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join:2003-04-19
Cortland, IL
| Couldn't find one I know I have a TV that supports CableCARDs. I was interested at first back when I had Comcast, but I couldn't find a place to get one at. I called them and they said they didn't have any. I tried electronic stores and they didn't have any.
Now I have a dish and I don't think its an option with a dish.
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F R O S T Y
www.mindfrost82.com | |
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 | apollo80
join:2002-01-31
Richmond, VA
| Re: Couldn't find one said by mindfrost82  :I know I have a TV that supports CableCARDs. I was interested at first back when I had Comcast, but I couldn't find a place to get one at. I called them and they said they didn't have any. I tried electronic stores and they didn't have any. Now I have a dish and I don't think its an option with a dish. From my understanding, the deal with tv manufacturers not having them included is they are waiting for the next generation, since the first generation of the cards receives information only, and doesn't send information back to the cable company(for on-demand, pay per view, etc. to work).
Late this year or early next year, if I remember correctly, the two way format of the cablecard will be made available built into tv's. | |
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Morac
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
 ·Comcast
edit:
March 29th, @10:47AM
| Re: Couldn't find one said by apollo80 :Late this year or early next year, if I remember correctly, the two way format of the cablecard will be made available built into tv's. The cards out there now are 2 way compatible. The cards themselves have no transmit/receive functionality. They just provide channel data and services to the host device. The host devices needs to have a transmitter in it to be 2 way capable.
The CableCARD 2.0 standard is someone of a misnomer because all it means is that in order for a host device to be certified, it has to be 2-way capable and support all three transmission "languages". It also includes multistream cards which allow one card to tune multiple channels. See the CableCard primer (see the bottom about 2-way communication).
Any company could make a 2-way capable device today if they want. It would be much more expensive though since there are 3 different transmission standards, depending on which cable system you are in, and the device would have to support all 3 in order to work everywhere.
The whole thing is probably moot though since the cable companies seem hell bent to CableCards die and go with a different incompatible system such as DCAS.
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mindfrost82
join:2003-04-19
Cortland, IL
| I have a 62" Mitsubishi DLP that supports it. I think its a little more common in high-end HDTV big screens than smaller TVs or even LCD-TVs. I'm pretty sure all the big screen Mitsubishi TVs have it, atleast the ones I saw.
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F R O S T Y
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| | | | | alchav
join:2002-05-17
Palm Desert, CA
|  Re: Couldn't find one
said by mindfrost82 :I have a 62" Mitsubishi DLP that supports it. I think its a little more common in high-end HDTV big screens than smaller TVs or even LCD-TVs. I'm pretty sure all the big screen Mitsubishi TVs have it, at least the ones I saw. I also have a 62" Mitsubishi and I had TWC install a CableCard it works great, but only one way. The TWC Tech's could not get it to work. I had to work with TW Tech Support to get the Card to work. So I think the reason there are not many Cards out there is because no one knows that much about them. | |
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buckingham
Buckingham Pa
join:2005-07-17
Buckingham, PA
 ·Vonage
| Re: Couldn't find one said by alchav :I have a 62" Mitsubishi DLP that supports it. I recently did an informal "search" for smaller size screens that support CableCard...and came up empty. It seems those few available are 42" and up or so. I want to replace the tube hanging on the wall in the kitchen with a flat screen and also get access to digital channels without using a separate box. No go on that idea...at least at present...and no way am I putting a 40+ " screen in the kitchen! LOL | |
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GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
Premium
join:2001-10-29
Hollywood, FL
| said by KoolMoe :I do not see any products that take cable cards, though I've not looked all that hard. The high end TiVo Series 3 uses cablecard. As is also mentioned you'll see them in higher end TVs.
Having said that, I would tend to agree with the general senitment that the CableCard 1.0 was not going to make a very big mark in the industry. We need the newer standards to get out there (CableLabs working on that one I do believe) before this would take off.
And of course more product support. I don't see the point of this study honestly unless they are trying to just develop support for canning the idea in general. It would be silly to expect v1.0 to have had a major following when most consumers don't even know what the heck it is.
Thus the survey data is pretty useless in my book.
K.
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TheGlobalMind.com | Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go? | Angus the IT Chap | |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| The problem is A) A lot of TV don't even have cablecard slots
B) Cable companies make ZERO effort to inform customers it's a choice. Why would they. They'd lose money on cable box rentals fees.
C)With a card yes I can get digital cable but the program guide and PPV don't work. So how is that a benefit to me? I'd rather have the box at this point.
