Re: ProBIND2 (Re: DNS: BIND vs. WinDNS)

[Neil Joseph Schelly]

On Wednesday 14 December 2005 06:44 pm, Travis Roy wrote:
> Turns out there's ProBIND2, and it's SWEET.
That's actually what I meant.  I guess I don't actually have any experience 
with ProBIND itself, but ProBIND2 is great.
-N
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Re: HDTV geektalk - (was: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others)?

[Bill McGonigle]

On Dec 14, 2005, at 19:57, Ben Scott wrote:


So I assume your remark was
intended to be about something more, yes?  :)


Yes, the ability to hack the hardware you own.


You would do this with signed code and a crypto provider.

  Yah, we've seen how well that works for MSIE and ActiveX.  :-P


I know you're not crazy so we'll assume that's doubly facetious and 
you're not holding up MSIE as security done right.



 It seems to me that you appear to be deliberately ignoring the fact
that a great many of the world's computers are not, in fact, under the
control of the nominal owner of said computer.  (Spyware, adware,
viruses, Trojans, zombies, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad naseum)


You're talking about Windows again and projecting its abysmal design 
onto computing in general.  See also Mac OS and Linux, but even those 
have way too lax of a security regime for something like a cable box.  
That's why I mentioned Java which already has everything built-in to 
ensure code that's coming in over the cable network has been signed by 
the cable provider, whether that's over IP or on a private network 
(doesn't matter - their networks can shuttle digital data just fine 
now) .  If the TV is based on embedded linux and Java you can put 
whatever your want onboard locally, not by downloading Gator from the 
Intarweb.



  A TV
set that can run arbitrary programs is not a TV anymore, it's a
general-purpose computer.


That's what a cable box is.   You just don't have the keys and can't do 
what you want to with the product you're paying for.



  Sometimes having that kind of flexibility
is a good thing, but we can already put a PC in the role of
entertainment center if we want to.  I suggest that retaining the
ability to keep the PC *out* of that role would also be a good thing.
KISS and all that.  :-)


You're not reducing complexity - you're forfeiting all control of your 
machine to someone who doesn't have your best interests in mind and may 
manage that complexity differently.  Are you sure you don't want a Mac?


-Bill
-
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BFC Computing, LLC  Home: 603.448.1668
[EMAIL PROTECTED]   Mobile: 603.252.2606
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Re: [DLSLUG-Discuss] book / library news (cross posted)

[Roger]

Dear Lloyd and Bill,

I'm not sure I understand.
Can anyone of us use the coupon?
Is that a coupons that the individuals in the LUG's can use?

Should we just tell you what books we would like to see in the DLSLUG library 
and you would use
the coupon to buy books for the public DLSLUG library?

Sincerely,
Roger

--- Python <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> We have a c o u p o n from Addison-Wesley publishers for 40%.  It can
> be used online at:
> 
> http://www.awprofessional.com
> http://www.phptr.com
> http://www.ibmpressbooks.com
> 
> The online code is 
>   USERGROUP
> case sensitive and you get to enter it at the third step (payment method
> step) of the checkout process.
> 
> It expires Jan 10, 2006.  If you should need a paper version, I have
> scanned it and can email a PDF.
> 
> 
> Bill McGonigle has provided ten books for the library.
> http://dlslug.org/library.html
> provides the list.  These are older books, but still relevant.
> 
> -- 
> Lloyd Kvam
> Venix Corp
> 
> ___
> DLSLUG-Discuss mailing list
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> 


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Re: ProBIND2 (Re: DNS: BIND vs. WinDNS)

[Travis Roy]

Ben Scott wrote:

On 12/14/05, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Turns out there's ProBIND2, and it's SWEET.



  You might mention *why*... :-)


Well, for us (us being Colospace) it works well. We have a large number 
of domains, and right now we do it by hand, we edit named.conf, zone 
files, master and slaves, all by hand. This centralized config will save 
us a TON of time.


Also, the ability to import our existing named.conf file, another huge 
timesaver.


That along with being able to disable but not delete domains, add 
comments that are searchable (think customer names)..


From the website here's some other features we liked:

- Automatic generation of the ‘PTR’ records by the ‘A’ records 
(controlled by the checkbox); it generate this record during zone 
generation and has not a problem of dead PTR records (after A record was 
removed);
- IP address allocation – allow to find unused IP addresses, shows 
duplicate names on the same address, and so on;

- Lame delegation and MX violation check – useful for the external zones;
- Log and configuration access – allows to view configuration files and 
logs from the web (so eliminates local logins to the remote systems and 
increases overall security);

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Re: HDTV geektalk - (was: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others)?

