CableCard tuner?

[mikeblas]

Are there HDTV tuners for the PC that support CableCards? Did ATi ever ship their OCUR tuners?

 

[SSTwinrova]

Basically (and unfortunately), the current status is that you'll only be able to get them when purchasing a new OEM system from Dell, HP, etc. Something about "certified path" and other DRM/copy protection stuff...

 

[w1retap]

If its OEM, you'll be able to purchase one with another hardware purchase. That constitutes to something as low as a $1.99 optical A-open mouse. I've used this trick at Microcenter before with the Media Center Edition remote when they said I had to purchase it with other hardware. I'm sure we will see cablecard systems out soon since Vista supports it. I'll hop right on one as soon as they're available.

 

[valve1138]

There are a couple of manufacturer's that are shipping them as part of complete systems, which right now id the only way you can get them. They aren't available seperately yet, and may not be ever.

Velocity Micro has them available. I'm not sure about anyone else.

 

[qfour20]

If its OEM, you'll be able to purchase one with another hardware purchase. That constitutes to something as low as a $1.99 optical A-open mouse. I've used this trick at Microcenter before with the Media Center Edition remote when they said I had to purchase it with other hardware. I'm sure we will see cablecard systems out soon since Vista supports it. I'll hop right on one as soon as they're available.

Actually, this is not the case. The cablecardcrap will only be sold on fully certified systems. This means that cablelabs must have the fully built pc to give their golden seal (shower?) of approval. It is highly unlikely that the media cartels will back off of this insanity in the forseeable future.

-q

 

[UMDivX]

also the ONLY way to get the cable cards working is with a special mobo that can run a special BIOS. the Bios has a flag or check in it that certifies the digital path that the cable card tuner box checks for, if it doesn't have this it will render the cable card useless.

- Josh

 

[w1retap]

Actually, this is not the case. The cablecardcrap will only be sold on fully certified systems. This means that cablelabs must have the fully built pc to give their golden seal (shower?) of approval. It is highly unlikely that the media cartels will back off of this insanity in the forseeable future.

-q

Doubt this. I've seen people say this time and time again. Its only a matter of time before they are released for individual sale, especially coming from ATI/nvidia.

also the ONLY way to get the cable cards working is with a special mobo that can run a special BIOS. the Bios has a flag or check in it that certifies the digital path that the cable card tuner box checks for, if it doesn't have this it will render the cable card useless.

- Josh

Orly? What special bios is Velocity Micro shipping with their Bad Axe 2 mobos?

 

[UMDivX]

Orly? What special bios is Velocity Micro shipping with their Bad Axe 2 mobos?

It's not a special bios per se, its just a flag in the bios the the cable card tuner looks for to enable its use.

- Josh

 

[JBark]

It's not a special bios per se, its just a flag in the bios the the cable card tuner looks for to enable its use.

- Josh

Yeah, I think it's just called the OCUR bit.

I wonder what's to stopping someone from dumping an OCUR enabled BIOS from an OEM CableCard machine, and flashing that BIOS onto the same non-OCUR enabled motherboard? Probably some sort of checksum verification I bet.

If only it was that easy.

 

[w1retap]

Meh, there's workarounds for HD DVD's, I'm sure this will be next.

 

[CrimandEvil]

Supposely they are special mobos with a special BIOS, theres suppose to be a jumper on the mobo to enable the OCUR tuners for use as well as the already mentioned modified BIOS.

After all of that you need a special COA liscense (which are only obtainable from MS, only those that pay into their CableCard program get them) in order to unlock CC support in Vista.

 

[alan.p]

Supposely they are special mobos with a special BIOS, theres suppose to be a jumper on the mobo to enable the OCUR tuners for use as well as the already mentioned modified BIOS.

After all of that you need a special COA liscense (which are only obtainable from MS, only those that pay into their CableCard program get them) in order to unlock CC support in Vista.

Wow... if your customers hate you that much for you to have to jump up and down on their fingers, then DA-YUM... you need to work on your P.R. and customer service issues.

I'm beginning to think that American companies think in terms of "Us and the Enemy", rather than "Us and People Who Pay Us Money".

 

[CrimandEvil]

Wow... if your customers hate you that much for you to have to jump up and down on their fingers, then DA-YUM... you need to work on your P.R. and customer service issues.

I'm beginning to think that American companies think in terms of "Us and the Enemy", rather than "Us and People Who Pay Us Money".

This is all from CableLabs which is an organization created by the FCC to handle CableCard certification. The Cable Industry hates CableCard cause it cuts into their profits on renting their own cable boxes and such.

What you're describing is very much how Hollywood and the rest of the entertainment industry views it's customers.

 

[mikeblas]

The Cable Industry hates CableCard cause it cuts into their profits on renting their own cable boxes and such.

Really? I pay for renting my cable cards, though it's not as much. It seems like they're easier to support and maintain than the boxes.

 

[codename47]

I guess the only real benefit would be more content on a cable card? To be honest I get all the great shows I want to watch now via OTA so?? I'd like stargate in HD but ??? besides that I don't feel I'm missing much as of right now.