This article focuses on Belgium, but it’s also a commentary in general on the state of digital video receiver boxes. Since about a year, I have a Telenet Digicorder (site in Dutch), which is a device that both decodes incoming digital broadcasts and is able to record and timeshift them. It’s a fairly user-friendly device and, while I have experienced a crash or two, is pretty stable so I’m happy with it.
What does bother me is the totally closed nature of the box. There is absolutely no way to interact with the device, except through the remote control. You can’t control it via automation and, more importantly, you cannot get the recorded video of the box, not even for streaming it to another TV in the house.
This seems to be a pretty common occurrence in many new media devices. Try to keep everything as closed of as possible. Even connections the screens are now secured. Users are treated as pirates. In this regard, I’ve always wondered why we can’t skip those terribly annoying anti-piracy messages when watching a DVD. But if one was to watch the pirated version of that same DVD, there’s no message, and no annoyance.
Anyway, getting back to the Digicorder, I turned to the Internet to see what people had already done and apparently, no one has done much hacking on the device. There’s a lot of talk about it, but it seems every one is afraid to void their warranty and possibly get blacklisted by Telenet, I guess. I did find out that the device is very likely an ADB one, but with a custom front (via). If you’re interested, here and here are a few discussions, both in Dutch though.
Of course, pro pirates have inside connections and get the media before it ever hits retail so all the RIAA/MPAA actions really do is make piracy more profitable for organized crime the same way Prohibition in the US catapulted organized crime to the big leagues and the continuing ‘war’ on drugs sustains it.
let's open a contest: challenge n°1: hack the Telenet digicorder so customers can finally export their recordings challenge n°2: find a solution to get rid of the old-fashioned Telenet devices
we are ready to offer a 1000 euro award for challenge 1. the purpose of this contest is to force Telenet to open their platform, and reconsider their business model so their clients can finally decide themselves which hardware to use. most TV's nowadays just need a smart-card. yes, it could be as simple as that. Telenet, just sell us a subscription and a smart-card.
Yes, this seems like a great idea. It's not going to help with the challenge, but I was going to sniff the network traffic. Just to see what gets transmitted, such as the program guide. I've also been told this is how Telenet enables and disables subscription channels, although this really isn't my primary concern (I already have enough television to watch right now ;) )
Closed Video Boxes, (not) Hacking the Telenet Digicorder
This article focuses on Belgium, but it’s also a commentary in general on the state of digital video receiver boxes. Since about a year, I have a Telenet Digicorder (site in Dutch), which is a device that both decodes incoming digital broadcasts and is able to record and timeshift them. It’s a fairly user-friendly device and, while I have experienced a crash or two, is pretty stable so I’m happy with it.
What does bother me is the totally closed nature of the box. There is absolutely no way to interact with the device, except through the remote control. You can’t control it via automation and, more importantly, you cannot get the recorded video of the box, not even for streaming it to another TV in the house.
This seems to be a pretty common occurrence in many new media devices. Try to keep everything as closed of as possible. Even connections the screens are now secured. Users are treated as pirates. In this regard, I’ve always wondered why we can’t skip those terribly annoying anti-piracy messages when watching a DVD. But if one was to watch the pirated version of that same DVD, there’s no message, and no annoyance.
Anyway, getting back to the Digicorder, I turned to the Internet to see what people had already done and apparently, no one has done much hacking on the device. There’s a lot of talk about it, but it seems every one is afraid to void their warranty and possibly get blacklisted by Telenet, I guess. I did find out that the device is very likely an ADB one, but with a custom front (via). If you’re interested, here and here are a few discussions, both in Dutch though.
I’d like to conclude this post with a quote by Hack-a-Day commenter “Ugly American”:
Image credit