[opendtv] Re: DTV awareness

  • From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:48:39 -0400

You seriously seem to be in need of a drink.

- Tom

John Willkie wrote:
Do you type simply to hear the keys click?
"somehow already" found in a data stream.  You mean random bits?  Or does
"already" mean that it was only transmitted before I connected her set to
the cable?

THE QUESTION, my dear Tom, is how her set updated itself.

Some questions for you to ponder.

1.)  Did the data come through the power cord?
2.)  Was it magic?
3.)  Did the televisión set hear me cussing and calling it dirty names while
manually adding channels after three failed channel scans, and decided on
it's own to straighten up and fly right?
4.)  Did some alien come down overnight an do an anal probe on the
television set to set it right?
5.)  Was it a conspiracy?

Did I miss any other idiotic possibility?  It's possible that
man-in-the-moon marigolds last for years when put in a vase filled 3/4 of
the way to the top with a mixture of paint thinner and Jack Daniels, but
it's not likely.

Using occam's razor, the data came through some publicly-defined protocol
that permits updating of firmware in television sets.  Adam pointed out that
cable supports A/97.  And, here's an odd idea:  that's EXACTLY the
functionality provided by A/97. To me, that's the only rational possibility
for the new functionality.  I leave the irrational to you and Bert.

John Willkie, who recommends highly not gargling with Boone's farm while
writing emails.  Just in case there's some confustion, I haven't imbibed
alcohol in more than 24 years.



-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Tom Barry
Enviado el: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:54 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: DTV awareness

Though it is also possible that the options presented are not new functionality but just things somehow already found in a data stream, not present when she first got the set.

- Tom

John Willkie wrote:
I said nothing about PBS, although KPBS has been broadcasting A/97 for
more
than three years.  (I first saw the packets more than three years ago, in
two streams)

I am saying that when she bought the tv, there were two scanning options.
Now there are three.  And, the title of that third option changed from
"Cable 1hr." one day to "Cable 1hour" two days later.

I can say that the tv has been connected to cable exclusively since a few
minutes after it was plugged in and that it has no Internet connection.

I guess it's possible that the tv added functionality more than a few
hours
after being connected to cable, but I won't draw any conclusions about the
exact method it followed until I see the transport streams.

I did make a list of the patents the Funai/Sylvania tv claimed to be in
compliance with, but I just looked for the list and couldn't find it.

It isn't impossible that Cox is participating in a test, but until I see
the
packets, I can't draw a conclusion.

The packets I have seen on KPBS-DT were in a separate program, most
recently
called UpdateT.  Unless they've reconfigured that, it wouldn't have been
in
channels 15-1 or 15-2.

I think I can conclude that the new functionality didn't come through the
power cord, and I know the option appeared after the initial scan, because
I
tried all options in the original scans, because it didn't work and I had
to
spend more than an hour manually discovering channels.

Did I point out that design of most TV sets occurs in San Diego?  Did I
point out that it's not a coincidence that KPBS-DT aired UpdateTV services
some time before the commercial launch?  Have I pointed out that local
broadcasters get calls from Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic, et al about oddities
in
their PSIP and transport streams?

All I can safely report is the added functionality.  Channel scans now
work,
and they didn't before, and they only work using a scan option that
arrived
some time after the tv was first installed and configured.

John Willkie



-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Ron Economos
Enviado el: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:49 AM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: DTV awareness

That seems a little far-fetched to me. You're saying that:

1) There's a PBS station (or any station) sending A/97 packets in San Diego/TJ
2) That Cox is passing on the A/97 packets
3) That your Mom's TV is A/97 compliant
4) That the manufacturer has supplied #1 with an update.
5) All of the above conditions are true

Does Cox replicate the A/97 packets on all QAM channels, or
do you have to tune to the PBS QAM channel to get the update?

Ron

John Willkie wrote:

And, here's something new.  When I first did a digital channel scan, it
couldn't find any; I had to do a manual search.  The last time I ran a
scan,
NOT ONLY had a new "Cable 1hr" scan option been installed, but it found
all
the channels I had programmed, and more.  Perhaps I need to explain what
happened for the folks on Roosevelt Island.  The TV set -- through the
QAM
tuner -- downloaded and installed a new scan option.  Without her paying
a
cent, other than her basic analog cable monthly fee.  (Which she has
thought
was too expensive for more than 42 years.)

Think your set top box can update a television set?  I know it "would be
difficult" via a RGB connection.

John Willkie

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--
Tom Barry                  trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx  




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