D)Someone has to comes out and isntall this card. Ok it's a fricken card, just slide it in. Who wants to pay the cable company $30 so some tech can slide a card in the back of your TV?
Once more TVs with cablecard slots are sold, consumers are made aware of this choice and the technology improves to where you can get PPV and program guide and "professional installation" is not required, then this will take off. | |
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| moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: The problem is said by BF69 :A) A lot of TV don't even have cablecard slots Mostly the larger, higher end HDTVs have them as well as the new Tivo Series 3.
said by BF69 :B) Cable companies make ZERO effort to inform customers it's a choice. Why would they. They'd lose money on cable box rentals fees. No argument here. Comcast even tried to get out of deploying them.
said by BF69 :C)With a card yes I can get digital cable but the program guide and PPV don't work. So how is that a benefit to me? I'd rather have the box at this point. Should be fixed with Cablecard 2.0 (crossing fingers) 
said by BF69 :D)Someone has to comes out and isntall this card. Ok it's a fricken card, just slide it in. Who wants to pay the cable company $30 so some tech can slide a card in the back of your TV? Most people can't program their TVs properly so I can see the need for a tech but allow some of us to install it ourselves.
said by BF69 :Once more TVs with cablecard slots are sold, consumers are made aware of this choice and the technology improves to where you can get PPV and program guide and "professional installation" is not required, then this will take off. Unless the cable companies fight even more. | |
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Tomek
Premium
join:2002-01-30
Brooklyn, NY | TWC I had to dig into Time Warner website to find one page that has some info about the card. The TWC makes all efforts to discourage customers and force them into renting their receivers.
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Semper Fi | |
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Annorax
join:2001-03-27
Apex, NC | Re: TWC Agreed. In late 2005, TWC stated that they wouldn't have cablecards until 2006. I never checked back again and was turned-off by lack of support for pay per view. How did that get overlooked in the cablecard??? Crazy. | |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
| Re: The problem is
The problem is
D)Someone has to comes out and isntall this card. Ok it's a fricken card, just slide it in. Who wants to pay the cable company $30 so some tech can slide a card in the back of your TV?
Got news for you it not that simple to just slide it in. There been cases where it took over 2 weeks for the company to get them to work ok. I went to the center and got 3 cards 2 worked but one didn't. So I had to run back to the center had exchange the card. I spent about $20.00 on gas to get the cards plus the time i spent. | |
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| | BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| Re: The problem is said by caddyroger : The problem is D)Someone has to comes out and isntall this card. Ok it's a fricken card, just slide it in. Who wants to pay the cable company $30 so some tech can slide a card in the back of your TV? Got news for you it not that simple to just slide it in. There been cases where it took over 2 weeks for the company to get them to work ok. I went to the center and got 3 cards 2 worked but one didn't. So I had to run back to the center had exchange the card. I spent about $20.00 on gas to get the cards plus the time i spent. I've got news for you, it SHOULD be that simple. That's the point. The fact that's it's not explains a lot about why no one uses the stupid things in the first place. | |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | can't wait for the next version
cablecard is a great idea. anything to avoid PAYING the local cableco a monthly fee for a stupid set top box is progress. | |
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justbits
More fiber than ATT can handle
Premium
join:2003-01-08
Chicago, IL | Re: can't wait for the next version Instead of paying a monthly fee for a cableco STB, you still get charged a monthly fee for CableCards too! | |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | Re: can't wait for the next version the same price?? | |
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join:2001-03-22
Madison, NJ | Re: can't wait for the next version Nope the fees (mandated?) for CableCards are far lower than for SBs.
I can't recall my exact fee but I pay Cablevision something like $1.35 p.m. for my CC. | |
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justbits
More fiber than ATT can handle
Premium
join:2003-01-08
Chicago, IL
edit:
March 29th, @10:57AM
| CableCard per month fees vary. In some states, they're free for the first one and a fee for the second one. When a fee is charged, it's typically between $1.50 and $7 per month plus a $17 to $30 one-time installation fee (sometimes per card). | |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
| Re: can't wait for the next version said by justbits :CableCard per month fees vary. In some states, they're free for the first one and a fee for the second one. When a fee is charged, it's typically between $1.50 and $7 per month plus a $17 to $30 one-time installation fee (sometimes per card). Some area's will allow you to install the cable cards. I did have a little trouble with one card that I had to exchange. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | They get you coming OR going. | |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| While *you* may see it that way, a lot of folks apparently do not, for a variety of reasons:
1. CableCARD compatibility at the TV level is expensive, as the compatibility is traditionally in higher-end and larger TV sets (42 inches and larger, typically; though two Sony LCD models of 26 and 32 inches *used* to sport CableCARD compatibility, both were replaced with non-compliant models due to slow sales). People buy based on price *first*.
