Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

Carianna

Feb 13, 2007, 8:23 AM

Post #1 of 23 (7115 views)

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Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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Hi, again, all
Here's where I always come when I have a sticky question that I can't find out here on Cozumel via my local network of friends or the forum that I maintain here for locals. Thanks for all the other help I've received. And now you are 'rewarded' with a new question.

I subscribe to Cablemas Cozumel and as I'm a movie nut, I take the HBO, Cinemax and Movie City package in addition to the basic channels. At Christmas the prices came down on a Sony DVD recorder, so I sprung for one in the states and had my daughter bring it down to me.

For the first two weeks, it worked great and I was able to record all these crystal clear movies which I could then play on other DVD players or my computer. Then, suddenly, about a month ago. I started receiving the message This Picture Cannot Be Recorded flashing on the screen every 3 seconds whenever I tried to record one of these premium channels. I also discovered that Turner Broadcasting, the HallMark channel, ABC and NBC were unrecordable in the same way.

Now, I understand that a lot of programming is now being encrypted in the US so that you can only copy it one time. As an ex video producer/writer myself, I can sympathize with this goal. However, copy never? So far they're only doing that on pay per view items in the US at any rate.

But it appears from where I located at any rate, that copy never is what US-based programming companies are doing to anything shot down to Mexico. I expect they plan to do this in the US ultimately as well. But they'd have a nasty fuss to put up with, wouldn't they. So, I'm thinking they're trying to 'get off on the right foot' internationally by just doing the whole hog block right from the start with us lil third world countires.

I say this because when I try to video stream programming over the internet from ABC.com, CBS.com and other places, I receive the message that the programming is not available in Mexico. Whereas, when I'm back in the states, visiting, it comes in just fine. Maddening much?

Ultimately, I may end up getting dish network service at my daughter's house in the states, bringing the extra receiver down here, purchasing a dish locally and aiming it from here. Has anyone done this and been able to successfully record on a DVD recorder? And, if so, what make a model of DVD recorder are you using?

Also does anyone else have experiences with DVD recording of the channels I've mentioned that they would be willing to share?

Obviously, my new Sony DVD recorder has all the latest encryption recognition equipment in it ready and waiting to block me from recording most anything worthwhile --even one single time. VCR works fine because it doesn't have the encryption. But VCR's wear out very quickly in the dust and humidity that I call home on cozumel island. I'm toying with buying an LG DVD recorder at Chedraui and see if THAT has the encryption software installed on board. I am angry and I am very frustrated, too.

Any one with similar experiences and/or solutions? I wrote an email to HBO and HBO Latino for all the good that will do. Ha Ha. I tried to write an email to Cablemas in Spanish but their website is so crummy I get an error everytime I hit the Enviar button. Why am I not surprised.

Anyway, thanks in advance for anyone who cares to share their own experience which I can only hope have been more successful than my own to date.

johanson / Moderator

Feb 14, 2007, 9:31 AM

Post #2 of 23 (7037 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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We are not ignoring you, Carianna, I just don't think any of us have any idea how to help you.

Sorry about that.

(This post was edited by johanson on Feb 14, 2007, 11:33 AM)

Carianna

Feb 14, 2007, 9:58 AM

Post #3 of 23 (7032 views)

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Re: [johanson] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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Well, I did a little research on this over the internet and have several potential solutions should anyone else encounter this problem.

#1. It is possible I might be able to copy a movie to a DVD Ram Recorder, a computer with memory built in that stores it. That doesn't do me much good as I don't have that. Actually, I do have a laptop that might do this. But only via an S video cable and as none of my tv's have S video cable connectors, I will have to get an adapter to try that one. Which I may do.

#2. It is possible cablemas can turn off what are apparently macrovision and CGMS/A copy protection system encryption. This is what's causing the problem. All the newer DVD recorders and apparently the new VCR's as well, have encyrption recognition software built in that recognizes these "red flags" coming from Macrovision and etc. In the US, the cable company is supposed to be able to turn these off. So I will go and talk to the Cablemas people here and if they refuse to do anything, I may take them to PROFECO which is very good and very active here on the island. I have bested Telmex twice using PROFECO just to give you an example.