[Ben Scott]

On 12/14/05, Bill McGonigle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Dec 14, 2005, at 15:02, Ben Scott wrote:
>> On 12/14/05, Bill McGonigle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> ... (or even better - Java) ...
>>
>>   Oh, great, as if PCs full of spyware aren't bad enough.
>
> Do cable boxes have spyware problems?

  No, for the reason #2 you suggested (cable company controls
everything).  And if the cable company controls everything, it doesn't
matter to the rest of us if the cable box uses Java, Python, Perl,
Visual Basic, or IBM 704 assembler.  So I assume your remark was
intended to be about something more, yes?  :)

> You would do this with signed code and a crypto provider.

  Yah, we've seen how well that works for MSIE and ActiveX.  :-P

> 3) new features, your control
>
> Did I miss any?

  It seems to me that you appear to be deliberately ignoring the fact
that a great many of the world's computers are not, in fact, under the
control of the nominal owner of said computer.  (Spyware, adware,
viruses, Trojans, zombies, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad naseum)  A TV
set that can run arbitrary programs is not a TV anymore, it's a
general-purpose computer.  Sometimes having that kind of flexibility
is a good thing, but we can already put a PC in the role of
entertainment center if we want to.  I suggest that retaining the
ability to keep the PC *out* of that role would also be a good thing. 
KISS and all that.  :-)

-- Ben
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Re: ProBIND2 (Re: DNS: BIND vs. WinDNS)

[Ben Scott]

On 12/14/05, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Turns out there's ProBIND2, and it's SWEET.

  You might mention *why*... :-)

  (Yes, I know I could Google for it myself, and research it, and all
that.   But:  Travis has already done (at least a little of) that.  If
he posts his thoughts once, we all benefit from it.  Big benefit
multiplier there.  Plus I find it more useful when opinions come from
a known quantity, rather then some random person on the web.  (Not
everyone here knows Travis, of course, but they at least have his post
history to go by.)  (And, yes, I *am* going for a world record for
most convoluted use of parenthetical remarks.  (Just in case you were
wondering.  (I know you probably weren't.))  (Yes, I'm kidding (about
the world record part).)))

-- Ben "M, parentheses" Scott
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Ben Scott]

On 12/14/05, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>   'cause I live in an apartment building, it's only wired for a single
>> CATV provider, and I'm on the ground floor so I can't just stick a
>> dish out my window.
>
> Actually you could :)

  Well, I *could* stick a dish out my window, but I wouldn't receive
any satellite TV signals that way.  Too many obstructions and no line
of sight to anything useful.  Plus I wouldn't want to leave a satelite
dish exposed to the foot traffic on the sidewalk, which I would have
to do for my situation.

  If I was on the top floor, I'd at least have a chance that I might
be able to angle a dish to pick up TV.

-- Ben
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ProBIND2 (Re: DNS: BIND vs. WinDNS)

[Travis Roy]

I found this post interesting, so I looked for ProBIND.

Turns out there's ProBIND2, and it's SWEET.

Worth looking at if you have a lot of DNS stuff to deal with.


If you've already got BIND servers that work and you're just looking for a way 
to administer it with a pretty interface, rather than editing BIND 
configuration files, check out ProBIND.  I recently set that up at a Windows 
show that already had BIND/Linux servers that most of the staff hated to 
touch and avoided at all cost.  It doesn't get much easier than a pretty web 
gui.

-N
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Re: [DLSLUG-Discuss] book / library news (cross posted)

[Python]

On Wed, 2005-12-14 at 12:31 -0800, Roger wrote:
> Dear Lloyd and Bill,
> 
> I'm not sure I understand.
> Can anyone of us use the coupon?

Yes, they provided a stack of paper to be distributed that included the
instructions for online purchases.  We are trying to avoid driving all
over NH handing out pieces of paper.  I should have used the plural in
my original email.

> Is that a coupons that the individuals in the LUG's can use?
YES.
> 
> Should we just tell you what books we would like to see in the DLSLUG library 
> and you would use
> the coupon to buy books for the public DLSLUG library?

Well, if people were willing to donate the balance due, sure.

> 
> Sincerely,
> Roger

Thanks for helping us assemble a good FAQ.

