DRM error Shield TV

[vfrjim]

It’s probably already known but if you have a Samsung smart TV, the HDHomerun shows up on your network devices and it plays DRM channels without problems (except atsc 3 drm channels)

[cejack]

Yes we will get this fixed.

Been almost 5-6 months here of HDHR Prime unit not working with DRM channels on Android devices.

Some detailed description of what's happening here and what the solution may be - even if it is out of your hands - seems in order.

Other protected content being played on my Android so it has to be possible here. Doesn't Netfllix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, HULU, etc, use DRM? Those platforms still work on my Android devices. I'm sure it's complicated and technical - but it would be nice to see if this has any hope of being fixed or if this is a dead-end for HDHR Prime users with cable card.

Not going to throw away my Prime unit as I can still get some use out of it on my Windows and Apple devices, but it may influence the devices I buy in the future to replace obsolete units. I like Android - but if it will never be compatible with HDHR Prime unit ever again, I may be more inclined to buy something else when I budget my next tech purchases.

[phoneguyinpgh]

Dear Silicon Dust employees/engineers,

It has been well over 6 months since this issue started. We have been told that it will be fixed, but as of September there is still no fix available.

If Google is the cause of this issue; Changing the way AndroidTV handles certificates & verifying the integrity of the OS before permitting your app from displaying lawfully subscribed to DRM content, then this is clearly an Anti-Trust issue which should be reported to the FTC and/or the DOJ. Google is using it's market dominance to try and drive a smaller company's device and software out of use and force users over to their own products such as YouTubeTV and other streaming services. This is clearly and blatantly unlawful.

Please take what ever steps necessary to resolve this issue. Over 6 months of Google preventing us from enjoying the content we are paying for is unacceptable.

[pmarsh]

@vfrjim didn't know about that with Samsung TV, my NU8000 plays back channels and the quality is soo much better than GoogleTV and Shield. But it can't play the DRM channels either.

But the quality being so much better even without the guide and app I'd prefer watching it this way.

[ERamseth]

is this still in the works?

[ERamseth]

Radio silence on this issue for 4 months now. Is this going to get fixed or do I need to start thinking about switching to Apple TV 4K device?

[NedS]

Apple TV is worse, because it never had CableCARD DRM support. Maybe a cheap refurb Xbox One S for a TV connected device, as Windows and iOS are the only CableCARD DRM platforms working right now.

Nick wants to get Android working again, but CableCARD is a shrinking audience, so there's going to be a lot of things that are a higher priority right now. I won't say it will never happen, but it won't happen soon.

[vfrjim]

I ended up using an old laptop (Lenovo T470), forced it to use Windows 11 and a wireless keyboard and now drm is no problem. Funny thing is that it uses less power at idle than the Nvidia Shield.

[Ken.F]

Nick wants to get Android working again, but CableCARD is a shrinking audience, so there's going to be a lot of things that are a higher priority right now.

I don't know what would be a higher priority than consumer confidence in your products. I'm about to give up on HDHomeRun altogether due to the lack of DRM support. CableCARD DRM recording has been "coming soon" since 2015. Now it doesn't even work for live TV on Android. I could just throw in the towel and go OTA only but I refuse to buy yet another HDHomeRun tuner with the inevitable ATSC 1.0 shutdown on the horizon. Even if you announced today that DRM is fully working on ATSC 3.0 I still wouldn't buy a tuner because I have no confidence that you guys won't give up on supporting that too. There will be some issue that comes up periodically that breaks it but you guys won't fix it because the priority is the next shiny new thing.
[/rant]

[NedS]

I don't know what would be a higher priority than consumer confidence in your products. I'm about to give up on HDHomeRun altogether due to the lack of DRM support. CableCARD DRM recording has been "coming soon" since 2015. Now it doesn't even work for live TV on Android. I could just throw in the towel and go OTA only but I refuse to buy yet another HDHomeRun tuner with the inevitable ATSC 1.0 shutdown on the horizon. Even if you announced today that DRM is fully working on ATSC 3.0 I still wouldn't buy a tuner because I have no confidence that you guys won't give up on supporting that too. There will be some issue that comes up periodically that breaks it but you guys won't fix it because the priority is the next shiny new thing.
[/rant]

If we were the kind of company that just drops something for "the next shiny new thing" then all PRIME support would have ended at least five years ago, and we wouldn't still be supporting OTA tuners from nearly 20 years ago. The support we've given the PRIME is unprecedented in the consumer electronics space, but it can't last forever. Nick still wants to try and get it fixed on Android, and this new thread activity will probably encourage that even more. I'm just trying to be honest with you about the situation.

[Ken.F]

If we were the kind of company that just drops something for "the next shiny new thing" then all PRIME support would have ended at least five years ago, and we wouldn't still be supporting OTA tuners from nearly 20 years ago. The support we've given the PRIME is unprecedented in the consumer electronics space, but it can't last forever. Nick still wants to try and get it fixed on Android, and this new thread activity will probably encourage that even more. I'm just trying to be honest with you about the situation.

Thanks for the honesty. I'll be honest too. From my point of view it appears you guys want to say you still support the Prime but it's such a low priority customers shouldn't expect anything to get done. Maybe I'm wrong but that's just what it looks like to me.

[pmarsh]

If anyone wants to go the Windows route I would just chime in that I grabbed an One S and it works but the UI is very slow.

If I were to go back to it I would use a cheap mini PC and just set HDHomeRun to start at boot.

[ERamseth]

Apple TV is worse, because it never had CableCARD DRM support.

Didn’t realize apple tv didn’t have cablecard drm support. Figured since iOS does, then it would.

Can iOS play it when connected (wired) via hdmi?

[ERamseth]

Windows and iOS are the only CableCARD DRM platforms working right now.

Also, this is not true. Windows is not working. Not for me anyway. I’m willing to troubleshoot a lot of things but last time I started down this path you guys wanted me to wipe my windows install and start from scratch and that’s simply not something I’m willing to do.

[ERamseth]

Can iOS play it when connected (wired) via hdmi?

Answered my own question. The answer is no.