#3. If all else fails, I can try purchasing a "video stabilizer" in the states and bring it down. this removes copyright protection. Filters it out. Whether the picture is any good with this filter in the middle of the transmission is something I have yet to ascertain. I will probably go this route as I have a strong feeling based on past experience that the local cablemas people will look at me sadly, shrug their shoulders and say there is nothing they can do about the situation. Which may or may NOT be true. The question is, is it worth saving the $90 US I'd pay for a good quality video stablizer to put in the ugly hours on the grungey couch in the PROFECO office above the market or not? Because I'll almost surely have to take this up to the highest level corporate headquarters of Cablemas in Mexico to get anything done. And the onlyway to get that kind of attention is via PROFECO.

I'll keep you posted and if anyone happens to read this that is experiencing a problem, please post. Also I would advise people not to purchase DVD recorders for use down here at this point or you will soon be as mad as the wet hen who is writing this right now.

arbon

Feb 15, 2007, 9:54 AM

Post #4 of 23 (6987 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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I don't think you will have much luck copying from a digital cable box, with out another special box sold by some cable companies up North.

You can get DVD recorders with a built in Hard Drive for saving........that might work.

But there are other ways.

Let's work back wards, with some questions.

Were/are you getting High Definition on your TV from cable (1080i or 1080p)?

Does your TV have a connection for HDMI cable?

Some TVs can receive a HDMI signal, but a (Home) DVD recorder can't record from HDMI. (copy protection)

But a home DVD recorder can copy from another home DVD player, with the SIMA GoDVD in between.

Then you can play back on a DVD player that has an HDMI out cable to the TV, by up converting the signal, some have 1080i and the newer TVs have 1080p (TV broadcast wont be going to 1080p for some time, if ever).
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(This post was edited by arbon on Feb 15, 2007, 10:04 AM)

Carianna

Feb 15, 2007, 10:29 AM

Post #5 of 23 (6983 views)

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Re: [arbon] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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We don't have high definition signals in my neck of the woods except possibly ??? via satellite service. I'm working right now with an old fashioned cable/anoalog signal. RF Cable comes in the wall. I plug it into the back of the settop box the cable company gives me and from there on to the VCR, tv, DVD recorder, etc.

I am aware that one of the run arounds is to get a recorder with RAM so you can store it on the 'chine. But first of all they're expensive. And second of all I live in Mexico and they're even MORE expensive. I also barely have anything fancy on my tv despite it only being about 1.5 years old. It has RCA connectors but no S connector capability for example. As you can see, we're kind of down to the basics here.

There are several video stabilizers that tell you very clearly in their ads that they will erase the macrovision encyrption from incoming signals and one of them gives you a two month return policy. I'm favoring the Grix model or I could bump up -- and its a BIG bump up price wise to the TBC-1000 if I was sure that would work. Frankly, I'm so mad right now I would pay just about any amount of discretionary income I have lying around to foil this stupid, unfair system they're putting into place. Apparently, its a problem in the states as well. I thought it was just Mexico.

Thanks very much for your input. Any other suggestions will always be welcomed and appreciated. Unless you work for Macrovision. Ha Ha.

arbon

Feb 15, 2007, 11:58 AM

Post #6 of 23 (6973 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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We only subscribe to analog with no box, we would only need a cable box if we wanted to receive the digital channels.

(The TV we have "up converts" analog to digital 1080i, believe it or not.)

So my next question.

Do you get any signal from the cable if you connect directly to the TV or DVD?
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Carianna

Feb 15, 2007, 1:21 PM

Post #7 of 23 (6963 views)

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Re: [arbon] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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Yes, I do get the 'non-premium' channels without the cable box. I just screw the RF cable from the wall right into the back of the TV, VCR or DVD recorder and get stuff like Hallmark, Sony, Golden 1 and 2 and a lot of Mexican stations some of which have some truly embarassing comedy acts on them, don't they?

The cable box is needed to get not only HBO's, Cinemax's and Movie City but also another package they laughingly called "The American Channels" which consists of ABC, NBC, CNN, TNT in English and I think that's about it. I say laughingly because the picture tends to be pretty bad on these channels and they drop a lot. Rumor has it that they are pirating them and that would sound about right to me from past experience with this company.

I hadn't realized that the cable box was converting to digital from analog. Is that the only way it can work? The model of this one is a General Instrument CFT2200 and it only has one connector in and one connector out.

The link for one of the two stablizers I'm considering is: http://www.xdimax.com/grex/grex.html the other one is a little more expensive box put out by FacetVideo.

Thanks a lot for your input. It's much appreciated. I think I'll call Grex now and see what they say. I emailed them but maybe they're afraid to answer me for fear of getting trapped into admitting in writing that their product is actually designed to strip off macrovision protections. I'm going to call them right now and see what they say.

arbon

Feb 15, 2007, 3:12 PM

Post #8 of 23 (6957 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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"I hadn't realized that the cable box was converting to digital from analog. Is that the only way it can work?"

