User manual SONY DCR-REFERENCE FAQ

[. . . ] The key difference is that a DCR product does not itself contain technology that will allow the television to display encrypted digital signals. Such decryption technology is instead built into the CableCARDTM. Since cable operators encrypt most digital cable signals (other than, e. g. , retransmitted local broadcast digital TV programming), a CableCARDTM must be inserted into a DCR product in order for that product to receive most digital cable programming. 3 What is a CableCARDTM? The term CableCARDTM is a term that has been adopted by the cable industry for the security device, which is the interface module between the cable head end and the customer's DCR product. [. . . ] To summarize, only TVs that comply with the FCC's DCR regulations (and therefore have a CableCARDTM slot) are Digital Cable Ready. What is the CableCARDTM activation procedure?An activation screen appears on a DCR television once the CableCARDTM is inserted into the DCR product. Information presented on the screen is needed in order to authorize services through the CableCARDTM. The Cable Field Service Technician must provide this information to the Cable Customer Service Representative in order to properly authorize the CableCARDTM and electronically bind it to the DCR product. In the future, if retail provisioning or self provisioning is supported, the retail associate or customer would provide the required information to the Cable Customer Service Representative to authorize the CableCARDTM. The activation screen will include the CableCARDTM ID as well as the Host ID of the DCR product, in addition to a Data number for Motorola systems. An activation screen is generated by the CableCARDTM. The following are examples of what it may look like: Motorola: In order to start cable service for this device, please contact your cable provider: CableCARDTM ID: XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX-X Host ID: XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX-X 5 Data: XXX-XXX-XXX-XX Press Menu to return to the Set Up Screen Scientific-Atlanta: In order to start cable service for this device, please contact your cable provider: CableCARDTM ID: XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX-X Host ID: XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX-X Press Menu to return to the Set Up Screen What is DFAST?DFAST is the acronym for Dynamic Feedback Arrangement Scrambling Technique. DFAST is the system that enables a DCR product (also called the Host device) to communicate securely with a CableCARDTM. Through this communication, the CableCARDTM is able to send all authorized services to the Host device. For services that carry copy protection restrictions, the CableCARDTM activates DFAST encryption to protect the content when it is passed to the Host device. The manufacturer of the DCR product obtains the right to use the DFAST technology from CableLabs through a license agreement (either the DFAST License Agreement or the POD-Host Interface License Agreement, "PHILA"). The license for the DFAST technology requires that DCR products be produced with limited vulnerability to tampering and with a certain degree of robustness. Why is some programming recordable and some programming not recordable? [. . . ] After your CableCARDTM is installed and initialized by a field technician, the CableCARDTM is electronically bound with the original DCR product in which it was installed. In order for your CableCARDTM to operate properly in another DCR product, the CableCARDTM has to be installed in the new device by an authorized technician. If you move out of your cable service area, you must return the CableCARDTM to your cable operator. [. . . ]