actually, almost everything. As a test, I tried recording MSNBC, and it worked, but then an hour later it didn't work. (They're copy protecting the news?)
As far as a CBS station being available: I read comments on a bulletin board somewhere that said the stations started going one by one, and all they could record now was CBS. Maybe they were just slower than the others installing the protection.

PeteC - you can't get DVD-R discs? Type "dvd-r 4x discs" into Amazon, and you'll see some.

me wag · January-9th-2009, 02:41 PM

Pete, you might be able to upgrade the firmware on your recorder so that it will be able to handle the higher speeds. Just google your model number.

LennyH · January-10th-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

I tried several channels - the standard broadcast networks, and HBO - and it looks like everything is blocked. I don't know for sure if it's Cablevision, the cable HD box, or the TV networks. I'm not giving up the HD box, since I have an HD TV. The guy at Cablevision claims that they're not doing anything, but sometimes they just don't know.

Larry, have you checked out AVSforum.com? There might be some useful discussions about this topic over there.

GoodSpeak · January-10th-2009, 06:57 PM

Would it be possible to record from a DVR the cable company gives you in order to avoid the block? Maybe off of TiVO, perhaps?

I dunno...just a thought.

larrycohen · January-11th-2009, 10:37 AM

Aha! I have proof that it's Cablevision protecting everything.
I tuned in to the listings channel - the one created by Cablevision that lists what's on. I still got the error message that "you cannot copy a protected movie". You can't blame this on the networks.

Chazro · January-12th-2009, 01:47 PM

My machine (used with a Hi Def-cable co. provided box) worked fine last night.

Pete C · January-12th-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

Would it be possible to record from a DVR the cable company gives you in order to avoid the block? Maybe off of TiVO, perhaps?

I dunno...just a thought.

I think it would still have the code embedded. With Time-Warner Tivo isn't even an option anyway, you have to use their DVR at a monthly fee. But I may go for the grex, and there's an Ebay seller who carries 4x DVDs in bulk at a good price, so I could still use my old machine as long as it holds out. I still have about 30 blank 4x.

larrycohen · May-19th-2009, 09:21 AM

I finally got around to buying and installing the grex. I tried it, and it works, so now I can record any channel I want onto DVD. No more "copy protected" error message.
It doesn't have a coaxial cable connection, so I had to get s-video cables for the video and a pair of rca-plug cables for the sound, but that's minor stuff. My DVD recorder is usable again. It's a bit expensive, with total cost around $100, but I was mad that I bought a DVD recorder and couldn't use it anymore. I'm not trying to pirate anything, I just want to record stuff off TV. Now I can. If anyone is interested:

http://www.xdimax.com/grex/grex.html

Pete C · May-19th-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

It doesn't have a coaxial cable connection, so I had to get s-video cables for the video and a pair of rca-plug cables for the sound, but that's minor stuff.

S-Video will give you a better picture than coaxial. It's a step up from composite and a step down from component and HDMI.

kedoane · May-19th-2009, 09:54 PM

I recently redid my setup since I had to get a new LCD TV set last month. I can still record standard definition onto DVD or VHS via composite cables. So I can have a permanent copy of a program. I have gotten a HD cable box with DVR, so I can use that to record either standard or high definition and view it later. My cable box and DVD/VHS recorder is hooked up to the TV via HDMI cables. I also added on an indoor antenna, so I can watch over the air broadcast channels (and can monitor the four channels that is aired from my workplace, just in case someone asks me if we are off air.)