> 
> --- Python <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> > We have a   c o u p o n from Addison-Wesley publishers for 40%.  It can
> > be used online at:
> > 
> > http://www.awprofessional.com
> > http://www.phptr.com
> > http://www.ibmpressbooks.com
> > 
> > The online code is 
> > USERGROUP
> > case sensitive and you get to enter it at the third step (payment method
> > step) of the checkout process.
> > 
> > It expires Jan 10, 2006.  If you should need a paper version, I have
> > scanned it and can email a PDF.
> > 
> > 
> > Bill McGonigle has provided ten books for the library.
> > http://dlslug.org/library.html
> > provides the list.  These are older books, but still relevant.
> > 
> > -- 
> > Lloyd Kvam
> > Venix Corp
> > 
> > ___
> > DLSLUG-Discuss mailing list
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > http://dlslug.org/mailman/listinfo/dlslug-discuss
> > 
> 
> 
> __
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> ___
> DLSLUG-Discuss mailing list
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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-- 
Lloyd Kvam
Venix Corp

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HDTV geektalk - (was: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others)?

[Bill McGonigle]

On Dec 14, 2005, at 15:02, Ben Scott wrote:


... (or even better - Java) ...


  Oh, great, as if PCs full of spyware aren't bad enough.


Do cable boxes have spyware problems?  You would do this with signed 
code and a crypto provider.


You have basically three choices:
1) cable card as-is, you get the features the TV has
2) cable box - they control the horizontal, they control the vertical
	3) tv with a targetable platform - can get new features as they become 
available from your service provider or 3rd parties.


Which gives you, correspondingly:
1) no new features
2) new features, no control
3) new features, your control

Did I miss any?

-Bill
-
Bill McGonigle, Owner   Work: 603.448.4440
BFC Computing, LLC  Home: 603.448.1668
[EMAIL PROTECTED]   Mobile: 603.252.2606
http://www.bfccomputing.com/Pager: 603.442.1833
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

Just curious, why can't you get sat?



  'cause I live in an apartment building, it's only wired for a single
CATV provider, and I'm on the ground floor so I can't just stick a
dish out my window.


Actually you could :)

the FCC ruled that a landlord couldn't limit your choices if:

- The dish is on your own rented property (balcony, railing, etc)
- It's on property that's in "your exclusive use". so you could hang it 
out your window since nobody can use that space except for you. I was 
going to do this at my Cypress St. apartment before I moved.
- You don't cause any damage to the property without first getting 
permission from the landlord (drilling into siding, etc)


there are a number a various non-penetrating mounts. If you are on the 
ground floor you might be able to get away with the "poll in a bucket 
filled with cement"

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Re: December MerriLUG meeting [12/15/2005]

[Christopher Schmidt]

On Mon, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:40:54AM -0500, Ken D'Ambrosio wrote:
> Please feel free to RSVP, or to wait until I send out my morning-of
> reminder.

I plan on being there, with bells on. (More likely, with cell phone and
laptop in hand.) Mark me down for dinner for one.

For the record, I'd love to do some GPG key exchanging - if anyone is
willing to, I'd love to get more deeply involved in the GPG web of
trust.

-- 
Christopher Schmidt
Web Developer


signature.asc
Description: Digital signature

book / library news (cross posted)

[Python]

We have a   c o u p o n from Addison-Wesley publishers for 40%.  It can
be used online at:

http://www.awprofessional.com
http://www.phptr.com
http://www.ibmpressbooks.com

The online code is 
USERGROUP
case sensitive and you get to enter it at the third step (payment method
step) of the checkout process.

It expires Jan 10, 2006.  If you should need a paper version, I have
scanned it and can email a PDF.


Bill McGonigle has provided ten books for the library.
http://dlslug.org/library.html
provides the list.  These are older books, but still relevant.

-- 
Lloyd Kvam
Venix Corp

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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Ben Scott]

  Heh.  Gmail just suggested this: http://www.mycablenightmare.com/

On 12/14/05, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Just curious, why can't you get sat?

  'cause I live in an apartment building, it's only wired for a single
CATV provider, and I'm on the ground floor so I can't just stick a
dish out my window.

On 12/14/05, Bill McGonigle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Maybe when everybody has a digital TV with built-in guides ...

  Well, that's what CableCARD was supposed to enable -- rather then
having to a rent-a-box from the provider, they just give you a card
(hardware key), which you plug into your TV, VCR, TiVo, PC, or
whatever you want.  However, none of the operators appear to want to
cooperate on the standard.  So things like an on-screen guide require
the proprietary box.  Gee, what a surprise.