2. For the majority of TV purchasers, CableCARD is *not* a deal-breaker (or deal-maker, for that matter). In my case, last year, it was; however, I was far from typical in that regard.
3. The price difference between CableCARD and the STB lease fee, even in areas where the CableCARD is given away, is usually no *better* than $5/month (in the case of a HD, but non-DVR, STB). For most cable households, $5/month is not seen as significant for a single TV (or two). | |
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Steve Mehs
Go Sabres
join:2005-07-16
| A stupid set top box that has an EPG, On Demand capabilities, program information, DVR functions, interactive features and CableCards don't. Yep, progress alright 
I think Cable Cards are stupid. Both of my HDTVs have Cable Card slots and they’re just Sony Grand Wegas, nothing fancy, not even part of the XBR or SXRD product series. Just a 42” Wega and a 55” Wega. Hell before I got the 42” I had a 34” Sony CRT HDTV for a week, and it even had a Cable Card slot. The TV was too heavy and big to do anything with so I returned it for the 42”
Here, Time Warner just dropped the price of Cable Card rentals from $3.00 to $2.70. They don’t ‘hide’ it on their website. Go to twrochester.com, hover over ‘Products’ and choose ‘Digital Cable’ and it’s right there. Individual TW franchise websites are all based on the same template which can be found at timewarnercable.com/model and all should have the same basic layout.
And furthermore, if cable companies lose money on CableCard rentals as opposed to box rentals, why would they want to be so forthcoming about it? This isn’t some fantasy world, cable companies are in business to make money, and if they can make more money off of one item the other, why be so forthcoming about it. It’s business. Best Buy promotes the 70” Sony SXRD that costs $6K or $7K more then that little 13” Magnavox kitchen TV, gee I wonder why?
For me there is no comparison, $2.70 for a Cable Card of $7.95 for a cable box, it has to be a cable box. I wouldn’t use a Cable Card in any situation. The EPG is worth it alone. Both of my HDTVs have HD DVRs connected to them. You have no idea how many times I’m over at other peoples houses who have analog cable and I reach for the remote to press Info or to go to the guide, or even pause. I’ve been using DVRs since 2001 and have no plan to ever stop.
I say screw the Cable Card. I’d rather have Sony spend the money to give me an extra HDMI input, but no that’s too useful. They have to waste their money on this garbage technology.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband | |
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cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
Levittown, PA | cablecard would be useless if you like integrated DVRs... My HDTV supports cablecard, but I opted for a HD-DVR so... | |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | Re: cablecard would be useless if you like integrated DVRs... tivo3 supports it | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: My Time Warner doesn't "hide" CableCard info They are doing both, which also plays into their game of not really wanting to deploy them.
Comcast wants $25 to bring one out in Chicagoland, and that's all they do...bring it out. My TV automagically recognizes it and programs itself accordingly but you'll never get out of the "install fee". And, you have to be home all day for the "appointment". Typical.
I decided to not worry about it even though it would be nice to get the digital-only channels directly on the TV. There are other ways to do that that don't require Comcast's help. 
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Ebolla
join:2005-09-28
Dracut, MA
| Re: My Time Warner doesn't "hide" CableCard info There is more to it then just sliding in the card, info needs to be input on the DAC to recognize the card, and Call/service center reps do not have access to DAC. Yes your TV gives you all the pairing data but that has to be input manually. Remember the TV itself isnt a 2 way device so there is no way for that info to get back to comcast short of someone contacting the proper dept. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL | Re: My Time Warner doesn't "hide" CableCard info Then just send me the damn thing, I'll fill in a card to send back and they can do the back-office stuff. They've made it such a hassle to get that it's no wonder nobody bothers with them.
