WestCoastSuccess writes with this excerpt: “A year and a half ago, Canada’s Shaw Cable began encrypting channels with the ’0×02′ flag. This flag has the effect of making the IEEE1394 (Firewire) output useless to customers who use third-party PVRs (such as the excellent MythTV, for example).

After complaints to the CRTC and Industry Canada about this practice, the encryption flag was dropped on most channels and the Firewire connection again functioned. Until last night, that is.”