> ... (or even better - Java) ...

  Oh, great, as if PCs full of spyware aren't bad enough.

-- Ben
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Re: New member saying 'howdy' --

[Neil Schelly]

> Hello GNHLUG,
Hello Adam,

> I just found out about this LUG through a contact at the NASIOC.com
> boards.
I'm neilschelly on NASIOC, nice to meet you.

> I still consider
> myself fairly new to the area, my fiancee and I have been living here
> since May. I grew up in Southern CT, and so far I am enjoying NH.

I grew up in Cheshire, CT (among other places) - where are you from? My
wife (then fiance) and I moved up here from Worcester probably a year and
a half ago, so I guess we're also kinda new.

> I plan to attend the MerriLUG meetings, and look forward to my first this
> coming Thursday.
Tomorrow's meeting will be the first I'll be able to attend as well (due
to a new job I just started last week).  Looking forward to meeting lots
of new people.
-N
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Re: New member saying 'howdy' --

[Adam Helbling]

On 12/14/05, Ken D'Ambrosio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Adam Helbling wrote:> Hello GNHLUG,Greetings and salutations!>   I graduated last spring and have been working in the area since> August as a software engineer. I graduated with a B.S in CS and a
> concentration in Information Assurance. (I also have a B.S. in> Mathematics).You'll fit right in...>> It seems like this is a very well organized groupAppearances can be deceiving, but we try.  Something about "herding
cats" 'n stuff...  [Though Heather's really the true Cat Herder.Perhaps *that* should be her title?]> and I am glad to see you use TWiki, it's such a powerful tool.Those that put it together thought so, too -- and kudos to the Wiki
folks for all their hard work!> Since graduating I have felt out of the loop from the> CS/Linux/Security/ scene, and I hope this> group can help fill the void :).
We'll try...>> I plan to attend the MerriLUG meetings, and look forward to my first> this coming Thursday.Good deal!  Will you be joining us for dinner at 6:00, or the meeting at
7:30?
I plan to join you for dinner at 6.00, Martha's is a great little restaurant.
-Ken

Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Bill McGonigle]

On Dec 14, 2005, at 12:52, Travis Roy wrote:

You still require a set top box. If you go to the site you'll see. 
They actually use the same boxes (motorola) as Comcast.


But they are cheaper, in the DirecTV range.


Well, yeah, that seems obvious in retrospect...  Maybe when everybody 
has a digital TV with built-in guides, etc (or even better - Java) but 
until then 'cable' TV service is pretty well dependent on a controller 
of some sort and IR remotes enforce locality.


I'll still dream of a controller in the basement with 802.11 remotes 
though. :)


-Bill
-
Bill McGonigle, Owner   Work: 603.448.4440
BFC Computing, LLC  Home: 603.448.1668
[EMAIL PROTECTED]   Mobile: 603.252.2606
http://www.bfccomputing.com/Pager: 603.442.1833
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

Verizon intends to do just that with a FiOS box in your basement (or 
attached garage) - so the cable companies can compete or not.


You still require a set top box. If you go to the site you'll see. They 
actually use the same boxes (motorola) as Comcast.


But they are cheaper, in the DirecTV range.

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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Bill McGonigle]

On Dec 14, 2005, at 11:29, Travis Roy wrote:

Not as long as the cable company can nickel and dime you for every 
set-top box you need and every other box device you need. No profit 
for them if they only have say one box in your basement.


Verizon intends to do just that with a FiOS box in your basement (or 
attached garage) - so the cable companies can compete or not.


If you live in a locality with a free market that is.  A Verizon 
Engineer tells me that they're going to start the Manchester fiber 
build-out in 2008 then move out from there - and up here: never (well, 
at least until the copper rots out and it's cheaper for them to replace 
the copper with fiber).


-Bill

-
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BFC Computing, LLC  Home: 603.448.1668
[EMAIL PROTECTED]   Mobile: 603.252.2606
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Re: New member saying 'howdy' --

[Ken D'Ambrosio]

Adam Helbling wrote:

> Hello GNHLUG,

Greetings and salutations!

>   I graduated last spring and have been working in the area since
> August as a software engineer. I graduated with a B.S in CS and a
> concentration in Information Assurance. (I also have a B.S. in
> Mathematics).

You'll fit right in...

