adz133
join:2002-12-03
| 04/01/2004 FCC mandate for IEEE1394 on all STB's
I currently have a basic digital box that they charge me $7.95 per month to rent - though I have no digital services.
I called up Insight to ask if I could have a firewire equipped digital box instead of my "dumb" digital box. They wanted to charge me $12.95 per month to rent the box because it has DVR capabilities.
According to the mandate (I called the FCC 888 number to try and get some information on this [the fcc search engine is horrid] and got somebody very helpful) there is no price control built in. She is going to send me the entirety of the relevant text, so hopefully I'll be able to check up on that in detail... but:
Why would the FCC make a mandate that requires that all customers interested in an IEEE 1394 box should be able to get one, but not provide any sort of a price control? Cable companies could charge a million dollars per month for such a service if they should so choose, just in order to prevent people from giving them the hassle of distributing said boxes.
The only reason I want the firewire equipped digital box is so I can tap its tuners for my own HTPC's PVR functions.
Thoughts? |
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DonovanFaro
join:2004-02-10
Bloomfield, IN
1 edit | Re: 04/01/2004 FCC mandate for IEEE1394 on all STB
The reason Insight is trying to get you to upgrade to the DVR is that it is the only cable receiver that they have that offers Firewire support. That receiver costs more for them to purchase, has added features and as such, it is going to cost the customer more to have said box. Simple reasoning. Insight is following the mandate by having a set top receiver that can supply firewire (and DVI) outputs. It would be cost prohibitive purchase totally new equipment that has firewire on all boxes, when its a marginal request. As the technology increases and everyone owns a HDVCR or similar that requires a Firewire or DVI connection, then Insight will upgrade all of their equipment to provide such. However, at the current moment in time, its just cost prohibitive.
edit: Also, if you were to break down and purchase an all in wonder card or some sort of video capture card, the need for firewire is no longer there for a HTPC. Just connect the coax and you are off to the races. |
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adz133
join:2002-12-03
| reply to adz133
I already have two tuner cards, but I was hoping to get more TV inputs without using more PCI slots - of which I don't have more. I could replace my tuner + sound card combo with two tuners with integrated audio, but that's $200 I don't want to spend. I have one PVR250 and one bt878 unit (which means I have to have soundcard input)
I just don't think it is fair to charge more for one type of cable box than for another type of cable box in order to comply with an FCC mandate. There have to be some basic STB's that have IEEE 1394 output. |
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bj3433434
@insightBB.com
| get a ait tv wonder elite card...i don't even know if u can just tap into the box to use the tuner...but i do know u can record something and download it via firewire..like i want to buy a firewire...and download my hdtv shows and encode them in wmvhd using vegas 5...but i'm to lazy to buy a over 10' long firewire..and they cost..but i need to look for one on sale....but i would just stick w/ maybe geting a usb tv tuner...so u can still have your pci slots....? try that |
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djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs:
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·T-Mobile US
 ·A + Net
 ·Mediacom
·RCN CABLE
| reply to adz133
said by adz133  :I just don't think it is fair to charge more for one type of cable box than for another type of cable box in order to comply with an FCC mandate. There have to be some basic STB's that have IEEE 1394 output. As far as i know, NOBODY makes a basic STB with IEEE 1394 output. Not even motorola. It's just something they just don't do. It's just the way it is. And i really doubt that motorola is going to start to make them anytime soon. You have NO choice but to get the dvr box which has it. You can't even go to directv. Nope.. They don't have it on ANY of their boxes. Not even on their tivo/dvr's. Be very lucky that you even have the ability to get firewire. I have to live with usb 2.0 on my tivo box to pull shows off of. Complaining to Insight is in my opinion worthless, but you can go ahead and try anyway. Good luck..
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DirecTivo w/4.0,hmo,tivowebplus,verver. and loving it. |
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