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kyler13
Is your fiber grounded?
join:2006-12-12
Arnold, MD
·ViaTalk
| The problem Cablecard technology is GREAT for 2nd, 3rd, 4th TVs in the house when cable goes all digital and subscribers don't want to pay for 3+ boxes. It's not gonna supplant the box in a one TV household with on-demand and DVR being so popular. The problem is that the 13, 19, 23 inch "secondary" TVs that you might have in obscure locations in the house don't have slots built in. Manufacturers only include these in larger sets which end up being the primary TV for consumers who would rather use the set top enabled services. The technology isn't being implemented properly for success....yet. I have one large TV (digital cable box) and 2 smaller TVs (analog - kitchen, bedroom) in my house. If/when small digital TVs become affordable, I'd sure as he** use two cable cards over two set-top boxes for the replacements, if the slot is built-in. | |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
edit:
March 30th, @04:55PM
| Cable cards suck As a cable tech (Mediacom) I hate cable cards. I wish they would just go away and never come back. They are unreliable at best. If you get an error code nobody has a clue what that means, the manufacturer blames the cable company and cable company says it's not their fault.
I hate dealing with cable cards. Most of the time the built in TV Guide does not work and people call the cable company and schedule a trouble call. Like that's our problem. With cable cards we only guarantee the programming. NOTHING ELSE.
We can only do so much to troubleshoot:
Check the signal
Replace the card
Make sure the account is properly setup
After this we offer to put a DCT in and people go crazy.
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michaelr7
join:2004-03-26
Tucson, AZ
| Cable trying to shaft me yet again I have a TV and a DVR which accept CableCARDS. My Cable provider however wants me to pay $34.99 so someone can slide the PCMCIA card into the PCMCIA slot on the TV and on the DVR. I'll do that as soon as they pay me $34.99 to slide any PCMCIA cards they buy into the slot on their computer - i.e., never.
The monthly fee is $2.00 for the card.
They obviously view CableCARD as another way for them to get into my wallet. I know they would rather force me to rent an STB from them and are doing their best to kill the CableCARD idea before it is required in July (unless it is postponed yet again).
The DirecTV/Dish packages with similar channel lineups as I would get using the CableCARD cost a couple of dollars less so we went that way instead. And no $34.99 for someone to slide the Access Card into the slot. 
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Tucson, AZ (W) - Sedona, AZ (H) | |
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karlmarx
join:2006-09-18
Nashua, NH
·Fairpoint Communic..
| No linux support There is no, and never will be any linux support for cable cards, because, bluntly, the technology is controlled by the megacorps. The only PC that can use a cable card is a 'secured os', because they don't want you to have the right to record a digital stream. The Vista PC's 'can' record shows, but the shows are crippled and can't be recorded to DVD.
Once they have an open source driver for the cable card, then I'd consider using it, otherwise, I'm perfectly happy to record my shows via OTA transmissions, which for the moment at least, are broadcast in the clear.
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Stick it to the MAN. Support your local torrent sites. Proudly providing 100mb of upstream for all your TV, Movie, and MP3 needs. | |
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John T
@verizon.net
| Probably mostly TiVO series 3 owners... I wonder how the 259,000 number compares to the number of TiVO series 3 owners. It can take two cards for the two tuners.
The Series 3 and similar type of devices (DVRs not through the cablecos themselves) are really the best (only?) reason to get a cableCARD right now. | |
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| michaelr7
join:2004-03-26
Tucson, AZ
| Re: Probably mostly TiVO series 3 owners... quote:
The Series 3 and similar type of devices (DVRs not through the cablecos themselves) are really the best (only?) reason to get a cableCARD right now.
That or a DCR TV to watch programming you don't want to record. | |
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magnushsi
join:2002-11-06
Cedar Springs, MI
| Get off the MSO's want to collect rental fee crap! All of you who think cable companies don't push cablecards because they want to collect "rent" are clueless. A DVR box costs the cable company $400 up front. The rental fee is so they can recoup the cost. If they charge you $15 a month it takes 26+ months to break even on the cost. Cable cards cost $50 each. So they can obviously lower the "rental rates" accordingly. Soon all you will be able to buy your own settop at retail environments. But when they break or have issues, good luck getting samsung, pioneer and the likes to replace it or send someone to your house. | |
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Aleck79
join:2003-07-23
College Station, TX
·Grande Communicati..
| I had to threaten Time Warner and pretty much quote the FCC! They kept telling me a line of crap that they were not supported, would I like a cable box, that will be $15/month or some crap...
Instead of doing what most people do, and just getting the cable box (which is why no one gets them) I stuck it out. Telling them that they are required to support them. Got to the point where I had to quote the FCC. Finally got ahold of a some tech who knew what I was talking about.
Had it installed and it didn't work... took them 2 weeks to get the thing to finally work. 2 weeks... and still I don't have a couple channels I am suppose to have. But hell its better than having another box under my HDTV.