>
> It seems like this is a very well organized group 

Appearances can be deceiving, but we try.  Something about "herding
cats" 'n stuff...  [Though Heather's really the true Cat Herder. 
Perhaps *that* should be her title?]

> and I am glad to see you use TWiki, it's such a powerful tool. 

Those that put it together thought so, too -- and kudos to the Wiki
folks for all their hard work!

> Since graduating I have felt out of the loop from the
> CS/Linux/Security/ scene, and I hope this
> group can help fill the void :).

We'll try...

>
> I plan to attend the MerriLUG meetings, and look forward to my first
> this coming Thursday.

Good deal!  Will you be joining us for dinner at 6:00, or the meeting at
7:30?

-Ken
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Re: Myth HD was Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

  Know what I always wondered?  Can you use the Firewire ports on those 
puppies?  I've heard the USB ports on the recievers are disabled, but 
read in many places that the firewire ports are active.
 
http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/news_faq.asp#archive


It depends on the box, the firmware, and the cable provider. It also 
depends on if they even know they have it active or not.



 
  Thomas
 
On 12/14/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] * 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:


Yes, that is correct, you need the HD cable box (which contains
among other things, the decrypter).  Building your MythTV box the
way you describe it, sounds like you have understood all we have
talked about, however, you will need a decent rotatable antenna if
you want more than WMUR-HD (assuming you live in Manchester)

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Re: Myth HD was Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Thomas Charron]

  Just on a giggle I started looking around, and low and behold:
 
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3818890#post3818890 
  You'd need an extra decoder box, but MythTV can use an IR remote to change channels on the box, and should work ok. 
On 12/14/05, Thomas Charron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

  Know what I always wondered?  Can you use the Firewire ports on those puppies?  I've heard the USB ports on the recievers are disabled, but read in many places that the firewire ports are active.
 
http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/news_faq.asp#archive

 
  Thomas 

On 12/14/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Yes, that is correct, you need the HD cable box (which contains among other things, the decrypter).  Building your MythTV box the way you describe it, sounds like you have understood all we have talked about, however, you will need a decent rotatable antenna if you want more than WMUR-HD (assuming you live in Manchester) 
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Re: Myth HD was Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Thomas Charron]

  Know what I always wondered?  Can you use the Firewire ports on those puppies?  I've heard the USB ports on the recievers are disabled, but read in many places that the firewire ports are active.
 
http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/news_faq.asp#archive
 
  Thomas 
On 12/14/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Yes, that is correct, you need the HD cable box (which contains among other things, the decrypter).  Building your MythTV box the way you describe it, sounds like you have understood all we have talked about, however, you will need a decent rotatable antenna if you want more than WMUR-HD (assuming you live in Manchester)
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

AFAIK, you can own your own cable box with Comcast. I have not tried to buy 
one though.


This is true, and I have owned one before (the small black ones).

The problem with the new digital boxes are that you usually have to get 
them from the cable company, 3rd party boxes don't work for the digital 
stuff. Also, they are an arm and a leg.


The old one I had cost me $50 online. MediaOne wanted $350 for the same box.

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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Jerry Feldman]

On Wednesday 14 December 2005 11:29 am, Travis Roy wrote:
> > Apparently at some point you will be able to get a single box that
> > contains your TV, Internet, and phone.
>
> Not as long as the cable company can nickel and dime you for every
> set-top box you need and every other box device you need. No profit for
> them if they only have say one box in your basement.
>
> That and make you pay some crazy high fee if you actually want to buy
> the device.
>
> That's one of the things I like about DirecTV, I actually own my
> equipment. DirecTV is nice that they allow rebates and trade-ins for any
> new equipment later on. For example, TiVo service is going away in 2007,
> now you can get a DirecTV DVR for free after rebate (1 year agreement
> required).
AFAIK, you can own your own cable box with Comcast. I have not tried to buy 
one though.

-- 
Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Boston Linux and Unix user group
http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9
PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

Apparently at some point you will be able to get a single box that contains 
your TV, Internet, and phone. 


Not as long as the cable company can nickel and dime you for every 
set-top box you need and every other box device you need. No profit for 
them if they only have say one box in your basement.


That and make you pay some crazy high fee if you actually want to buy 
the device.


That's one of the things I like about DirecTV, I actually own my 
equipment. DirecTV is nice that they allow rebates and trade-ins for any 
new equipment later on. For example, TiVo service is going away in 2007, 
now you can get a DirecTV DVR for free after rebate (1 year agreement 
required).

