Bring on the CableCards!!

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: CZroe
The press release itself says Windows 7. AFAIK, ALL reports are derived from it and the associated event. Many leave out the "Windows 7" part, others don't.

End Customers Can Now Add Digital Cable Tuners With CableCARD to Their PCs

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC's ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer's PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

I have no problem with that. Windows 7 is a better OS than Vista and will be better for cable tuners too.

The problem with that is that the reporting is acting like current users are "freed" when, in fact, they need an OS that isn't even available yet. That said, as a dedicated Media Center, Vista was fine (a noted improvement over XP MCE 2005).

 

[glugglug]

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: CZroe
OK, I've got a question. The source article doesn't elaborate on how this is now available/open to all "immediatelyl". Is there a Windows Update patch? A special driver? Something you have to manually apply? If I just buy a tuner and slap it in there, how will MCE respond if it formerly refused to work with it?

You'll still need to use the BIOS hack for the ATi DCTs until ATi comes out with a firmware update for their tuners.

Here's a primer on how to get one to work:

http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/ATI%20DCT/

Then I guess the source is incorrect and the requirement hasn't really been lifted just yet. 🙁 Thanks.

The requirement has been lifted by CableLabs. ATi just hasn't had time to come out with the firmware update for their tuners yet, assuming they will be issuing one some time in the future. Since they still manufacture the OCUR tuners, you'd think there would be one since it would help to increase sales. Seems like it would just be a matter of disabling the BIOS check flag in the firmware but I don't know all of the details involved in the process.

Unfortunately, I read the press release and it appears that this is for Windows 7 only. The requirement has not been lifted for otherwise CableCARD-compatible Vista systems.

Engadget's title, "Media Center CableCARDs freed from OEM requirement," doesn't help clarify it and they don't mention Windows 7 either (just like this thread). 🙁

This Windows 7 requirement is pretty much academic. The handling of QAM/CableCARD tuners in Windows 7 is SOOO much better than in Vista, even after installing TV Pack 2008, that noone in their right mind who is seriously using their PC as digital cable TV/DVR would stick with Vista. This applies more so for hybrid tuners that handle both Analog and Digital, as many cable systems use both. Vista's handling of hybrid tuners (even without CableCARD) is very broken.