If cable companies are blaming this on lack of demand, or hardware... when I contacted Sony tech support to confirm some of their claims when Time Warner tried to blame it on my Sony Grand Wega... Sony Laughed. The guy @ Sony was very down to earth, and plainspoken, "yeah its ridiculous what these cable companies are doing, I had one tech call me and ask me how to install and enable these cards for the customers TV." Ridiculous...
I call bullshit | |
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BlueConnect
join:2004-04-02
FFX, VA
| Re: I had to threaten Time Warner and pretty much quote the FCC! I had a CC from Cox, I think it cost me about $2 bucks a month. I was also able to receive the TV Guide version of a channel guide. Installing a CC is comparable to installing a Cable Modem. The provider notes the card # when issued, you call them with the pairing number.
Now I have a CC with Verizon. Installation was the same. Verizon does not support the TV Guide channel guide service.
Neither of the providers made it easy to find info about the card. Works great for me. | |
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| magnushsi
join:2002-11-06
Cedar Springs, MI
| I won't deny there are many install issues, but believe it or not, a huge number of issues are caused by the host. There are a couple host manufacturers that have produced such crap when it comes to the interface of the card that it's impossible to get cards to work in them. Also you can't take anything that these call center guys say at these companies. They don't know jack. I personnaly work with these manufacturers engineers who really know the issues their products have. Many manufactures have intrepeted the spec in their own ways causing all kinds of compatibility problems. It's pretty easy to see when you take 5 different hosts, all on the same drop (in a lab) test 1 card, 1 host at a time and see the crazy different resulte. | |
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bhorow
join:2004-05-17
Forest Hills, NY
| CABLE CARDS Everyone is pretty informed about cable cards.
The fact is that its just a consumer disadvantage. You not only loose ppv, and the guide, you also loose with some cable companies. Ability to take polls, and add additional services, view your bill etc. You loose the ability to use On Demand which is a big feature of cable to begin with. Any 2 way interaction is worthless. I understand not wanting to pay rental fees, but at least get a good product.
I always think of cable card as the way to go for the kids television set where all they need to have is nick and toon Disney. Most people should have 1 DVR at least in there home.
Frankly CableCard will be the future. As much as people think its a disadvantage for cable companies. Not having to pay for shipping of heavy boxes and repair reduces the expenses of the cable companies, imagine the warehouses would need to be half the size. Think about the cost of storing 500 cable boxes. vrs 500 Cable cards.
Cable card is just a bad consumer product at this point, but it will improve. | |
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plattypus1
join:2005-04-08
Riverside, CA
·Charter VOIP
·Charter Pipeline
| From a cable tech- Why CableCARDs suck The problem with CableCARDs, at least in our system, is that over half the time they don't work. Either there's a problem with the card, or with the provisioning system, or with the host TV. The only hosts that work every time in my experience are the TiVo Series 3 boxes, but that's an $800 box.
The lack of interest is because the damn things don't work right. It's too much trouble to try and wedge a CableCARD into a TV when you can simply hook up a STB with component cables, and get PPV, VOD and a guide. (And Tomato. Anyone with a MOXI knows what I mean.) | |
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bigunk
Gort, Klattu Birada Nikto
join:2001-02-10
Santa Clarita, CA | I want a SAT card Gimme a card for DirecTV. Tell me the OS. Let me burn to a DVD. Collect your money. Leave me alone. All these things will give you a satisfied customer who will pay for the service. Simple enough? | |
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PhoenixAZ
Joshua
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Phoenix, AZ
·Cox HSI
edit:
April 1st, @03:18PM
| Maybe if they didn't suck Maybe if CableCARDS didn't suck so bad, more people would be using it. Let's see here...
No PPV Access
No Interactive Program Guide
No Interactivity features (Voting etc..)
No unified interface. (Interface is different accross different TVs).
TV firmware very clunky.
One-way cable communication.
If they can fix it, maybe there would be more features. The current generation of CableCards lack so many features one might as well just use analog cable.
Joshua
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Josh| About Me | |
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CardGood
@cox.net
| Re: Maybe if they didn't suck quote:
No PPV Access
No Interactive Program Guide
No Interactivity features (Voting etc..)
One-way cable communication.
That is exactly why I like them. I use none of these and would prefer they not take up space on the menus in my STB.
quote:
No unified interface. (Interface is different accross different TVs).
This is one of the benefits. Instead of being tied to a clunky obsolete User Interface on the single STB you now are forced to use you get a choice. Maybe this will even encourage SA and Motorola to build a less buggy box with a better UI since they are not guaranteed a market for their boxes any more. | |
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Only 259,000 CableCARDs in Use
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