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Re: Myth HD was Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[fj1200]

 -- Original message --
From: Paul Lussier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 
> > I recently looked into creating a MythTV box for HD, but
> > unfortunately, there are no cable-ready receiver cards, so all you can
> > do is receive and record OTA (over the air) HD broadcasts, so if you
> > wanted to record say a Discovery HD program, you are SOL.  When WinTV
> > or Hauppage etc come out with an HD card that can receive HD cable
> > programs, then that is when I will be dumping Comcast's DVR box and
> > make my own PVR.
> 
> Currently it is my understanding that in order to watch *any* HD on
> Comcast, you need to have their Digital Cable package + the HD
> package.  The Digital Cable package gets you an HD-capable box, and HD
> package means someone has actually flipped that particular switch back
> at the head end allowing you to receive said content.
> 
> Assuming you have an HD tuner in your set, can you get away without
> the Digital Cable package and also not have the box?  Currently,
> because I a) don't watch a lot of tv. and b) as a cost cutting
> measure, I have only "Basic Cable" and no cable box from Comcast.
> 
> I was thinking of building a MythTV box with multiple tuner cards, one
> for cable and one for OTA HD broadcasts (why pay for something which
> is just flying through the air and waiting for a net to be stuck out
> to catch it :)
> 
> Does that sound reasonable?  Or are there things I'm missing or not
> fully considering.
> -- 
> 
> Seeya,
> Paul

Yes, that is correct, you need the HD cable box (which contains among other 
things, the decrypter).  Building your MythTV box the way you describe it, 
sounds like you have understood all we have talked about, however, you will 
need a decent rotatable antenna if you want more than WMUR-HD (assuming you 
live in Manchester)

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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Jerry Feldman]

On Wednesday 14 December 2005 10:52 am, Ben Scott wrote:
> Popular thought has it that the cable companies make money on the
> set-top boxes, so they've done everything they can to cripple the
> CableCARD standard.
I certainly cannot answer that. 
Apparently at some point you will be able to get a single box that contains 
your TV, Internet, and phone. 

Additionally, the digital boxes can provide output via NTSC, S-Video, and 
Composite Video.
-- 
Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Boston Linux and Unix user group
http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9
PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9
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New member saying 'howdy' --

[Adam Helbling]

Hello GNHLUG,

I just found out about this LUG through a contact at the NASIOC.com
boards. I was extremely happy to find out that such a group existed
here in my area. I was active in the UMassLUG when I was a student in
Amherst, MA. I graduated last spring and have been working in the area
since August as a software engineer. I graduated with a B.S in CS and a
concentration in Information Assurance. (I also have a B.S. in
Mathematics). I still consider myself fairly new to the area, my
fiancee and I have been living here since May. I grew up in Southern
CT, and so far I am enjoying NH.

It seems like this is a very well organized group and I am glad to see
you use TWiki, it's such a powerful tool. Since graduating I have felt
out of the loop from the CS/Linux/Security/ scene, and I hope this group can help fill the void :).

I plan to attend the MerriLUG meetings, and look forward to my first this coming Thursday. 

/waves

Adam H.

Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

  Me too.  I keep meaning to check out the "a la carte" options that
are supposedly mandated to be available now, since I only watch
programs on about five different channels, and I hate paying nearly
$50/month for that.  Unfortunately, I can't get satellite in my
current dwelling, or I'd drop Comcast for TV entirely.


yah, it will probably end up being like $5 per channel, making the 
"package deal" cheaper, even for the few channels you want.


Just curious, why can't you get sat?
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Ben Scott]

On 12/14/05, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I doubt VoIP or having your own Asterisk box will be illegal any time soon.

  That depends entirely on how much legislation the telcos are willing to buy.

-- Ben
"Invest in America: Buy a congressman!"
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Ben Scott]

On 12/14/05, Paul Lussier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Currently it is my understanding that in order to watch *any* HD on
> Comcast, you need to have their Digital Cable package + the HD
> package.  The Digital Cable package gets you an HD-capable box, and HD
> package means someone has actually flipped that particular switch back
> at the head end allowing you to receive said content.

  My mom has Comcast.  Until recently, she had "digital cable", but
without the high definition service.  The "digital cable" cost
something like an extra $10/month.  She got a Comcast set-top box with
that, which we hooked up to her NTSC TV.  The digital cable got her a
clearer picture, even though it was still NTSC (no analog distribution
degradation).  It also got her Comcast's "On Demand", an on-screen
program guide, additional programming, and some other bells and
whistles.

