FCC Allows cable companies scramble all signals, requiring a box for each TV.

[PHANofPHUNK]

These little bastards. We have one box and 4 tvs. This will hurt a bit.

Cable subscribers are about to get a sneaky fee - Business on NBCNews.com

 

[JerryLove]

Cut the cord man, cut the cord

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Cut the cord man, cut the cord

that or get a WMC + CableCard Ceton tuner + (hopefully they will iron the bugs out) Ceton Echo
CableCard rental is typically much cheaper than a set top box

 

[cpp]

This really sucks. Not only is this "ludicrous" but a direct impact to a lot of the older generation on low incomes that don't need a cablebox. Just more greedy businesses doing what they can to milk $$ out of any and everybody

 

[BMXTRIX]

They should get satellite then and see how many channels they get without a tuner at each TV location.

I don't LIKE it, but I do believe that if there is to be a level playing field then the FCC needed to either require satellite providers to give the Clear QAM stations away as well, or allow this of cable providers.

I have no belief that they won't use this to line their pockets, but we are NOT entitled to free cable. We pay for it, and for every TV we are now required to pay. If anyone doesn't like it, then can cancel or they can use a splitter from one cable box.

OR - they can put up an antenna like our parents did and pull in what they can pull in OTA for free (after installation). I mean, my cable bill basic service is over 30 bucks a month for the bottom tier, I can see a typical basic antenna installation running under the price of one year of base line cable service.

I personally use two HD DVRs which I split out to half a dozen TVs in my home. It works very well, but is 'extravagent' in nature.

 

[Grador]

As much as I've always liked the tuner + computers solution, it's not cost effective, especially when you factor in the price to rent a cableCARD which is (for me at least) the price of one HD cable box.

Though it's hardly consolation this decision also requires the companies to give you one free box.

 

[j_garcia]

Since the FCC also forced the cable companies to allow HD streaming to any network device, I don't think this is such a big deal.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

As much as I've always liked the tuner + computers solution, it's not cost effective, especially when you factor in the price to rent a cableCARD which is (for me at least) the price of one HD cable box.

My Cable provider is Cablevision and your cost might differ significantly from mine:

Cost to rent one set top box - $6.95.
Cost to add a DVR "service" in addition to cost above - $10.95

or cost of CableCard rental - $2 - savings of at least $15.9/month and this is only for a Single HD-DVR box.

A $200 4 channel Tuner pay for itself in just a bit over one year, with pure savings after that

Though it's hardly consolation this decision also requires the companies to give you one free box.

If I understand this one correctly - the free portion is time limited and expires after a year. Correct me if I am wrong here...

The issues with PC/Tunes is client side. Until recently only one WMC client existed at all - xbox360. Cenon very recently added Echo - it's a very promising product, but also looks like it's a beta product. I hope Cenon can fix it as I mentioned above.

 

[Grador]

The free box provision may expire in a year, not sure.

For me an m card is 7 a month. Over a 2 year contract the dvr averages out to about 15 a month, so that's a savings of only 8, or just under 200 on the contract life.


I could pay back the tuner, but for someone that doesn't have an htpc or mce on every screen there is additional cost.

 

[cpp]

The free box provision may expire in a year, not sure.

For me an m card is 7 a month. Over a 2 year contract the dvr averages out to about 15 a month, so that's a savings of only 8, or just under 200 on the contract life.


I could pay back the tuner, but for someone that doesn't have an htpc or mce on every screen there is additional cost.

In our area, the free stuff is over with. You have to purchase your own box or lease the cable companies, BUT! the one you purchase must be on the approved list of the local cable company.

 

[MDS]

In our area, the free stuff is over with. You have to purchase your own box or lease the cable companies, BUT! the one you purchase must be on the approved list of the local cable company.

Which cable company? I have Time Warner and they are now charging $3.95 per month to lease the cable modem that was previously free for the last 15 years I've been a customer. You can buy your own modem if it is on the approved list but we still cannot buy our own cable box or DVR.

At approximately $80 for a Motorola SurfBoard modem, it will take 20 months to break even, so I haven't decided if I want to buy my own or just pay the $4 extortion fee.

 

[Grador]

Which cable company? I have Time Warner and they are now charging $3.95 per month to lease the cable modem that was previously free for the last 15 years I've been a customer. You can buy your own modem if it is on the approved list but we still cannot buy our own cable box or DVR.

At approximately $80 for a Motorola SurfBoard modem, it will take 20 months to break even, so I haven't decided if I want to buy my own or just pay the $4 extortion fee.

Given how many Motorola cable modems we've had die, unless I'd pay the extortion fee.

 

[jostenmeat]

*SNIP* . . . but we still cannot buy our own cable box or DVR.

It must be different where you live, because TW has offered cable card rentals for over a decade where I'm at, and at least one of my friends (one of his brothers might be too now) has been using a Tivo for years, with TW. At a previous residence, the STBs given by TW were such a nightmare, that this alone was enough for him to splurge on the aftermarket box. Because of his work schedule, and being a huge sports fan, having the DVR constantly F up was simply not an alternative.

TW doesn't serve my area, it is a more expensive provider, but during the years since I've not had cable, wow. I'm pretty sure it could already pay off my projector and 7 speakers in the HT already, my OTA rig, and then some. That said, I do miss a number of things like cooking shows. But then again, I just ordered 4 cookbooks, ahahaha.

 

[cpp]

Which cable company? I have Time Warner and they are now charging $3.95 per month to lease the cable modem that was previously free for the last 15 years I've been a customer. You can buy your own modem if it is on the approved list but we still cannot buy our own cable box or DVR.

At approximately $80 for a Motorola SurfBoard modem, it will take 20 months to break even, so I haven't decided if I want to buy my own or just pay the $4 extortion fee.

Timey Warner. And it looks like I will also have to pay the extortion fee

 

[PHANofPHUNK]

that or get a WMC + CableCard Ceton tuner + (hopefully they will iron the bugs out) Ceton Echo
CableCard rental is typically much cheaper than a set top box

Thanks! Ill have to look into this.

 

[Grador]

Thanks! Ill have to look into this.

For tuners I'm a fan of the HDhomerun by silicon dust. I haven't used one of their cableCARD units, but I have their old dual tuner and it has performed flawlessly.

They are networked so you don't have to have the tuner next to the computer, it can be anywhere you have cable and networking.