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their infancy, cable companies usually send over a technician to install the card to make sure it works with the TV. Some cards need to be customized and programmed by the technician.
Can I receive HDTV programming with CableCard?
Yes. The whole purpose of CableCard is to make it easier and faster for new digital TV owners to get crystal clear HDTV signals. With a card, TVs can automatically receive HD signals from their local network affiliates and a select few cable stations. But to get more cable stations in HD, subscribers will still need to use an HD set-top for now.
Can I use a CableCard on my current TV?
It depends. CableCard works only with newer digital devices outfitted with a CableCard slot. That includes many models of digital TV sets, including most HDTV sets. If you're not sure whether your TV supports CableCard, you can do a simple visual check by looking at the back panel. If it accepts CableCard, you will see a slot in addition to other standard hook-ups.
Does CableCard support Wi-Fi?
Not yet.
Will any CableCard work with any CableCard-ready device?
In theory, yes. In practice, not yet. The Federal Communication Commission has mandated interoperability, but reported problems suggest this is still a work in progress.
Who is responsible for ensuring products work together?
Manufacturers and service providers are ultimately responsible for making sure their products work together. They take their marching orders from the FCC.
Who makes CableCards?
The largest U.S. set-top makers, such as Motorola and Scientific-Atlanta make CableCards. Britain's NDS joined the list in 2003, according to CableLabs, the cable industry's research and development consortium.
Why is the FCC interested in CableCard?
The FCC has been promoting the transition from analog programming to digital
programming as it looks to free up the spectrum used by analog television broadcasts. CableCard is supposed to help speed up the transition by making it easier and cheaper for consumers to access digital programming.
Are cable companies interested in supporting CableCard?
Yes and no. Cable companies like the idea of cutting the costs associated with set-top boxes. But the lack of features such as pay-per-view has for now kept them from marketing the concept. As a result, CableCard sales have come in well below expectations to date.
Will CableCard eclipse the set-top box?
CableCard appears to signal the beginning of the end for the basic set-top box. But the change will likely take several years to play out. In the interim, new technologies are coming along that could revive the set-top box, or rather, see it evolve. More complex boxes are already on the way that combine digital-video recording, video-on-demand and media server capabilities such as HP's media "hub." CableCard will likely complement rather than replace these newer devices.
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If the goverment is so hot and heavy to get this spectrum then why should the consumers have to foot the bill for all of this new hardware. The goverment should be telling the makers that you have to see the hardware for no more than $100 a pop with the goverment picking part of the difference and the the stations picking up the rest. I mean really the stations makes tons of money of the commercials they cram down our throats and then they turn around and keep charging the cable and sat. providers more and more for the stations.
Why is it the consumers that are always getting the shaft with this kind of thing. As for these cards why does your Tivo need one when Tivo stopped making their devices with sat. and cable receivers in them. If it costs you $50 to buy a card or $2 a month to rent and you have to have one for each TV, each Tivo, Each DVD video recorder, etc. etc. I don't see how that is cheaper for the consumer buying them or renting them. And, it looks like at least for now you still have to have the set-top box if you want the on-screen guide and pay-per-view so you get hit with another monthly fee.
Plus well all know damn good and well that greedy companies like Comcast aren't going to pass any saving on to us and they will probably charge just as much for a card as they do a box. Seems to me this is all another shafting just like HDTV.
Robert
I'm actually surprised that recording devices will be able to use the CableCard.
What's going to happen is that the cable companies will require a CC for each device capable of recieving their signal, and likely still charge most customers for a box anyway, whether it be a cable DVR or STB for an older set.
So TV's containing the more advanced tuners are more expensive to build.
DVR set top boxes and pay-per-view are also good reasons not go take the carblecard TV plunge.
A cablecard TiVo on the other hand.. :)
In other words, after years of trying, and failing, to legally-overturn the Supreme Court's "Beta-Max decision" (which established many of the basic-rights held by consumers for the last twenty-years), a few powerful-interests are quite obviously attempting to mis-use the FCC's-authority to finally accomplish their ultimate goal of eliminating any pretense of consumer- 'rights', choice', or 'control'.
Consumer control is slipping away. This is most evident with computers as they are the ultimate digital devices to date.
All this will happen under the guise of "looking" better with "more" security and "higher" security.
Consumer control is slipping away. This is most evident with computers as they are the ultimate digital devices to date.
All this will happen under the guise of "looking" better with "more" functionality and "higher" security.
So far this can't be done with digital cable because the channels still must be selected at the box.
My question: will future D-VHS (if VHS survives), DVRs and DVD recorders be compatible with CableCard?
One can hope.
Want something useful? Ask your cable supplier why VCRs have had channel-switch timers for over twenty years but cable boxes (unless you add the cable companies' integrated TiVo or whatever) don't. Or when can we use picture-in-picture (another costly but useless-with-cable feature) or watch-A-while-record-B multichannel?
Thanks
- CableCard
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by billsen
February 7, 2007 9:28 AM PST
- Is anyone aware of conflict concerning MOTOROLA
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