  Recently, she bought a high-def, wide-screen TV.  She upgraded to
Comcast high-def service with that.  They gave her a new set-top box
with that -- apparently, the old one was digital but not high-def. 
IIRC, the high def service cost an additional amount per month over
the already additional digital cable.

  I don't know if Comcast's "digital cable" signal is ATSC, DVB, or
some other thing.  I also don't know if the signal is different for
w/out high-def vs with, or if it's just a they-control-the-box thing.

> Assuming you have an HD tuner in your set, can you get away without
> the Digital Cable package and also not have the box?

  As I understand it: If you have a digital tuner with "CableCARD",
you can just get said card from the cable provider, plug it in, and
you're good to go.  The CableCARD handles the DRM stuff.  No cable box
needed.  However, you loose all the proprietary "extras" like On
Demand, on-screen guide, and such.

  Popular thought has it that the cable companies make money on the
set-top boxes, so they've done everything they can to cripple the
CableCARD standard.

> Currently, because I a) don't watch a lot of tv. and b) as a cost cutting
> measure, I have only "Basic Cable" and no cable box from Comcast.

  Me too.  I keep meaning to check out the "a la carte" options that
are supposedly mandated to be available now, since I only watch
programs on about five different channels, and I hate paying nearly
$50/month for that.  Unfortunately, I can't get satellite in my
current dwelling, or I'd drop Comcast for TV entirely.

-- Ben
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

To quote Galaxy Quest, "Ah, the niavete."  First and foremost: I totally
agree with every point you made.  Which doesn't, alas, mean that the
telco has to agree, or, for that matter, the law.  Just as a ferinstance
of where you already *could* violate the law with an Asterisk box:
(unauthorized) reselling of telco service *is* illegal.  So if, say, you
had Aunt Bessie pay you $5/mo. for the privilege of unlimited calling
via a SIP phone from her house through your Asterisk box, yes, you'd be
breaking the law.


Oh, I agree, but as you stated that stuff is already illegal. I doubt 
VoIP or having your own Asterisk box will be illegal any time soon. To 
many people are using VoIP now. And as stated before, in order for you 
to make or recive calls from a "normal" phone you have to pay somebody 
something, somewhere. So a company is usually involved.

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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Neil Schelly]

> I was thinking of building a MythTV box with multiple tuner cards, one
> for cable and one for OTA HD broadcasts (why pay for something which
> is just flying through the air and waiting for a net to be stuck out
> to catch it :)

I have little or no experience with HD, so take this for what it's worth. 
If you live in a place that doesn't get good reception OTA, then don't
bother.  I was at a friends house recently who was showing off his new
HDTV and switched among a few channels showing very pretty pictures.

That said, his reception was poor. So when he flipped to certain stations,
the picture would occasionally hang for a second or two or become very
pixelated and then catch up.  He flipped on a football game to showcase
the sports value and only one audio track was playing.  The commentator
was speaking on the screen, but that whole audio track was just missing.

He said this was pretty typical of HD broadcasts where they were and they
were still waiting to get their cable hookup for HD to fix it.
-N


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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Ken D'Ambrosio]

Travis Roy wrote:

>
> I think it would be near impossible for say Verizon to prove that
> you're stealing verizon phone service if you set up your own Asterisk
> box. After all, if you eventually hit a PSTN line, you have to pay for
> that some way or another, or if you have a DID number in, you have to
> pay for that as well. 

To quote Galaxy Quest, "Ah, the niavete."  First and foremost: I totally
agree with every point you made.  Which doesn't, alas, mean that the
telco has to agree, or, for that matter, the law.  Just as a ferinstance
of where you already *could* violate the law with an Asterisk box:
(unauthorized) reselling of telco service *is* illegal.  So if, say, you
had Aunt Bessie pay you $5/mo. for the privilege of unlimited calling
via a SIP phone from her house through your Asterisk box, yes, you'd be
breaking the law.

In a nutshell, the law is whatever the legislators make it (and courts
agree to).  And for any in doubt, please plug "Dmitry Sklyarov" into Google.

*sigh*

-Ken
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Travis Roy]

The relentless criminal prosecution and legal harassment of hobbyists
who buy satellite smartcard gear also makes this unattractive.
There are some people who make a living selling systems which defeat
the DRM on satellite signals, which is illegal, but at least DirectTV
subpoenas entire customer lists from vendors and start sending the
goons instead of adhering to some standard of evidence of illegal
activity.  Grand, ain't it?