The GENERAL INSTRUMENT CFT2200 is a DESCRAMBLE CABLE BOX .

I have no idea if it converts analog to digital, but you would have to have a digital TV to be able to watch it.
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(This post was edited by arbon on Feb 15, 2007, 3:16 PM)

Carianna

Feb 15, 2007, 3:36 PM

Post #9 of 23 (6954 views)

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Re: [arbon] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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well, I shore don't have a digital tv. I'm pretty sure the cable box is an analog device. But I could be wrong.

Anyway, I'm going to order the Grex stabilizer and see what happens. I'm an optimistic person. Plus I just read a bunch of reviews of it on some av forums inhabited by geeks. They make it and distribute it in Israel of all places. I'll post if it works for me. And thanks for trying to help. I really appreciate your concern.

sparks

Feb 15, 2007, 5:16 PM

Post #10 of 23 (6943 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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Have you tried putting an older box in front of your recorder and see if the decoding drops out

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Carianna

Feb 15, 2007, 8:16 PM

Post #11 of 23 (6933 views)

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Re: [sparks] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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yep. I exchanged the 3 year old box for a new one in the hopes that the problem would go away and it didn't.

lakechapaladreamer

Feb 26, 2007, 2:22 PM

Post #12 of 23 (6866 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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"I say this because when I try to video stream programming over the internet from ABC.com, CBS.com and other places, I receive the message that the programming is not available in Mexico. Whereas, when I'm back in the states, visiting, it comes in just fine. Maddening much?"

I, too, was very disappointed to find that I can't stream from any of the TV internet sites. I loved to catch up on missed episodes of favorites series back in the states. I know that they can tell we are in Mexico by the ISP we use, but does anyone know if there is a way to "fool" them into thinking I am in the states? By the way I live in Ajijic area and use Prodigy DSL.

(This post was edited by lakechapaladreamer on Feb 26, 2007, 2:23 PM)

johanson / Moderator

Feb 26, 2007, 5:51 PM

Post #13 of 23 (6848 views)

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Re: [lakechapaladreamer] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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You wrote, lakechapaladreamer, "I know that they can tell we are in Mexico by the ISP we use, but does anyone know if there is a way to "fool" them into thinking I am in the states?"

I was told that it can be easily done, by a techie whom I greatly respect, but never asked him how to do it. Gee, I'm a big help aren't I Smile

Ron Pickering W3FJW

Feb 26, 2007, 6:13 PM

Post #14 of 23 (6841 views)

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Re: [johanson] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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There are a few sites that you can access and browse the net through those websites. Therefore you are using their ISP & IP which is what other sites you are at see. However I don't know what they are as I've never had to mask my IP. Just letting you know, they are out there. Perhaps a google search on "masking IP" would help.
Getting older and still not down here.

Brian

Feb 26, 2007, 6:54 PM

Post #15 of 23 (6829 views)

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Re: [Ron Pickering W3FJW] Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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There are various "anonymizer" sites other than the original which you can try.

http://tinyurl.com/nof34

Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Feb 26, 2007, 7:01 PM)

Carianna

Feb 27, 2007, 7:51 AM

Post #16 of 23 (6799 views)

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Proxy Servers

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That's what they're called. There are all kinds of Proxy server services you can sign up with and most of them are free. However, I have yet to find one that isn't slow as Christmas coming and also the three I've tried don't have the Active X and other controls you need to video stream. I'll bet there's a proxy server out there that can handle this although they ARE known for being pretty slow which means you're going to get jerky video streaming at best unless you already have a really fast connection.

Anyone finds one that works, let me know. You can just do a google search for proxy servers and maybe add the term 'video streaming' and see if you have any luck. Proxy servers mask your IP address whenever you use them. So, for example, if you for some reason wanted to behave like an arse on this forum, you could come in under the proxy and the webmaster wouldn't be able to track you back to your real IP. The firefox browser also has an add on you can download that lets you turn the proxy server on and off which is really handy. I would only want to use it to video stream at this point.

miketinsfo

Feb 28, 2007, 9:55 AM

Post #17 of 23 (6756 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Proxy Servers

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Your other option is a VPN service like FindNot.com. It will make your computer "appear" to be in the US... It's can be slow be I have used it with MovieLink once. Frankly I am hoping the movie services stop the silly only in the US stuff... ITunes certainly doesn't care where you are in the world.

