Vista CableCARD First Look

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Engadget has Microsoft’s Vista CableCARD in house and their experience with setting up the systems (in separate offices) ranged from total fiasco to perfect install in under 20 minutes.

Excepting the time it took for Microsoft to come in and set up the rig (which it's assumed you will have all done before your cable installer gets there), getting CableCARD DVR functionality took no more than 20 minutes, tops. Yeah, Microsoft was there to supervise my installation too, but in all reality they didn't need to be, considering what a breeze it was.
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Some very good info there.. but its really sad that you must purchase special machines through certain manufacturers to have CableCard support in the media center pc's. This technology should die quick if done in that manor. I was really looking forward to installing a CableCard in my HTPC I'm building at the moment, but it looks like that won't happen. Hopefully someone will crack the technology. It always does happen, so I'll be waiting. :)
 
I guess I don't get it. What does his do that a standard HighDef TV tuner card doesn't do?
 
CableCard gets the encrypted channels like pay channels and high def movie channels.
 
This is a perfect example of how media companies are really shooting themselves in the foot with the level of control they insist on exerting.

I mean, the irony here is that MS and ATI and TWC mobilized a small army of people to ensure that the installation went smoothly and they still could not get one of the sites running. The slap in the face here is that they know they are sending these review units to people who know what they are doing and they still send reps along with the hardware.

Imagine if DFI sent along a dude to set your memory timings along with each Mobo?

In the end, this protected content will end up on the net anyway so if I was AMD/ATI, I would be furious that CableLabs and the media companies are really hampering my ability to move units.

The good news is that eventually, I think this nonesense will pass. When the DRM free movement gets critical mass, it will be hugely disadvantageous to restrict media usage in any form.
 
This is the whole holdup to making HTPC a real reality. About time, however as with all things Microsoft.... its farked up.

I dont have a problem with DRM and buying a Cablecard box, Ive actully been wondering where the FK this has been and why its taken so long. Most of the Motorola settop boxes had a cablecard slot in them from many years back. Not that it was utilized, but the idea has been mainstream for years.

My problem is the bullshit about having to buy "matchig certified hardware". No I'm not buying a certified anything, my PC is lightyears more powerful than any of the shit these people have certified. This looks to be a wealthfare program for the big OEMs... HP DELL, etc... none of who's products I want for any reason.

All I want is 3 HD tuners on a card plugged into one of those PCIe slots we never use, and a cablecard USB device to enable Mediacenter to access all the cable.(actually I want mine on FIOS, fk cable) programming Im paying for now.

That and 4 500G-1TB drives doing DVR work and holding copies of the 1000 best movies and 500 best TV series for my veiwing pleasure.

That Ill pay for, anything less and Im not interested :eek: :p :D
 
Modred189 said:
Why can't I feed my cable box into my pc and do the same thing?
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It doesn't always work right depending on the card you go with, especially on HD channels. How would you easily implement that in a media center interface? What would you run from the cable box to what type add in card on the htpc? Also, how would you setup recording schedules? The list goes on.. The whole point is to have a Home Theater PC, not a cable box or DVR sitting next to it which defeats the purpose. Its about integration and what the consumer wants/needs.
 
Modred189 said:
Why can't I feed my cable box into my pc and do the same thing?
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HD channels for one...

If you get an HD tuner for your PC, it only has a coax or S-video plug on it. S-Video is incapable of most HD resolutions.
Your HD capable cable/satellite box only outputs HD channels to Component out, or HDMI on some of the newer ones.

There are a few HD capture cards out there designed for video editing, but AFAIK, there is no support for them in any of the TV software out there (e.g. BeyondTV, MythTV, etc.).
If there is support for them, someone please correct me. It seems like to me that one of the HD editing cards coupled with an IR Blaster (on MCE remote) and an HD cable box might be a work around to the cablecard issue, and this way you can record every digital channel and all the HD channels available. These cards are expensive ($200+) and the solution I mentioned would be a PITA, but it is a possible workaround if the software support is there.

Most of them are made by AJA and BlackMagic Design:
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/
http://www.planetdv.net/Content/Video_Editing_Cards/
 
heh, also keep in mind any video editing card under $500 is pretty much a peice of junk. The good ones start at $900+.
 
Last I heard was that Microsoft was also working with DirecTV on a sattelite card to bring HD right into your MCE machine.
 
The thing you gotta grok is that the cable guys WANT CABLECARD TO FAIL. The only reason theylre doing it is because The Man said too.

If you have CableCard you are not renting a STB. STB rental is HUGE for them. No matter how hard MSFT or their OEM partners work this, the cable guys will do the minimal effort needed.

All CableCard devices are "certified" by CableLabs under a "rigorous" testing process. But the various devices tend to behave differently on differnt networks. It is not uncommon for a cable tech to show up with a bag of CableCards, swapping them in and out of your TV/Tivo/DVR/Whatever until one works.

CableCard sucks. I look forward to the MCE DirecTV solution.
 
The sole function for this is to assure the mediacenter PC owner PAYS for the service and in exchange gets access to the digital content. It wasn't that long ago that DirectTV or Dish, I forget which, had Cablecard built into thier settopbox and you inserted a card which activated your functionality. I remember there being a blackmarket for counterfiet cards too.

Im not sure the box rental argument is that solid. You need to buy/rent the cablecard reader.... they can rent it for the same $5/mo for the card and reader. The point of cab;ecard is for the conveinence of the consumer to use the equipment of thier choice to view the service.

It makes it cheaper for the cable/sat company (they need less boxes and the maintainence involved) but it opens up a service/techsupport problem of its own for them.

The market will do the speaking, if demand is high enough it will become a thing, otherwise it'll die on the vine.
 
xX_Jack_Carver_Xx said:
The sole function for this is to assure the mediacenter PC owner PAYS for the service and in exchange gets access to the digital content. It wasn't that long ago that DirectTV or Dish, I forget which, had Cablecard built into thier settopbox and you inserted a card which activated your functionality. I remember there being a blackmarket for counterfiet cards too.

Im not sure the box rental argument is that solid. You need to buy/rent the cablecard reader.... they can rent it for the same $5/mo for the card and reader. The point of cab;ecard is for the conveinence of the consumer to use the equipment of thier choice to view the service.

It makes it cheaper for the cable/sat company (they need less boxes and the maintainence involved) but it opens up a service/techsupport problem of its own for them.

The market will do the speaking, if demand is high enough it will become a thing, otherwise it'll die on the vine.
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I think you are confusing satellite counterfeit cards with cable cards... I could be wrong though.


As for the rental argument, think about a majority of people who has their service for say 5 years or so... thats $5 x 60 = $300 for a card or a modem.
 
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