CableCARD. Do You use one? I do now.

[Sanch116]

Anyone buy their own set-top box/tuner card and use CableCARDs instead of renting boxes from their cable provider? Just put a TV in the bedroom and only have to pay about $6 a month for a CableCARD with Verizon FiOS. Have all HD channels I pay for and even a working channel guide. Using Samsung GX-SM530CF as a set-top box. On Demand stuff doesn't work, but I never use that anyway. I installed/activated it today and it works awesome so far. Have always wanted a HTPC, but mainly for movies, but I think I'll add a pci tuner card and get rid of the verizon dvr in the living room. Why not save some cash, right?


Anyone else use these?

[SMR510]

I have thought about it, with the newer 6 tuner PC cards it makes a lot of sense. Currently we have 2 DVRs each with 2 tuners, this would save quite a bit of money and have 2 extra tuners but I would miss on demand.

[CGT80]

I have them for our tivo's. TWC only supplies them because it is mandated by law. They don't work perfect with the tivo's. The switched digital channels sometimes don't work. We also use an adapter box provided by TWC to get the switched digital channels, as the cable cards and tivo's don't do that by themselves. I have no idea if the problem is just with using tivo or if it is in the cards and adapter boxes that TWC provides. TWC points the finger at motorola as they make the box and possibly the cards too. It seems TWC would rather sell you on their dvr which doesn't come close to matching the capability of the tivo. I need to check on those switched digital channels again. I don't watch live tv, but just record shows to watch. If the channels go out, I don't see the new shows on my list, but I don't know if there weren't any or if cable is messed up again. I don't use the demand stuff so I can't comment on that.

YMMV

[AregularGuy]

Ceton tuner and HTPC is the way to go. I pre-ordered one before they first launched and it has been running well since. I paid $399! now $199 gets you the six tuner unit if it's on sale. Cable cards can be finicky, sometimes you have to go through 2-3 before finding one that activates and works 100%.

[71MUSTY]

This all has me very curious but I don't understand it at all. Could someone please explain these different technologies to me in simple terms???


Thanks in advance.

[71MUSTY]

This all has me very curious but I don't understand it at all. Could someone please explain these different technologies to me in simple terms???


Thanks in advance.

guess not

[SneezySky]

been using it for years with tivo boxes - both single stream and multi-stream. i think all the new ones are multi so you can have multiple tuners in one box.

setup can be a pita, thank goodness tivo has good support. in the past, they will call up comcast and sit on the phone with them until its setup right. tivo knows the process much better than comcast installers. tivo can usually get it done in 15-30 minutes. i've had comcast take 3 hours. the guy had to escalate to another installer.

watch out for automatic updates that get pushed. every year or so my card gets out of sync and i have to call up comcast to re-hit the card. otherwise, it's great to use the box of my choice and get all the channels.

[SneezySky]

cable card? - it allows you to receive the premium 'cable' channels but not restricted to cable tech like comcast / time warner. looks like op uses the FIOS service.

htpc / tivo / others - they replace the old cable tuner boxes but with more features.

post again if your question is not answered. be more specific.

This all has me very curious but I don't understand it at all. Could someone please explain these different technologies to me in simple terms???


Thanks in advance.