I'm wondering when the telcos are going to start going this route.
With the ability to build your own phone system and move over to a
completely VoIP solution without a major phone company in the middle
so simple and getting easier everyday, it's only a matter of time
before they turn to litigation-based profit maintenance.


There's a BIG difference here...

VoIP hardware/software is legal. So is Sat TV stuff.

The difference is basically this, you can't really do anything illegal 
to "steal" service with VoIP hardware/software, but the sat TV hardware, 
some of it specifically, is usually only used for one purpose.


I know three people that got DirecTV hacking letters. One person settled 
(for $3000)  because he was stealing DirecTV service. The other had his 
lawer write up a letter saying basically "prove it" and never heard 
back. The third sent a letter and got dragged into court and ended up 
losing (because he was stealing service) and had to pay $5000.


I think it would be near impossible for say Verizon to prove that you're 
stealing verizon phone service if you set up your own Asterisk box. 
After all, if you eventually hit a PSTN line, you have to pay for that 
some way or another, or if you have a DID number in, you have to pay for 
that as well.

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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Paul Lussier]

Bill McGonigle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

> The relentless criminal prosecution and legal harassment of hobbyists
> who buy satellite smartcard gear also makes this unattractive.
> There are some people who make a living selling systems which defeat
> the DRM on satellite signals, which is illegal, but at least DirectTV
> subpoenas entire customer lists from vendors and start sending the
> goons instead of adhering to some standard of evidence of illegal
> activity.  Grand, ain't it?

I'm wondering when the telcos are going to start going this route.
With the ability to build your own phone system and move over to a
completely VoIP solution without a major phone company in the middle
so simple and getting easier everyday, it's only a matter of time
before they turn to litigation-based profit maintenance.
-- 

Seeya,
Paul
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Re: Voip teleophony - Anyone know Packet-8 or others?

[Paul Lussier]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I recently looked into creating a MythTV box for HD, but
> unfortunately, there are no cable-ready receiver cards, so all you can
> do is receive and record OTA (over the air) HD broadcasts, so if you
> wanted to record say a Discovery HD program, you are SOL.  When WinTV
> or Hauppage etc come out with an HD card that can receive HD cable
> programs, then that is when I will be dumping Comcast's DVR box and
> make my own PVR.

Currently it is my understanding that in order to watch *any* HD on
Comcast, you need to have their Digital Cable package + the HD
package.  The Digital Cable package gets you an HD-capable box, and HD
package means someone has actually flipped that particular switch back
at the head end allowing you to receive said content.

Assuming you have an HD tuner in your set, can you get away without
the Digital Cable package and also not have the box?  Currently,
because I a) don't watch a lot of tv. and b) as a cost cutting
measure, I have only "Basic Cable" and no cable box from Comcast.

I was thinking of building a MythTV box with multiple tuner cards, one
for cable and one for OTA HD broadcasts (why pay for something which
is just flying through the air and waiting for a net to be stuck out
to catch it :)

Does that sound reasonable?  Or are there things I'm missing or not
fully considering.
-- 

Seeya,
Paul
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Last night's PySIG

[Ted Roche]

Thanks to the six attendees who made it to the special "Decorators and
Cookies" meetings of the Python Special Interest Group. Special thanks
to Bill Sconce for the delicious cookies, and to Alex Hewitt for
supplying wireless and wired connectivity and to Bruce Dawson for
supplying the projector.

Bill provided two handouts (Bill, can we post them to PySIG?) and a
spirited discussion of the attrgetter() function within sorted() to
provide a cleaner substitute for a lambda function. We looked at a  
few of

the gotchas of sort() in place vs. sorted() returning a result, what
happens when you fail to supply a key for sorting, and so forth.

Discussion was far-ranging, including the logic of interning immutable
objects, the magic None object and the meaning of Null.

Also mentioned was Python's #8 standing in the Tiobe list:

http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm

And a couple of interesting documents from Clay Shirky:

"Group as User: Flaming and the Design of Social Software"
http://www.shirky.com/writings/group_user.html

and:
"Ontology is Overrated: Categories, Links, and Tags"
text: http://www.shirky.com/writings/ontology_overrated.html
audio: http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail470.html

Plans are still afoot for a lab early next year. Stay tuned!

--
Ted Roche
Ted Roche & Associates, LLC
http://www.tedroche.com

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