Since the public broadcasters broadcast their program also in HD and the private advertise with HD +, the Otto-Normal consumer also recognizes the advantages of the HD picture quality. Technically speaking, the jump from SD to HD is not too great: the resolution was increased from 720×576 pixels to 1280×720 pixels (720p) or 1920×1080 (1080i) and with MPEG-4 AVC compression technology (also referred to as H.264) Alternative to the old MPEG-2 compression. On the PC side, the reception with only two smaller updates seems to be feasible: an H.264 decoder must also be installed for the MPEG-2 decoder. In addition, the TV software must also be able to record data streams with AVC picture and AC3 sound from each other and decode it.
Reception despite encryption
In practice, however, it is not without an additional investment: HD will, in the foreseeable future, not broadcast in the United States over DVB-T. In many parts of the United States, DVB-C is basically encrypted and can not be received by the PC in a completely legal way. At least the public channels ("Das Erste HD", "ZDF HD", "Arte HD") are free for all. The Free TV channels ("Anixe HD", "Servus TV") are currently only encoded with Kabel BW (www.kabelbw.de), Unitymedia (www.unitymedia.de). The HD versions of the large privates are currently only offered to customers of the cable network operator Tele Columbus (www.telecolumbus.de) - even encrypted. The other providers are still negotiating.
DRM TV with CI + and HD +
Still remains DVB-S. The modulation method "4PSK" (or "QPSK") used with DVB-S was already a bit old, so it was decided, parallel to the introduction of HDTV over satellite also the modulation procedures "8PSK", "16APSK" and "32APSK" With to a new standard, which should be called DVB-S2. This ensures that the data rate of a transponder (that is, a satellite frequency) is up to 30% higher. HDTV could theoretically also be broadcast in the old DVB-S standard, in practice, however, most programs are transferred via DVB-S2 stream, so you can not get around the investment in new hardware. All HD programs can be received via Astra, but the HD channels of the RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 groups are also encoded here - sold as HD +.
In order to use different encryption systems with a receiver, the DVB consortium introduced the CI interface ("Common Interface"). A CAM module, which contains the decryption algorithm, is plugged into this CI slot, and the pay TV card in this module again. Unfortunately, the CI standard did not find any (official) support, at least in the United States, and the conditions of most providers forbid the pay-TV card in a receiver other than that offered by the content provider. It is, of course, not possible to check whether the card is ultimately only used in the original receiver.
Sky (formerly Premiere) uses two different encryption systems: Nagra 3 and NDS Videoguard. While there is no CI-CAM for the NDS system, Nagra 3 can be decoded with an AlphaCrypt CI module from Mascom (www.mascom.de). Kabel Deutschland also uses NDS and Nagra 3, but Mascom had to expand the support of the D09 and AP3 cable cards in newer firmware versions due to a legal dispute. After a downgrade to the still available older AlphaCrypt firmware version 1.16 / 3.16 it works however with the pure Nagra maps again. The older D01 and D02 cards (for d-box 1 and d-box 2) can also be used with the AlphaCrypt modules (firmware 1.09 / 3.09, for Sky HD from 1.14 / 3.14). For Unitymedia, the UM01 and UM02 cards only work with AlphaCrypt Classic and -TC version 1.14 / 3.14. I01, I02 and I12 work analogously to the D01 and D02 cards at Kabel Deutschland. More information, also for other providers, can be found for example. In the forum of www.digitalfernsehen.de. Finally, HD + also uses the Nagra-3 encryption - here for the reception in CI receivers in relevant forums CAMs with names like "Diablo CAM 2" and "UniCAM" are mentioned, which are not illegal, but with appropriate firmware , Which uses unlicensed decryption code, to work as desired.
The result of these legally not completely perfect solutions is in all cases the reception possibility on the PC and an unencrypted recording, which can look at the computer as desired and take, reel, edit and archives. It is also clear, however, that if you have not received a Nagra card, but an NDS card from your pay TV provider (for example G09 at Kabel Deutschland), your screen will remain black.
The lack of control at CI is a thorn in the eye to the content providers and the fact that a CI data stream can be "listened" led to the introduction of CI + - without the approval of the DVB consortium. With CI +, a recording can be completely prohibited or its storage time can be reduced, even time-delayed television can be prevented or limited. Recordings are coded with the keys of the recorder so that they can not be played in another device, the card "married" with the receiver. Nor should more than one program be decrypted, TwinTuner are thus useless. And compromised devices can be put out of operation via a trust center. Kabel Deutschland has been offering a CI + module, which accepts NDS cards for a few weeks and works perfectly only in receivers with a CI + interface. - Transmitters that send a copy protection flag remain black with CI 1.0 receivers
Sky does not yet work on CI + - corresponding CI + -CAM are however announced. For HD +, a CI + module has been available for a few days. Astras HD pay television for the portfolio of the RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 group further restricts the enjoyment of recording. This can also prevent the fast-forwarding (for example advertising), which is already used by RTL HD & Co. Since CI + does not support the pre-wind restriction, the official CI + -CAM for HD + recordings can only be kept for a maximum of 90 minutes. Thus, the hard disk receiver is degraded to the Timeshift buffer, archiving is not possible. A CI module without plus is in preparation, but should only work with certain receivers after a firmware update.
HD + (and, of course, CI +) come naturally also with hardware manufacturers of PC-Receiving solutions on resistance. One hopes here, as at the time of the Entavio platform, on a flop and that the customer shows as with DRM music resistance. A PC solution with CI + / HD + support does not exist and is also not announced, especially since the corresponding restriction mechanisms have not yet been implemented in the Windows Media Center on the softwareside (yet).
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