Need help finding something for a friend's plasma tv

[KhoiFather]

He said he needed something called a cable card that lets you convert analog to digital. Comcast didn't have a cable card for his Panasonic 37" Plasma TV so he has to find one. I have no idea what he's talking about and wondering if you guys have any clue and where I can buy it.

 

[ATLien247]

If your local cable provider isn't making one available, then you'll have to settle for an external digital receiver...

 

[NutBucket]

Yep. Its provided by the local cable company. Basically the TV has a digital cable tuner built in and inserting a cable card enables it (like a card in DirecTV receivers).

 

[KhoiFather]

So where can I buy an external digital receiver? Circuit City?

 

[NutBucket]

For cable the cable company provides it.

EDIT: If you want to get OTA high def signals you'll need a receiver for that as well.

 

[tboo]

Im pretty sure if it has a cable card slot then it already has a HDTV tuner built in

 

[NutBucket]

Ah, a quick glance at Panny's site says you are correct sir

 

[KhoiFather]

Thats weird, the cable company (Comcast) doesn't have what my friend needs to enable his plasma tv to use digital signal. So I dunno

 

[MySoS]

Tell your friend to call the local cable commissioner and complain about comcast not giving him a cable card for his TV. FCC mandates that all cable companies with HD service make cable cards available to those who need them for HD service. All cable cards available should work for his plasma. Your friend also shouldn't need a cable card for Local HD service if he does another violation of federal laws.

 

[tboo]

Originally posted by: KhoiFather
Thats weird, the cable company (Comcast) doesn't have what my friend needs to enable his plasma tv to use digital signal. So I dunno

Cable companies dont want you to use a cable card. A cable card isnt a two way device like the cable boxes we all get from them. This means if you have a cable card then you are not a potential customer for their premium 2-way services like PPV or MOD.

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: MySoS
FCC mandates that all cable companies with HD service make cable cards available to those who need them for HD service. Your friend also shouldn't need a cable card for Local HD service if he does another violation of federal laws.

news to me?

(And I work in a TV station)

Any links to back up this statement?

 

[MySoS]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: MySoS
FCC mandates that all cable companies with HD service make cable cards available to those who need them for HD service. Your friend also shouldn't need a cable card for Local HD service if he does another violation of federal laws.

news to me?

(And I work in a TV station)

Any links to back up this statement?

http://broadcastengineering.co...tal_plugandplay_rules/

POD Security Cards: All cable operators must maintain a sufficient supply.

POD Security Cards are the Digital Cable Cards.

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: MySoS

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: MySoS
FCC mandates that all cable companies with HD service make cable cards available to those who need them for HD service. Your friend also shouldn't need a cable card for Local HD service if he does another violation of federal laws.

news to me?

(And I work in a TV station)

Any links to back up this statement?

http://broadcastengineering.co...tal_plugandplay_rules/

POD Security Cards: All cable operators must maintain a sufficient supply.

POD Security Cards are the Digital Cable Cards.

Thanks for the link,
I read that mag monthly myself.

Our local cable company does not use cards (that I know of)
They just use the serial number of the tuner.
This is a motorola headend.

I would think that if the plasma has the proper tuner, the serial numnber would be all they need