CableCARD Deadline Imminent

[admin]

CableCARD discussions have come and gone on this site, however there IS an actual deadline looming that is about to finally force the companies to split off the security features of cable from the tuners. This is significant for two particular reasons: 1) The deadline is no longer extendable- at least according to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, and 2) the cable companies themselves must comply with the new methodology, meaning they will have to use their own CableCARDS.


Discuss "CableCARD Deadline Imminent" here. Read the article.

[westcott]

I think some of your information is a little out of date. DishNetwork is giving away HD DVR's with new subscriptions. I have never had a problem with Dishnetworks hardware, which I can not say about other vendors.

In the end, CableCard will probably die away anyway. It is limited in capabilities and only adds to the cost and maintenance of a display device providing support for them.

[Clint DeBoer]

I've seen 4 room systems given away with contracts, as well as DVRs, but never HD DVRs... Looks like they have finally offered some nicer incentives, though I believe you still don't technically own the box.

Looks like they will also transmit most HD network channels to my location for another $5.99/mo

Contracts is another thing I never mentioned... that cable has the benefit of being contract-free... though if you get a free install and cancel within 3 months you may owe some money.

[AlphaWolf]

I think some of your information is a little out of date. DishNetwork is giving away HD DVR's with new subscriptions. I have never had a problem with Dishnetworks hardware, which I can not say about other vendors.

In the end, CableCard will probably die away anyway. It is limited in capabilities and only adds to the cost and maintenance of a display device providing support for them.

Well satellite providers are exempt from this for many reasons. They probably will never have anything like a cablecard. Cable providers use QAM, Dish uses DVB-S, and DirecTV uses both DSS (which is somewhat proprietary) and DVB-S2 for its MPEG-4 video.

Cablecards, and by extension anything that can use them, only work with QAM (often pronounced as "kwahm") signals.

Cablecards are actually quite nice, and will lead to new set top boxes that will prove to be quite interesting. For example, new PVR's will be able to digitally record the video, leading to much more efficient and lossless video storage. No digital > analog > digital conversion necessary. And best of all, you'll be able to pick what kind of PVR you want. You like tivo better than those motorola boxes? You can use a tivo. You like MCE with an HTPC better? You can use it.

Without cablecard, it will be entirely up to your cable company what kinds of devices you are allowed to use on their network. And not only that, but you'll have to buy the DVR from them, and even pay them a monthly premium just to use their DVR which you may not like as much as your favorite DVR.

Cablecard allows you as a consumer to use *any* compliant device of your choosing, and you don't have to pay the cable company just for the privilege of using it. You may not see any benefit to cablecard yet, but because of the way that it allows cable to be so modular, you will definitely see benefits in the future as the technology becomes more affordable.

Also, while cablecard 1.0 is limited in that communication is still only one way, limiting e.g. VOD, cablecard 2.0 not only solves that problem, but also enables features like multiple tuning for e.g. recording two simultaneous shows. Cable companies have already been pushed for cablecard 1.0, so cablecard 2.0 serves to their benefit, so you can expect that they'll be pushing for that very soon. And, since cablecard 2.0 can provide guide data, you are going to start seeing DVR's come around that have -zero- monthly fees as you don't have to rely upon them on a continuing basis.

Frankly I think this is a very nice thing, and I wish something similar could apply to directv, who I subscribe to.

[kleinwl]

Even with the FCC pushing, I do not expect to ever see cablecard really supported by the cable companies. Why train your techs for something that doesn't add to YOUR bottom line.

As we saw with cablecard equipped TVs and Series 3 Tivos, the cable companies rarly wish to put ANY money into tech training... thus de facto no cablecard support.

I expect this who thing to die off in 2 years from lack of interest.

[AlphaWolf]

Even with the FCC pushing, I do not expect to ever see cablecard really supported by the cable companies. Why train your techs for something that doesn't add to YOUR bottom line.

As we saw with cablecard equipped TVs and Series 3 Tivos, the cable companies rarly wish to put ANY money into tech training... thus de facto no cablecard support.

I expect this who thing to die off in 2 years from lack of interest.

I see what you are saying, but not everybody is going to depend on the cable company technicians. The only groups out there opposed to cablecard are the cable companies themselves. Groups in support of it are companies like microsoft, intel, tivo, and pretty much every major home electronics manufacturer, who have much to gain by being able to provide their own wares directly to the customers without having to make expensive and often drawn out contract deals with the cable companies.

And as the technology becomes more mature and standardized, the need for technicians will ultimately go away. Remember that before DOCSIS largely took over, it used to be that the cable company would *have* to send out a technician to install high speed internet service. Now many customers just walk over to their local retail store, pick up a cable modem, and plug it in themselves. No waiting for an appointment or anything. At least, cox permits this anyways, I don't know about other providers.

[Clint DeBoer]

Some of you may not have read the entire article. What the FCC is essentially saying is that even the cable companies will have to use CableCards in all of their digital boxes.

Also, I am not aware of any cable company that charges outright for its set-top boxes. They are all lease only.

[mbakker]

Well, I think it's a major step forward with the CableCards. I would hope the technology would get around to making it a two way communication.

What I can see as far as the applications coming out of it are new flat panel TVs with built in hard drives for DVR capability and just plugging in a CableCard from your local cable provider and you are set. It would be nice to have all that in one component/tv. In that way, I could hang a new LCD over my fireplace and not have to worry about hooking up an external set top box or any of that. I could plug in the coax and be good to go.

From a manufacturing perspective, I would think that it would provide a boost to flat panel display sales having all that in one item. It would make it easier for a consumer to hook up as well. However, the cable company probably wouldn't get as many calls either for connection issues. But I can attest that last week my neighbor set up a front projection system, called the cable company to set up HDTV for him and they didn't even hook up the right cable - HDMI. They connected it via a composite cable. I had to go over and hook it up for him correctly. Had I not gone over there, he would have never known that he wasn't really looking at HD. So, my point there is the cable companies don't know what they are doing now anyway.

For what it's worth.

[westcott]

Well, I think it's a major step forward with the CableCards. I would hope the technology would get around to making it a two way communication.

What I can see as far as the applications coming out of it are new flat panel TVs with built in hard drives for DVR capability and just plugging in a CableCard from your local cable provider and you are set. It would be nice to have all that in one component/tv. In that way, I could hang a new LCD over my fireplace and not have to worry about hooking up an external set top box or any of that. I could plug in the coax and be good to go.
For what it's worth.

I have never been a big fan of all in one solutions. Yes, they are convenient until ONE of the components fails. Then, you have to send the WHOLE package back and you are left without a display or whatever esle was in the package. Modular designs seem to be too expensive or beyond the comprehension of most CE providers so I will take my equipment piece meal, thank you.

[BMXTRIX]

I think CableCard is a market revenue generator that has yet to be fully tapped. Forget set top boxes - think HTPC. Let's face it, things like gaming consoles are moving towards the forefront of the content providers for our home systems, but HTPCs simply aren't taking off...

WHY?

Because people mainly want to watch TV and there hasn't been a good way for the HTPC to deliver TV content. Sure, off-air can be done. So can cable... But what about full HD cable with full Tivo services? How about downloading Tivo to any HTPC so you get true Tivo, with full interaction with a HTPC that has a proper remote, excellent video processing, full access to your music, videos, and photos? Most of all - you can just turn it on and WATCH TV!

Really, I see CableCard setting up to expand profitability for cable companies if they choose to embrace the technology and allow it to push VOD and premium services more easily.

Of course, that last line is the hard part.