Carianna

Feb 28, 2007, 10:59 AM

Post #18 of 23 (6749 views)

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Re: [miketinsfo] Proxy Servers

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I checked out findnot.com. Thanks. It appears to maintain anonymity at broadband speeds I have to fork out $400 per year or something like that. They have a much lower rate for the basic service but it makes me suspicious that getting broadband speeds would cost SOOO much more. You did use the basic service to download something or stream something? How long did it take or how did it function if it was streaming?

I've been reading the geeky forums again and it appears that every time someone discovers another proxy server that works with abc.com etc., it's found pretty quickly and blocked.

I'm absolutely enraged by this but I guess I can either get an ulcer or let it go. I AM getting that Grex stabilizer, however. Won't work for computer downloads but I'm hoping it will remove the stupid copyright protections from my incoming cable signal. This is the wave of the future and it ain't purty. Greed never is.

miketinsfo

Feb 28, 2007, 11:10 AM

Post #19 of 23 (6747 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Proxy Servers

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Frankly it was very slow... I think the typical use for the VPN type services is to skirt the US online poker ban... so the low speeds work fine for typical users. Downloading movies is a whole other game... but if you are willing to wait overnight for your movie then it might be workable. You can try the service out for 30.00 for three months. I didn't keep it because between our DVR, NetFlix and Itunes we get most of the stuff we want... I am sure some of these sites will open up to international users if they can ever agree on copy protection... or better yet agree to remove it.

(This post was edited by miketinsfo on Feb 28, 2007, 11:11 AM)

sfmacaws

Feb 28, 2007, 11:30 AM

Post #20 of 23 (6742 views)

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Re: [Carianna] Proxy Servers

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I'm wondering if this would be a solution. If you have a friend in the US with a broadband connection, you could put an inexpensive pc there and control it with PCAnywhere or another such remote program. Then you would set it to download whatever you wanted and you could transfer that to your pc in Mexico. Kind of a kludge but not too difficult.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

lakechapaladreamer

Mar 27, 2007, 1:48 PM

Post #21 of 23 (6656 views)

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Re: [johanson] Solution found! Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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I researched and tested lots of ideas today and finally found one that worked on this website http://www.mikeindustries.com/...ll-episode-streaming !!

I was reading through all the posts and trying this and that and then found the post below. I edited it a bit. Don't forget to change your time zone to a US zone! It works (for me AND for today... no guarantees) and I am currently catching up on Jericho on ABC.COM (I haven't tested other channels websites yet).. I use Prodigy DSL and the streaming is fine! Stops to buffer once in a while, but I am HAPPY!

The Anonymizer software is $30 after the trial period, so I will try to find a free solution in the mean time.

Diana
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WATCH ABC SHOWS OUTSIDE THE U.S

Hi all,
I was hesitant to put this up here first, as I'd hate to let ABC know, but I just can't keep it a secret, that would be selfish.

First go to http://www.ip-adress.com/ (It should have your current location now).

Get an anonymizer. I have one called "Anonymizer" (Clever I know.) Download the free trial version at http://www.anonymizer.com/.

After installing, go to the http://www.ip-adress.com/ link again and you can see the new location. (It changes daily, yesterday it said 'anonymous', today I'm apparently in California if anyone asks.)

CHANGE YOUR COMPUTER CLOCK TO THAT TIME ZONE! When I first downloaded, I got the "Episodes Temporarily Unavailable" message. I tried Fred's suggestion of changing the time zone and I am now all caught up with Grey' Anatomy!

If your IP address does not give a location, try just picking a U.S. time zone, I picked Central Time zone US and it worked. You may have to wait until the next day to see if it gives you a location. But that combo works! Happy viewing!
# March 1, 2007 11:52 AM

(This post was edited by lakechapaladreamer on Mar 27, 2007, 2:34 PM)

sparks

Mar 27, 2007, 2:57 PM

Post #22 of 23 (6645 views)

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Re: [lakechapaladreamer] Solution found! Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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That is some hard up for TV kinda fanagling ... and it's a mainstream network with (( I can't say it )) as content

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

lakechapaladreamer

Mar 27, 2007, 5:30 PM

Post #23 of 23 (6631 views)

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Re: [sparks] Solution found! Blocking of internet and cable programming to Mexico

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We all have our vices, our "secret" pleasures. ;)

Especially for us "newbies", it can be fun at the end of the day to touch base with the "old world"....