CableCard

[minmaster]

Someone said don't get TV tuners right now because soon this "CableCard" thing will make them obsolete. How does this happen and what exactly does CableCard do that will make tv tuner obsolete? it seems like CableCards are already out but why aren't they being used in PCs?

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: minmaster
Someone said don't get TV tuners right now because soon this "CableCard" thing will make them obsolete. How does this happen and what exactly does CableCard do that will make tv tuner obsolete? it seems like CableCards are already out but why aren't they being used in PCs?

They are saying this because analog tuners will cease to funcion next year when the digital switch-over occurrs. Last I checked, you can only get cable-card stuff in set-top boxes or pre-built PCs.

 

[AmberClad]

Just to add to that - there are plenty of HD TV tuners out there, just be careful about reading the specs. NewEgg is actually quite good about this - they have explicit warnings on the product pages for the NTSC tuners that they will become obsolete with the changeover.

 

[SSChevy2001]

CableCards aren't free, there about the same rental price as a standard digital tuner. Which verzion fios had offered 2-3 free digital tuner recently with the switch to digital. Your not going to get ondemand or other special function with a CableCard though, where a standard rental box will. Best to check what your provider is offering 1st before making a purchase on a tv tuner card.

 

[minmaster]

so they will be producing these to be used in PC's correct? right now they look like one of those PCMCIA cards.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Just to add to that - there are plenty of HD TV tuners out there, just be careful about reading the specs. NewEgg is actually quite good about this - they have explicit warnings on the product pages for the NTSC tuners that they will become obsolete with the changeover.

They'll still work with a converter box.

 

[SSChevy2001]

Originally posted by: minmaster
so they will be producing these to be used in PC's correct? right now they look like one of those PCMCIA cards.

You need to contact your TV Provider to find what they offer. Again even with the CableCard Rental your not going to get some features. For example with verzion you don't get the following.

FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide
On Demand
FiOS TV Widgets
Parental Controls

If your want to watch On Demand your going to have to use a standard box anyway, and connect it to your tuner or capture card. I'm currently sharing my HD Cable Box between my LCD and PC tuner.

Also yes CableCards look like PCMCIA Card.

 

[CorCentral]

Seems to me that the CableCard is a dying breed.

Don't get me wrong, I have a Panasonic 50" plasma with a cablecard and love having no crappy external box, but it just seems like they're making less new sets with the option these days.

I don't shop there (only use for info), but if you go to Crutchfield and choose the Narrow your Search option of "cablecard" for all the Lcd and Plasma sets, 117 come up, only 3 have the cablecard capability. All 3 are Mitsubishi 52" lcd's


Any news on the successor of the cablecard? CableCard2?

 

[minmaster]

Originally posted by: SSChevy2001

Originally posted by: minmaster
so they will be producing these to be used in PC's correct? right now they look like one of those PCMCIA cards.

You need to contact your TV Provider to find what they offer. Again even with the CableCard Rental your not going to get some features. For example with verzion you don't get the following.

FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide
On Demand
FiOS TV Widgets
Parental Controls

If your want to watch On Demand your going to have to use a standard box anyway, and connect it to your tuner or capture card. I'm currently sharing my HD Cable Box between my LCD and PC tuner.

Also yes CableCards look like PCMCIA Card.

what type of connection is used to connect your box and your PC? it's not going straight into the monitor right?

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: minmaster
so they will be producing these to be used in PC's correct?

No, they're for Tivos.

The PC as a HDTV platform is basically dead.

 

[SSChevy2001]

Originally posted by: minmaster
what type of connection is used to connect your box and your PC? it's not going straight into the monitor right?

I currently using ATI E-HOME tuner via RCA and component to my LCD. I would use HDMI to my LCD, but my screen doesn't support 480I over the DVI ( HDMI adapter would be used ). Now I can upscale 480I to -> 480P, 720P, 1080I right from the cable box, but for some reason it looks blocky. Still looking for a HD tuner, but it's kind of on the back burner right now. Once Verizon put's the SCIFI Channel in HD I'll be looking for a HD Tuner, but until then I use PIP when watching my HD channels and using the pc at the same time ( same screen of course ). Speaker wise I use Pioneer 5.1 and the LCD built in speakers, both or set to run with either Cable box or PC. Making it no problem to play a game on the 5.1 and use LCD speakers for TV or vice versa.

As said before CableCard is really dead at this point.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: SSChevy2001
As said before CableCard is really dead at this point.

Wrong. They're required to continue offering it to you.

What's dead is having scrambled cable signals decoded on a computer. The platform's just not locked down enough for the cable companies -- or, rather, the CableLabs consortium that has to sign off on all devices -- to allow it (hence the prebuilt-OEM-only status of the one, rather less-than-functional PC cablecard adapter).

The next-gen of cablecard tech will be under the "tru2way" name. That's the format for two-way universal cable tuner stuff... Should be coming in the next year. Devices may or may not involve actual cards (they may just be built in), but going card-free depends on finalizing a standard (currently "downloadable conditional access system" or DCAS) for DRM absent the cablecard -- which doesn't look like it'll happen for a while.

 

[SSChevy2001]

Well is might not be dead, but your seeing less and less of it around. As CorCentral said there aren't many devices offering it as of late. Verzion fios doesn't even mention it unless you ask. Honestly though in some situtations at least in my case it works out better not to have it.

Verizon feels that tru2way is not fit for it's Fios
Link

 

[minmaster]

so my question ultimately is, when is a good time to buy a TV tuning solution for PC?

 

[s44]

Either never (if you want scrambled channels) or right now (if you don't care).

 

[minmaster]

hmm shouldn't i at least wait until next year when the digital transition is completed?

 

[SSChevy2001]

Originally posted by: s44
Either never (if you want scrambled channels) or right now (if you don't care).

What kind of answer is that?

Originally posted by: minmaster
so my question ultimately is, when is a good time to buy a TV tuning solution for PC?

Check what your provider has to offer now and in the future. More than likely your going to have to rent a box. I would go the same route as I did and share the box with a PC TV Tuner and TV ( my case PC Monitor / HDTV LCD ), saving extra money on the rental fee. If you decide to go cablecard tv tuner your not going to get some features, also there will more security limits as well. Also from the looks of it your going to need CableCard certified PC in order to use CableCard. No custom made machines *Special bios on the motherboard is needed*.

Here's more info on cablecard PCs

Originally posted by: minmaster
hmm shouldn't i at least wait until next year when the digital transition is completed?

Your going to have to wait for sometime. I'm already all digital now and as I pointed out Verizon Fios isn't going tru2way, same might be true for your provider. CableCard has to many limits and added $.

 

[minmaster]

gotcha. thanks sschevy.

 

[SSChevy2001]

Your welcome.

I just started looking to see what they had if I wanted to record HD. Here's what I'm looking at though not sure if I want to spend that much yet. Works with Beyondtv and sagetv also.

Hauppauge HD PVR

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: SSChevy2001

Originally posted by: s44
Either never (if you want scrambled channels) or right now (if you don't care).

What kind of answer is that?

The truth -- PC-as-tuner isn't going to work beyond what little can be done now.

as I pointed out Verizon Fios isn't going tru2way

No article makes this claim.