Newbie ?? about cable card

[zolzer]

I've skimmed most of the posts on this board about using TIVO with a cable card and I'm still completely confused. Can someone spell it out for me.

I have a sony hi-def tv using Time Warner Cable box and Tivo. I hate the "drag" on flipping channels with the box (It is horrible - sometimes a few seconds.) and am hoping ditching the box and using a cable card will speed things up a little. (not to mention I have young children who like to push buttons, the less electronics the better.) I don't care about ppv or vod - but I want to make sure my tivo will still work.

So - will TIVO work with a cable card. Will I be able to record the digital channels? Is set up any different?

Thanks!

[TiVo_Fanatic]

(not to mention I have young children who like to push buttons, the less electronics the better.)
Unfortunately I cant help you because I still dont understand CC's myself but I do more so now than I did heh... but I have to reply and tell you I found the above quote rather amusing... I know how you feel... my sisters kids love to do the same thing when they were yound... I had to reprogram stuff everyday lol

[SeanC]

A cablecard may work in your TV, but currently there are no Tivo's that accept a cablecard. So without a cablebox no Tivo can record digital cable. So if Tivoing digital cable is a deal breaker then you have to keep your cable box.

[DTSDude]

Unfortunately I don't think the setup you're envisioning. If you were to get a cable card you would have to use it with a tuner built in to your TV (you would have to have a cable card ready TV). At this point your TV would decode the digitial signal comming right in to the TV and there would be no way to hook up your TiVo. The series3 should solve your problem in that it contains cable card ready tuners, but series2 and below are pretty much incapable of running with a cable card setup. The only way to do it would be if your TV had a video out channel that you would hook to your TV and then loop the TiVo back to the TV on a separate input.

Hope this helps a little.

[petew]

Without the cable box Tivo will only be able to record the analog channels. You need to wait for the not yet released Series 3 Tivo which will work with cablecard without the need for the cablebox.

You could add a cablecard to the TV and keep the cablebox for just Tivo. Simply split the incoming cable 2 ways.

[zolzer]

U If you were to get a cable card you would have to use it with a tuner built in to your TV (you would have to have a cable card ready TV). At this point your TV would decode the digitial signal comming right in to the TV and there would be no way to hook up your TiVo.

My tv is cable card ready.


So the series 3 will fix that problem eh?

Ok - so if I just go ahead and get a cable card anyway, I can still use my TIVO to record analog channels right? And then when the new series 3 comes out and assuming I can afford one, I can just get that and then I'll be able to record digital cable then.

Now I have to make a decision. Thanks everyone! :) Heather

[petew]

Ok - so if I just go ahead and get a cable card anyway, I can still use my TIVO to record analog channels right? And then when the new series 3 comes out and assuming I can afford one, I can just get that and then I'll be able to record digital cable then.


Correct. Though you may need a Tech Visit to install the cablecard and then later move it from TV to Tivo. Cablecard though removable is programmed to a specific device so can't be swapped from TV to another device without Cable Co approval.
Also check that TW don't use switched broadcasting in your area, they are experimenting with it in certain areas and it's not fully compatible with current cable cards.

[ZeoTiVo]

My tv is cable card ready.


So the series 3 will fix that problem eh?

Ok - so if I just go ahead and get a cable card anyway, I can still use my TIVO to record analog channels right? And then when the new series 3 comes out and assuming I can afford one, I can just get that and then I'll be able to record digital cable then.

Now I have to make a decision. Thanks everyone! :) Heather

correct on watching digital channels with a cable card on your TV. but be aware that will mean no VOD or PPV stuff. you will still need a cable box if you want to do that stuff.

and yes you can hook the cable straight up to the TiVo and record the analog lineup. But you could also keep the cable box and just use it on the TiVo to record with. then put a cable card in the TV and when you wnat to channel surf - use the TV/cable card combo.

[Pearhead]

........

and yes you can hook the cable straight up to the TiVo and record the analog lineup. But you could also keep the cable box and just use it on the TiVo to record with. then put a cable card in the TV and when you wnat to channel surf - use the TV/cable card combo.
This is precisely my dilema. But I'm a bit confused with your strategy. Assuming you've got an STB...what's the benifit of the cable card for "surfing". NOte: I have a DT Tivo so will this senario improve things for me?

[kb7oeb]

If your tivo is recording something from the cable box you can watch a digital channel live on your tv. The cable card maps the digital channels so that they appear on the same channel as with your cable box and it decrypts any encrypted channel you subscribe to.

(For most people cable cards basically allow tuning of channels above 100 including HBO)